Ah the warm and glowing feeling of late December. Soon triathletes around the globe will be tucked into their beds on December 24th dreaming of; bike computers, power meters, smart watches, swimsuits, ceramic bearings, foam rollers, massage guns, carbon handlebars, carbon wheels, carbon shoes, carbon bikes, carbon EVERYTHING! I know what you’re thinking…”Ben is this going to be another tirade about how triathletes waste their money on upgrades when they should be investing in themselves”? Yup. That is exactly what this is going to be BUT it’s Christmas and I’m in a giving mood so allow me to spend your money for you!

Wanting to upgrade your equipment is nothing new. In fact since the sport’s infancy, triathletes have constantly been looking to upgrade their gear in order to go as fast as possible over the prescribed race distance. However, the past 5 years it seems the industry has made some giant advancements in electronic shifting, power meters at all price points, aero wheels and the most “innovated” triathlon specific bikes. Since new tech is being released almost monthly it’s difficult to know how to spend your money to get the most bang for your buck, no worries though, I got your back. Also, come on, you have no idea why a 12 speed drivetrain is better than a 10 speed or why you need the newest Zipp wheels with magnetically engaged free hubs. You just want it because it's new and shiny, but hey, crows like shiny objects too! So in the spirit of giving gifts, allow me to give a gift to you in the form of advice.

“Soon triathletes around the globe will be tucked into their beds on December 24th dreaming of; bike computers, power meters, smart watches, swimsuits, ceramic bearings, foam rollers, massage guns, carbon handlebars, carbon wheels, carbon shoes, carbon bikes, carbon EVERYTHING! ”

Swimming

Wetsuits and Pool toys: Nothing makes you faster than a $1,000 full sleeved wetsuit...right? Wrong. I’ve seen countless athletes over the years wearing the super high end wetsuits that are so ill fitting all they do is slow them down. Oddly enough I don’t see those athletes in the pool 3-4 times per week. Coincidence? I think not. When I do see them they are also wearing floating jammers to “correct” their swimming posture and position rather than learning basic swimming mechanics that will help them comfortably swim 2.4 miles. Enough ranting, what should you spend your money on in order to improve your swimming? For starters, a pool membership would be beneficial and even better would be a masters swim program. Finding the right group to swim with is worth every penny since you’ll be getting a group workout, motivation and you’ll be more likely to show up when others are keeping you accountable. Next you’ll want to have a few tools in your swim bag such as; a pull buoy, fins, and paddles. You could also find a lot of benefit from a snorkel and a band to tie your feet while you’re pulling. The important thing to keep in mind is to know when to use these tools and when to just swim...which isn’t what this blog is currently about...it’s about how I want to spend your money. So with that being said … back to wetsuits. If you want to and are able to spend a month's rent on a wetsuit by all means go for it but make sure you buy one that fits you properly. If you think it’s too tight, it’s most likely the correct size. If it takes you 10 minutes to put on, it’s most likely the correct size. A wetsuit with sleeves will be a little bit faster than a sleeveless but I would suggest going with whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

CYcling

Bike: Now is the time where I tell you to go ahead and buy the $12,000 bike. Why? Because that bike looks sick, it’s faster, lighter, and stiffer than the less expensive models and if you could afford a Ferrari why would you buy a Chevy? Unfortunately plenty of dentists riding $10k bikes are pushing 150 watts to slow bike splits because they don’t focus on details (like their legs). First and foremost - if you don’t put the work in, you can ride whatever bike you want and I’m still going to smoke you on a Huffy, why? Because training, that’s why. However, if you’re really looking to optimize your bike split, start with the position and find a bike shop or bike fitter that will sell you the correct sized bike, not just the bike they are looking to get off their showroom floor. If you want to go the online route, make sure you do your research, consult with people in your club or your coach and go over the geometry numbers. After that make sure you take a good look at the adjustability of the bike. While handlebar integration looks great and gives you a clean cable set up you could be in a fixed position that isn’t very aero, or worse, isn’t very comfortable.

The position, pedal stroke and power output is the upgrade

Wheels: Everyone has heard of the marketing companies (I mean wheel companies) Zipp, ENVE, Mavic, HED, Shimano… the list goes on and on and they all make fantastically fast wheels. Will they make you ride the bike faster? Sure, probably...it depends. For starters if you’re planning on running a disc wheel you should most likely reconsider unless you’re an elite/professional or... ya know ...a dentist. High end disc wheels go for around $2,500 or more and ENVE themselves even say that their disc wheel is designed for athletes who plan on exceeding and holding 27mph. Is that you? Nope? Moving on... Next consider your own cycling ability and how carbon wheels will impact your performance.

