As we are all interested to know what others do & use when they train or race, we have asked a number of triathletes, of all abilities, "what sort of gear do you use", and for any tri tips.
So far Russell, Robyn, Luke McKenzie, Nikki, Justin, Ryoko, Matty White, Bin, Damo, Belinda Granger, Emma, Kelly, Simon Thompson, Graeme, Grant, Fredrick Croneborg, JM, Charlotte McShane, Rob, Gina Crawford, Penny, Ali Fitch, Brad Beven, Dave, Louise, Luke Bell, Steve, Tim Beardall, Big Simon, Ronnie, Justin Granger, Marcus, Karen, Tim, Berky, Freddy Lampret, Glen, Peta, Michelle Wu, Tim Berkel, Mitch Anderson, Derek, Kate, Courtney Atkinson, Daniel, Ben, Haydn, Kylie, Paul Mackay, John, Ashan, Simon, Helen and Amy have all shared their answers with us.
There have also been some updates provided recently! We hope you enjoy the following:
Amy
Amy's transformation from a "bit of a jogger" to a "real" triathlete has been a delight to watch. Always positive and with a tenacious will (who else would have done the Long Course on a hybrid) her tips reflect her love of the sport & they follow:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | After a long time on my Giant Elwood se hybrid (Slim), I took the big step, emptied my bank account & got a Cervelo P2 (Cecil). Now the thought of going back to the hybrid frightens me. I am unsure of how I did go kart track hills on that thing. I sometimes think I should have upgraded sooner but I don't think I would appreciate the change to Cecil as much. |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano TR70s |
| Helmet | A dodgy hand me down. I want to upgrade but would prefer to spend my money on shoes |
| Wheels | Easton circuit |
| Tyres | Vittoria Rubino PRO Slick |
| Sunglasses | Oakley sports & Oakley Jawbones. Black & Red ... ebay bargain ! Without ebay I swear we would all be half naked at events ! |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel Cumulus 13. I am soon going to invest in a pair of Nike Free Run 2's |
| Racing flats | Asics DS - Sky Speed 2 .. they were lime green so I had to buy them. The brighter they are, the faster they go! (I wish) |
| Goggles | Aqua Sphere Vista - they cover more of the face, and are supposed to stop the post swim goggle eyes, but some mornings they leak so I revert back to the trusty Speedos. |
| Wetsuit | Using a hand me down at the moment |
| Tri gear I wear .. | Currently, my favourite is a Zoot 1 piece. It is the best suit I've ever worn .. so comfortable! Plus it was an absolute bargain. |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | A magical tri suit that is flattering ha ha! |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | doing at least two nervous wee's |
| Best tri advice ... | Always do your best, that way you cannot have regrets later |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | I cannot think of anything I've done that has affect my tri race. I think I have been pretty lucky! I'm bound to mess up sometime soon and I guarantee everyone will know about it! |
| Favourite race .. | The Enduro Tri ! I love seeing people going everywhere & not being able to tell which stage everyone is at. I love that everyone has their strengths and weakesses - it makes the races so much fun ! |
| Any other tips or hints? | Be patient with training. Everything takes time and as long as you are consistent in your training you will see steady improvements. Have fun with everything you do and always try to be positive. Positive people are happy people ! |
| A very positive Amy in her favourite Zoot tri suit .. |  |
Helen
Helen will soon be on the start line for her very first 70.3 event. Her long distance race inexperience leads to some very refreshing answers when it comes to her tri tips. Thanks Helen.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Argon 18 Krypton road bike |
| Bike shoes | Pear Izumi |
| Helmet | Cheap one from ToyWorld but I hope to have Simon's hand me down soon! |
| Wheels | Whatever came with the bike |
| Tyres | Ditto |
| Sunglasses | Oakley black ... Phuket special but the lady assured me they are real |
| Running shoes | Brooks Trance |
| Racing flats | Nil |
| Goggles | Predators ... also the best Kris Kringle present ever |
| Wetsuit | Not yet but will be getting one for Busso |
| Tri gear I wear .. | Pearl Izumi shorts and 2XU tri top |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | A bike that fits properly, a super small one |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Knowing where the toilets are ... oh the nerves! |
| Best tri advice .. | Make sure you have time to stop and look at the scenery |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Signing up for Sri Lanka 70.3 six weeks before the event when the longest distance I have done the sprint distance at local Katherine tri's. |
| Favourite race.. | Sri Lank 70.3 ... I'm hoping |
| Any other tips or hints? | Listen to Daryl .. he seems to know what he is taking about. |
Helen is making the giant leap from Sprint Distance to 70.3 ..... |  |
Simon
It hasn't taken Simon long to adapt fully to the triathlon style of life. He has Phuket 70.3 under his belt now and has Sri Lanka and others in his sights. His advice follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo P3 and a Suzuki GSXR for when I want to go a bit faster |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano white ones that have been around for a while now |
| Helmet | Met blue and silver, pretty comfy, makes a lot of noise in the wind. Not quite ready to go aero just yet, but peer group pressure is getting to me. |
| Wheels | Shimano dura ace C24 clinchers (very handy in Phuket) and just recently acquired some hand made 50mm carbon wheels that are untested but they will get their first rev in Sri Lanka |
| Tyres | Continental on the Shimano wheels and Michellins on the carbon wheels |
| Sunglasses | Imitation Oakleys thanks to great bargaining in Phuket |
| Running Shoes | Currently Saucony Kinvara but knowing me, likely to change soon |
| Racing Flats | Not yet |
| Goggles | On race day I always go with the trusty clear lense Speedos |
| Wetsuit | One with lots of air cells in it (forgot the brand name) - never swam better in my life. Hardest thing ever to take off though. Due to wear and tear probably going to have to upgrade for Busselton. |
| Tri gear I wear ... | 2XU 2 piece and Rocket Science one piece. Kind of prefer the 2 piece at the moment. |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | If I keep travelling outside Katherine to do triathlon then I think a bike bag is not far from the top of the list |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Thinking at least once ... what the hell am I doing ?? |
| Best tri advice ... | It's not a sport, it's a lifestyle |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Leading on the bike leg, turned down the wrong street, not leading on the bike leg anymore. Now I always make sure I listen to the race briefing. |
| Favourite race | 2011 Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific at Phuket. Wild, wet and the hills, good fun! |
| Any other tips or hints? | Always choose your event location wisely so you can cash in on the holiday you so deserve afterwards |
Simon recommends holiday mode immediately after events .... |  |
Ashan
Ashan might only be training for his first triathlon goal event, but he has a long history in swim & run. His insights are listed below:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo P2. I was looking all over the country for a Felt B14 in my size, to no avail, and was offered this instead at an amazing price. It was love at first sight and haven't looked back since ! |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano TR52 |
| Helmet | A cheapish Lazer 02 |
| Wheels | Easton Vista. A mate is building a set of 50mm aeros for me which I'll hopefully use for my first half ironman |
| Tyres | Vittoria Rubino's (they came with the bike) |
| Sunglasses | Haven't got any ~ it's not like there's much sun in Katherine anyway |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel Kayano. Every six months or so I get a new pair of these - it would take a lot of persuading to get me changing from them |
| Racing flats | Happy to stick with the Kayano's |
| Goggles | Zoggs - they were the cheapest the local Katherine pool were selling |
| Wetsuit | Don't own one. How I see it, if I'm racing any event were wetsuits are allowed, then the water is far too cold for me ! |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Orca Tri Suit |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Sunnies |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | ... preparing for it. You enjoy the sport so much more when you don't want to die half way through it. |
| Best tri advice ... | Don't take the swim out too hard. It's a triathlon, not a swimming race. There's not a lot to gain by swimming 30s quicker and having nothing left in the tank for the other two legs. I've learnt the hard way! |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Not starting when I was younger. I come from a long swimming background and have always run - I should have made the transition to triathlon earlier. |
| Favourite Race | I haven't got one yet, triathlon is new to me this year. Hoping my first 70.3 in Sri Lanka can take this spot. |
| Any other tips or hints? | Listen to your body. It's a wonderful machine if you look after it, it falls apart when you don't! |
Ashan is relatively new to tri but he has the swim and run well covered ... |  |
John
A high flyer, John is pretty new to racing but has put together a useful swag of tri gear and certainly looks the part. His answers follow here:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Specialized Rubaix, a comfortable ride |
| Bike Shoes | Specialized, they are white and I'm amazed at how clean they still are |
| Helmet | Always. Helps keep the sun off my balding head |
| Wheels | Mavic Ksyrium |
| Tyres | Continental, Schwalbe, they all work |
| Sunglasses | Oakley, used to have Arnette glasses, but they would slide down the nose while running and also fog up a lot. |
| Running Shoes | Asics, I have tried other brands, but always seem to come back to them. |
| Racing Flats | It took me awhile to figure this out, but apparently these are shoes and not a level grade of the road, and yes, I have a pair of Asics. |
| Goggles | Aquasphere |
| Wetsuit | Haven't worn it yet, but it's a BlueSeventy |
| Tri Gear I wear... | BlueSeventy, Orca. I think I like the two piece option |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | I would seem that a bicycle and helmet are mandatory for triathlon |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Maybe a new bicycle. We'll see how this year's tax return works out. |
| Best tri advice ... | I'm all ears. Being new to the three discipline sport, I have limited advice to give, but don't tie up the drawstring on your tri pants too tight comes to mind. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Tying the drawstring on my tri pants up too tight |
| Favourite race .. | Don't have one just yet, I've only competed in a small number of club races so far. |
| Any other tips or hints? | You will have fun. As well as a sport, triathlon is an addiction. |
| John's on a steep tri learning curve but has all the necessary gear to look the part ... |  |
Paul Mackay
WA legend Paul has a wealth of triathlon experience under his belt. Competing in Europe he once won the Swiss national tri series and won a car for a year ! 8th at Busso 70.3 in 4.01 and recently 2nd in the Australia Duathlon Series, Paul was happy to share his gear choices with us. Thanks Paul.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cannondale Slice |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano TRS1 |
| Helmet | Louis Garneau Chrono |
| Wheels | Mavic Cosmic Carbone |
| Tyres | Varies |
| Sunglasses | Ryders |
| Running Shoes | Saucony - various |
| Racing flats | Saucony A2 |
| Goggles | View Shinari |
| Wetsuit | Speedo STRX |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Cyclemania triathlon race kit |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | Power meter |
| I wouldn't go to a race without .. | A positive attitude |
| Best tri advice .. | Consistent training is the key to success |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Arriving to races too late - always get there at least 1 hour before |
