What do you really need to buy for the cycling portion of the triathlon?

The cycling portion of the triathlon is without a doubt the most equipment intensive portion of the race and arguably the most expensive. Below are six of the most common questions that beginners ask.

There is a lot to do for the cycling portion of the race and the absolute beginner maybe forgiven for thinking of this portion of the race as the easiest. The cycling portion is without a doubt the section of the race where a great deal of thought, planning, expense and training are employed. However, it need not break the bank, well not for your first triathlon. 😊.

1. Do I need to Buy a Special Kind of Bike? No, you don’t! Technically any bike will do. However, a road bike will certainly help make the race easier, especially if hills are involved. Many people participate quite happily on hybrid or trail bikes. If you can do the distance with relative ease with your existing bike, then there is no good reason to go buy a new bike for your first race. If on the other hand you need a new bike, think it through as to whether you will ever use it again. A brand-new road bike can be very expensive at $1000+ to get started and pedals are extra. The best advice I ever got was given to me at my local bike shop. Their advice was to think very carefully about the bike and certainly think well beyond race day. Some beginners buy a mid-range hybrid bike ($500-750) only to complete their first race and be smitten by triathlon fever and instantly want an additional bike. The cycling portion of the triathlon event is without question the most expensive part of participating in the race. I did buy a relatively expensive road bike for my first triathlon, but this was after a month of training on my daughters’ old heavy clunker. By this time, I knew what I was looking for.

2. Should you buy Clipless Peddles and Cycling Shoes? The answer to this one is easy; if you have used them before and liked them then it is a YES, however if you have never used them before and you are a novice cyclist and this is your first race then it is a “NO”. Arguably this is not the best time to add additional components and expense to the training. The shorter your training window the bigger the “NO” on this one. Clipless pedals can often be confusing for the first-time triathlete and they do lock the soles of your shoes in the pedal. Sadly, the prevailing opinion amongst many cyclists is that you are not serious if you do not use clipless pedals. They all admit that you fall off a few times when you start to use them. There are enough reports and stories of people breaking bones from falling off the bike when they are relatively inexperienced with the clipless pedals. From personal experience, my neighbor (aged around 55) broke her hip in her driveway practicing how to use them before even going on the road. I have seen people at Triathlons, fall off of their bike at the second transition zone when trying to dismount due to their lack of familiarity with clipless pedals. If you are an older first-time triathlete and have never used clipless pedals before; your first race is not the best time to try. A fall in training could seriously jeopardize your training window for the race. On the other hand, if you have used them before by all means go for it. I have friends that will talk endlessly about how much more power they get from using clipless pedals, and while I believe them, there are absolutely no scientific factual studies that show an increase in performance. The bottom line on this one is that most people love them, but I would steer people away from them, at least for their first race if they have never used them before. This is something not to add to the triathlete shopping cart for your first race.

3. Do I Need to Buy Sunglasses/Cycling glasses? No! These may be optional for the race, but I can’t understand why anyone would not use them. They are to protect your eyes from dust, bugs and small stones that could easily hit your eye at speeds in excess 25 mph and have the potential to cause serious damage. The option not to wear them should not be an option at all. This is a no -brainer must have!

4. Do I Need any Special Clothing for the Bike Race? No, however you should invest in a pair of tri-shorts at least. For most races you will be cycling wet and a good pair of tri-shorts will prevent chafing. Also, do not wear anything that flaps around such as a loose T-shirt since it will slow you down dramatically. It will easily erase several mph off your downhill speed and will also make cycling uphill even more difficult if there is any sort of headwind or crosswind. One thing you will learn when cycling is that if tailwinds exist, it will be for the guys going the other way. A snug fitting T-shirt after the swim will suffice.

5. Do I Need a Helmet? YES! Not only is it mandatory to wear a helmet, but the helmet must be fastened before leaving the transition area. There are many types of helmets to choose from. However, for your first race which will most likely be a sprint. A regular road helmet will suffice. Depending on the temperature one can choose a helmet with more slits if riding in warm weather.

6. Should I Buy Cycling Gloves? These are not required for the race; however, some people use them for warmth and some people use them for comfort. This is a purely personal choice.