Innehållsförteckning för July 2018 från 220 Triathlon

BUMPERS Tri-bike shoes often boast plastic heel and toe bumpers to ease running with your bike in transition and to protect the outsole from damage and scratches. The heel bumper on the Pearl Izumi Tri Fly Elites, right, is removable. STRAPS Many tri-bike shoes use reverse main straps – running the opposite way to traditional road bike straps as seen on the Pearls – for a speedier exit and for easier adjustment on the move after T1. The downside of tri straps is they can catch on the crank if they’re too long. CARBON SOLE A carbon sole will save grammes and enhance the power transfer and pedalling efficiency, but will also add to the price of the shoe. The Pearl Izumis here feature an Integrated Carbon Power Plate that…

1 The Profile Design FC35 (£89) holds a mighty litre of liquid and includes a mount for a GPS and a separate nutrition storage area. There’s a clip to keep the straw out of sight, the bite valve has a self-locking valve and the huge filling port is quick to refill. 2 If you’re looking for a Bento box on a budget, take a trip to Decathlon and eye up their Aptonia Triathlon Pouch (£7.99), which can hold up to six energy bars and features a zipless pouch for easy entry and exit. Two Velcro rip tabs keep the pouch in place. 3 The Aqua Rack dual Bottle Mount (£49) system from Profile Design holds two bottles of water and mounts to your seat rails. The positioning behind the saddle…

ULTIMATE RUN SET INTERVALS Benefits? A speed endurance session focusing on improving longer-distance race pace How close to race day? Between 2-8wks prior to race day Distance 10km Location Treadmill or road Kit Race trainers, stopwatch Nutrition Eat a light meal up to 3hrs prior to session, have a post-session protein snack ready, and approx. 500ml of energy/electrolyte based fluids WARM-UP 1km with increases in pace up to sprints MAIN SET 8 x 1km as [600m @ race pace/400m @ 20secs per km faster than race pace]; 1min RI between sets COOL-DOWN 500m @ PE 5 ADAPTATION Beginner Divide the session as 700m/300m Advanced Increase session up to 10 x 1km efforts ULTIMATE RUN SET ENDURANCE Benefits? Improve race distance pace by including changes in pace during long runs making…

AGE-GROUPER ADELAIDE GOODEVE “I had three lots of four weeks off in 2017 due to overtraining. I was training for Challenge Barcelona – my first triathlon! I’d recover from overtraining and then the next weekend I’d be training for 7hrs. I think the volume got to me. Now I have a new coach and he’s given my training structure and improved my nutrition plan. Before I’d train a lot fasted because I didn’t like breakfast. Apparently, that suppressed my immune system. Now I have quinoa flakes for breakfast and ensure I eat enough calories. I’m now fit and healthy, and training for the Braveheart Triathlon.” ELITE EMMA PALLANT “I overtrained as a runner. In triathlon, I’ve learnt that training smart is far more important to success. I work closely with…

NECK SEAL The seal should be tight enough to stop water seeping in. But make sure it isn’t too restrictive around the neck and that there’s no danger of chafing. CUFFS OR PANELS A number of the suits here have forearm cuffs or catch panels, which either aim to increase feel for the water or improve the catch. NEOPRENE DEPTH Wetsuits are constructed with different thicknesses of neoprene to aid flexibility and improve buoyancy. Last month we took a look at entry-level wetsuits costing under £300 and were pleasantly surprised by the selection and quality of suits available, with some brands offering trickle-down technology on suits that would have cost far more a few years ago. Once you’ve got a first season under your belt though, or if you’re lucky…

In all 220’s coaching advice, our experts refer to four levels of effort to tell you how hard you should be working. Based on the standard ‘rate of perceived exertion’ scale (RPE) the levels are as follows… MAX EFFORT (RPE 9–10) Redlining. Things are getting very difficult at this level. You can barely breathe and are struggling to speak. At the top end, it feels almost impossible to keep going. VIGOROUS (RPE 7–8) The pain cave. Your activity is starting to become uncomfortable. You’re short of breath, but can speak a sentence. In short, it’s getting tough: but you can carry on. MODERATE (RPE 4–6) Adding some load. Things are starting to become more challenging. You’re having to breathe harder, but not so much you can’t hold a conversation. EASY…