| Favourite Race ... | Busselton 70.3 and Bardolino Triathlon in Italy |
| Any other hints or tips? | Enjoy yourself |
Paul in action ... |  |
Kylie
Endurance Queen Kylie is unstoppable. With a bent for picking events that test her to the limits the current Tri de 24 hr overall winner shares her thoughts on tri tricks here:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Kermit (heavy green hand-me-down) was put on the scrap heap after falling apart during an Ironman training ride; Gonzo (silver Lemond) got me through four Ironman races. I recently upgraded to Wally - a red and white Cervelo (P2C maybe?) and acquired a red and black Giant MTB (so far unnamed). |
| Bike Shoes | Big |
| Helmet | Hopefully one that works but won't be tested |
| Wheels | Round ones |
| Tyres | Also round |
| Sunglasses | Several for Ironman, one to forget and leave at an aid station after putting on sunscreeen and another to throw away after the sun goes down during the run (although last Ironman I was excited to finish BEFORE the sun went down!). |
| Running Shoes | Asics 1100 series + orthotics |
| Racing Flats | Oh yes please, I much prefer a flat race than a hilly one (so I really should review my race choices). PS No racing flats shoes yet, unless you count my Asics with elastic laces in them? |
| Goggles | Yes |
| Wetsuit | One that is way too hot for Darwin |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Bright stuff that is easy for my support crew to find me in |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | A lottery slot to Kona |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | I usually find a bike, helmet, bike shoes, goggles, running shoes, hat, sunscreen, spare tube and pump, Gu and drinks pretty useful. KFC, coke and beer for recovery, as well as Jacaranda iced coffee if my Queensland support crew is there. |
| Best tri advice ... | Put one foot in front of the other and repeat .... amazing how far that theory can get you. Train properly - seems to make you go faster and recover better - who would have thought? Enter the race BEFORE looking at elevation charts, previous race reports or anything else that might discourage you ( ha ha ha - maybe that should go under my biggest tri mistake instead?) |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Noosa 2001 - didn't have spares or know how to change a tyre, still finished but had to run 8km of the bike leg. Thinking Ironman fitness could replace lots of mountain bike experience to through Tour de Timor, turns out it could ... but only just ! |
| Favourite race | Probably Noosa Triathlon as I've been ten times and my family is usually there, the finish line of any Ironman and the 24 Hr Tour de Tri ... gotta love a race with 81 transitions. |
| Any other tips or hints? | Homemade museli bar slice during endurance races. Training is cheating (ok, I'm starting to come around). |
Kylie with the silver Lemond, in big shoes taking a quick break in training at a Bunnings sausage sizzle .... |  |
Haydn
Pocket rocket Haydn has taken off on the bike since acquiring his new ride which is a little scary for some when added to his run ability. He's given us an insight into his gear choices below:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | I'm am now the proud owner of a Cervelo P3 Dua Ace named "Severus" (after a few name changes) |
| Bike Shoes | Specialized - with too many straps |
| Helmet | Very old, very out of date and still have some left over sticker from the Arafura Games ... souvenir |
| Wheels | Eastern - but hoping to invest in some Zippy wheels shortly |
| Tyres | Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick |
| Sunglasses | Sundog with air vents, for those cool mornings when the glasses fog up |
| Running Shoes | Nike Free Run 3.0 Can't go past them. Best shoe and so cheap !! |
| Racing Flats | Um, don't believe I have any but that's because I'm not totally sure what they are |
| Goggles | Zoggs that are reflective, however I can't really see out of them either |
| Wetsuit | 2XU T2 - big 2XU fan |
| Tri gear I wear ... | 2XU tri suit and not much else |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | New tri suit. New Garmin 310XT GPS |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Severus, my new P3. The ride leg would be rather slow without it |
| Best tri advice .. | Don't hurt yourself before a race |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Rolling my ankle one week before the Katherine Ultra Challenge having a practice on the x-country course ... and then competing in the Katherine Ultra Challenge ... made it though |
| Favourite race | Is a tie. Arafura Games Triathlon and Katherine Ultra Challenge. Arafura Tri first serious race (for me). The excitment, the atmosphere. KUC - hardest race but such a good vibe. Great country race |
| Any other tips or hints? | Listen to Daryl, eat before every race, just not too much. Enjoy the experience and have fun, even when it hurts, it's temporary. There's no point doing something if you don't enjoy it. So enjoy !!! |
| Severus, the highly prized new P3 ... |  |
Ben
Ben is a quiet achiever with a love of long course triathlon. A busy family bloke, he's working steadily towards his goals. His equipment list and tri tricks follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Wilier |
| Bike Shoes | SIDI |
| Helmet | Giro |
| Wheels | Zipp 808's |
| Tyres | Vittoria Evo Corsa |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel DS Trainer |
| Racing flats | ZOOT Ultra |
| Goggles | Speedo |
| Wetsuit | 2XU |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Two piece 2XU |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | SHIV or Speed concept 9.9 |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My support crew (my wife and baby boy) |
| Best tri advice ... | Stretch your calfs just before you hop off the bike to help loosen your legs up for the run |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not enough breakfast |
| Favourite race | Cairns |
Ben whips off the Speedo goggles .... |  |
Daniel is an enthusiastic individual and has taken to triathlon like a duck to water. He shares his unique triathlon tips and advice with us here:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Time trial - only way to make your eyes water |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano tri ones - they are white? |
| Helmet | Spuik time trial, so light and comfortable I'm thinking about wearing it on the mountain bike ! |
| Wheels | Zipp - actually do make a difference |
| Tyres | Continental force and Attack - good compromise between speed and puncture resistance |
| Sunglasses | I squint - trick is to run faster than the speed of light, not there yet but I've got a plan! |
| Running Shoes | Nike Free Run - you will convert too, just a matter of time ... |
| Racing Flats | Would it be bad if I asked what racing flats are? |
| Goggles | Blue ones ?? |
| Wetsuit | Black one with no sleeves ... |
| Tri gear I wear ... | trisuit - only way to be legally nude ... Garmin 310XT GPS |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Super speedy time trial bike |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Knowing when and where the briefing is |
| Best tri advice ... | Keep focused on having fun - we do this because we enjoy it .. |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Thinking that a hearty meal couple of hours before race will help maintain energy levels |
| Favourite race .. | Katherine Ultra Challenge - nothing else even comes close |
| Any other hints or tips? | Listen to everything others have to say, then go talk to Daryl ! :) Cling wrap - remember you read it here first, cling wrap holds things to frame WITHOUT compromising aerodynamics; I've conducted my own independent "wind from fan" testing and it is far superior to using tape to hold spare tubes. |
Daniel in the Spuik .... |  |
Courtney is one of those blokes you can be forgiven for thinking was born a triathlete. It's been interesting to follow his career from way back in the days when he competed as a school kid at National Schools Championships. He has 5 World Cup wins to his credit, is a three time Noosa winner and is a medal hope for Australia at the 2012 London Olympics. We really appreciate Courtney taking the time to complete TriTricks for us.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | At the moment riding an Orbea Orca but also have a new Orbea Ordu waiting to ride for Noosa later in the year. |
| Helmet | RedBull custom designed Orbea Rune |
| Wheels | Wheel of choice at moment is Zipp 404 Firecrest |
| Tyres | Vittoria Corse Evo CX 23mm |
| Sunglasses | Oakley Radar or Fast Jacket depending on mood |
| Running Shoes | Various |
| Racing flats | Various |
| Goggles | Orca |
| Wetsuit | Orca Alpha |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Orca range |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | I am luck I race for companies that I would chose their gear anyhow ! |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Paw Paw cream |
| Best tri advice ... | Pacing, pacing and pacing. Remember there is plenty of time to catch people who start to fast. |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Worse I have seen racing at world class level is someone bringing two right cycling shoes to a race! Big problem ! |
| Favourite race | Noosa and the old Laguna Phuket Triathlon |
| Any other tips or hints? | I like to think everyone has their own different reasons for participating in this sport. So no matter how fast or why you choose to race, triathlon offers everyone a chance to feel like they have won ! I love seeing the satisfaction people at somewhere like Noosa get simply finishing the race. I haven't been to Ironman but I can image it is like this but at even a greater emotional level. Triathlon is easier if you practice in training specific to a race. Run off hard bike rides every so often. Ride after swimming every so often. Makes it a lot easier when you know what it feels like. |
| Courtney is an elite ITU athlete and we'll be sending go faster vibes his way as he continues to race to qualify for 2012 London Olympics ... |  |
Kate
Kate's been hit by the tri bug and now that Arafura Games triathlon is done and won, is looking further afield with lots of enthusiasm and a sense of fun. Here is Kate's welcome contribution to TriTricks:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | A "Gee that's heavy", "Your bike is too small Kate". Daz it is actually a 2008 Giant women's OCR2 I will have you know. Ha ha. However I am soon to be the proud owner of a 2010 Cervelo P3 Dura-Ace. |
| Bike shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | A no frills helmet, complete with sun visor! Looking to upgrade, preferable red in colour. |
| Wheels | "Heavy wheels" Daz lol |
| Tyres | Gatorskins |
| Sunglasses | None currently. Lost them at the Katherine Races 2011 (scheduled rest day .. promise Daz), oops. Currently test wearing many different Oakley designs, however I think my head must be a weird shape as most of them seem to squeeze the sides of my skull. Too many brain cells perhaps? |
| Running Shoes | Asics GT2150s, had multiple pairs over the years however I am looking for a change |
| Racing flats | Pining for a pair of the wonderfully colourful Asics Women's Noosa Tri 2011 shoes |
| Goggles | Speedo |
| Wetsuit | Yet to invest. So still able to use the excuse that they give an unfair advantage and everybody needs to toughen up ! |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Rocket Science 20PBM suit |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | Asics Women's Gel-Noosa tri 6 2011 shoes, sunglasses, helmet |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My Katherine training buddies ! |
| Best tri advice .. | Pop on a big smile, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy yourself ! |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Always eating too much feed before a race/training session, oh the nausea and the burps ! |
| Favourite race | Arafura Games Triathlon 2011 |
| Any other tips or hints? | Don't overeat (Kate) pre race/training session |
Kate in her Rocket Science 20BPM suit ... |  |
Derek's main focus is Adventure races. He is in his element tackling the offroad multisport races that usually include trail running, mountain biking and kayaking, most of the the races he does do, also involve swimming. One of the more wordy responses received to date ... thanks Derek !
