Gear Talk...

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2004-01-27 12:40 PM

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New user
5

Little Rock, Arkansas
Subject: Gear Talk...
My eyes are killin' me....I've read numerous articles concerning tri gear, but I would like to hear from you experienced multi-sporters...What gear would you consider:

1) Required (other than a bike!!)
2) Nice to have - You secrets to keeping focused and comfortable (at least as much as possible) during an event. Example: Aerobars?
3) Unnecessary - No offense...but is a speedo a necessity?

Ahhh...love those rookie questions!






2004-01-27 8:30 PM
in reply to: #5135

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Central Louisiana
Subject: RE: Gear Talk...
1. I call them speedon'ts and is not a necessity
2. Good helment with good vents. Cheaper helment want have the big nice vents like the more expensive ones. I like aerobars, but they are not a necessity. If you do have aerobars, I really like my aerodrink.

My 1 cent!
2004-01-28 6:39 AM
in reply to: #5135

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Expert
713
500100100
Rockledge, Fl
Subject: RE: Gear Talk...

I am a a newbie too, but here is what I was told:

  1.  good running shoes (probably already have some shorts and shirts)
  2. bike (any kind for first tri)
  3. helmet

I say no to Speedos! Even @ 8% BF I would say NO! I will either get a tri suit or wear my swim trunks on the swim and who cares if anyone laughs :-) I grew up in FL and we don't do speedos here!

Other things to consider:

  1. running shirts (not cotton) such as coolmax. Look for sales. I have gotten some for $10.
  2. if a road/tri bike, bike shorts, clipless shoes
  3. bike computer
  4. aerobars (with drink holder)

There is much more you can spend on. Just start training and see what you feel you need and get them along the way. Determine what your priorities are.

2004-01-28 7:02 AM
in reply to: #5135

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New user
5

Little Rock, Arkansas
Subject: RE: Gear Talk...
Thanks for the info guys...hey, I watched a sprint tri last year, and it seems like most folks swam in their bike shorts...are there any cons to this? Also, I have been rehabing a weak lower back...will aerobars help take some of the pressure off?

I'm sure I'll find other stuff after my first event, but I appreciate you letting me pick your brain.
2004-01-28 7:44 AM
in reply to: #5222

Veteran
144
10025
Rutland Ohio (South Eastern Ohio)
Subject: RE: Gear Talk...
The shorts you saw in the sprint tri could have been either bike shorts, tri shorts, or jammers. Bike shorts typically have a thicker pad that doesn't shed water quite as well as tri shorts. I personally don't like running in bike shorts because of the thicker pad. Tri shorts have a thin pad that dries quickly typically. The only problem I have seen with these are that the cost is up to double that of bike shorts. Jammers are basically speedos that are the length of bike shorts. These don't have any padding.

If your back/under side can take no pad, it really doesn't matter which you use. The tightness of the all three shorts are supposed to help your legs somehow, but I don't have a clue how.

The first couple multisport events that I ran, I used starter soccer shorts that I bought at walmart. They have "driStar" which is the same type of thing as coolmax.(basically they are supposed to wick water away from you to keep you cooler.

Other suggestions of nice things to have for tri:
Backpack style hydration system...nice to be able to pump lots of fluids on the bike without losing form

Needed:
Goggles
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