RUN PACE TEST SESSION DURATION 60MINS COACH SCOTT FINDLAY “The aim of this session is to give you an idea of what ‘too fast’ and ‘too slow’ might feel like for a given race distance” MOTIVATION To reach your true 1km max effort take someone with you to motivate you. MONITOR Use your watch to check time splits as you pass through a quarter and half way. LOCATION Run on a track to help with even pacing throughout the set. Race season is pretty much in full swing now – heck, you might even have completed a few races! – but did you pace them properly? Did you go out too hard and hit the wall before the end? Or did you go out too easy and feel like you…

SWIM 24/32MINS Men, you’re going to have to swim hard for 24mins to earn that pint. Ladies, it’s another 8mins before you can go to the pub! BIKE 33/46MINS Guys, it’s 33mins of cycling at 12-14mph for you. Gals, you’ll need a good 46mins in the saddle before you can earn this treat. RUN 20/26MINS If you want to run to the pub for your treat, chaps, you’ll need 20mins at 8min/mile. Ladies, you’ll have to run for another 6mins at the same pace.…

WATER INHALATION WOES Q Why do I take in lots of water in my mouth when I swim? What can I do? Paul Briston A First and foremost make sure that your body is level in the water by engaging your core muscles (stomach and back) to help keep your body straight, and then look down at the bottom. Looking down is incredibly counter intuitive, as it brings your hips up towards the surface, but this will help you roll your hips and shoulders to the side – allowing you time and space to turn your chin towards your shoulder (and not lift your head, which is what your subconscious will tell you to do!). From here, as long as you make sure that your breathing action (i.e. body roll…

“If you’re able to do 10-12hrs a week, you’ll do a sub-7hr 70.3” Ryan: For a first Ironman 70.3 race, is 10-12 training hours per week enough? Typically, that’s two swims, two bikes, two runs, and 1-2 weight training sessions. Mark: If you’re able to complete 10-12 hours most weeks, including six sessions of swimming, cycling and running, you’ll be able to complete your first 70.3 in less than seven hours, which will be a great first-time performance. Don’t skip core sessions; better to reduce a swim, bike or run session. Weight-training exercises must include: squats that recruit the core, gluteus, hamstrings and quadriceps to develop hip and knee flexion; heel raises with or without weights to improve the soleus and gastrocnemius lower leg muscles – progress from a flat…

We take gear testing seriously – you need to know that the kit you buy will help you reach your goals in all three disciplines and work as hard as you on race day. Our test team is made up of experienced triathletes, cyclists and runners who test each product that appears in 220 to the max during training and racing, rating it honestly for performance and value. ROB BANINO Former 220dep ed Rob has been riding and racing bikes on and off-road for over 20 years. Favourite piece of kit The one thing I can’t live without is my trusty Focus road bike. JACK SEXTY A triathlete since blowing his student loan on a bike, sub-2hr Olympic athlete Jack moved to Ironman at Lanzarote in 2016. Favourite piece of…

Dhb, Wiggle’s in-house brand, largely impressed us with their Classic and Blok tri-suits last season, but they’ve once again stepped things up in 2018 with the all-new Aeron Lab and Hydron ranges. While we’ll be focussing on the techy former next issue, the wallet-friendly Hydron seen here has a broader remit, targeted at beginner and intermediate triathletes alike. Straight out of the box and it’s clear the well-crafted design boasts plenty of short-course friendliness, with two neatly-sized rear pockets for gels; mesh panels along the spine, under the arms for ventilation and on the inner of the pockets; and a full-length internal zip guard. The lean chamois comes courtesy of industry favourites CyTech and has been designed for riding in the aero position, while there are flat-lock stitching and silicon…

1 Focus on your breathing: controlled exhalation under water and a good head position when breathing in. If you let your breathing rate dictate your stroke rate, you’ll pace much more effectively. Aim to sight every 3-6 breaths. 2 Swim half/ full race distance, exit, remove your wetsuit, shoes on, short 3-5 km run at intended race pace. 3 Either outside on a flat, uninterrupted route or on a turbo: 10min easy spin; 3 x 7mins at a hard but sustainable aerobic pace; 5mins at threshold; 2mins above threshold; 1min recovery; 3min cool-down. 45min easy run; 5 x 800m at threshold pace; 200m fast walk recovery.…

