Duathlon

5 watchers

LordWotsit Oct 2016 11:52am, 11 Oct 2016 1,008 posts	0 LordWotsit Hi all Would like to give a Duathlon a try. I have a basic hybrid bike would that be suitable or would I need a full on road bike? I have been looking at the 9BAR ‘CHILLY’ DUATHLON, sprint distance, at Castle Combe if anyone has any experience of it. Any advice more than welcome. Thanks in advance.
Ted Oct 2016 12:12pm, 11 Oct 2016 14,332 posts	0 Ted I went to watch a local Duathlon a couple of weeks ago. 5/20/2.5. Bikes and clothing ranged from full aero to flat bar chunky tyres. I think the smaller the event the more welcoming you might feel. I have no experience of any 9bar events so can't comment. Sign up and have a go.
larkim Oct 2016 12:37pm, 11 Oct 2016 1,091 posts	0 larkim Seems very similar to the Oulton Park duathlons held in spring and autumn near me though these have also acted as qualifiers for some international championships or other. But despite that, I did my first one (of two!) on a flat bar mountain bike for which the only compromise I made was putting thinner tyres on (its a 29er MTB so same size wheels as a road bike or hybird - 700c). I wouldn't say there were loads of people doing it on that sort of bike, but I was far from being the only one. There were competitors ranging from full on carbon disc wheels mega-bucks triathlon bikes though "normal" road bikes and mountain bikes. No-one batted an eyelid. As a runner I was competitive. As a cyclist I was lapped a few times! But I expected that and it made for a good personal challenge. I went back the next year and did it again, but by then I'd treated myself to a cheap road bike. My cycling was still rubbish, but I saved some time by being on something more designed for the task at hand. As Ted says - sign up and have a go!
richmac Oct 2016 1:53pm, 11 Oct 2016 10,035 posts	0 richmac Duathlon is a great sport if you don't like getting wet in your multi sport. Most have a range of equipment in use, why go crazy and buy a new bike only to decide you hate it? If in doubt, email the organisers.
larkim Oct 2016 1:58pm, 11 Oct 2016 1,096 posts	0 larkim One important piece of advice - do some brick sessions first. Run a mile, ride a few, run a mile. Discover that your legs do not appear to be fully functioning parts of your anatomy after the bike ride. Wonder if it was a one off. Realise it isn't, that's just how your legs will feel. Repeat at least weekly, increasing distances. Running transition to riding is straightforward. Riding transitioning to running is the most peculiar feeling my legs have ever had!
LazyDaisy Oct 2016 2:01pm, 11 Oct 2016 16,097 posts	0 LazyDaisy Second Larkim's advice. Running straight after cycling is weird!
larkim Oct 2016 2:08pm, 11 Oct 2016 1,097 posts	0 larkim Oh, and final piece of advice - find a fool proof way of ensuring that you ride the right amount of laps. Certainly at Oulton Park a few people ended up DQd as they mis counted their laps and came in early. One suggestion is blobs of blutac on the handlebars - remove every time you cross the start / finish line until you have none left, then you're on the last lap. Actually - there's another piece of advice. Get some cheap triathlon shorts so that you can run / cycle in the same kit. I got these startfitness.co.uk which, whilst not my clothing of choice for running, meant I had mildly padded shorts for cycling which were also OK for running in. They disapprove of nudity in the transition area apparently.
Ted Oct 2016 4:13pm, 11 Oct 2016 14,333 posts	0 Ted 2nd for the padded shorts. I went for a cheap tri-suit type affair where the branding peeled off after a couple of wears. And LOL to the bike to run transition. That shit is fucked up.
LordWotsit Oct 2016 11:15pm, 11 Oct 2016 1,009 posts	0 LordWotsit Thanks for the advice guys 😀