Triathlon Gear Reviews

Does anyone remember when Performance Bike was only a website and they didn't have brick-and-mortar stores? And they had all of this really decent equipment and accessories that was very inexpensive? Those days are over, but GearBest seems to be filling the gap. Very decent equipment for someone on a budget, or a beginner who doesn't want to sink hundreds of dollars into equipment, but needs the basic items.

Item is linked here: https://www.gearbest.com/cycling-gloves/pp_269705.html

Gearbest provided this item free of charge for review.

I feel safer wearing this set of lights for running or cycling. The lights blink brightly and make it easier for cars to pick me out, even during the daytime.
Link to the product is here.

https://www.gearbest.com/bike-lights/pp_469314.html



This item was provided free in exchange for this review.

The item ships with a pair of glasses, a sturdy zipper case, a cleaning cloth, a smaller bag if the case is too big, a cord to secure them, a heftier band for skiing or the like, and four additional interchangeable lens colors. The adjustable nose pieces were a big deal for me. I can make them ride higher or lower, and closer or farther from the orbits of my eyes, by bending the nose pads.



https://www.gearbest.com/sunglasses-sports-glasses/pp_173563.html



Disclosure: These sunglasses were provided free of charge in exchange for this review.

The item is a good deal for the price. It's not Bose, but it's also not Bose prices. I would recommend these for most people, but for us folks with small heads and ears, it might not be a great fit.
The company wanted to provide coupon codes for BeginnerTriathlete members. Feel free to use the link below and try the coupon codes listed.
URL: http://www.gearbest.com/sports-fitness-headphones/pp_495762.html?lk...
Coupon code: "GBNLSDB" / $21.99 (expire date: 8.18)
Category:
Consumer Electronics: http://www.gearbest.com/audio-video-c_11239/show.html?lkid=10999344
Coupon code: "GBCE" 13% off
Outdoor: http://www.gearbest.com/lifestyle-c_11270/show.html?odr=trending?lk...
Coupon code: "out10off" 10% off

This was my first experience with a trisuit, and I was really impressed. I might be tempted to use it in longer races, too. Swimming was no problem, even with a serpentine swim that involved a bunch of flip turns and lane changing. It was comfortable on the bike. I'm used to minimal padding, as I train in trishorts almost all the time. For the run, I forgot I was wearing anything special. It just worked and disappeared from my consciousness and I was able to concentrate on my race. Here's a link to the item

I was attending a conference for bloggers last month and a woman, who was closer to my age than most of the attendees, sat down next to me and we started to chat.  She told me that she was from Canada and had developed a product that stops women's' breasts from bouncing when working out, especially running.  I am a D cup, reduced from a DD cup so I was all ears.  I do run a little and while I always thought that my super-duper sports bra kept me in check, I recently passed by a store window and got a glimpse of my moving reflection and it was just not the case.  She said she would love to send me one and began looking in her big bag for a measuring tape. I told her my chest is 43".  "How do you know that," she asked me.   I explained that I am a knitter and we know these things.  She offered to send me an extra-large Buband right away. I was skeptical.







About a month later I received my Buband and was ready to try it out.  It came in an envelope with no instructions.  I was putting it up under my boobs, then straight across my boobs and thought it was another useless accessory.  I then went online and took a look at the video on their website and realized that I was trying to use it "upside down."  If you are interested, watch the video by going to the link below and all your questions will be answered.  The Buband goes above the breasts, not below.  It doesn't hold them up, it forces them down, actually restricting movement.  I did a lot of jumping around and running in place in my bathroom without my Buband creating a visual in my mind to compare (not a pretty visual, but a visual nonetheless), then did the same thing with it on.  There was a huge difference, night and day actually.  I went for a run and I am sold.  The Buband does what it promises, it holds the breasts in place for running and other sports.  It is a game changer for those of us who have had to wear more than one sports-bra at a time, or even bind our breasts to prevent painful and embarrassing bouncing.







The price is just under $40.  Hooray for Buband!







Go to Buband.com for a video of the Buband in action.

Based on my fit experience with the Torpedo 50+, I wouldn't suggest this particular model. Maybe the Versa 200, with it's updated base, would be better? But that model costs quite a bit more.

This would be a nice gift, and I can see how it would be fun to play the afternoon after a race when you just want to sit around and relive the challenges of triathlon. If you have a lot of time and patience, or you've played it before and have someone to explain it, it could be fun.

The 735 is a great watch. It's light, sleek, has a slew of custom features, and the multisport mode works like a dream. I've had a few problems with pool swims that, at first, I attributed to my errors. While some of them were mine, I still have some consistent issues with it recognizing turns.



The watch is probably better for someone who isn't looking for a huge screen with lots of information. When I race, I tend only to look at my watch when it's time to shuffle between activities, or during my run. If you want to see a lot more information at once, the new 935 is probably a better choice.

I purchased these as a winter alternative to my Vibrams, because my toes were getting too cold in Vibrams. These keep my toes away from such close contact with the ground, and keep them together and warmer, but the shoes are actually more porous than the Vibrams. Good for cold and dry, but not cold and wet or snowy.

If you have time to listen to an outstanding interviewer speak with a number of diverse runners about what running means to them, download this podcast. It will enrich your day if not your life.

The Triathlon Project is an engaging piece of nonfiction, part instruction and part memoir. The author is a highly accomplished gentleman, having wrapped up a career in a high-level government position in Finland when he decided to take up triathlon. His story of being weighed before boarding a small aircraft and being shocked at the number on the scale is memorable. Through his eyes, we learn about the effects of different nutritional strategies on weight loss and training, and we remember what it was like when we couldn't run a mile or swim a lap without stopping. His story is heartwarming and encouraging.

This is a good idea, using your cold/ice treatment simultaneously as your muscle roller. Overall, it's pretty well designed. It looks great and does stay frozen for a long time. The ball fits into the housing so it can roll smoothly against your muscles. It takes a little getting used to. Unlike a rubber ball you might use, it doesn't move when you move your body against it. It rolls inside the casing.


Full disclosure, this product was provided free of charge for review by BeginnerTriathlete.

This is a well thought-out product. It's a simple idea, but makes swim workouts fun and spontaneous. I think I could even take my middle school kids in the pool and convince them it's a game they are playing with me while they are getting exercise and improving their stroke. I had been avoiding pool workouts for months, but the packet gave me inspiration to get it. I seemed to roll straight laps just as often as interesting cards, which was good. It made for a balanced workout. The dice are easy to understand. If you roll "Laps" you do the number of laps shown on the other die. If you roll DD for DrillDeck, you draw a card and do the drill described for the number of laps shown on the other die.

Full disclosure, this product was provided free of charge for review by BeginnerTriathlete.

Cold weather gloves for running or biking: These gloves were available at Costco for less than $20. They are durable and have some extras, like a little tab pocket on the backs of the hands for storing one of those chemical heating packs or a key. Drawstring at the wrist is easy to adjust and lock. They are easy to get on and off and very warm. I was outside for several hours in 24 degrees and had no trouble with my hands being cold. Could use a fluffier area at the thumb for wiping the nose. Leather is not as good as fleece for this problem.

These are not made for Alaskan trekking in winter, but they are great fall-winter-spring gloves for running. The index finger has the electronic device pad so you can use a touch screen, which is great if you are using a running app. They included a small clasp to fasten them together so they don't get lost. They are very thin and easy to slip into a pocket or stuff somewhere if you start to get too warm. They are not insulated enough for severe cold weather, but they would make a good liner for thicker mittens because they are so smooth and comfortable.