“It was sad to leave but it felt like the right choice at the time” I retired in 2010 after a relapse of glandular fever. I spent my whole tri career managing it because I was constantly toeing the line between training as hard as I could and my immune system functioning. I was already surviving on the minimum, and I wasn’t going to be able to continue performing at that level. I don’t have any massive regrets. There are one or two, like the Beijing Olympics in 2008. I finished that season fifth in the world and I should’ve raced there. I probably would have done very well considering the form I was in. That was a shame – but that’s life! It’d always been at the back of…

FUJI SUPREME 1.1 $6,999.99 What, no pink? The 1.1 is Fuji’s brand new female-specific racer, topping the bill in the four-bike Supreme series and boasting a featherweight sub-900g ultra high-modulus carbon frame. Instead of being a men’s bike with an alternative paint job, Fuji state that the geometry here is optimised for the competitive female cyclist and stems from a collaboration with female athletes since the 1970s. Turn to p72 for our women’s road bike test. fujibikes.com…

ULTIMATE POOL SET Benefits? A mixture of race-pace threshold efforts mixed with some strength work; short recovery times help to boost anaerobic capabilities How close to race day? The final 4-6wks Distance 2,600m Location Pool Kit Pull Buoy, paddles, stopwatch Nutrition Eat a light meal up to 2hrs prior to swim, 500ml energy drink during session and have a post-session protein snack ready WARM-UP 200m to include variety of strokes MAIN SET 2 x 300m @ PE 8* off 20secs RI** 250m + paddles @ PE 6 4 x 150m @ PE 8-9 off 15secs RI 250m + pull buoy @ PE 6 6 x 100m @ PE 9 off 10secs RI COOL-DOWN 100m to include variety of strokes ADAPTATION BeginnerIncrease recovery time by extra 5secs Advanced Complete the 6…

Regular readers of 220 will know Scott Tinley. In 1980, the American raced his first Ironman at the age of 26. Two years later he broke Dave Scott’s course record to win his first of two Ironman Hawaii titles. Tinley drove on the fledgling sport of tri alongside Scott and Mark Allen, and he continued to race professionally well into the 1990s. He’d trained hard and, he thought, smart. But in 1994, after a tough race where he finished second at Ironman Canada, something changed. “He was physically fatigued and no longer able to train or race at his previous level of competition,” wrote physician Dr PZ Pearce. “It was hard for him to sleep, and he started to experience upper respiratory infections. Ultimately it impacted every facet of his…

1 SLEEP SOUND Take your sleep seriously. It’s where you rebuild from training and recuperate from the day’s stresses. Ensure a pitch-black room; no smartphone in bed; and a warm cup of milk. They all help the shuteye. 2 BALANCED DIET Too few carbohydrates can reduce your immune system; too little protein can have you reaching for too many ‘bad’ carbs (sweets and biscuits) to satiate hunger. Lean meat, fish, brown pasta and vegetables should be staples. 3 ALL ABOUT BALANCE Ensure you train at low intensity at least 80% of the time. Your body will also appreciate having at least one day’s recovery between intense sessions. For instance, a hard run Monday, hard swim Wednesday and hard bike Friday. 4MAXIMISE SWIM AND BIKE Swimming and cycling are best for…

Being a high-end wetsuit test, we were pleased to discover that all suits here were of a very high standard. There were no silly gimmicks and nothing that would stop us reaching for any of them come race day. In short, there were no losers here. Huub score points for innovation with their +43 foam compound and, while Roka’s Maverick Elite picked up our ‘lowest’ score, this is more of a reflection of what you can expect compared to their top-level Maverick X suit. We were hesitant to give our best value award to a suit pushing £500, but there aren’t really any compromises between Zone3’s Vanquish and the options at £600 or above. If you can’t stretch to this then Aqua Sphere’s reliable Racer is a solid purchase. Throwing…

