What you really need to know about your first Triathlon - Part 2 - The SWIM

Ok... congrats... you have just spent Liberia’s GDP on a load of Tri Gear.  And you have signed up for your first Triathlon.  You have probably joined a gym with a swimming pool and feel that that you have this swimming thing somewhat under control.  You are not going to be leading the pack but you are able to get through 750m in one go and you are going to be fine.

WRONG!  VERY WRONG!

Fist warning; never underestimate the swim.

I have never been a competitive swimmer but I would have classed myself as a strong swimmer.  I remember being a kid and getting all my swim badges and was very proud that I could swim from one end of the pool to the other under water.  Unfortunately, that was the last time that I really thought about my swim “stroke” as I am lead to believe it is called.   So I knew that this was going to be an uphill challenge to say the least.  Never mind, I did not get in to this whole Triathlon thing just for it to be easy.

So I did my prep.  I dutifully pitched up the North Sydney pool 3 times a week and get my swim in some sort of shape to be ready for my first Tri.  By the way this pool is great.  It is a salt water pool, open air, and the view is stunning.  I chose it as it was on the way to work, but to be honest I would travel out of my way just to use it.  It is an Art Deco building, built right under the harbour bridge.  Talk about a dramatic setting!

What you need to know!

Swimming and a pool is not swimming in open water.  There is so much more you need to be aware of that and this will all impact how you swim.  The main thing is that a pool is tame and everything is set up to make swimming easier.  You only have to swim 50m until you can have a little rest and stop if you like.  There is fresh water by the side of the pool in case you drink some salt water and need to freshen up, there are neatly marked lanes with a line at the bottom of the pool to follow so you never have to look up.

This is not the case in the open water. You will not have the creature comforts to hand.  Instead, you will be nervous, probably a little sleepy and will have to share the water with anywhere from 20 – 200 other guys. This changes the game.

My advice, find some open water practice and mark out a course that you feel is about 750m.  If in doubt, just swim for about 20min at full pace and this will give you an idea of what you will be up against.

My Experience

It is 5:30am, I have registered for my first triathlon and I am starting to have butterflies in my stomach.  I am looking frantically for something to calm me down.  So I reckon that as long as I am not last, I will be able to save face and put this down to an experience.  So I do the only MAN thing and start checking out the competition.  I am thinking to myself.... I could out run him, and look and fat guy, I can out bike him, and so on.  I am starting to get a bit more relaxed when I notice something odd. They all have red caps in their hands, and I have a black one. Why is this?

I tell myself that they must have run out of red ones and that it is just the luck of the draw.  How mistaken I was. 

So as we watched the pro go off, then the pro girls, the guy who was running the shop announced that they were going to get the real competitive age group off first, the 20-29s and called for everyone with a black cap to get in to the water.

Bollocks!

I am 29 and new to this..... My safety net had just been yanked from under me and there I was with a bunch of 21 year old guys, high on hormones with arms the size of my thighs.  This was going to be a long day. Now I was telling myself until this point to “run your own race” but this plan went out the window.  Not only could I not let these little smucks get the better of me, but there were only 15 of us and all eyes were on me.

I a swim like I never have never swum before.  I make to the fist marker alright and aim for the second.  All the way i am just holding on to the guy in front of me’s legs for a direction.  I can’t see a thing and all I can manage to is to assume that if there are people with me I am going the right way. This seemed to work for about half of the course, but there came a point where I could no longer hold on and I was between groups. This was OK, I though, the group behind will catch up and we will swim to transition and all will be well in the world. Only trouble is that I had been a while and although I was swimming I was not really looking were I should be going.  When I did stop to look around, I soon realised that I was about 50m or more off course and that I would have to swim back.  This was not so easy, as every time I put my head down, I would get lost again.

Needless to say, between the waves, the kicking, getting lost, and generally not being a swimmer, this was tough work.  I go to the shore and was so glad that I could now get on my bike.  This I knew how to do and was going to make up for lost time there. Only trouble was that I was in such a daze that just remembering where my bike was, proved to be tricky... but that is another story.

