Starting out in a new sport can seem daunting and also expensive. But how can you do your first Triathlon on a budget?
You will see super bikes, super shoes, super wetsuits, nutrition which can cost similar to a meal at The Ivy, Ironman entries costing £1,000 before you get on a plane and shoot off to a destination you tell your spouse and kids is a “holiday destination”.
Or… you can do it differently with the same enjoyment. Here is how with tips from Team Manager James.
Do I need a super bike?
Simple put no, to be honest I ride a very good bike, but the biggest limitation is myself. The bike is significantly faster than me and used to be when Laura rode it in races. Yet I am not hugely quicker than when I had a Carrera with clip on bars. The entry level bikes have improved since 2012 when I bought my first road bike.
Decathlon now are probably the leaders for entry level bikes. They have slightly cheaper ones then linked at start of sentence, but with disc brakes this could become a great winter bike in future should you wish to upgrade some equipment should you fall in love with the sport and community.
Shoes are expensive, I thought running would be free?
That was my exact reaction when I saw price tags over £300 for shoes. Of course being the sucker I am I have a pair, yet you definitely don’t need them for your first few events or longer. Shoes which are more aligned to your requirements are important, but you can certainly get a quality pair of shoes for under £80.
I won’t suggest a pair as shoes are very individual but heres some tips for you:
- A site like https://www.sportsshoes.com/ provides cheaper shoes than direct brands
- Look in the sales section at last seasons models, they’re 99% the same as this year
- Garish colours are often cheaper, don’t be shy if you’re sweating and red faced and grunting nobody is looking at the colour of your shoes!
About a mortgage more:
£1,000 for a turbo training, another £500 for a power meter, a watch for £300, a bike computer for £300 (hows that different to a watch), goggles for how much, wetsuit for… okay I give up…
Yes it can feel like the most expensive decision you’ll ever make, before you’ve entered a race. But a lot aren’t necessary even if the pros have everything and continually claim they can’t live without AG1 or that De Boer wetsuits at £2,000 a pop are they only option.
Let me let you into a secret, its all social media “b*llock$”. Some are looking for 1% yes, but 99% of the community is looking to finish a race whilst hold down family responsibilities and social life and a job.
Goggles for under £20 not £250 (shakes head) https://zone3.com/products/volare-goggles?variant=42394207355053
Wetsuits in a sale for under £100 not silly money: https://zone3.com/collections/wetsuit-sale
Nutrition: flat coke and flapjacks, but if you want something more race specific look at https://www.precisionhydration.com/
Running watch and cycling watch, these aren’t cheap starting at £120 for a forerunner from Garmin. But download Strava onto your smart phone and stick it in a pocket and you have same functionality for free!
Turbo, well the great outdoors is free, but if you want an entry level one which will support you forever I’d suggest the Omni Feedback roller as it’s small, doesn’t require much set up and is easy to travel with if you want to take it away for a weekend or to a race
Power meter? Heart rate is a great way to train when you don’t know how else. Zones are available online and can be worked into Strava to help you. It’s not all about how many watts or watts per kilo.
Race entries without costing the value of a car
Ironman is a brilliant day out, Challenge are fantastic events. But these are financial commitments. There are local triathlons which are amazing for a fraction of the price. Active Training World do an event almost every weekend for under £100 and events such as Bewl Water Triathlon and The 1066 Triathlon are amazing events for £75. One tenth an ironman! Start here!
To conclude
Don’t get me wrong there is value in all of the top end items I’ve spoken about above. Don’t always believe what you see on Instagram. Local events are fantastic and work very well for everyone of any level. However, on your first Triathlon don’t open up the credit card for bashing but look at cheaper alternatives which will assist long term!
The best money you can spend?
Join a club! The likeminded people and the coaches will help you through any day you have. They have often been there and done that and they are great people. Nebula is great, but its not the only club. Find one which works for you and who you want to join their journey!
Below is an image of my first finish line in Triathlon- I fell in love with it that day and have done ever since!