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Road: Fondriest Domino (very pretty, a bike that is more about looking good than going fast, which in the end is the main point ... isn't it ? MTB: GT Zaskar Pro - Carbony awesomeness |
| Bike Shoes | Road: Northwave Aerlite 3 MTB: Northwave Rebel |
| Helmet | Lazer 02 - it's new & only been on one or two rides, but I think we are going to get on well together. Clever adjustment system and I gather the padding can be washed, which is useful in Darwin. |
| Wheels | Road: Mavic Ksyrium Elite MTB: Shomano XT UST |
| Tyres | Road: Gatorskins in the Wet, not sure what I will change to for the Dry MTB: Geax Saguaro TNT 2.00" Front and back running tubeless - only had one race with them, but seem good. Previously had WTB ExiWolf but wasn't a huge fan, they seemed twitchy on corners. Unlike many people I don't run a more aggressive tyre on the front. Most of the course I race aren't all that technical, so I tend to err on the side of lower rolling resistance over excessive traction. |
| Sunglasses | Prescription |
| Running Shoes | Asics GT 2160 |
| Racing Flats | Good heavens no |
| Goggles | Speedo Swedish - simple, old school. I used to swim with these as a kid and have always been a big fan, except when they snapped on the start line of my last race. |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy Helix - stretchy goodness |
| Boat | Epic V10 - getting on now, but still a great boat - got to love somthing that is 6.5m long and weighs the same amount as my mountain bike |
| Paddle | Orka Inner - decent paddle, does the job, got it cheap when I bought my last boat |
| Tri gear I wear | 2XU trisuit for tris, although I am thinking of going to a two piece. For short adventure races: Slazenger BioSlyx (Big W) is pretty cheap and reasonably comfortable to paddle in which is important. The price means it doesn't cost me $100 if I trash it during a race (unlike skins). I tried using a trisuit but if chaffed when I kayaked. For long adventure races: whatever the conditons require, potentially lots of thermals and wind proof gear. |
| Tri gear on my wish list. . | That's a long list, top few items (pending wife approval) would be: Tri bike - Cervelo P3 would be nice, or possibly something from Felt. Who am I kidding, pretty much anything would be good at the moment; Race wheels & new racing ski. |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My support crew (ie wife) 100mph tape |
| Best tri advice ... | My best year of racing so far happened to coincide with the year I realised that I went faster if I didn't miss training session. I figured it probably wasn't a coincidence. Pacing and nutrition are critical during the race. Time spent getting familiar with the course is time well spent. Also, as I found out in my last race, if your Gu's get covered in mud, wide the mud off first. Needless to say I was pretty sick after the race. |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Pushing to much in a paddle leg to make up for a slow hire boat and then bonking hard in the run; training injured. |
| Favourite race .. | Hard one. There used to be a race in WA called the Great Souther, it was an expedition style adventure race. It involved finding checkpoints via running, mountain biking and paddling over two days in a team of 4. You had to have 3 people on the course the whole time, so you got to take turns having a rest. The first year they ran it, they were a bit ambitious with the course and as a result it took a long time (our total time was 25 hrs). Combined with some horrific weather, of the 50 teams that started only 18 finished. At the time I am not sure you could say I was having fun, but it is one of the only race I have done where I genuinely didn't care about the result and was very happy just to have finished. It was an amazing experience, but I am not sure I would do it again. |
| Derek enjoys the thrill of adventure racing, even if it does mean he has to wear thermals a lot ... |  |
Mitch Anderson
Mitch has an interesting background... apart from racing triathlon since 2000 and turning pro in 2008, he is a physio, has dabbled in exercise physiology and is a medical doctor (so listen up if you ever get to talk to him). Mitch has some impressive results including 11th overall in Hawaii and he won IM WA in 2005. Mitch also has a mean bike split (can average 42kmph, and holds a number of bike course records). Unfortunately he has been on the injury list for awhile, but will be tackling IM Oz. Thanks to Mitch for taking the time to contribute to our TriTricks.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Trinity Advanced SL with full Di2 Shimano groupset |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano tri specific |
| Helmet | Rudy Project |
| Wheels | Durace C75 front plus Pro Disc rear |
| Tyres | GP 4000 tubulars Continental |
| Sunglasses | Rudy Project |
| Running Shoes | Puma |
| Racing Flats | Puma |
| Goggles | Blue Seventy |
| Wetsuit | Blue Seventy Helix |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Cannibal clothing |
| Tri gear on my wish list... | New wireless SRM |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Sunscreen. A few friends of mine have died from melanoma. Seriously deadly preventable illness. |
| Best tri advice ... | Without recovery, there's no point in training for anything. Also, triathlon isn't everything. Make sure you're well rounded - no point in ending up sad and lonely looking at a bunch of trophies on the shelf... |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Training through a bad cold - it left me coughing up blood out on the Queen K in 2000. |
| Best race experience | Winning IM WA 2005, and finishing first in my age group in Hawaii 2002 in 8:59. The latter was my first time under 9 hours - I was pretty excited ! |
| Favourite race | IM WA. It's such a beautiful place for a holiday ... though Melbourne coffee remains the best on the planet. |
| Robyn is a big Mitch fan (not that you can tell) .. |  |
Tim Berkel
Tim did his first triathlon in 2001 and was pretty soon enjoying considerable success at Olympic Distance before going on to tackle long course events. His win in Ironman Western Australia in 2008 was a major breakthrough. He took out the Port Mac Half in 2009 as well as 3rd Place in Ironman Australia and then in 2010 won Challenge Copenhagen. Coming up he will be in action at 2011 Port Mac and Busselton 70.3s. Tim's a great character and he has been kind enough to share his Tri Tricks with us. Thanks Tim !
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cannondale slice, Cannondale super six |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Spuik |
| Wheels | Shimano and Pro |
| Tyres | Continental |
| Sunglasses | Oakleys |
| Running Shoes | Newtons |
| Goggles | BlueSeventy |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy |
| Tri gear I wear | Scody |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | The one and only Scody |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My lucky charms |
| Best tri advice .. | Enjoy race day and soak up the finish! |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Worried about my competition when I should be backing myself |
Tim on the cover of 220 Triathlon Magazine ... |  |
Michelle Wu
This little pocket rocket was a late convert to triathlon. She became an Age Group World Champion at Vancouver World Champs in 2008 and in 2009 debuted at professional level. Now carving a very successful career at 70.3 distance we are thrilled that Michelle has taken the time to share her tips with us:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | 2010 Felt DA, 48cm |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano WT51 |
| Helmet | Giro |
| Wheels | 650cc Zipp 404s |
| Tyres | Vitoria Corsa Evo CX Tubulars |
| Sunglasses | Ryders Eyewear. Too many of them to name! |
| Running Shoes | Saucony Pro Grid Ride, Saucony Mirage |
| Racing Flats | Saucony Type A4, Saucony Kinvara |
| Goggles | Eyeline Black max |
| Wetsuit | 2XU V1 |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Orca RS1 suit |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | None. I have enough thanks to my sponsors |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Feeling FRESH - Fast, Rested, Excited, Strong, Happy |
| Best tri advice ... | There's nothing more powerful than a strong, confident, and focussed mind. If you believe, you will achieve. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Fortunately I haven't had any race blunders to date ! My biggest mistake when I was starting out though was thinking that more is better. I now go for quality over quantity - always. |
| Other tri advice ... | Always remember to have fun and enjoy ! At the end of the day, triathlon is still just a sport for the majority of us. A way to socialise, keep fit and stay healthy. Keep things simple! You're in the sport because you choose to, not because you have to ! |
| Michelle in action on her felt ... |  |
Peta
Peta has always been a surprise packet. Beneath that feminine exterior lies the heart of a fiercely competitive athlete who is now also very experienced. Peta shares her tri tricks and tips below:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Trek 2000 |
| Bike shoes | Shimano TR50 |
| Helmet | MET |
| Wheels | Nothing flash to report :( |
| Tyres | Continental Grand Prix |
| Sunglasses | Bolle. Need some new ones that don't block the vision when looking up |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel DS Trainers |
| Racing flats | Noosa Gel Tri flats 2007. Use only for racing |
| Goggles | Aquasphere small goggles. I say "small" because I bought the larger version in early tri days & boy of boy did I cop some laughter about just how BIG they were. They were great for vision but unfortunately (or maybe it was fortunately) they were too big for my face and leaked badly so I returned them to the DIVE shop. LOL. Being a DIVE shop should be a dead giveaway they would magnify all the small fish. I came close to being named Dag of the Year ! |
| Wetsuit | If I can still fit .. it's a BlueSeventy |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Scody trisuit for racing. Looking for a new one. Any tips? Have my eye on another Scody tri suit. |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | A complete overhaul required !!! |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | A clean bike. Thanks to Aaron's recent bike cleaning workshop for the motivation |
| Best tri advice ... | warm up on the swm by doing quick swim bursts to spike the heart rate & this will help to not get a "panic attack" in the first 50 metres. This tip was kindly given to me by Jodie (hope she doesn't mind me sharing her secrets) |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | In 2008 OSIM Singapore Olympic distance, had a beach start & got major excited by the BIG rev up from the commentator and the roar of the crowd. Hadn't warmed up properly for the swim & I had a major panic attack before the first swim buoy (lost time). Wasn't till I ran along the beach to do the second loop that I settled myself down. Lesson learnt ! |
| Any other tips or hints? | Smile & ENJOY. As Daryl will say ... consistency is the key. Train with your girlfriends OR partner and keep you balanced & give positive support. |
| Peta in her Scody trisuit wheeling the now very clean TREK ... |  |
Another triathlete coming along nicely and with plans to tackle the half ironman distances for awhile, Glen is busy getting his tri gear and equipment sorted. He gives his take on tricks & tips here:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Orbea Ordu TT |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano TR70s - got them for a great price off the Internet |
| Helmet | Bell |