Advice:

·         Practice open water swimming at least once a week

·         Work with a coach or swim school to get you stroke and breaking down, as technique is all important here.

·         Time in the water is the only way to get strong. 

·         Swim distance –and swim race pace.

·         Look where you are going and build it in to your stroke. Not something to only think about on race day.

·         Be safe, and call for help if you need it.

Cervelo S1 Review - BikeRadar

Cervelo S1 Review - BikeRadar

Great bike... I rode one for about a year, every day as my commuter and dispite a rough ride, it was quick as Sh*t off a Shovel.

What you really need to know for your first Triathlon – Part 1 - Gear

So there I was... at the side of the water clutching my swim cap in my hand and frankly speaking "Bricking It".  How the hell did I end up by the side of the water in a back water town south of Sydney, dressed in a one piece leotard with 300 full grown adults all in a same position?  More importantly, why?

This stupid idea all started when I made a comment that doing a marathon was too common and that the only real remaining challenge for your average Joe was the ironman.  Yep that is right. Who would not want to swim 4 km, bike 180km and run a marathon, all in one 17 hour race. Sounds like kicks.

So, confident that the bike leg would be easy I said that I would like to give it a go one day. Not wanted to jump in too fast, I signed up straight away for the Ironman 70.3 in Yeppoon this Ausgust.

STUPID, STUPID, STUPID

Now knowing that I am a OK swimmer, and by OK I mean I can swim from one end of the pool to the other without stopping I was sure this was going to ok.  Also the fact the up until this challenge I was sure that some people were made for running and others were not.  I knew which camp I was in and had no inclination to question Mother Nature. As such, all I knew, is that I could ride a bike half way decent. This is surely enough to get me though the sport most athletes rate and number one in the ball achingling hard scales.

Still, I was determined to give it and go and was going to get 'race fit'.  So the first thing i did was by a copy of Triathlon Plus and figure out want kit I was going to need.  This is of course the most important part of any race prep.  One can't turn up to the start line, wearing an old pair of gym shorts, and expect to be competitive.  One must look competitive first, and than be competitive second. These is a well know law of nature.

So wallet in hand, I attacked 2XU with a vengeance never before seen.  Although I secretly wanted the whole "Sha-Bang" I limited myself to the following:

THE KIT REQUIRED TO LOOK THE BIZ:

Please Note: You will not look like this!

Tri Suit - One Piece or 2 Piece.  Really all that matters is that you have something that you can swim in, bike, in and run in. But where is the fun in that.  There are a lot of different trisuits that are on the market, but the most common at the start line is 2XU.  They idea is the hyrdo-phobick, streamline, ya da, ya da.  I just got the one that make me look less fat!  The 2XU endurance is always a good bet as it has a bit better padding for the bike.  Although, if you are insistent that you need only the best than the Super Elite is no different to the average athlete and cost 50% more. Still, it looks good and that is half the battle.

Asics 2050

Running Shoes - Vital - Not only are you going to be saving yourself injury, and gain loads of comfort on training runs, but these puppies really do need to have all teh go faster stripes that you can find.  Asics make a good pair of shoes, as to Nike and Adidas.  You will find all sorts of neon coloured race shoes, but in this regard I would go with whatever is going to give you the most support. This matters.

Goggles - Again in keeping with my assault on 2XU thought this was a safe bet.  Also, they came only in mirrored, which I was told was to block the sun.  In reality, I was perfect to hide the fear in my eyes at the start line. This is botha good thing and a bad thing.  In retrospect, I would go for some mirrored for the sunny days and one light coloured ones for the crappy days.



Less is more: This guy is serious about his Fredness!



A Bike - Of course a tri specific bike is not needed. In fact, you would be crazy to buy one until you know if you really like this thing or not.   That being said there are things that can be done to make a road bike more “Tri Friendly”.  One of these is the clip on aero bars.  There is a lot of different ones on the market, but really the best ones are the shorter “Stubby” tri bars.  These give a better position on the bike for a more Aero.  Remember though, there is always the drops.

