Give it a TRI

[shaper]

2 hours ago, IceCreamMan said:

Looking at results seems much less folks doing it too? 

Just over 1100, not like back in the days when it was 2500

[IceCreamMan]

14 minutes ago, shaper said:

Just over 1100, not like back in the days when it was 2500

Wow. That’s a large decline. Cost of living or is triathlon losing its appeal?

[_David_]

15 hours ago, IceCreamMan said:

Wow. That’s a large decline. Cost of living or is triathlon losing its appeal?

I think it's a bit of both, but the cost of living is the biggest factor imo. Triathlons are already expensive with gear, travel, and entry fees—add rising costs, and it’s no surprise fewer people are signing up.

[milky4130]

Then you get guys like me I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about and tick off that bucket list item.

[reteid]

I was a TO/Referee on the race.It was proper tough race for sure.

[shaper]

22 minutes ago, reteid said:

I was a TO/Referee on the race.It was proper tough race for sure.

I was in the race, that wind did more damage than just the bike legs, your core took a hammering trying to fight and stay in the extensions and aero.  It affected many on the run with sore lower backs and nothing left in the legs.  I saw many lying down during the run trying to rest their backs before continuing.

It is outstanding how hard Ditlev and company can bike and set new bike leg records in that wind and still smash the run!!  The pro's are something else!!

As to numbers, expense and cost of living for sure, for many now triathlon is a bucket list or once in a blue moon and no longer a lifestyle.  There was great mention for those doing their 10th race and the 7 who were doing their 20th, being every year since IMSA started.  Chapeau to all.

[reteid]

1 hour ago, shaper said:

I was in the race, that wind did more damage than just the bike legs, your core took a hammering trying to fight and stay in the extensions and aero.  It affected many on the run with sore lower backs and nothing left in the legs.  I saw many lying down during the run trying to rest their backs before continuing.

It is outstanding how hard Ditlev and company can bike and set new bike leg records in that wind and still smash the run!!  The pro's are something else!!

As to numbers, expense and cost of living for sure, for many now triathlon is a bucket list or once in a blue moon and no longer a lifestyle.  There was great mention for those doing their 10th race and the 7 who were doing their 20th, being every year since IMSA started.  Chapeau to all.

I spent 9 hours on the back of the motorbike and it is always interesting to see how many people on full tri bikes sitting upright as they are just to tired to be in the bars. Riding next to the pros they stay in the bars for most of the time. That is why they are pros. Well done on your effort on a proper difficult day.

[Yusran]

Hey All,

Not sure if this is the right place, but the Tri bug has bitten and I've decided to go all-in (to an extent).

The missus has decided that she wants to do a 70.3 and I've always been in love with Tri/TT bikes... they're just so darn cool! So I will support her in this journey. I've been on bikehub for a while, doing the MTB, roadie, gravel/touring thing- but now those things have just become a part of normal life - I wouldn't say they have lost their appeal, but they're just the norm now. 

Having read a bunch of this thread, I'm super keen to get training- albeit at a slower pace;- I want this to become a manageable part of life, rather than dedicating too much time too soon. We'll get there, but with a slow and steady start.

Here's the old school bike I built up the other day (EVERYTHING is from bikehub, purchased over the past few years)

I thought I would need more stack, so I had some aerobar spacers from a previous build. But after a few rides, I feel like I need to be further forward and possibly lower to get comfortable (flipped seatpost and weird Mystica saddle being the primary cause of this). Working on a bento box to 3D print aswell which will make the long steerer tube look less odd/disappear. More faff for the weekend!

Would love some different aerobars and basebars, for a comfortable wrist position in the aerobars and a safe braking position on the base bars- but there's no budget for that right now so will make do.

While I'm obsessing about the bike setup, I guess the area both my wife and I need the most work on is the swim... I've been swimming since pre-school days, but adulthood has thrown a healthy amount of fear into me, so open water swimming is scary and I'm more tense than relaxed in the water. 

Anyways, long story short- I'm here to Give it a TRI

[gurns]

Good Luck to you and your wife on your new journey, it sound's like you are approaching it from a sensible angle.

If I can give some advice on confidence during open water swimming - and this from someone who is not a great swimmer - the fitter you are with your swim in the pool, the more confident you will become in the open water.

I'm not sure where you are from, but there are plenty of people on this forum who will be able to advise on various open water swimming groups, its a good idea to join them, they cater to all skill levels.

Have fun, it's a great thing to do

[JayLow]

Definitely recommend doing some training swims in open water to progressively expose yourself to the abyss. I am a strong swimmer and had to abandon a race because I had a mild anxiety attack in the water a few years ago. And this was after I had done a 70.3 and multiple training swims in OW. 

Also a good idea to practice calming yourself while treading water, so that if anxiety hits you can regulate yourself back down. Float on your back, do box breathing for a few minutes, and get back to focussed clarity. Sacrificing 2 minutes to pull yourself towards yourself is far preferable to abandoning the race.