How much do people spend in a year on Tri's

I'm one that doesn't want to know. I'll do over twenty races this year, several of them requiring overnight stays, and a couple that require flights to get there. New bike, new shoes, etc.

I have asked mdaddy to look into a financial accounting system as part of the training logs to keep track of tri-related expenses.

This is my fourth season so I already had: tri bike, tri shoes, speedplay pedals, bike pump, helmet, wetsuit, race clothes, training clothes, rear hydration system, bento box, bike computer, garmin 405, timex watch/HRM, goggles, trunk rack for bike, race belt, aero bottle, bike bottles, hats/visors, running socks, swimsuit, etc.

Things off the top of my head I've purchased (or will) THIS SEASON:

Race-related fees:
Marathon entry $80
Rental car for marathon $50
Gas for marathon $50
Hotel for marathon $100 (my share)
Relay race entry $30
Rental van for relay team $25 (my share)
Gas for relay team $50
10K entry $20
Half Marathon entry $60
Plane ticket to Half Mary $200
Century Ride entry $25
Ironman Kansas entry $150
Camping for IMKS $15
Gas for IMKS $30
Sprint entry $50
Aquathlon entry $90
Gas to aquathlon $80
Ultramax 50 entry $100
Gas to Ultramax $40
Redman HIM entry $225
Redman hotel $100 (my share)
Gas to Redman $50
Longhorn 70.3 entry $250
Gas to Longhorn $100
Hotel for Longhorn? $200
Local 5K entry $20
Local 10-miler entry $20
White Rock Half entry $65
Gas to white rock $60
Hotel for white rock $100 (my share)

Training related expenses
Carbon bike cage $40
Tri shorts $45 (w/ $20 coupon)
New Race Top $35 (from bonktown)
Running shoes (3 pairs/year @ $90ea) $270
Gels, shot blocks, etc $75
Sunscreen, body glide, etc. $40
Transition backpack $45 (on sale)
Bike tune up $130 (all new cables and such)
2 fuel belts (trial and error for marathon) $40
Ice for ice baths $50
Bike jerseys from bonktown (~$30 each) $90
Running shorts (~$30 each) $60
Sports bras (~$15 each) $30
Socks $20
2 TYR swimsuits ($15 each on sale) $30
Swim paddles $10
Gym membership for pool ($20/month) $240

Misc. stuff
USAT membership $40
Local tri club membership $25

GRAND TOTAL $3,750

I don't need an on-line tool, I have several family members keeping tabs... there goes my college tuition...

I'm pretty frugal, some might even call me a cheapskate or a tightwad.  I've purchased three bikes (2 of them used) in 4 years of triathlon, a used wetsuit, "used" wheels, etc.  On an average year, I go through 2 or maybe 3 pairs of running shoes, but I've been lucky to have "normal" feet and purchase most of my shoes on the clearance racks.  I plan to buy one pair of bike shorts (bibs this year), one bike jersey, and one pair of running shorts each year.  T-shirts aren't usually planned and I've got about 6-8 white dri-wick shirts.  I do a lot of my shopping at the end of a season, so my running tights came in March.  I don't spend a lot on GU's or drinks (but I've been known to load up on powerbars when they're on clearance).  Even so, I'm probably spending $500 per year on "maintenance" stuff. 

As for bikes, my tri-bike cost is down to $0.23 per mile and my road bike is $0.38.  My old road bike was almost a push as I sold it for what I paid plus a little for the new tires and aerobars.  I'm sure I can get them into the $0.10 range. 

Once I started adding up all the little things I'd been buying for training and such along with the entry fees and everything, I realized if I'm going to spend this much on just the little stuff, I might as well spend a couple thousand on a nice tri bike now and make each one of these races "count" a little more (and boy am I glad i did). Haven't had time to add it up yet, but I'll probably do a spreadsheet on it soon.

I REALLY don't want to know how much I spend on this sport.  My wife and I both do tri's so everything is doubled.  Plus, we did an IM this year, which is a boatload of $$$.

Coaching, nutrition, travel, lodging, race fees, equipment....many many thousands

averge CPR= $117
("cost per race"  )


7 sprint races entry fees= $400
first pair of tri/bike shorts and a bike shirt= $70
race number belt, misc tools, tire tubes= $50
2 new tires= $98
Gas- most of the races i go to are within an hour away, and i split the gas with a friend so maybe like $200 max including my coffees and breakfasts on the way

grand total of $818.00 this year




(oh and i did buy a shiny new bike, with new pedals and new shoes, cages, saddle bag- ran me about $1500 total, but I am going to amortize that over the life of the bike, so it only adds maybe $25 to my CostPerRace  )  (and yes, I am a geek)

doctorbob18 - 2009-08-03 1:35 PM I REALLY don't want to know, since next year I will probably have to cut back on tri expenses

No...year two is to upgrade the equipment you bought in year one...