new to triathlon.

tritriagain

I want to do a sprint triathlon next summer and would like some advice.I am a good swimmer so that won't be a major problem. I have just finished week 5 of c25k and am going well(if not fast). I had never ran before this so am delighted with progress. However I only have an old mountain bike and my gym membership is up in October and I'm wondering should I quit gym/pool to buy a decent road bike as I can't afford both . I can catch up on swim training towards summer as I swim in sea 6 months of year. Any thoughts and thanks in advance

mloc123

tritriagain wrote: »

I want to do a sprint triathlon next summer and would like some advice.I am a good swimmer so that won't be a major problem. I have just finished week 5 of c25k and am going well(if not fast). I had never ran before this so am delighted with progress. However I only have an old mountain bike and my gym membership is up in October and I'm wondering should I quit gym/pool to buy a decent road bike as I can't afford both . I can catch up on swim training towards summer as I swim in sea 6 months of year. Any thoughts and thanks in advance

Define 'good swimmer', what is your cruising pace for 100s and what time for a 400m TT?

Brick Session

@ tritriagain

You are going to get shed loads of good advice on here from some very experienced triathletes. However, I think the first thing to ask is what you aim to achieve in Traithlon. Do you just want to have some fun, keep fit and perhaps meet new people or do you want to race seriously, win National Series points and even represent your country one day?

Do a google search for tri clubs in your area and talk to club members to get a feel for what they do and if that suits what you want to achieve. Before you do lash out loadsa money on a bike maybe you might have a go at a tri or two using the mountain bike. You will see lots of people using mountain bikes when they start out. At least this will give you a feel for the whole tri experience without shelling out heaps.

Why wait till next summer, if you are a fairly decent swimmer then give it a lash now. Most people who start out in Tri struggle with the swim so if you are a strong swimmer then you already have an advantage in one of the disciplines. Only 2 more to go!!

tritriagain

Brick Session wrote: »

@ tritriagain

You are going to get shed loads of good advice on here from some very experienced triathletes. However, I think the first thing to ask is what you aim to achieve in Traithlon. Do you just want to have some fun, keep fit and perhaps meet new people or do you want to race seriously, win National Series points and even represent your country one day?

Do a google search for tri clubs in your area and talk to club members to get a feel for what they do and if that suits what you want to achieve. Before you do lash out loadsa money on a bike maybe you might have a go at a tri or two using the mountain bike. You will see lots of people using mountain bikes when they start out. At least this will give you a feel for the whole tri experience without shelling out heaps.

Why wait till next summer, if you are a fairly decent swimmer then give it a lash now. Most people who start out in Tri struggle with the swim so if you are a strong swimmer then you already have an advantage in one of the disciplines. Only 2 more to go!!

Thanks for help. I just want to complete the triathlon . Im 39 so I won't be breaking any records its just on my bucket list.
Thanks again.

paddlepop

i am like you. I am 40 and doing a Tri is on my bucket list too. So 10 weeks ago i signed up for the DCT thats happening in a few weeks time! Am thrilled. Like you, swimming is probably my strongest discipline. Am ok on the cycle but have never ran before so that is my weekest(getting there though)
I am only starting out with the super sprint but maybe next year i will do the Olympic. I have done a few Aquathons as they are brilliant training for transitions and to get a feel of racing in the sea etc. Its also a good way to sus out stuff like wetsuits, trisuits and all that and also networking/socialising. I am yet to join a Tri club because its end of season so but i have one in mind. I am training on my own and have downloaded a 10 week sprint training program that i pretty much follow to the letter. Am enjoying every moment and cant wait for the race!
I am also on a hybrid bike and although i would LOVE to get my hands on a race bike, after talking to some much more knowledgable tri heads, recommendations were also to wait. Do a few tris first or even duathlons/aquathons whatever and i think you'll get more of a feel for what bike you want or suits you.
i know its not much help, but just my thoughts...
Good luck with it!

paddlepop

also...what does this mean

mloc123 wrote: »

what is your cruising pace for 100s and what time for a 400m TT?

sorry for my inexperience, but only today someone asked me the same question and i had no idea what he was talking about! please enlighten me:p

griffin100

What speed can you swim say 10 x 100m repeats in the pool with say 30 secs rest between each 100m? How fast can you swim 400m flat out?

@OP if all you want to do is finish a triathlon then that's not difficult. Choose a race distance, choose a race based on the Triathlon Ireland race calendar and train You can download training plans that will get you from couch potato to finishing a sprint distance tri in 10-12 weeks (trinewbies.com). To keep the costs down do a pool based tri to save you buying a wetsuit. There are two sprint distance pool based tris early in the season usually (Port Laois and Nenagh) which would suit a beginner. You can use any old bike as long as its roadworthy and you have a helmet. After that if you enjoy then you can start the never ending kit buying. There's loads of info online, take a look. There are also similar threads on this forum asking the same questions, have a look at them. Best of luck.

tritriagain

griffin100 wrote: »

What speed can you swim say 10 x 100m repeats in the pool with say 30 secs rest between each 100m? How fast can you swim 400m flat out?

@OP if all you want to do is finish a triathlon then that's not difficult. Choose a race distance, choose a race based on the Triathlon Ireland race calendar and train You can download training plans that will get you from couch potato to finishing a sprint distance tri in 10-12 weeks (trinewbies.com). To keep the costs down do a pool based tri to save you buying a wetsuit. There are two sprint distance pool based tris early in the season usually (Port Laois and Nenagh) which would suit a beginner. You can use any old bike as long as its roadworthy and you have a helmet. After that if you enjoy then you can start the never ending kit buying. There's loads of info online, take a look. There are also similar threads on this forum asking the same questions, have a look at them. Best of luck.

Thanks for all the info and promt replies. I'm sure I'll have loads more questions before first trip.