gadget

+1 - best answer thus far

This is where you make the mistake. It is 5 minutes in the water yes, but then 30 minutes on the bike (due to extra energy) and then another 30 minutes on the run. (these are obviously thumbsucks, but I'm trying to prove a point. I'm all for going minimalistic when trying out a new sport, but then do a minimalistic race like a tri sprint. IM is another animal. When you start hiking, your old running Nike's will be fine to climb up table mountain, but it wil not get you to the top of Kilimanjaro... Check this out for R1800 (I'm not any part of this website, but buy all my stuff from them being CT based) http://www.fluidlines.co.za/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=39&category_id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=55

Mmm, buoyancy is probably the biggest advantage if you take water temperature out of the equation. It makes you more "horizontal" in the water and thus better swimming form. The water can also get chilly in PE/EL. Look for secondhand on Gumtree or www.fluidlines.co.za has nice end of season stuff. Just make sure of the sizing as this is key.

Check this out - probably who you're looking for: http://www.troisport.co.za/club_activities.htm If not, they will be able to assist.

Karlien Smit at the Sports Science is very good. She works with endurance type sportsman (IM and Epic riders) and works with sports teams. She's often used by Health24.com and Shape magazine (amongst others)

It's old analytical thinking theory that says if you understand the part, you will understand the whole. I'm not a fan of this type of thinking, but that is a discussion for another day. Please correct me, add where you can. At some stage I'm going to buy a bike and the thing is going to pitch up at my door without wheels or brakes or something. A bike is made up of (i.e these components could be sourced individually): Frame Wheelset Headpost? (The steering wheel in layman's terms?) Seat post Saddle Brakes (are these part of the "group set"?) Group set (all the gears stuff plus deraileur(?)) Crank peddles Chain