| Wheels | Gatorskins (was sick of getting flat tyres & these are great) |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running Shoes | Asics DS Trainers |
| Racing Flats | K-Swiss (Aussie Flag) |
| Goggles | Aquasphea |
| Wetsuit | 2XU Only used it once & it was good I guess. Will need it again in a few months! |
| Tri gear I wear ... | I'm really in to 2XU Not sure why - think there is just a lot of it around and I went out to the outlet stores in Melbourne (really cheap) |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Well I don't want to clog up the website, so I won't even start !!! |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My goggles, bike shoes, runners, and wait ! I forgot something .. oh no it's ok got everything ... well I think I have !! |
| Best tri advice ... | Don't go out too hard if you don't want a DNF next to your name |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not training on gels but having them for the first time in a race. Bad move !! |
| Any other tips or hints? | Who would of thought pushing your body to the limits could be so much fun and so addictive? Life's too short, have fun, enjoy yourself and take in the scenery! |
Glen in the favourite Oakley sunnies ... |  |
Freddy Lampret:
A top age group triathlete for many years, Freddy (South Africa) turned pro early in 2010. He has 17 IM to his credit and finished 7th Pro at Ironman Malaysia in 2010. Thanks to Freddy for sharing his info with us:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo |
| Bike Shoes | Erox Zipper |
| Helmet | LG Super Legerro |
| Wheels | Zipp |
| Tyres | Continental |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running Shoes | Asics |
| Racing Flats | Asics |
| Goggles | Speedo |
| Wetsuit | 2XU Project X |
| Tri gear I wear ... | 2XU |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | Cervelo P4 fitted with additional jet engine and Hendrik Ramaala's running legs |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My front wheel ... ever again ! |
| Best tri advice ... | Let your training be part of your life, like breakfast, lunch and dinner. Let it be like brushing your teeth, or showering. We just do those things without having to motivate ourselves, so if training is the same, it becomes less of a chore and simply a part of our daily routine. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Was racing on a brand new bike, which I got the day before an Ironman. My back was not impressed. |
| Other advice ... | Enjoy the racing by taking the pressure of achieving out of the picture, but rather learning to 'listen' to your body. That way you will do your best, and you will enjoy it, rather than over reaching and ending up doing worse than you are capable of doing. Don't race others, race yourself and enjoy the journey with those around you in the races. |
Freddy and Macca ... |  |
Berky:
Berky hasn't been on the tri scene for very long but he has taken it by the scruff of the neck and embraced the lifestyle wholeheartedly. His contribution to TriTricks follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Giant TCR Advance |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Plain Jane |
| Wheels | Standard |
| Tyres | Standard |
| Sunglasses | |
| Running Shoes | Asics |
| Racing Flats | |
| Goggles | |
| Wetsuit | Not needed ... yet |
| Tri gear I wear ... | 2XU |
| I wouldn't go to a race without... | My trusty girlfriend and private photographer |
| Best tri advice ... | When you are having an off day, dig deep those days count, you'll always feel better for it |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Unclipping helmet before bike was racked ! (oops) |
| Other tri tips ... | Get out of your comfort zone & you'll reap the rewards |
| Berky on the Giant (with helmet firmly clasped) ... |  |
Tim:
Champion swimmer in a former life, Tim is now well on the way to excelling at triathlon. Not only is he first out of the water, these days he is up there off the bike as well. With a run that's developing nicely, Tim is going from strength to strength and up the results. His take on tri gear follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Giant TCR. The advantage of triathletes always wanting to upgrade equipment is that there is always really good cheap second hand stuff around !! It's not the fastest bike in the world but I have become somewhat attached to it. I have spent many nights pulling it apart to find out how it works, cleaning it and generally tinkering around with it. |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Not sure what brand it is |
| Wheels | Round ones |
| Tyres | Continental |
| Sunglasses | I wasn't convinced that sunglasses would make me go faster so I settled with a pair I picked up while in Bali ... $2.50 and still going strong. |
| Running Shoes | Just bought a pair of Asics Gel-Kayano. They are super light and feel great |
| Racing flats | Asics Gel Noosa |
| Goggles | Speedo Vanquisher. Only ever buy clear lens goggles. Have found that coloured lenses can make it more difficult to see the buoys during open water swims |
| Wetsuit | Blue Seventy. I was a non believer in the wetsuits until this year. I know reckon it's worth about 5 seconds per 100m. |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Trisuit during a race |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | TT bike |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My Coopers pale ale towel. It's bright green and stands out a bit in transition .. and seeing it there reminds me how much better the beer will taste if I put in 100% during the race. |
| Best tri advice ... | I'm still learning. One thing I have learnt is not to cycle in a gear too big. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not waking up early enough to have a coffee and a number 2 before the race ! |
| Any others tips or hints? | It's not practise that makes perfect, perfect practise makes acceptable |
Tim brings the trusty Giant TCR to a halt ... |  |
Karen:
With an Ironman Oz finish already under her belt, Karen is a seasoned triathlete. She's been in the wilderness for awhile but is now coming back strongly. Her list of gear and tips follow:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Norco .. black & green in colour, I call it the "Green Machine" |
| Bike Shoes | Just purchased a pair of Shimano's tri shoes, the colour matches my bike perfectly |
| Helmet | Not sure, I found it in the shed |
| Wheels | Easton EA 90s |
| Tyres | Michelin pro 3 race ... green and black of course |
| Sunglasses | Oakley Radar's |
| Running Shoes | I rotate between my Nikes and Kayano's. At the moment I wear what ever is dry and smells the least |
| Racing flats | Zoot Advantage "had them for ages" |
| Goggles | I have snazzy collection of goffles but they all leak! So I am sticking with an old dorky pair of Eyelines |
| Wetsuit | Don't have one now my old wetsuit changed into a moulded blob from leaving it in the boot of my car :-( |
| Tri Gear I wear ... | 2XU race suit |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Helmet (green and black), goggles that don't leak, fins (recently lost mine) and a time trial bike would be nice. |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Wilson ! I was given a little flower face toy to put on my tri bars when I did my first Ironman. I named him Wilson ... he was great to talk to during my long rides ... now I can't race/ride without him ! |
| Best tri advice ... | Don't try and play catch up with training, if you miss a session ... let it go. + Focus on recovery |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Using a portaloo during a race when there was one available for 900 competitors .. I felt nauseous for the entire 21km run |
| Any other tips or hints? | Listen to race briefs carefully ... following other competitors will lead you astray. |
| Karen flying in her 2XU tri suit and Zoot shoes .... |  |
Marcus:
Marcus really enjoys the sport of triathlon. As a shift worker, he is often unavailable to compete so when he can be there, enjoys every moment of the opportunity to race. His equipment choices and advice follow:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Avanti Cadent 3.0 frame with Avanti Giro "bits". The Giro frame cracked so they replaced it under warranty with the Cadent |
| Bike Shoes | hmmmm.... they've got velcro straps and a hard sole. They came with the bike. $1400 for the bike and the shoes. Bargain |
| Helmet | ummmm .. Met something or other. Had to replace my old one after I managed to split it in two coming off on the way to work early one morning. |
| Wheels | Round ones with spokes, bearings and stuff |
| Tyres | Conti GP 4 seasons, but only if they are on special on Wiggle or PBK. My road bike/race bike also doubles (triples??) as my commuter. I have found these the best tyres for avoiding punctures and am too lazy to change to something lighter for races. |
| Sunglasses | Cheap ones from Wiggle |
| Running Shoes | Asics Kayano 16, but again only if they are on special. Daryl has suggested I get something lighter, which I'll probably do when the Kayanos go mouldy. |
| Racing Flats | Yep, much prefer it to racing on hills |
| Goggles | Speedo something which are due for replacement. Got them at Rebel Sport in Port Mac after the half in '09. Tried for the 5% auto club discount but apparently that is only valid in Victoria. Had to pay full price. |
| Wetsuit | I've got an Orca Speedsuit packed away somewhere. Have used it once since moving to Darwin, for the Part Mac half. Purchased cheap at a Gatorade Series race in Sandringham a number of years ago. |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Picked up some cheap 2XU shorts and singlet from the outlet shop in Melbourne last year. Less than $50 for both. They are a cacky blue, but they were cheap. |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | One day, when I'm not so much of a tight a*** with money, I'll upgrade everything. Don't know what to, though. |
| I would go to a race without ... | A sense of fun. Sometimes things don't go to plan and you don't race as well as you wanted. As long as you can say you had fun, it's been a successful day out. The day it becomes a chore is the day you should give it up. |
| Best tri advice ... | You don't need to spend a fortune on the sport. The best equipment will only take you so far. Training smart and motivation will get you across the finish line. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not starting in the sport sooner. My first season was 2003/2004. I wish I had started in my teens. |
| Marcus in his cacky blue 2XU .... |  |
Justin Granger:
Juz did his first triathlon in 1988, his first Ironman in 1996 and turned pro in 1998. With over 40 Ironman finishes under his belt, he is one very experienced triathlete and a really nice guy as well. Our thanks to Justin for making the time to complete his tri tricks for us.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Ceepo Katana (Racing) + Ceepo Mamba (Training) |
| Bike shoes | Bont |
| Helmet | Limar |
| Wheels | Zipp, 808 ZedTech |
| Tyres | Whatever I can get cheap, but I do like Conti |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running Shoes | K-Swiss |
| Racing flats | K-Swiss K:ona, not a pure race flat |
| Goggles | TYR |
| Wetsuit | TYR Hurricane 5 |
| Tri gear I wear ... | TYR Carbon Tri |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | A tri suit that takes pain away ! |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | A back pack - to throw all the gear in" I have carrying all those plastic bags they give us. |
| Best tri advice ... | A consistent training plan makes the race easier |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Going off course |
| Anything else ? | Travelling overseas to a triathlon race is a must, there are so many great races out there to experience |