SCOTT TRAIL MTN AERO £35.99 The big sell of the Trail MTN Aero is the dual-layer construction, which successfully wicks sweat away from the skin to the surface layer. The downside of this is that sweat patches are clearly evident on the chest of this green colourway, so we’d opt for their darker blue or grey editions instead. The mesh back provides plenty of breathability on 20°C-plus runs and the 90% polyester/10% elastane mix boasts a comfortable athletic fit that sits well on the body. A number of reflective details and a headphone loop on the back of the neck are welcome extras. scott-sports.com VERDICT THE TRAIL MTN AERO OFFERS BREATHABILITY AND IMPRESSIVE WICKING AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE AUSSIE GRIT FLINT £54 From Greg Welch to Emma Carney and Brad…

SWIM RACE-PREP SESSIONS DURATION 40MINS COACH RICHARD SMITH “Your last race-prep swim should leave you feeling good not fatigued, having practised your skills and short, race-pace efforts” WARM-UP Given the chance, warm up in the water. If the water temperature is cold, this will help you to acclimatise and start well. FIT AND FLUSH Properly fit your race wetsuit and then flush it with water so it moves with your body. VISION Use polarised lenses on your race goggles so you have good visibility in bright conditions, and make sure they’re secure before the off. Race preparation is very personalised, but good planning and preparation, not least for your swim, is essential for achieving a perfect race start. For key races, this starts with reviewing the swim course, planning your…

TRAINING PLAN COACH DERMOTT HAYES As triathletes, there’s a strong chance we’ve come to the sport from various other sporting backgrounds – or maybe no sports background at all! Either way, there’s usually only a very small minority that have experienced swimming at the highest level when younger, and so when it comes to training for a triathlon the majority need to relearn how to swim efficiently. To make things more challenging, most triathlons are in open water, not in a pool, with its confidence-inducing lane ropes, clear water and the chance to stop every 25m. In short, swimming outdoors is a very different beast. Over the next eight weeks, this training plan will help you build confidence, work on open-water technique and get you race ready. The plan is…

GOOD PROTEIN PANCAKES Boost your protein intake! Recipe: 6 tbsps porridge oats, 1 tbsp Greek yoghurt, 4 tbsps almond milk, 2 eggs, pinch of salt, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking powder. Whisk together and then fold in one egg white. Cook over a medium heat and serve with almond butter, fruit, yoghurt and maple syrup. BETTER ADD PUMPKIN PURÉE Strengthen your immune system by adding pumpkin purée to your pancakes. The ready-made purée contains 200% of your vitamin A RDA, 19% of vitamin C, 10% of vitamin E, plenty of fibre and an impressive array of minerals to keep you strong and healthy for training. BEST ADD CACAO AND AVOCADO Almost brownie-like in texture, these pancakes are packed with heart-healthy fats and antioxidants. The best bit? Recent studies show…

JOHN WOOD Water inhalation woes John is an award-winning tri coach of 10 years, a former international swimmer and has raced all distances up to Ironman. MARK KLEANTHOUS IM bike training volume Mark’s an athlete and coach who has completed more than 460 triathlons, including 39 Ironman events. ANDY BLOW Sweat rates Tri coach Andy is the founder of Precision Hydration, which specialises in sweat analysis and tailored sports hydration. NICK BEER Training with sciatica Nick’s a sports injury rehab specialist and development coach. A former elite triathlete, Nick now specialises in S&C work.…

MAKO GENESIS £180 A fine and affordable suit for short- course racers. Highlights include a good buoyancy balance, a low-cut collar for chafe-free swimming, and high-cut wrists and legs for easy removal. mako-shop.com 2XU P:1 PROPEL £215 Top features and materials make this a race-day winner: excellent balance for beginners and intermediates, the Rollbar tech keeps your body aligned, and it’s studiously crafted for durability. 2xu.com/uk ZONE3 VISION £240 Flexible, fast and very hard to fault. Includes tech from the flagship £495 Vanquish suit: 2mm-thick and stretchy shoulders are a particular winner for the pricepoint. racezone3.com…