Please note the "twat hat"

A Helmet – This is a must and the marshals will be quite German about the Helmet rules. You must do everything by the letter or the law.  This means, you are not able to enter transition without wearing (and fasting) your helmet. You cannot touch your bike without your helmet on first and you cannot take it off (or unclip) until your bike is racked. There are no acceptations, trust me.

Please Note: Although you make see it on TV.  Unless you really know your stuff of have the bike the match you do not need a “Twat Hat” AKA an Aero Helmet.  These are optional, and look silly on everyone and even sillier on someone riding a 10 year old supermarket mountain bike going 10kmph.  Trust me I have seen this and it was not pretty.

Race Belt – Often over looked but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.  You need to wear a race number. At the same time you have to swim first. Unless you are going to spend a few minutes in transition, after drinking half the sea from the swim and feeling like you just took a hit from the world’s biggest bong and carefully pin it to yourself, I would spend the $20 bucks.  Your choice though.

Lock Laces - No self respecting triathlete has time to tie their own shoes. Or knows how. These will save you at least 10 vital seconds on race day. Regardless, your head will be spinning out of the water and you will be thankful not to have to think too much.

Stay tuned for:

Part Two – The Rules

Part Three – What to expect and lessons learnt

Part Four – Try not to sink, crash or crawl

Catline Whisper Plus..... saved my life... but still looks goofy

Catlike Whisper Plus


Be cool while not really looking cool.  The acquired taste of cycling helmets.


Right... this is a marmite accessory.  You will love the Catlike look, or you will HATE it.  I love it, but i can perfectly see what most would think that it looks ridiculous.

The only way that i have been able to describe how the Catlike looks, is well... imagine this. Headbutting and Bee Hive! 

It's unique look was most notable when the Cervelo Test Team decided in their Swiss craziness that this was a good idea.  Before this, the Catlike Boof was only sported by some angry (non) Spanish teams and lets face in.  In the mind of the Fred, there is nothing cooler than Cervelo.  Besides special edition Cervelo. 

At first sight I though that the Cervelo Test Team (CTT) had the slickest kit, the coolest bikes and some of the best riders but the stupidest helmets in the tour.  They did make them easily spotted that event Eurosport's own Sean Kelly was able to tell them apart from the other well oiled, <65kg pro riders in the peloton.

Now I must confess, have now bought 2.  The fist one was cursed.  I was in Spain on a cycling tour with FreeRideSpain and had a well deserved rest day in town.  Being a Semi Fred, my first point of call was the local bike shop to see if there was anything there that would get me up the huge climb (42km Up) we had planned the other day. 

Unfortunately they did not stock "magic legs" but they did have a huge stock of Catlike Helmets, Sunnies, and even socks.  Well, this was my chance.  Wiggle had long been sold out of the Whisper Helmets and now I had the change to look like Thor (not sure if that was a good look... great rider...but the "Viking Good looks" are not somethings that does for the Mrs).

So I got the sucker.  I convinced my self that the exchange rate was the same as it had been 30 years ago and that buying Spanish products in Spain must be cheaper than Wiggle.  We all know that the Wiggle economy is no match for a country the meager size of Spain.


The Review: A helmet is a helmet?  Nope... there are good ones, bad ones and great ones.  This is great!  It feels light and you forget it is there, even on the hottest of climbs you do not notice it.  The vents in the front get twice as much air around your noggin as a Giro Ionos and this really does cool you down.  So much so, that in the winter I need to use a cycling cap (Rapha I am ashamed to admit) to avoid a brain freeze akin to downing a 2 litre Slush Puppy in 30 seconds.

So why was it cursed.... Fredness comes before a fall or in this case a colossal crash.  I had been sold some magic wheels that at 1100g a set we sure to counter the 5-10 extra KGs I was carrying.  The only trouble was that they were Tubs and being new to the idea I though that taping tubs was a good idea in the Spanish heat.  This on it's own is not much of an issues.  The fact that I was breaking like a little girl on the 100kmh decent had caused the tape to melt and me to end up on the floor. 