Justin in action in Phuket recently ... |  |
Ron:
Ron is our Dutch connection and he is very adept at all things multisport. At home in the water, on the bike, in a kayak or just bobbing along on the run he seems to cruise through effortlessly. He gives an insight into what helps him along:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Felt road bike and Giant MTB |
| Bike shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Limar |
| Wheels | Round ones, Shimano for training and Fast Forward for racing. Recently picked up a Renn 757 rear disc wheel, looking for an appropriate race to try it out |
| Tyres | Gatorskin rear and I believe there is still an Vredestein on my front wheel |
| Sunglasses | Shimano and a few "el cheapos", I grab whichever are on the table |
| Running Shoes | Asics |
| Racing Flats | Huh? |
| Wetsuit | 2XU prefer not to wear it I don't like the long sleeves |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Most fancy is probably my DTC club uniform. For training I wear a mexture of brands. I like "Craft" stuff, a Swedish brand, perhaps not so well known in Australia but very good value |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | Perhaps a sleeveless wetsuit |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Goggles, bike and runners |
| Best tri advice ... | Training consistently and with a plan, can't believe what a difference it has made |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | One of the Palmerston races a while ago, forgot to put sufficient air in my tyres. I struggled through the first bit then rolled the tyre off the rim at the turnaround point .... race over ! |
Here's Ron doing some very special secret training ... |  |
Big Simon:
Our multisport specialist had a couple of spare minutes between training sessions and has shared his bag of tricks and tips as follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Giant TCR and Time Elite |
| Bike Shoes | Nike |
| Helmet | Giro Ionos |
| Wheels | Drimple carbon jobbies |
| Tyres | Gatorskins |
| Sunglasses | Bolle safety sunnies - bargain at $25 from Geminex, especially as I keep losing expensive ones out to sea |
| Running Shoes | Brooks |
| Racing flats | No way |
| Goggles | Zoggs Predators, great fit but they only last six months |
| Wetsuit | Whatever Stu Fitch has finished with ! |
| Tri gear I wear ... | As nondescript as possible preferably with brand names, usually with holes. Injinji toe socks. |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Bike nicks that aren't see through and full of holes |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Porridge in my tummy |
| Best tri advice ... | There is only one pace - your pace ! |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Taking it all too seriously, or possibly agreeing to do a tri in the first place |
| Anything else you would like to add? | Best training aid, talking books from the library, comes into its own on those three hour+ sessions |
| Big Simon is able to handle the demands of multisport. Here he is tuning up for KUC & a rare gold medal time ... |  |
Tim Beardall:
Tim's an up and coming triathlete with a load of talent. A regular on Ironman podiums, he most recently made it on to the biggest podium of all with his 5th place in M18-24 in Hawaii. A man of few words, you have no idea how amazing it was to get this contribution from him. Thanks Tim !
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Giant |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Wheels | Zipp |
| Tyres | Continental |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running Shoes | Newton |
| Racing Flats | Newton |
| Goggles | Blue Seventy |
| Wetsuit | 2XU |
| Tri gear I wear ... | CBD Cycles (Cannibal) |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Any gear which fits correctly |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Gels |
| Best tri advice ... | Each section is separate and attack it in sections |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Racing in my head prior to race |
Tim with his Hawaii trophy .. |
 |
Russell:
Russell is learning fast about all things triathlon. He has recently upgraded his gear to include:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo 2010 P3 Dura-ace |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano SH TR31 |
| Helmet | Limar 575 |
| Wheels | Easton Circuit |
| Tyres | Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick |
| Sunglasses | Oakley Lance Armstrong Sports |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel Nimbus 12 |
| Racing Flats | Saucony Fastwitch 4 |
| Goggles | Vogee Predator |
| Wetsuit | Yet to get |
| Tri Gear | Darwin Tri Club uniform & Orca 226 |
| Tri Gear on my wish list ... | A pair of Zipp race wheels |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My sunnies |
| Best tri advice ... | Make sure you hydrate before, during and after a race |
| Biggest tri mistake... | Going out too hard, I am still learning how to pace myself |
|
Russell jumps into all things tri with a great
|
|
Steve:
Steve is just about to set off to do his first Ironman (Busso) so his gear is spot on to suit his big day out. Here he let's us in on his secrets:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cannondale Slice Ultimate |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano TR51 |
| Helmet | Specialized, getting pretty smelly now so may be time for an upgrade |
| Wheels | Zipp 404s |
| Tyres | Continental GP4000 |
| Sunglasses | Oakley Radar |
| Running Shoes | Asics DS Trainers |
| Racing Flats | Asics DS Trainers |
| Goggles | Zogg Predator |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy Helis. Love the suit & it is really comfortable. However training in steamy NT for a race down in south WA does not make it my most favourite piece of kit. The words "Boil in a Bag" come to mind ! |
| Tri Gear I wear .. | Skins, Skins and Skins. I swear by them. They are great quality and I find them really comfy. I even sleep in my tights after a long run or ride session.... who said romance is dead? |
| Tri Gear on my wish list ... | Only additional hours in a day to get more much needed sleep |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My bike, running shoes and goggles. Isn't that all you need? Oh yes & my 3 year old daughter as support crew as hearing her shout "Faster Daddy", really makes me keep pushing hard. |
| Best tri advice ... |
1) Eat, sleep and most of all - stretch. This used to be one part of my training that I was really slack about. You know .. the old arm swing and bend down and touch your toes just before you train for all of about 2 mins & that's it. Well that used to be it for me until injury made me realise just how important stretching before and after training really is. You have to do it! |
| Biggest tri mistakes ... |
1) Not wearing socks on a long run to save seconds in transition which then resulted in a large blister on the sole of my foot |
|
After "boiling in the bag" Steve extracts himself from the BlueSeventy ....
|
 |
Luke Bell:
Aussie pro Luke Bell has a wealth of experience and has had a successful 2010 including 7th at Hawaii. Luke is happy to share details of his tri gear and his tips with you. Thanks Luke, really appreciate you taking the time to do this.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Argon Gallium Pro (Road) E112, E114 TT bikes |
| Bike Shoes | Sidi Genius & Sidi Triathlon |
| Helmet | Giro |
| Wheels | Zipp, 808, 404 and Disc to cover all conditions |
| Tyes | Challenge Triathlon |
| Sunglasses | Oakley Radar |
| Running Shoes | Zoot Advantage |
| Racing Flats | Zoot Speed and Race |
| Goggles | Engine |
| Wetsuit | Zoot Zenith |
| Tri gear I wear .. | Ironman Timex Watch |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Lucky enough to have all the toys |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Good old tub of Vaseline |
| Best tri advice .. | Always have fun, enjoy and be in the moment and smile at the finish |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Heading to a race overseas and turning up to the airport, standing in line for well over an hour only to find I fly out the next day ! Hey at least I was a day early and not a day late |
|
Luke in transition at Hawaii, enjoying the moment ......
|
 |
Louise:
Louise is an experienced age grouper who has a love of endurance events. She's happiest tackling the Ultra Challenge, an Ironman or more recently a marathon. Her tricks and tips include:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cannondale Slice - looks really nice ... and a few others .. |
| Bike Shoes | Shimana & Diadora & another pair |
| Helmet | God I don't know - but I have two ! |
| Wheels | yep two on them on each bike |
| Tyres | yep them too |
| Sunglasses | The last pair were eaten by the dog so I don't have plans for any more expensive ones |
| Running Shoes | Brooks Adrenaline - they look really quick |
| Racing Flats | nup |
| Goggles | Speedo ... I think |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy but it's so long since I wore it I reckon it must be time to find a race where I might need a new one!! |
| Tri gear I wear .. | I am totally in love with Jaggad gear at the moment. They have this cool external leg gripper which is kind to my scar. No more tearing whenever I ride or race |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | I need some new racing kit, tri shorts, tri suit (Mark can you hear me - it is nearly Christmas after all) |
| I would go to a race without ...... | My friends !! They are my eternal motivation and are always good competition and encouragement. Thanks girls |
| Best tri advice .. | Make sure you enjoy the view, life is too short to miss the views |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Stopping training after Iroman - it has been such a long road back to thinking I can actually do it again - don't ever stop |
|
Louise never goes to a race without her friends .... |
 |
Dave:
Although he never thought he would do it, Dave now has an ITU LD Worlds and an Ironman notch on his belt (IM China) as well as a whole lot of experience. He's willingly shared some of his tricks & tips here:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cannondale Slice Ultimate. The bride just took delivery of a stationary Watt Bike for training which I might get a turn of some day. |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano - don't know what brand but CycleZone said they were good and charged me accordingly ... |
| Helmet | Giro - light and very fashionable |
| Wheels | Bright Red fulcrum Zero's - completely over the top for training, but they look great. Race wheels are Zipp ZedTech 606s |
| Tyres | Training and racing on Continental GP 4000's |
| Sunglasses | Oakleys - when they are there and not being used by other members of my tri family |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel Nimbus |
| Racing Flats | Asics DS Trainers |
| Goggles | Aquasphere somethings |
| Wetsuit | 2XU elite - best piece of kit I own. Every race should be wetsuit legal regardless of water temperature and distance - I am seeking a rule change to this effect with the ITU ! |
| Tri gear I wear .. | Compresssport compression calf socks - try and wear these in the cattle yards and not get assaulted ... |
| Tri gear on my wish list | One of those small motors that was inside Chancellara's bike that enabled him to climb so quickly last season |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Having first had a coffee |
| Best tri advice ... | Singapore draft busters can't judge 7 metres, so be careful |
| Biggest tri mistake ... |
1) not completing a race once - pain past quickly, disappointment didn't |
|
Dave has a little rest before reaching T2 in Singapore ....
