Super sprint, sprint, and olympic triathlons?

[Cody]

has anyone had any experience with these?

i want to do a sprint triathlon and maybe if I enjoy it work up to an olympic triathlon, but I'm not sure how to get started. I guess the biggest question I have is regarding the transitions and equipment. I don't want to enter in one and be completely out of place during transitions. I have no aspirations of being competitive, I just want to push myself a little bit.

Looking at the distances....

super sprint: swim 400m, bike 10km, run 2.5 km
sprint: swim 500-750m, bike 20 km, run 5 km
oly: swim 1.5 km, bike 40 km, run 10 km

I really don't see the super sprint being that much of a challenge for someone not looking to be competitive with anyone else. but i'm tempted to start there just to get my feet wet (literally, hardy har har).

I can do the running no problem, and the bike can't be that hard right? I suck at swimming so that is the challenge for me.

Does anyone have experience in these, or recomend a good beginners event?

 

[chadschoon]

this could be fun. ive only done half marathons. ive always wanted to do something like this. let me know what you find.

 

[Caleb]

I think I remember Black Sheep was getting into triathlons of some sort. I don't think he did the standard triathlon though, he did like trail running, mt. biking, and swimming if I remember correctly.

 

[Greg]

Chris Holley and his wife really got into mini-triathlons, then progressed to regular triathlons. You knew him... they both were in amazing shape (at least compared to me). His wife cleaned up in her first event, something like 2, 1sts and a 3rd in swimming.

I think in order to compete you'll need a decent road bike. Probably expect to spend $1500 on an entry level bike, less for a used one.

Do you want Chris' number? I can PM ya, I bet he'd be more than willing to talk to you. I haven't talked to him for about 6 months.

 

[Cody]

I don't want to spend that much money on a bike since I don't really get that into biking (maybe I'll get hooked?) and since I don't care to be competitive, can't see what a $1500 bike would do for me that a $500 bike couldn't. or am I way off?

let me clarify my competitiveness. I want to do well for me. I have no time nor desire to train enough to be competitive with the crazy people that do. I ran a 10k last weekend and felt really good about my time, even though I took 4th out of 6 in my division, 28th overall, and was a good 17 minutes behind the top finishers. I don't have 2 hours a day, 5 days per week to devote to training to get into that kind of shape.

 

[Greg]

I don't want to spend that much money on a bike since I don't really get that into biking (maybe I'll get hooked?) and since I don't care to be competitive, can't see what a $1500 bike would do for me that a $500 bike couldn't. or am I way off?

let me clarify my competitiveness. I want to do well for me. I have no time nor desire to train enough to be competitive with the crazy people that do. I ran a 10k last weekend and felt really good about my time, even though I took 4th out of 6 in my division, 28th overall, and was a good 17 minutes behind the top finishers. I don't have 2 hours a day, 5 days per week to devote to training to get into that kind of shape.

I've never been a roadie, so I don't know what $500 will get you, but from what I understand a quality bike is going to cost a bit of coin. IMO a $500 bike isn't going to be all that good. In the mtn biking world a $500 bike and a $1500 bike aren't even comparable. Perhaps look into used bikes?

Here's some good info-

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=271

How much are you willing to spend on your bike? Just deciding on that one factor will narrow your search to a specific field. If you haven't much capital to invest then perhaps you could look into obtaining a second hand bike. New road bikes for beginners can range from $500 for a Shimano Sora equipped bikes to $1000 for Shimano 105 equipped bikes if you look for lesser know brands or last years’ models. New tri bikes for beginners range from $1000 to $2000.

 

[Greg]

Good bike!- http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/bik/832572207.html

In your price range- http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/bik/828689398.html

This may be more your speed- http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/bik/823453504.html

 

[Cody]

hmm, that 2nd one is probably about the area I guess. I'm just not ready to buy right this second.

 

[Skylinerider]

I've done a sprint. It's a lot of fun. I wanna do more. Don't go too out there on a bike. A lot of folks just getting started use a MTB with road tires on them. If you don't already have a bike, look at the cheaper road bikes. I wished I'd have spent more time in the pool getting ready.

That Fuji that Greg linked to would be a good bike for a sprint.