It is surprising that as the roads were so smooth, I stayed in one piece.  That can't be said for the first Catlike Helmet.  It took a direct hit and shattered in to 7 bits held together my the shell.  So in other words it did its job and saved my life.

I thought that if this thing saved my life once, that was enough to be brand loyal.  I like my head where it is and having something that is proven works for me. The only issue is that if you crash and you wear a Giro helmet, the nice guys give there give your broken ass a new one or at least half price one.  Catlike on the other hand, not so much.  I called them to see if i could get a free helmet as I acted as a crash test dummy for them and all i heard on the other end was

"?Que?" 

Still... i have the Catlike Chrono on order to match my Cervelo P3 and the Whisper Plus for my R3.  I am such a tart, but I can't help it.  They are for me the best.

Why Sidis are Crap but I love them!

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm   Pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That gentleman, they are.  Stunning.  There is nothing quite like a pair of Sidi Ergo 2 Vernice to say "Hey, I am Euro Too".  It is the cycling equivalent of a vespa covered in pasta.  The thing is, they are not very good as a shoe.  I have know this for many years.  And now on my 4th pair of Sidis it really does not matter.

So here are the problems...

No 1:  The World's Crappiest Insole!

It is basically a thin sheet of card that is kind of in the shape of the shoe.  This offers no support, vibration dampening or any other discernible benefit.  Most of the LBS guys that stock them will throw in a pair on the Specialized ones if you ask nice, and know that this is a must change.

No 2: Made of Magma!

They weigh a ton.  Well they are not that bad, but if you compare them to S-Works road shoe the difference is very noticeable.  I know it is only a few grams here and there.  But you are going to be lifting that 70-80 times a minute and it can make a difference.  Even if just a small one.

No 3: Breakable!

There is a lot on these puppies and hence a lot that can go wrong.  I have snapped, dislodged and broken most things on them.  I am often a fan of KISS.  Keep it simple stupid.  I can't say that this zen like approach is understood by the Italians.

No 4: Price

You will have to mortgage your first born and commit a pound of flesh if you go through shoes at the rate i do.  These guys are not cheap and are about as expensive as they get.  Although retailers "can't" discount they often will and there are some good deals to be had around eBay etc. Never the less you are still going to part with at least $300 - $500 by the time you are done.

So why do i buy them, time and time again!

They are pretty!

They are the prettiest I have ever seen and they feel so special.  There is something about having stupidly loud shoes that makes half way decent athletes feel that they are stepping up a level.  I will always go for these for the Sunday ride, not cause they are the best, but because they make me feel the best.

Mine a Red Vernice at the moment and I bought them so I could click my heals together and say "there is no place like home" and no matter how far out I am they will take me straight home.  By the way, I have tried this, and damn you Dorthy! They don't work.

My advice.  The best shoe out there is the S-Works, but the most special is the Ergo 2.  You choose

The Confession of a Semi Fred

Greetings,

Ok.  I admit it.  I am a Fred... I am not a road racer, nor a great triathlete but i have all the gear and bike and yes, these are all colour matched.  It is my MAN present.  I bring flowers home for the Mrs and Bar tape (white of course) for the bike.  It is my little me time. 

I ride every Sunday with other Freds who compete on "frediness" with each other.  The advent of the Dogma, Assos, Rapha, Sidi, Fizik, Di2 ornaments has created a group of 30-50 year olds with bike that even the top pros would be happy to ride.  After 80k we are all focused on the sprint to the coffee shop counter, not the finish line. 

So why am i sharing this?

Cause you know you are a Semi Fred too.

I will post reviews, ideas and comments on all the shinny, carbon, Ti, Vernice gadgets we all know and love. As well as where to get the best band for your buck, to ensure Fred Supremacy in the local chain gang.

Yours,

Semi Fred