Triathlon is a gear-intensive sport, and it is easy to get carried away buying all the expensive toys in the beginning. If you are training for your first triathlon, it is only necessary to buy the basics and save the second-shaving accessories for when you have more experience. If you enjoy your first triathlon, you can expand your equipment for the next race.
History
The first triathlons in the early 1970s were Speedo-clad tests of muscle and endurance, but as the sport matured, swimming, biking and running equipment also evolved to improve a triathlete's efficiency, recovery and speed. In the early 1990s, Scott bicycles introduced aerodynamic triathlon handlebars, called “aero bars,” that reduced wind resistance by about 20 percent, according to a 1999 study conducted by researchers at the Exercise Science Unit of the University of Tennessee. The first triathletes swam without wetsuits, but in 1982, Promotion released the first streamlined, buoyant wetsuits designed for swimming. In the latter half of the 2000s, wet-suit-like “skin suits” gained popularity in nonwetsuit races.
Function
Triathlon gear can be separated into three categories: comfort, speed and recovery. Triathlon shorts have a thinner chamois than bike shorts to shed water quickly from the crotch area. The majority of swimming and biking accessories reduce water and wind drag. Slower swimmers benefit most from buoyant and streamlined wetsuits, while the fastest cyclists, which are those who average 20 mph, benefit most from aerodynamic bike accessories. Compression socks and tights improve blood circulation during and after a workout to speed the triathlete’s recovery.
Swim Gear
Choose a swim suit made from a chlorine-resistant fabric. You also need a cap and goggles, and can choose to train with hand paddles and kickboards. A wetsuit will keep you warm in open water and according to an experiment by elite triathlete Duane Dobko, can save almost eight seconds per 100 m. Use lubricant so you can remove your wetsuit easily in transition.
Bike Gear
For a triathlon, a mountain or hybrid bike is too slow. Use a road bike with clip-on aero bars or a triathlon-specific bike. Install a bike computer to track your workouts. You also need appropriate training clothing, including padded bike shorts and jerseys with pockets. Clipless pedals that attach to cleats on your riding shoes improve your pedaling efficiency, leading to faster speeds and fresher legs on the run. Some triathletes use aerodynamic wheels and helmets for racing, but these are not necessary.
Running Gear
For running, you need little more than sweat-whicking clothing and a pair of running shoes that support your feet. For racing, use a race belt so you can put on your bib number quickly in transition without safety pins. Consider buying lace locks, which are bungees that replace your shoelaces and eliminate the need to tie your shoes in a race.
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