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Post by joek1973 on Jun 27, 2019 12:04:13 GMT
Got into cycling after getting my Triban 500SE a few years ago, and that got me fairly fit quite quickly to be honest. Certainly after a year of turbo training and long club rides/sportives, I was in much better shape than before I'd lost the weight and got fitter. Anyway, we have a few off-road running races local to us, so over the last couple of years I've been doing those as well as a focus really to structure some running training around.
Some friends and colleagues have naturally pointed out that the next thing to do is try triathlon, and I've brushed it off saying my swimming isn't good enough (which it isn't), but the curiosity has got the better of me (can I do it). So I've signed up for adult improvers' swimming lessons at my local pool and I'm going to give this Tri thing a blast. Just want to give it a go, and finish a Super Sprint Tri, dip my toe in the water as it were.
Has anyone else on here tried Tri?
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Post by Paulinblack on Jun 27, 2019 23:01:27 GMT
Rule 42:A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.If it’s preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run, it is not called a bike race, it is called duathlon or a triathlon. Neither of which is a bike race. Also keep in mind that one should only swim in order to prevent drowning, and should only run if being chased. And even then, one should only run fast enough to prevent capture.
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Post by joek1973 on Jun 28, 2019 7:05:08 GMT
Rule 42:A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.If it’s preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run, it is not called a bike race, it is called duathlon or a triathlon. Neither of which is a bike race. Also keep in mind that one should only swim in order to prevent drowning, and should only run if being chased. And even then, one should only run fast enough to prevent capture. Haha, that's a quality quote Paul! Love it! If I get seriously into Tri, I might get that printed and framed. Other than that the rules can ram it I've got a cycling mate who is an amazing cyclist but definitely no runner who would agree heartily with that statement
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Post by joek1973 on Jul 4, 2019 6:15:02 GMT
Had my first swimming lesson in...... well, many years this last Tuesday evening. Having swam with my kids, doing the odd couple of lengths I thought I'd be better than I was. I could barely do 50m without my legs sinking and me gasping for breath. Worked for the rest of the session on keeping the legs on the surface. That meant using a float for my arms and then kicking with only the hips (no knees), basically done by clenching your a**e cheeks and kicking straight legs, forcing hip movement which is difficult for a cyclist with a desk job I was slightly disappointed with where I was, but having had a couple of nights to think about it, I'm going to try to be a bit more grown-up about it and just enjoy the journey
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Post by chas on Jul 4, 2019 8:19:00 GMT
Had my first swimming lesson in...... well, many years this last Tuesday evening. Having swam with my kids, doing the odd couple of lengths I thought I'd be better than I was. I could barely do 50m without my legs sinking and me gasping for breath. Worked for the rest of the session on keeping the legs on the surface. That meant using a float for my arms and then kicking with only the hips (no knees), basically done by clenching your a**e cheeks and kicking straight legs, forcing hip movement which is difficult for a cyclist with a desk job I was slightly disappointed with where I was, but having had a couple of nights to think about it, I'm going to try to be a bit more grown-up about it and just enjoy the journey I had some lessons a few years ago when I used to take my kids, I was amazed at how much easier it was after a few weeks of someone pointing out where I was going wrong. I never kept it up though so duathlon is the most I've ever tried. I'm a bit put off by the cost of entry tbh, ok when it's something you're targeting but for me it was just for fun.
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Post by joek1973 on Jul 4, 2019 8:36:07 GMT
I had some lessons a few years ago when I used to take my kids, I was amazed at how much easier it was after a few weeks of someone pointing out where I was going wrong. I never kept it up though so duathlon is the most I've ever tried. I'm a bit put off by the cost of entry tbh, ok when it's something you're targeting but for me it was just for fun. Like you, Chas, I'm mindful of the cost - I haven't got a megabucks job, so I'm not going to buy a special bike just for Tri. The most I'll look at doing is get a set of clip-on bars for the road bike. Decathlon will get my business for a Tri suit (£30) - my swimming is nowhere near good enough that I'd even contemplate an open water swim so I don't need a wetsuit yet but if I did Decathlon would be my first stop again. Funnily enough because I'm paying direct debit for the lessons, any public swim sessions I go to outside of the lessons are free. Seeing as I go weekly with the kids anyway (and was paying £4.35 a time for that), the actual net cost of the lessons is just over £5/month. Add in a couple more swim sessions (from next week I'll be going once a week in addition to the lesson and the visit with the kids on the weekend) and it'll pay for itself. I just fancy the challenge of it to be honest; also there's self-improvement and improved self-confidence to be had for me in getting better at swimming and keeping up with my kids who are both little fishes in the pool.
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Post by chas on Jul 4, 2019 9:03:14 GMT
I didn't mean the cost of lessons I was really glad I had them and wish I'd kept it up, yours sound like a bargain. As you say you can have a go without loads of expensive kit, it was the actual event entry fees that put me off. I appreciate the extra organization involved but it was a bit extravagant for me just for a bit of fun when not my first priority.
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Post by joek1973 on Jul 4, 2019 9:10:28 GMT
I didn't mean the cost of lessons I was really glad I had them and wish I'd kept it up, yours sound like a bargain. As you say you can have a go without loads of expensive kit, it was the actual event entry fees that put me off. I appreciate the extra organization involved but it was a bit extravagant for me just for a bit of fun when not my first priority. Yeah, I agree actually. Sportives are like that too; in the first year or two of cycling I did quite a few of them but nowadays I just go for long rides and fuel appropriately. I can't see the value in the entry cost to me. I can appreciate that the cost of entry for a triathlon will potentially be greater still. Going to ignore that for now though haha Learning to swim properly first lol.
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Post by chas on Jul 4, 2019 9:22:52 GMT
Yes I'm put off sportives by the cost, VFM you can't really beat Audax rides although they can get addictive and I don't want to add up how much it's costing me to do PBP...
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