Wondering what the ‘washing machine’ is, or where to find your M-dot?! Make things easy with our guide to common tri terms… ‘A’-RACE The most important race of your season AGE-GROUPER Non-pro triathlete (most of us!) AEROBIC Aerobic exercise involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body ANAEROBIC How much energy your body can produce without using oxygen AQUABIKE Race with just swim and bike elements, no run BILATERAL BREATHING Breathing every 3 strokes when swimming BIOMECHANICS The forces applied to your body during exercise BONKING Running out of energy mid-race or training session BRICK SESSION When you ‘brick’ two disciplines together, e.g. bike & run CADENCE Pedal rate on bike, in revolutions per minute (rpm) CARB-LOADING Eating a carb-heavy meal prior to a race to boost energy CATCH The…

Triathlon – the perfect medicine to cure all ills. But there is one downside. Pushing yourself too hard in the search for peak performance suppresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to picking up an infection. The result? A spell twitching your thumbs and unsettling all those around you. Thankfully, in a recent issue of the European Journal of Sport Science, Professor Neil Walsh of Bangor University has delved into the science and prescribed key ways to bolster your defences. These include: never swim, bike and run when you’re showing below-the-neck symptoms; plan a recovery or adaptation week, where you cut training time, every third week; aim for at least 7hrs sleep each night; and carefully manage training stress. That last one’s particularly relevant to triathletes, who are often…

UNDER £15 HUUB TRI SUN VISOR £14.99 This best-selling classic visor features an Eventure elastic band for fitting and a quick-drying Coolmax headband for cooling and preventing sweat from reaching the eyes. It comes in black as well as the white version seen here. huubdesign.com UNDER £20 HEADSWEATS RACE HAT £19.95 Major American headwear brand Headsweats have countless options and colourways to pick from (including custom club choices), with the Race Hat offering hi-visibility benefits, reflective piping, an adjustable strap and a very lean weight. headsweats.com UNDER £25 ZONE3 RACE VISOR £23 The Zone3 Race Visor features an adjustable Velcro strap at the rear to help find the best fit. There’s a polyester mesh on the inside for breathability and a fleece fabric for sweat absorption. It’s available in red,…

They may lack the reverse strap of most tri-bike shoes, but the Pearl Izumi Tri Fly Elite V6 offer a host of classic tri-shoe benefits elsewhere. Getting into them after mounting the bike is a doddle thanks to the lack of tongues, which also aids bike-course ventilation, and they’re pitched for sockless riding due to the seamless upper. There’s also a replaceable heel bumper to help with running in transition and an oversized heel pull for easy on/off performance in T1 and T2. The light, per-shoe weight is 255g for a men’s UK size 9, with much of that weight reduction down to the minimal 5mm stack height and integrated carbon plate on the outsole aimed at enhancing power transfer. Nonetheless, there are still comfort considerations at play, with a…

“Marshalling – what a brilliant thing to do if you can’t take part in the race. My day was an absolute blast” FEEL THE RACE After a playing a contact sport for 25 years I finally decided it was time to pursue my interest in triathlon. Inspired by an article in 220, I joined my local club and did a couple of local tri’s last year. My work now means my training sessions are limited, but I recently marshalled at the club’s Aquathlon in Basildon. The weather was pretty dismal to say the least, but while I was waiting for athletes at the top of a hill, I had a thought to download a few motivational songs – the Rocky theme, Chariots of Fire, Queen… and played them as the…

ULTIMATE BIKE SET INTERVALS Benefits? A 1hr session to combine both race pace and strength by training above race-pace threshold. It also focuses on the importance of effective cadence How close to race day? 2-6wks prior Duration 75mins Location Turbo or gym Kit Bike shoes, race clothing, stopwatch Nutrition Eat a light meal 2hrs prior, 750ml energy drink and one gel during, and a protein snack post-session WARM-UP 10mins gradually building @ PE 5-8 MAIN SET 8 x [1min @ PE 9/1min @ PE 5] 4mins @ PE 6 20mins @ PE 7-8 in aero position 4mins @ PE 6 8 x [1min @ PE 9/1min @ PE 5] COOL-DOWN 5mins @ PE 5 ADAPTATION Beginner Increase recovery time to 90secs on intervals AdvancedReduce recovery time to 45secs on intervals…