|
|
Brad Beven:
Brad "The Croc" Beven is an absolute tri legend ... some of you younger folk may have seen his bio on your Weetbix box. Many of us know him from the televised Tooheys Blue & St George Series where he, Miles Stewart and Greg Welch to name but a few, used to go head to head. Brad should have represented Australia at the Sydney Olympics but unfortunately was hit by a car on the way to qualifying and ended up in hospital instead. Now a successful coach, we live in hope that he will one day publish a book about his triathlon career as it would be one hell of a read. The pressure is on for him to return for next year's Arafura Games. Thanks to Brad for sharing his tri tricks with us:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Specialized S-Works Tarmac S13 |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano week days, thongs on weekends |
| Helmet | Specialized |
| Wheels | Zipp flashpoint FP60 |
| Tyres | Fortezza Tri comp Redestein |
| Sunglasses | Rudy |
| Running Shoes | Nike Vomero |
| Racing Flats | They were my 12 year old Reeboks but in an Anaconda race the other day, one of the soles ripped off and I had to run 12km with half a shoe ! |
| Goggles | Eyeline Black max |
| Wetsuit | Orca |
| Tri gear I wear... | BBT (Brad Beven Triathlon) which is Champ systems gear |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | A bell for my bike and one of those motors you can hide away inside your bike frame like Cancellara |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My camera - I'm a pedestrian these days |
| Best tri advice .. | Eat your veggies and make a list of what you need for race day |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Forgetting my race day list ! |
| That's Brad in action against Welchy and Miles ... they were exciting triathlon times! |
 |
Ali Fitch:
Pro triathlete Ali, is a former NT Sportsperson of the Year, Ironman triathlete and all round lovely lady. Her run of luck with injury & illness has sidelined her for awhile (the silver lining for us is she has been on hand to encourage many wannabee ironpersons). Currently weaning herself off a neck brace, she'll be back racing soon with the help of a lot of the following tri tricks:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Orbea Ordu, dura ace equipped, 48 cm for racing & interval training. I've also got a roadi for those long aerobic training days and a mtb for cruisey days |
| Bike Shoes | Spuik, but I'm not happy with them. I've ordered more Shimano's, they fit me best. I wear orthotics in my cycling shoes |
| Helmet | Since I cracked my training Rudi project helmet I"m (embarrassingly) training in my Rudi TT helmet. (Inc on the wind trainer, in case I fall off that!) |
| Wheels | Dura ace 50mm clinchers for training. Dua ace 50 mm tubular for racing/ disc rear depending on conditions |
| Tyres | I've been using Vittoria but now heading back to Continental for racing. For training, it's whatever is left over in the garage/box |
| Sunglasses | Oakley for training. I don't wear in races |
| Running Shoes | Mizuno wave alchemy & wave inspire |
| Racing Flats | Mizuno wave ronin 2 for half IM; Wave inspire for IM. |
| Goggles | Eyeline "calamari rings" (my favourite since age of 7). Aquasphere for training. |
| Wetsuit | Aquasphere |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Team Timex made by Sugoi for racing. Mazuno.Running Bare for training. Actually I live in Running Bare gear. Compressport quad compression for training & recovery. Lately I've been wearing lots of pink kinesiotape but that's soon to be gone I hope !! |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Honestly right now, no new toy can override my wish to train injury free, with no pain and get to the start line of a race again. |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | The attitude to give it my all on that day |
| Best tri advice ... | Maximise your own performace, no place or time can ever match the success, satisfaction and happiness you feel knowing that you did your absolute best on that day. You can't control anyone else but yourself - doesn't mean to say you can't mentally psyche 'em out ! |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not starting sooner in the sport |
|
Ali's trademark frangipani on the Orbea ...
|
|
Penny:
Penny is an enthusiastic age grouper training in Sydney (one of our correspondence athletes). Just thawing out after a chilly winter, Penny's tri tricks follow:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Felt B12TT 2010 - I had to get online from UK as there were none left in Australia |
| Bike shoes | Sidi Zephyr |
| Helmet | Met - great colour match for my club kit |
| Wheels | Felt 40mm |
| Tyres | Vittoria Zaffiro Pro slick |
| Sunglasses | Rayban fashion with prescription lenses or Rudy Project "Sportmask" |
| Running shoes | Mizuno Alchemy 10, great for flat-footed, wobbly-ankled, ITB-afflicted lasses. |
| Racing flats | I'm not fast enough to deserve them |
| Goggles | Aqua Sphere Eagle with interchangeable clear and tinted lenses |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy Helix. Absolutely love it, the water's too cold most of the time in Sydney to swim without it. |
| Tri Gear | BRAT club tri top & visor with my black tri shorts & my Garmin 310XT |
| Tri Gear on my wish list ... | I wouldn't say no to some super fast race wheels |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Checking the weather forecast and surf conditions .. a lot. Good tri mates - they are essential for making the event fun & my little gu bottle, fits four Gu's in one bottle ... No mess! |
| Best tri advice ... | It doesn't matter if you're a bit unfit, don't have a fancy bike, can't do freestyle and hate getting up early ... you CAN transform yourself into a finely-tuned athlete with a bit of patience, a positive attitude and listening to the wisdom of your coach! Then one day you will shock yourself when you wake up at 5am ... out of habit ! |
| Biggest tri mistake ... |
I once forgot to take off my helmet after the bike leg and was well into the run before I realized .. not a good look ! |
| Other tri tips ... | Once you have transformed yourself into an uber-triathlete, don't forget to encourage and support those who are new to the sport ! |
|
Penny showing great form with all her tri tricks on display ...
|
 |
Gina Crawford:
Gina comes from New Zealand but we won't hold that against her ! She's a 4 x IM Champion with wins in IM Wisconsin in 2007, IM WA in 2008 & 2009 and IM NZ in 2009 & has also bagged an impressive 3 wins at Challenge Wanaka. Gina's kindly shared some tri tips and details of her tri gear with us .. thanks Gina !
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Ceepo Katana |
| Helmet | Giro Advantage for racing |
| Wheels | Rolf Prima TDF58 for racing |
| Tyres |
Continental Competition Tubulars for racing and Continental Gator skins for training |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running shoes | K-Swiss K-Ona |
| Racing flats | K-Swiss K-Ruuz |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy |
| Tri gear I wear ... | K-Swiss tri top and shorts |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | I would love it if someone would invent bike tyres that when punctured pump themselves back up and fill the hole (like some cars have) |
| I wouldn't go to a race without... | Making sure I knew the bike course thoroughly, and having a nutrition plan which I have tested in training |
| Best tri advice ... | Don't train too hard. Go hard when you have to (eg intervals etc) but don't go out and train at near race pace all the time or you will be shattered before the race event starts. So make sure that if you train with other people that they are of the same ability as you so that you are not straining to keep up. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Attempting an ironman when sick as too headstrong to not start. Then ended up collapsing half way (that was not fun!!). Also not learning the run course at a certain race and finding myself lost in the forest in Korea. |
|
Until we get an action shot of Gina here's one of her in front of the Oakley truck with a random tri tragic ...
|
 |
Rob:
Full of talent, Rob is now an experienced campaigner at all distances and disciplines. Most recently adding the tough Ironman China and Bali International Tris to his list of achievements, Rob is enjoying a well earned break from training... for now! His tips follow:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | TT bike is a Cervelo P3C speed machine. Roadies are Orbea Leige love machine and Willier Evasion clunker for wet days (an oldie but a goodie like its owner) |
| Helmet | MET |
| Wheels | Cervelo has Zipp 606's and Orbea has Zipp 303's |
| Tyres | Continental GP 4000 |
| Sunglasses | Shimano |
| Running Shoes | Asics Gel Kayano |
| Racing flats | as above |
| Goggles | Speedo Mantra, I think |
| Wetsuit | Wing, taylor made. No off the shelf stuff for this little black duck |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Orca shorts, any top and camp dog cap |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Nothing, I've got too much already |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | All my stuff |
| Best tri advice ... | Try and have fun with it |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Saying yes to Ironman. Somebody slap me. |
| Any other tri tips ... | Repeat after me "I love early mornings" |
|
Here's Rob .. aka Mr Modest ...
|
 |
Charlotte McShane:
Last year's NT Long Course Triathlon winner, Charlotte also competed at ITU Long Distance Worlds in Perth. She is currently racing pro ITU events in Europe. We thank Charlotte for her contribution to our Tri Tricks page:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Ceepo Venom and Giant TCR Advanced 0 and Giant Anthem 0 Mtb |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano tri shoes |
| Helmet | Giro Ionos |
| Wheels | Xentis |
| Tyres | Vittoria |
| Sunglasses | Oakleys |
| Running Shoes | Saucony Pro Grid |
| Racing flats | Saicpmu Kinvara |
| Goggles | Aquasphere |
| Wetsuit | Xterra Vendetta |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Scody |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | A new pair of sunnies |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My Scody compression tights |
| Best tri advice ... | Always run through transition and know the In's and Out's before you race |
| Biggest tri mistake... | In my first triathlon when I was 7 years old, I did the whole cycle with the brakes stuck on. I finished last ! |
| Any other tri tricks ... | I always sleep in my compression tights the night before a race and I always wake up 4 hours before I race (even if the start time is 6am) |
| Charlotte, calm and collected, waiting for starters orders ... |
 |
JM:
Jane Marie recently upgraded to a Kuota Queen-K time trial bike, much to the envy of many of her training partners ! JM shares the following info:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Kuota Queen-K time trial bike ... love it !! |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano tri shoes |
| Helmet | Met |
| Wheels | Zipp 404 for racing, they make a huge difference |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running shoes | Newtons |
| Racings flats | Newtons |
| Goggles | Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 mirror (no good for morning swims as they are too dark ... not that I swim in the mornings !!) |
| Wetsuit | 2XU |
| Tri Gear I wear ... | Variety |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Body Glide |
| Best tri advice ... | mmmmm |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not telling |
|
JM ready to get underway in Singapore ..
