Cycling Articles

Bike parts
For most triathletes, their bike is probably the one piece of equipment that will take them a really long time to understand. Why is that? All those bike parts!

Bike Rack
For the last part of your swim, start visualizing where you bike is on the bike rack. During your actual swim exit, begin looking for your bike.

Specialized Bikes
You need a bike to train. You’ve heard about those specialized bikes designed for triathletes. Do you need one of those or can you use what you have in your garage? It depends on what you’ve got sitting in your garage.

Sport Bikes
Are you new to the Ironman world? One piece of equipment that requires your research will be your bike. Probably the single most expensive equipment you need for your race, your bike must be the right type for the job. 

Cycle World
In the past there’s always been a bit of rift between runners and cyclists. But now there seems to be more and more “cross-pollination” between the two sports. 

Bicycle Race
You managed to keep up with the others in the swim event and you can’t wait to get started in the bicycle race. You’re excited because the bike event is your best event. Stumbling out of the water, you head for your bike. Oh no! Where is it?

Bike Helmets
Make sure you get a helmet that has been rated by either Snell (on its crash-ability) or the American National Standard Institute (ANSI). In case you were wondering, Snell, while it means fast in Germany, isn’t guaranteeing your time in your next Ironman. 

Cycling Apparel
You may not have to worry about it in shorter races, but your cycling apparel can really make a difference in you’re going to be in a long triathlon like the Ironman. Why? Two words. Pain and Numbness. Enough said?

Cycling Shoes
How do Cycling Shoes differ from your regular running shoe? A cycling shoe will have a stiffer bottom than a running shoe. Running shoes are padded at the bottom to help absorb shock when you run, thereby going easy on your knees. Shoes that are designed for biking will have stiffer bottoms so that they don’t absorb as much energy and end up transferring more of your energy to the bike pedal. 

Sport Bike
If you race exclusively in triathlons, then you’ll probably want to buy a bike that is designed for triathlons. If you participate in other biking competitions, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of buying a bike that was designed for other purposes than just triathlons.

Cycling Gear
Keeping properly hydrated is a very important health issue for triathletes both during training sessions and when they participate in triathlons. 

Cycling Jerseys
Bike jerseys can protect your skin from the sun during the race. You can even buy jerseys that have SPF protection built into them. A regular light color shirt has an SPF of 5 or 10. But a shirt that’s been protected will have an SPF of 30. That means you can stay out 30 times longer with the shirt on than you could without it before you experience any burning from the sun.

Bike Tires
An evolution of the composite wheel that marries both the reduced drag of a disk wheel and the stability of a spoked-wheel provides triathletes the best of both worlds. A composite wheel will have 3, 4, or 5 “spokes” that keep the wheel together.

Triathlon Bikes
Triathlon bikes fit a niche market in that they really have been designed with the triathlete in mind. Instead of building a bike that could work for all athletes, designers work on making the perfect bike for somebody about to compete in an Ironman.

Racing Bikes
When you buy your new bike, look for the composite wheel spoke design. This design will reduce your bike’s drag and shave minutes off of your bike time. You may also want to consider wheel size and what type of rim system you want: tubulars (newer) or clinchers (more traditional design).

Cycling Training
By the way, you should make bicycle repair part of your training. Make sure you know how to change a tire and learn how to do it fast.

Olympic Cycling
Now that there are so many competitions where triathletes are not monitored for drafting, one must wonder about the future of drafting during the bike event.

Cycling Clothing
Normally when you’re considering what type of cycling clothing to buy, you’re focusing on fit, comfort, and breathability. You don’t want to be in something that itches or keeps your sweat inside while you’re riding your bike.

Cycling Shorts
If you’re going to be in an Ironman, then your transition time may not impact your final time as uch and you’ll have the “luxury” to change into the outfit which you’ll be most comfortable in for each event.

Slingshot Triathlon
Slingshot Bikes distinguish themselves not so much for what they’ll do during triathlons as much as what you can do on the way there.

Cycling Clothes
Cycling apparel includes tops or jerseys and shorts or bibs. Cycling accessories include the mandatory helmet and gloves. Gloves aren’t mandatory but they’ll help keep your hands warm and protect them in case of a fall.

Nike Cycling Shoes
The big thing now with cycling shoes are a clipless pedal system that uses ski technology to ratchet the shoes into place. You release your shoes with a twisting action.

Triathlon Bike Frame
For competing in an Ironman length race you’re going to want to make sure your bike works best for you. You probably don’t want to compromise when a different style bike frame could take minutes off of your race time.

Cycling Jersey

Giordana, the bike apparel company from Italy, offers jerseys in innovative fabrics that will not only protect you from wind or rain but will still help you get rid of your sweat. Cannondale makes jerseys that are just for the triathlete.