Innehållsförteckning för February 2023 från 220 Triathlon

MEET CHLOE AND JUDITH Paratriathletes Chloe and Judith Maccombe from Derry in Northern Ireland finished 2nd and 4th, respectively, at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The visually-impaired 27-year-old sisters - known as the Tandem Twins are now targeting the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. In top image, L-R: Chloe, guide Catherine Sands, guide Anne Paul and Judith. WHY I TRI We were born with a type of albinism, so we’ve grown up visually impaired whereas some people lose their vision later in life - which can be a real struggle. In a way we’re kind of lucky because we’ve never known any different. We came into tri by accident four years ago. Having initially been para rowers, we were approached by Triathlon Ireland and asked whether we could swim, cycle and run.…

He’s the only triathlete the Norwegians are wary of, the foremost in the next generation of über-bikers and so new to the sport that he ran out of transition with his bike in the 2022 70.3 Worlds… without wearing his helmet. Aged 25, and a towering 6ft 5in, Magnus Elbaek Ditlev is arguably the most exciting prospect in long-course triathlon and, having only started his professional career late in 2019, the chemical engineer from Virum, north of Copenhagen, is already winning the biggest races in the sport. In a memorable 2022, he stepped up to full distance four times, finishing in under eight hours on each occasion, including victory at Challenge Roth in one of the fastest times ever. He’s also been in the thick of it at two Ironman…

After several months of use, the Sense Pro 65 has not let us down. It doesn’t leak, the valve delivers a steady flow of water and, vitally, can be removed for proper cleaning. Once you unscrew the lid, you also have a large opening for adding ice or powders, and it hasn’t developed a funky smell or taste, either. Plus, it’s BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. RS zefal.com 94 % VERDICT Can’t fault it; does everything we need it to do and does it well…

This long-time 220 tester is often moaning about darkcoloured winter run and bike kit from a visibility and safety point of view, so pulling open the packaging to reveal this bright orange top with reflective details made us very happy (black option also available). First up, we need to tackle that £170 price tag, which for a running top might see some of you skim over this review. Coming from Hackney-based run brand Soar, though, those in the know will understand the brand’s passion for textile innovation and functional design, and guess that this is more than a zingy colourway. They’d be right, too, as the quality of this shirt was second-to-none Getting the balance just right between substance for warmth and a lightweight feeling for unencumbered running, it felt…

CASTELLI PERFETTO ROSSO LS £220 Since its release in 2009, Castelli’s short-sleeved Gabba jersey has become a revelatory cycling garment. Basically it’s a waterproof yet breathable foul-weather top that exists in the space between a jacket and jersey, meaning roadies can wear it without having to carry an extra gilet or waterproof outer layer. The Perfetto Rosso is its long-sleeved sibling, sharing the Gabba’s same Gore-Tex wind -stopping prowess, strong water--thwarting abilities and breathable chops (helped by the zipped vents on each side). It’s not the thickest cycling jacket out there (Castelli’s Alpha is our pick for colder weather), but you can, of course, layer up underneath it with a thermal baselayer. Being Castelli, the cut is figure-hugging so you may well need to size up. Of the five available…

SHORTSLEEVED TRI-SUITS Performance is key for race tri-suits, so consider chamois, grippers and pocket options. Fabric should also be quick-drying and sweat-wicking. 83% ORCA Athlex Aero Race Suit £149 Speedy yet supportive suit that’s highly breathable for warmer climes. Issue 404 orca.com 84% CASTELLI PR Speed Tri Suit £300 Made to be highly aero, with feather-thin fabric and ample pocket storage. Issue 404 saddleback.co.uk 87% ASSOS Triator SS Speed suit £380 Oozes quality, with comfy chamois, honey comb arms and fast-drying material. Issue 404 assos.com 88% STOLEN GOAT Upstart Tri-suit £160 Striking suit with aero sleeves, a splitfront design and comfy material. Issue 404 stolengoat.com 91% TRI-FIT Evo Next Gen £189 Classy suit with silky-smooth fabrics and well-crafted tri flourishes. Issue 404 tri-fitathletic.com TOP-END WETSUITS If your goal is to…

If you’re feeling a little fatigued following the festive celebrations, spare a thought for Santa Claus who, together with his team of elves and reindeer, delivered presents to around 700 million children worldwide in just one night! Delivering to 1,398 houses per minute Santa had c.715 μs in which to decelerate his sleight, land, slide down the chimney, deliver presents under the tree and return up the chimney. Covering a total distance of 110 million miles (around the distance from the earth to the sun) requiring a speed of 3.5 million miles per hour, Santa (and his reindeer) has truly earned a rest. For the rest of us, rather than sitting back and taking it easy, we have a unique opportunity in the week between Christmas and New Year to…

MEET THE TEST TEAM OUR RATINGS 90+ % BUY NOW A GENUINE CLASS LEADER 80-89 % IMPRESSIVE ONE OF THE BEST YOU CAN BUY 70-79 % GOOD A DECENT PERFORMER 50-69 % AVERAGE IT’LL DO THE JOB WELL ENOUGH 0-49 % POOR SIMPLY PUT, DON’T BOTHER! HELEN WEBSTER 220's editor is also a qualified open-water swimming coach. ROB SLADE 220's content editor and resident adventure seeker. JUDE PALMER Is a trail and fell running coach and keen swimrunner. MATT BAIRD Has spent years testing tri kit and accessories for 220. JACK SEXTY A strong age-grouper focusing on top-end gains. JAMES WITTS He’s a published author writing about sports science.…

