Gadget Fever

I think that one of the reasons, that triathlon appeals to men is all the gadgets you can get. Not only for one sport, but for three! Pick up any Tri Magazine and almost every page will be about trinkets, gadgets and fancy new inventions for your bike, the running leg or what about all the stuff, that makes your swimming training (and racing) easier.

Even on a normal danish workers income, it is difficult to get all the gadgets that the advertisers, tri magazines, webpages and fellow triathles tell you, that you absolutely cannot live, train and race without. And as a student it isn't exactly easier to keep up.

Tri bar for bike

With that in mind i knew what to wish for christmas and my birthday in january: Wetsuit, bike shoes, tri bars, pedals, tires that shouldn't puncture (a must for me, since i'm not exactly your allround craftsman. I'm gonna go through all the motions with my younger brother (that far surpasses me in bike maintenance- and repair-skill) and rehearse for punctures with him, but that's not where my skill or interest is. Hence the need for safe tires!)


When you read triathlon books, most of them says: "You don't need a lot of things to compete in a triathlon race, just swimming gear, a bike (that's safe), a bike helmet, running/cycling clothes and a pair of running shoes" - Voila!

I don't wanna be the only one starting in my first Tri Race in an old diving wetsuit (wetsuits mandatory for that race), my old rusty bike with 4 gears, tires that could sit well on a tiger tank and running shoes that should have been retired 3 months ago and at the same time being surrounded by young athletes on their carbon fiber bikes and timetrial helmets. With all that in mind, and in respects to my current status as a student, it all comes down to 2 things: Prioritization and Commitment.

Not quite my old bike, but close!

I prioritize and therefore don't spend a lot of cash on other things (i'm talking about things for my personal amusement. Naturally i buy food for my family and pay the bills!) and i'm committed to let those things i need for my Tri training and race come first.

Naturally my family comes first, both when it comes to spending time- and money, but i think you have to be 100% committed when you start to train and race triathlon. making a list over what things that was absolutely essentiel for me, also made me cut down to the vital gadgets, so i don't get "blinded" by all the fancy stuff.

As with most other things in life, the trick is to stay in the middle of the road, as the buddhists say, not to much, but not too little either. Yes maybe i could praobably finish a ½-Ironman race with my old bike, my tattered diving suit and worn out running shoes, but it would be a lot harder and less funny than pulling on a new (but still a cheap model!) wetsuit and go into the ocean, or to click into my new pedals on my restored racing bike and finally running the last leg with new(er) running shoes.

Kepp your eyes open for good offers (I use the internet and especially Chain Reaction Cycles in Great Britain that has some really nice offers from time to time (but guess you can find some good offers in the States as well)). In Denmark the prices are very high on tri equipment, so it pays off to have a keen eye on websites abroad (particulary if you are a poor student ;-) )