|
 |
Fredrik Croneborg:
Freddy achieved all he could as an age group triathlete and turned pro this year winning Ironman 70.3 China first up. Watch for him in action at the ITU Long Distance World Championships in Germany where he will be representing Sweden. It's great he could take time out of his hectic schedule to give us his tri tips.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Ceepo Katana |
| Bike Shoes | Specialized trivent |
| Helmet | Selev matrix |
| Wheels | Zipp 404 clinchers and Ceepo 58 tubular |
| Tyres | Zipp tangent and Continental competition |
| Sunglasses | Oakley jawbones |
| Running shoes | New Balance and Saucony |
| Racing flats | New Balance 904 and Saucony fastwitch |
| Goggles | Swedish goggles |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy Helix |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Rocketscience sports |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | I have most things now |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Newly washed bike |
| Best tri advice ... | Go hard and without cycling computer |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Did not cover my shoes in transition area of European Junior Champs, it started raining and I started the run with heavy wet shoes |
| Freddy in action .... |  |
Grant:
Rising star Grant would love to devote himself full time to the sport. Real life gets in the way though, so he has to somehow fit triathlon in, along with his job which involves shift work. His gear and tips follow:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Racing - Felt B2. Great design and lightweight. Training - Giant TCR Earo |
| Bike Shoes | Racing - Garneau, Ergo air |
| Helmet | Zethos Cratoni |
| Wheels | Racing - Sram 60 front / 80 back Training - Easton visa SL |
| Tyre | Continental and Vittoria |
| Sunglasses | Racing / training Shimano Casual - Oakley, Cascan |
| Running Shoes | Asics, Noosa tri gel |
| Racing Flats | Asics Parana |
| Goggles | Eyeline |
| Wetsuit | Orca apex2 |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Zoot one piece tri cuit, BlueSeventy Speedsuit in the swim |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Sponsors ! LOL. Oakley Radar sunglasses |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My vaso .. I can get my feet in the shoes faster and to stop the rubbing of the suit on my neck (I always get bad rash there when I don't use it). Also I wouldn't go to a race without advice and a full game plan from Coach Daz. |
| Best tri advice ... | Be prepared. Mainly mentally prepared. Whatever gets thrown at you, you need to be able to amend the game plan. My motto is Keep-It-Together. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | My tri mistakes are numerous but two stand out. As a junior, my mum was taking me to a race and we were almost at the venue when I realised I had forgotten my helmet and tri suit. Most recently, I only took one spare tube with me at Ironman Malaysia and got two flats ... rode 40km on a flat tyre. |
| Grant gives the thumbs up to his game plan ... |
 |
Graeme:
Graeme is enjoying a whole new lease of life as he takes up the triathlon challenge with increasing enthusiasm. Normally full of questions, we turn the tables here and ask him a few. These are his answers:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo S2 |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Catlike |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Tyres | Gatorskins |
| Sunglasses | Always |
| Running Shoes | Asics DS Trainer |
| Racing Flats | Same |
| Goggles | Speedo Aquasocket |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy sleeveless |
| Tri gear I wear ... | What feels right on the day |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | New bike shoes |
| I wouldn't go to a race without .. | Hope |
| Best tri advice ... | Breathe between strokes |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | It's hard to pick one that stands out from all the others |
| Graeme has swim ability that is the envy of many ... |
 |
Simon Thompson:
Simon's triathlon history goes back to 1990 when he first competed as a junior. Through desire and determination, Simon clocked up ITU World Cup wins & went on to represent Australia at the Athens Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Among his many race highlights, Thommo also has a win and a third at Ironman 70.3 Singapore to his credit and to round out his credentials, has dabbled in IM. Simon has just announced his retirement from triathlon and is commencing his new career with TREK. Thanks to Simon for taking time from his busy schedule to send in this contribution to tricks and tips:
| Item | Description |
| Bike/s | Trek Madone 6.9 SSL, Trek Superfly 100 (Gary Fisher Collection - on order!) Speed Concept 9.9 (also on order) |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano custom-fit tri, road and MTB |
| Helmet | Bontrager Lithos |
| Wheels | Shimano and Bontrager |
| Tyres | Bontrager |
| Sunglasses | Oakley |
| Running Shoes | Asics DS Trainer |
| Racing Flats | Asics DS Trainer |
| Goggles | Sable |
| Wetsuit | 2XU Project X |
| Tri gear I wear ... | 2XU |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | I have all I need and want ! |
| I wouldn't go to a race without... | Bodyglide / vaso |
| Best tri advice ... | Smile, you're racing because you choose to, not because you have to |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Changing from cycle outfit to run outfit at Ironman Port Macquarie in 2009, like they did in the olden days when I watched it and losing by 90 secs ! |
| Simon on the podium in Singapore ... |  |
Kelly:
Kelly is always up for challenge and approaches every new adventure with great enthusiasm. She uses the following gear and gives some sound advice:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Giant, pink and black |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Pink and white (I think it is a Specialized) |
| Wheels | I know they are round |
| Tyres | They are round too but occassionally flat on the bottom |
| Sunglasses | Arnette |
| Running Shoes | Asics and New Balance |
| Racing Flats | Asics |
| Goggles | Speedo |
| Wetsuit | Orca |
| Tri gear I wear .. | 2XU, Orca |
| Tri gear on my wish list .. | New sunnies and a working speedo |
| I wouldn't go to a race without .. | Visor or cap for running, mainly to stop my hair from getting way too out of control |
| Best tri advice .. | Don't forget your visor |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Forgetting my visor, I'll never make that mistake again |
| Kelly complete with visor ... |
 |
Emma:
Emma has a wealth of experience having competed at Worlds in Lausanne and most recently at Singapore 70.3 and Hawaii 70.3. Her contribution follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo P3 |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano (white and green tri ones - I thin that's the technical name for them!) |
| Helmet | I love my pink Giro Atmos helmet. It's my second pink one as somehow the first one got a crack in it. |
| Wheels | Zipp 404s ... I also love them ! |
| Tyres | Ummmm... pass! Maybe Continental something or others. |
| Sunglasses | Oakley - also white and pink |
| Running Shoes | Newtons, I've had quite a few pairs by now |
| Racing Flats | Pink Newtons for the longer races, Zoots for the shorter stuff. Do you get the feeling I like pink yet??! |
| Goggles | View Selene - the women's variety. I find all other ones leak on me. |
| Wetsuit | I don't own one now, but I did have the 2XU Comp 1. Nikki is now the proud owner but I have borrowed it back occassionally (is that allowed?) |
| Tri Gear | 2XU |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | All of the above apart from the wetsuit. Actually, my running cap really, I hate running without a hat on |
| Best tri advice .. | Stick to the plan, don't try anything new on race day, and most importantly race your own race not someone else's. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Eating too much either before a race (or on the bike). Or maybe leaving my bike shoes in the car and not realising until I came out of the swim and went to hop on the bike in transition !! |
| Emma in action at Singapore 70.3 but where is the pink helmet??.. |
|
Belinda Granger:
Belinda's list of triathlon achievements is a mile long. Among them, she has 36 Ironman finishes to her credit and was recently inducted to Australia's Ironman Hall of Fame. Lovely lady that she is, she was happy to share her tri tricks and advice with us. Thanks Belinda.
| Item | Description |
| Bike | I have two bikes .. my road/training bike which is a Ceepo Venom - 45 cm and my TT/race bike which is a small Ceepo Katana. I love them both but of course my TT bike is my absolute fave :) |
| Bike Shoes | I have just been sponsored by Bony cycling shoes - they are a custom-made shoe and they are really amazing. I also love the fact that I get to choose what colours I want. |
| Helmet | Limar Pro 104 |
| Wheels | ZIPP .. one of my favourite sponsors. I train on a 303/404 combination and I usually race on a 404/1080 combination but I also like to use a disc when I can .. of course it depends on the terrain |
| Tyres | Vittoria |
| Sunglasses | Oakley .. I am trying to get a lifetime sponsorship with them |
| Running Shoes | K-Swiss KOna |
| Racing Flats | K-Swiss KOna |
| Goggles | TYR |
| Tri gear I wear ... | K-Swiss |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | Honestly .. I have everything I need and then some. I am really fortunate to have the sponsors I have and I have handpicked all of them so love using all of the products |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My paw paw ointment .. do I need to explain why??? |
| Best tri advice | Never forget why you got into triathlon in the first place ... it is my job and of course I take it seriously, but I never stop enjoying it or having fun while I am training or racing. As soon as I do it usually results in a bad session or a terrible race |
| Biggest tri mistake | Well I have definitely made quite a few but the one that stands out the most is a few years back at Challenge Roth. It was freezing cold in the morning (12 deg) and raining heavily. I packed arm-warmers and a vest in my T1 bag but was so wound up when I got out of the swim that I opted not to take the time to put them on .. BIG MISTAKE !! I practically froze for the entire 180km .. almost to the point where I seriously thought I was going to have to pull out of the race. At the end of the day, saving that extra minute in T1 cost me at least 15 minutes. Even today when I think about that race it sends shivers down my spine. |
| Belinda celebrating yet another win at Ironman Malaysia ... |
|
Damien:
Rowdy is an Ironman distance fan with a number of M dots on his race belt. His tri gear and advice follows:
| Item | Description |
| Bikes | Cytex and Cervello P3 |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Limar |
| Wheels | Ksyrium and Zipp |
| Tyres | Continental Gatorskin |
| Sunglasses | PBK |
| Running Shoes | Brooks Adrenaline |
| Racing Flats | None |
| Goggles | Speedos |
| Wetsuit | Orca and BlueSeventy speed suit |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Cannibal tri suit |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Having done the training |