MEDICHECKS Medichecks’ Sports Hormone Check (£89, medichecks.com) requires you sending them a pinprick of blood for analysis of key hormones (and their levels) associated with peak sporting performance. These include testosterone, oestradiol, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). The test also includes haematological analysis for endurance-performing parameters like haemoglobin levels. Forth Edge offer a similar service. STAGES POWER METER A power meter is arguably the essential tool when it comes to reducing your chances of overtraining. A power meter directly measures your power output and isn’t affected by outside variables like wind or hills. This means you can train very precisely and accurately, which is what you’re after when looking to stay this side of the overreaching equation. We chose the Stages Cycling Power Meter G2 as it can…

“With a minimal 4.8mm stack height no effort is wasted, and the composite sole is comparable to full carbon” MOST WANTED BONT RIOT TR+ £139.99 Will the oven-friendly Riots set a new standard for tri shoes? Bont’s cycling shoes are a popular option for those with fussy feet, as they all have a heat-mouldable chassis made from an Epoxy Thermoset Resin that can be sculpted to fit your foot. The Riot TR+ is claimed to be the world’s only heat-mouldable tri shoe with a carbon composite sole and, given their elite road shoes cost upwards of £300 (such as the Zero+ favoured by two-time Ironman world champ Jan Frodeno), it looks like a very good value package. Our size 45s came in a royal blue and orange colourway, with…

You can tell from the high scores awarded that there’s no bad suit in this test (and over £300 we wouldn’t expect to see any). But there’s a difference in value, and as our cheapest suit on test, the Zone3 still outpunches some of the others in terms of its features and functionality, so runs away with our Best Value award. Budget aside, it’s time to consider what kind of swimmer you are. Many of the suits here feature 5mm panels to lift your legs and torso and while they do a good job, the Zoot alone combines those with super-thin arms for flexibility and feel. If buoyancy’s not your thing (and women tend to need less due to body fat and muscle distribution) then the Huub is our pick…

BIKE AERO SESSION DURATION 2HRS COACH MATT BOTTRILL “This session stresses the legs into a situation that they might not be comfortable with by using lower cadences for the main set” FUELLING Set an alarm on your training watch/ smartphone to remind you to keep fuelling. MINDSET Keep a positive mindset. This will help you focus in training and ultimately on race day, too. FORM Keep your cadence fluid. Don’t fight your bike and get bogged down in a gear that’s too big. Learning to pace for an iron-distance bike leg is very much about controlling your power and heart rate. While most triathletes are very good at completing long endurance rides, to improve this further you need to engage the energy systems needed for harder riding. A great way…

To stay 100% focused for 180.2km is very hard – although it might be slightly easier for 177km *he says with a wink* [Tim’s official Ironman record was recently broken by pro Matt Hanson at Ironman Texas, despite the bike course falling 3.2km (2 miles) short of the standard 180.2km (112-mile) course] – whether that’s over four or seven hours. And everyone will have a different way of keeping their head in the game, which in turn keeps the body pushing for the whole bike leg. Annoyingly, there are no secret ways to keep a zen-like mindset. I mean, it’s an Ironman right? We must have a little bit of crazy in us to do it in the beginning! BE PRACTICAL When I’m racing, I’ll be honest with you, there…

Will cycling help my running? Hell yes! Cycling is a great way to build strength, especially riding uphill in a big gear; short sprints out of the saddle help spike your heart rate and build speed; while long, steady rides build endurance. Three keys areas needed to run well in triathlon. What are your core muscles? AKA the torso, it’s made up of the pelvic floor muscles, transversus abdominis, multifidus, internal and external obliques, rectus abdominis, erector spinae (sacrospinalis), longissimus thoracis, and the diaphragm. The lumbar muscles, quadratus lumborum, deep rotators, as well as cervical muscles, rectus capitus anterior and lateralis, longus coli may also be considered members of the core group. Minor core muscles include the latissimus dorsi, gluteus maximus, and trapezius. What are the advantages and disadvantages of…