 

[benjy]

I was up at the Jordanelle as a spectator last month. Both my boss and my dad were competing. I've been doing 5ks for awhile, but tri's are a whole different ballgame. I think I'd be motivated a lot more by training for a tri because cross training isn't just cross training, it's training for the competition.

The transitions are pretty hectic, and if you don't know what you're doing/where you're going, there's a lot of mistakes that can be made (going the wrong way...) The most fun was watching the transition area after the water and to the bikes. As far as times go, I think the transition area should be a little breather, a place to take it easy for a minute.

I'll probably start training for a tri after the marathon next year...

 

[Cody]

I've done a sprint. It's a lot of fun. I wanna do more. Don't go too out there on a bike. A lot of folks just getting started use a MTB with road tires on them. .

this was my original thought. My buddy has a ridgid MB with 29" road tires he uses for cruising around the city, and I thought that might be a good way to go since I might be able to use it for putting around town a little. I just don't know how much difference a bike like that vs. a road bike would make on a 13 mile ride? I don't care about a minute or two, but I would care if it's 2x's harder to ride.

 

[Skylinerider]

this was my original thought. My buddy has a ridgid MB with 29" road tires he uses for cruising around the city, and I thought that might be a good way to go since I might be able to use it for putting around town a little. I just don't know how much difference a bike like that vs. a road bike would make on a 13 mile ride? I don't care about a minute or two, but I would care if it's 2x's harder to ride.

As long as it's not a SS (single speed) you'd probably be just fine. Tires make all the difference. You don't wanna be bouncing around on knobbies for 13 miles on the road.

 

[Exalted 4x4]

try these guys. www.bikesdirect.com. They aren't the best "name brand" bike but they put great components on them. A lot of magazine reviews say "buy the bike, beat the heck out of the frame then switch all the good components over to your new frame". I bought a Motobecane from them and its a sweet bike for the money. One guy won the tour de france on a Motobecane so they cant be all that bad. I am thinking along the same lines as you. I want to do the triathalon but am unsure if I will ride a new road bike enough to be worth it. I plan on getting road tires for my mtn. bike until I become hard core enough to drop the fed's on a road bike.

 

[Exalted 4x4]

We should make a RME triathalon, sounds like we would have enough people. At least get a group together to train and compete with.
Maybe greg would get us some jersey's....

 

[Cody]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_08.htm

so when it says "turn key lockout" does that mean you can turn the front shock into a solid fork with a key? Isn't a solid fork better for road biking---returns more energy or something?

 

[Greg]

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom29_08.htm

so when it says "turn key lockout" does that mean you can turn the front shock into a solid fork with a key? Isn't a solid fork better for road biking---returns more energy or something?

Correct, or at least makes the shock more firm so you're not wasting as much energy, depends on what shock. It's probably just a simple switch that you can adjust easily, no key required.

BTW... that shock get's poor reviews for the most part. Cheap stuff. - http://www.mtbr.com/cat/suspension/2007-forks/rockshox/dart-3/PRD_414394_1550crx.aspx

Do lots of research before you buy a bike... you quite literally get what you pay for when it comes to bikes.

 

[newtoy]

I did a sprint tri in May it was fun and even though I was like an hour behind the winner I felt good about it. When I decided to enter the race i bought a cheep road bike(600 on close out). There is a huge differance in how easy it is to ride on road vs my mtn bike. IMO you will be better off on a cheep road bike then you would be on a mtn bike with road tires.

 

[Cody]

?

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/08_bikes/08codacomp.html

 

[sibeta]

I rode a mtn bike with street tires on it for years and then switched to a ghetto Bianchi road bike. i felt like there was quite a difference. I picked mine up for $200. If you're only riding these types of super sprints then just stick with a mtn bike and street tires. If you're interested in a quick beginner Sprint type triathlon, try the American fork splash and dash on 10-4. I am doing that one, its my first one as well. I am decent on a bike and running. However, I have no experience swimming laps in a pool. Hopefully 300m wont be too bad. Six lengths of the indoor pool shouldnt be too bad.
http://www.afsplashndash.com/

 

[Cruiser]

CODY!!!! They dont hand off beer during the race its WATER! i wouldn't want you to be disappointed!

however... i would be Greatly impressed and jelious cause i have always wanted to do them as well, however i sink in water!:-\