| Best tri advice | Listen to the race brief so that you know where you are going and not relying on following someone else |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Riding an extra 20km in an Ironman event |
| Damo ready to dismount ... |
 |
Bin:
Bin is a very accomplished age group triathlete, but there was a time when she was the one asking all the questions. She is now more than happy to share her bag of tri tricks which include:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Trek Madone 5.2 Road (white, black & blue) - I love this bike so much I've given it a name - Mike the Bike |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano TR70 Custom Fit - great with no socks |
| Helmet | Bell VOLT - silver |
| Wheels | Bontrager Race Lite (race and train) |
| Tyres | Continental Grand Prix 4000 (race and train) |
| Sunglasses | Oakley (just for cycling now) but recently changed to a cheap pair of $25 Bolle sunglasses for racing, as they are half the weight of Oakleys - great for long distance running |
| Running Shoes | Newtons and Asics Kayano (mens) |
| Racing Flats | Zoot Advantage also great with no socks |
| Goggles | Zoggs Predator |
| Wetsuit | Don't own one, but I will probably wear my "soon to be" prohibited speedsuit in the "Dry" for training |
| Tri Gear I wear ... | Darwin Tri Club Trisuit by Cannibal or Multisport trisuit |
| Wish list ... | Not a huge ask - just a TT bike and race wheels |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Gu's, Gatorade and contact lenses |
| Best tri advice ... | If you can't sleep the night before a race, don't worry - it won't effect your race as long as you've been getting sleep the previous nights; Don't walk around outside barefoot or in thongs the day before a race ! |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Forgetting to take my speed suit off before the bike leg of the long distance tri in 2009 (I still can't believe I did that) |
| Bin with all her favourite gear after racing Hawaii 70.3 ... |
 |
Matty White:
Matty, a down to earth firefighter in real life, raced pro at Hawaii and last year took leave for a season on the pro circuit in the states. Matty finished 2010 on a high with 2nd at IM WA. His tri bag includes:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Merida Dark Knight TT and Merida Evo both decked with Shimano Di2 |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano |
| Helmet | Rudy Project wingspan |
| Wheels | The best wheels on the market .. Lightweight Disc and deep rims (the Germans know how to make things to perfection) |
| Tyres | Lightweight |
| Sunglasses | Ryders |
| Running Shoes | Saucony Grid Type A |
| Racing Flats | Saucony Kinvaro, just hot on the market, check them out |
| Goggles | Anything I can get my hands on as I keep losing pairs |
| Wetsuit | X-terra Vendetta |
| Tri gear | I wear the best and most colourful - SCODY |
| Tri gear on my wish list | Anything Scody make |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My complete A game or my best supporter, my wife ! |
| Best tri advice ... | Relax and enjoy the sport, it's not everything in life |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Wearing AFL footy shorts in my first ever tri 14 years ago, and the elastic broke in the swim and I spent the whole day having to hold them up! |
| Matty recovering after a ride back from Kawaihae on the Queen K ... |
 |
Ryoko:
As a relative newcomer to the sport of triathlon, Ryoko's view of tri gear is refreshing. She is one of those asking a million questions and this page will go a long way to answering many ! Her bag of tri toys currently consists of:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | TT Bike is Cervelo P3 and road bike is a Merida HFS 904-COM |
| Bike shoes | Pearl Izumi TRi FIY lll |
| Helmet | Limar 969 |
| Wheels | Easton Circuit (650cc) on TT & Shimano CS-5600 11-25 on roadie |
| Tyres | Vittoria Rubino Pro & Vittoria Rubino 23 60Kevlar |
| Sunglasses | Merida |
| Running shoes | Newton |
| Racing flats | Adidas Adizero Adios |
| Goggles | Speedo |
| Wetsuit | 2XU Team (they say this is one of the lowest range of wetsuits, but I find it very flexible & comfortable to swim in plus easy to put on. |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Junior DTC tri pants which belonged to Charlie & Will |
| Tri gear on my wish list ... | A perfect bike saddle. It's been a long journey to find one. I'm still searching ... |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Speaking to Super Coach about a race plan and strategy |
| Best tri advice ... | Really warm up before a race. Don't go hard from the start because a race doesn't work that way. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Practice nutrition before race day. My first experience of energy gel was in a race and I nearly had a heart attack from the shock of the taste. To overcome the fear, I had to freeze a Gu so I can't tast it. Somehow I discovered other GUs like "Choco Mint" & "Strawberry Banana" are quite tasty ! |
| Ryoko at a recent brick session, getting better at transitions ... |
 |
Justin:
Justin has been on a big tri learning curve. Down to earth, he often brings his tri gear in a Bronco's bag (but we won't hold that against him)!
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo P2 |
| Bike shoes | Shimano TR51 |
| Helmet | Met Estro |
| Wheels | Easton Circuit |
| Tyres | Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick |
| Sunglasses | BBB Successor |
| Running shoes | Newtons |
| Racing flats | Zoot Ultras |
| Goggles | Vorgee Tomahawk |
| Wetsuit | On the list of things to get before the Dry Season |
| Tri Gear | Darwin Tri Club Cannibal tri suit |
| Tri Gear on my wish list | Set of race wheels |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | The vital "Good Luck Daddy" from the girls |
| Best tri advice ... | Enjoy the training schedule the Coach gives you (even though it seems like a chore some mornings) and pray that on race day the weather conditions are in your favour |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not being fully hydrated before a race. You feel the effects well into the next day |
| Justin's transition spot, note the Bronco's bag .. |
 |
Debbie:
Debbie, aka "Miss Neat", completed her first Olympic Distance triathlon recently. Her bag of tri tricks includes:
| Item | Description | |
| Bike | My red, black and white chariot is a DBR | |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano SH-TR02 W | |
| Helmet | Met | |
| Wheels | Shimano R500 | |
| Tyres | Ones that don't puncture ! | |
| Sunglasses | ProBikeKit ones | |
| Running shoes | Current Mizuno WaveRider 13 | |
| Racing flats | None as of yet | |
| Goggles | Speedo Jets | |
| Wetsuit | 2XU | |
| Tri gear I wear ... | Orca race shorts and Team Caffeine race top | |
| Tri gear on my wish list | Oh where to begin .... | |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | My runners | |
| Best tri advice ... | Do the training | |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | Not hydrating well enough | |
| Debbie's spot on the rack at training ... |
|
Nikki:
Nikki is one of a very select group of five NT women to ever race at Ironman World Championships. She has four IM notches on her race belt (2 x IM Oz, 1 x IM Malaysia & 1 x IM Hawaii). Here's some of the contents of Nikki's bag of tri tricks:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Cervelo Carbon P3 Time Trial (such a sweet ride !) |
| Bike Shoes | Shimano triathlon |
| Helmet | Pink Specialized with stacks of ventilation for hot weather racing |
| Wheels | Zipp 404 for racing, otherwise Easton |
| Tyres | Contintental Competition tyres for racing, Continental GP 4000 for training |
| Sunglasses | Oakley with rose lenses |
| Running Shoes | Newton Pink racers (good for short and long) |
| Racing Flats | Same Newton racers |
| Goggles | Vorgee light coloured lens (good for training and racing) |
| Wetsuit | 2XU |
| Tri Gear | Half Ironman my 2XU tri suit (super comfy); for Ironman tri pants and top (just in case a toilet emergency presents itself) |
| I wouldn't go to a race without ... | Sunnies, sunscreen & gu (no food, no race !!) |
| Best tri advice ... | Make a plan and stick to it. Do not worry about anyone elses race. It is only yours that you can do anything about. Do not waste energy being scared at the beginning, always think of the positives. In Ironman, always think of the last 10km of the marathon (a very important lesson super coach taught me) |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | I ate peanut butter Cliff bars during the ride in my first Ironman, that equated to a very upset tummy, peanut butter out the other end and a trip to every toilet in the first 15km of the marathon !!! |
| Nikki's sweet ride ready to tackle Kona .... |
 |
Luke McKenzie:
Luke is a 5 time Ironman champion and all round great guy. He is currently training and racing in Europe. Here's a glimpse of his tri toys (thanks Luke)
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Scott Plasma 2 |
| Bike Shoes | Scott tri carbon |
| Helmet | Giro Inos |
| Wheels | Zipp 808/1080/ sub 9 disc |
| Tyres | Zipp Tangente |
| Sunglasses | Smith |
| Running shoes | K-Swiss (K-ona & Keahou 2) |
| Racing flats | K-Swiss (K-Ruuz) |
| Goggles | BlueSeventy - Element |
| Wetsuit | BlueSeventy - Helix |
| Tri Gear | K-Swiss |
| I wouldn't go to a race without .... | Vaseline |
| Best tri advice .. | Practice nutrition before race day ! |
| Biggest tri mistake .. | Changing something the day before the race |
| Luke getting set up race morning for Ironman Malaysia ... |
 |
Robyn:
Robyn works on the KISS principle and has vowed to become a little more colour coordinated in the future. Her eclectic bag of tri gear includes:
| Item | Description |
| Bike | Recently upgraded from my Giant which had 5 IM & numerous 70.3's under it's wheels to a berry nice Ms Trek (Madone 5.2). CycleZone guys set me up well. |
| Bike shoes | Shimano TR70 |
| Helmet | Just updated to a Giro on the fashion advice of the bike shop fashion gurus. The colour sort of matches Ms Trek and my bike shoes. |
| Wheels | Can you believe that after all those years in the sport, I finally, finally have a pair of Zipp 303's. Maiden hitout on them was Phuket 70.3 .. nice ! |
| Tyres | Continental Gatorskins |
| Sunglasses | Oakley - purchased this year after making do with the cheap servo variety forever |
| Running Shoes | Asics 2060 (started out with these when they were called 1000s) |
| Racing Flats | For IM I wear my Asics in half a size bigger than normal to allow for swelling. Recently purchased a pair of Zoots to wear for shorter distance events |
| Googles | Always used to wear Zoggs Phantom but have recently changed to Speedo .. still searching for the perfect, soft, non leaking variety. |
| Swim cap | Whatever I'm given |
| Wetsuit | I don't own one. |
| Tri Gear .. | Love my Zoot Ultra tri pants for IM. Tops are a raffle. |
| Tri gear on my wish list | A berry coloured tri top to match my new bike ... |
| I wouldn't go to a race without .... | My favourite pink towel with my name on it Size 16 elastic bands Fixamoll Gu Profile Jetstream |
| Best tri advice .... | Visualise all possibilities; mentally go through transitions while packing your gear bags. |
| Biggest tri mistake ... | I forgot to put my water bottles on my bike at a Sprint Series race at Palmerston years ago. I still remember how silly I felt when I reached down and found they weren't there & the effects of dehydration |
Robyn's transition spot looks a bit like this: |
 |