1 The Alpe D’Huez Tri (2 August) features the titular Tour de France ascent and all its iconic switchback glory. There’s also a lake swim 700m above sea level and a high-altitude run. alpetriathlon.com 2 The Helvellyn Triathlon (2 Sep) has long been a classic on the circuit. It boasts one of tri’s toughest courses, with the 61.2km bike including the infamous ‘Struggle’ and a run up Helvellyn. trihard.co.uk 3 The Brutal Extreme Triathlons(15 Sep) in North Wales features a host of distances, including one of the toughest iron-distance events on the globe. The run takes athletes up and down Mount Snowdon. brutalevents.co.uk 4 The BenNevis Braveheart Triathlon (15 Sep) features a 1.9km loch swim, a 90km bike and a run to the summit of Britain’s highest mountain. bravehearttri.com…

RACE WHEELS The faster you need to be on the bike the more important a wheel’s aerodynamics become. But speed needs to be balanceed against handling and braking. KRU CYCLING C-88 £1,200 Very fast and affordable wheels from new Italian brand, with an impressive hub. Issue 350 krucycling.com MAVIC Comete Carbon Pro SL £1,579 A massive step-up from Mavic in terms of braking, handling and aerodynamics. Issue 349 mavic.com ROVAL Rapide CLX64 £1,870 Bearings and profile create a comfortable glide, and there’s excellent braking. Issue 349 rovalcomponents.com DT SWISS Arc 1100 Di-Cut 80 £2,069 A lightweight and boundary-pushing wheelset that’s fast and light yet a touch firm. Issue 349 dtswiss.com ENVE SES 4.5 CK £3,100 Lean and speedy with impressive acceleration and…

JUNE 16-17 FRITTON LAKE TRIATHLON FESTIVAL WEEKEND (various dists). Somerleyton Estate, Norfolk. frittonlakeoc.co.uk 16 TITAN BRECON MIDDLE TRIATHLON (1.2-mile S/60-mile B/ 13.1-mile R). Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar. dbmax.co.uk WALES TRIATHLON (various dists). Fishguard, Wales. walestriathlon.com DAMBUSTER TRIATHLON (1.5km S/42km B/10km R). Rutland Water, Leicestershire. pacesetterevents.com PEMBROKESHIRE COAST TRIATHLON (1.5km S/43kmB/10.6km R). Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, Wales. pembstri.org.uk 17 NEW FOREST TRIATHLON (various dists). Ellingham WaterSki, Hampshire. racenewforest.co.uk WINDSOR TRIATHLON (various dists). Windsor, Berkshire. humanrace.co.uk SOUTHEND TRIATHLON (750m S/20km B/5km R). Shoeburyness, Essex. southendtriathlon.com RACE TO THE BILL (various dists). National Sailing Academy, Dorset. bustinskin.com BRETT ASHFORD TRIATHLON (various dists). Lydd Lake, Jurys Gap, Lydd, Kent. trispiritevents.com DARTFORD BRIDGE TRIATHLON (various dists). The Bridge, Dartford, Kent. bridgetriathlon.co.uk 23-24 CHOLMONDELEY CASTLE TRIATHLON (various dists). Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire. castletriathlonseries.co.uk 23 IMMORTAL MIXED RELAYS (4…

RACE COACHING LAKES RETAIL PLATYSENS MARLIN WORLDWIDE The Platysens Marlin is a next generation swimming tool, not only recording your session like a swimming watch but speaking to you whilst you swim, giving you feedback on your stroke, talking you through training plans and guiding you to swim straight in open water! 91% 220 Triathlon Dec 2017 - ‘A revolutionary tool that’s well worth the spend to improve your pacing’. TEL 01606 558428 • WEB PLATYSENS,CO,UK SELKIE SWIM CHELTENHAM, UK Selkie provide apparel and equipment for the open water season, including wetsuits and swimskins. We want to empower swimmers of all abilities to push their personal boundaries, and arm you with precisely the right kit to do so. EMAIL INFO@SELKIESWIM,COM • WEB SELKIESWIM,COM BOOICORE - OUTDOORS MADE EASY! NATIONWIDE, UK…