Do you ride 80% of your rides on the trainer?
Do you jump out of the aero bars the first time a crosswind hits you while you’re running your deep carbon wheels?
Do you only ride if the conditions are dry and have zero experience with wet braking surfaces on carbon wheels?
Do you break spokes or do you need a wheel that can take a lot of strain?
Is your position less than optimized on the bike to the point your head is sailing through the air? If you answered yes to any of these questions (and there are more questions) you’d be better off investing in a quality set of aluminum wheels with 24+ spokes and a great braking surface. Compare that $800 wheelset to $3,000+. Not to harp on this, but unless you’re a dentist, you’re better off saving your money.

Power meters/Computers/Pedals/Smart Trainers/Etc: You’ll be hard pressed to find a bigger advocate for power meters than me. When used properly they are a massive benefit for athletes of any ability. At this point they are relatively inexpensive as well (for cycling standards). If you ride outdoors you’ll also most likely want to have a bike computer, especially if it can help you avoid getting lost or connect to your tail lights and warn you when cars are approaching. You need pedals to ride a bike, I don’t think that fact is a surprise to anyone. However those pedals don’t necessarily need to be carbon fiber with the lowest profile possible. Select a pedal that is easy for you to clip in and out of so you save yourself the embarrassment of tipping over while waiting at a stop sign (I’ve done it). Lastly if you’re like me, you simply can’t ride outside everyday in the winter. In fact as I write this I’m looking at about 12 inches of snow outside my window but I’m still going to ride today, it’ll just be indoors. An indoor bike trainer will keep you riding year round and this piece of equipment can range from $150-$1,300. Consider your indoor set up (and bank account) before deciding which trainer is right for you. I have neighbors who probably don’t want to hear my trainer whirling at 6am so having a quiet trainer is important to me. I also like watching every Tour de France stage from the past 20 years so it isn’t so important for me to have a smart trainer that connects to Zwift, TrainerRoad, Rouvy, Sufferfest, etc and my bikes have power meters so I’m still getting the data inside. If virtual riding is your thing and motivates you to get on the bike, go for it but people always say that expensive treadmills make great coat racks...don’t let that happen to your trainer.

Kit: Buy the nice kit. Your body will thank me later when it’s not chaffed.

“Buy the nice kit. Your body will thank me later when it’s not chaffed. ”

Running:

Shoes: You’d think that spending money on running shoes would be simple. Buy a pair of shoes that fit well and start logging some miles...and it is that simple! The most important thing I can tell you is that finding a pair of shoes that fit your foot and running style is everything you need. Yes, the high end carbon plated running shoes are game changing, I won’t argue that, it’s a fact. Before you invest $250+ in shoes ask yourself; does walking “4% faster” in your Ironman really matter? How about that fact that you’re paying a little over $1 per mile over the lifespan of the shoe? I’m a 30 something year old guy who in the past year ran a 16:45 5k and a 4:57 mile*...in $250+ carbon running shoes BUT I’ve also ran over 2,000 miles for 3 years in a row. The morale of the story, beside my own ego boost, is that consistent work will bring you the results not magic shoes.

*I’m a triathlon coach, if you don’t like me boasting about my accomplishments find a different blog. I sell coaching.

Clothing: A few other things to invest in would be lights so you can run safely at night and appropriate clothing to keep you outside all year. Long running pants, hats and gloves are a must for the long training days in freezing cold temperatures. Start with a moisture wicking base layer and then proceed to add a long sleeve shirt or jacket if needed.

Watch: A fitness tracker or running watch will help you track your progress and even show you when your fitness is improving. Like most triathlon electronics, running watches come in a variety of prices and with a variety of features. Find one with the features that suit your needs the best. Do you need to know your O2 saturation(like your watch gets that accurately anyway)? Unless you’re climbing Everest, probably not. You may want one that can store some music and connect to wireless headphones, which is a pretty cool feature that I have come to enjoy. Find what works for you. Also use the HR strap. No it doesn’t constantly fall down, it’s not annoying once you get used to it, It’s simply accurate...unlike the wrist based HR monitor built into the watch.

“You will not find a bigger advocate for you than me, or any Mission Multisport Coach or team member.”

Now I know what you’re thinking after reading this, why should you listen to me? Well it’s pretty simple. I really don’t care how you spend your money because it’s your money so it’s really none of my business what you do with it. In fact if you tell me you want to spend 15k on a bike, I’m going to tell you to go for it and then debate whether the new Shiv, Canyon, Scott or Cervelo is the better bike for you (I am a former bike shop manager after all). I’ll even go to the bike shop with you to make sure you find the one that fits you the best and give you a second opinion about the color choice! You will not find a bigger advocate for you than me, or any Mission Multisport Coach or team member. Thanks for letting me play Santa this year!

Explore our latest blogs!