Unless you’ve been a hermit for the past few years, you’ll have seen the excitement around the new generation of running shoes that’ve been helping athletes break world records. The Endorphin Pro 3 is Saucony’s latest evolution in the supershoe vein and is a very worthy contender for your hard-earned cash. The mix of foam and stiff carbon fibre midsole plate in the Endorphin Pro 3 means that less energy is lost per foot strike, leaving you with extra va va voom to run faster or further. Combine this with the Speedroll technology, to help your feet roll over, and you feel cushioned and propelled forward with each step. Runs felt really springy and fast, even at slower speeds, and compared to your av erage road shoe it was a…

KIT ZONE The key element of the new 404 wheelset is the rim shape. It’s an evolution of the groundbreaking Firecrest’s broader, blunted-edge, deep-section shape. It also adopts the hookless/ tubelessspecific rim design from the 303: the hookless rim is much lighter and stronger than a hooked rim. It’s also cheaper, cleaner and greener to make. This means the latest wheels are a whopping £800 cheaper than the old ones! Be aware, though, that hookless rims are still a new design and not all tyre brands have updated their design to meet stringent international standards. Although the new rim shape is slightly less aero than the old model, the latest model has big weight savings (350g), better hubs and bearings, and reduced friction. This, along with the greater comfort produced…

Several run shoe brands have included hybrid trainer/trail boots for the new season (On and Hoka, too) and although Vivobarefoot has always offered shoes for other purposes, this is their offering – and very good it is, too. Initially feeling a little clumpy compared to our run Vivos, once we’d covered a few miles the supportive ankle boot came into its own with a lightness and flexibility not usually seen in trail boots, and with wool offering warmth and breathability. The soles, meanwhile, are grippy in wet conditions, while still giving that barefoot feel. If trail adventures are on the cards this winter, give them a try. HW vivobarefoot.com 85 % VERDICT Not for triathlon, admittedly… But comfy for winter trail adventures…

THIS MONTH’S COACHING PANEL NIK COOK Pedal stroke tips Cycling writer Nik is a competitive multisporter who’s competed for Team GB in duathlon. ANDREW SHEAFF Swim position Andrew is a swim coach at the University of Virginia, the reigning NCAA champions. JAMES WITTS Heart-rate variability Former 220 Triathlon editor James is a cycling and sports writer, specialising in sports science. DR CATHERINE SPENCER-SMITH Run training while pregnant Dr Catherine Spencer-Smith specialises in musculo-skeletal therapy and sports medicine. She’s also a keen triathlete. PEDAL STROKE TIPS Q Can you learn a smoother/more efficient pedal stroke? Lawrence Jackson A Pedalling technique is a big topic of debate among cycling coaches, with some advocating drill sessions, single-leg work and the use of pedalling analysis software. At the other end are those who say just…

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The promise of trickle-down carbon-plated tech from top-end releases into sub£150 models had yet to materialise in the world of run shoes, but that’s now been remedied by the Kiprun KD900X carbon-plated shoes from Decathlon’s in-house brand. Coming in at half the price of most of their atomic rivals (but still a sizeable £130 outlay), the KD900X boasts an extended hoof-like heel of Nike’s Air Zoom Alphafly Next%, takes plenty of inspiration from Hoka’s hefty back catalogue, and the midsole found here, and in Saucony’s Endorphin Pro 3 carbon pumps, is made from PEBA foam. And yet the KD900X is more than just a highperforming pastiche, with enough positives to make the KD900X a strong statement of intent from a brand more known for affordability. Out of the box, the…

Rawvelo, as the name suggests, pride themselves on using organic and natural foods. And it shows in the ingredients list. Take the chocolate and orange option as an example, which is made up of just Deglet Noor dates, ground almonds, raw cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, orange oil and sea salt. That goes a long way to justifying the roughly £2 a bar price tag, of which contains 197cals from 24.2g carbs, 8.4g fat and 4.7g protein. Much of those carbs derive from the dates, so are relatively slow releasing, while the good fats stem from the almonds. Those almonds also deliver muscle-repairing protein. It’s a good macronutrient mix and the taste is good, but they could do with a hint more moisture. They’re also vegan friendly. JW rawvelo.com…

with a smartly-integrated MIPS head-protection system, plenty of bonce coverage and an EPS foam mostly covered by polycarbonate, the Estro from top Italian helmet brand MET is hard to question from a safety perspective (the influential Virginia Tech institute has yet to rate it, however). The stylish Estro is also difficult to fault on the road, with the array of exhaust ports and channels offering great ventilation during the summer heat and the 277g weight (for a medium size) is light enough for the outlay. However, the retention dial at the rear is a touch tepid and we’d prefer a more resolute click when adjusting it, plus it’s £30 more than our benchmark mid-range lid, the Giro Agilis MIPS (292g). MB met-helmets.com 82 % VERDICT A lean and stylish mid-range…

KIT ZONE MEN'S TRAIL SHOES WOMEN'S TRAIL SHOES The road may rule triathlon in summer, but when autumn arrives there’s a wealth of opportunities to slip into a pair of trail running shoes for both racing and training and the benefits are well documented. Of course, you can try and run in your road shoes, but there are subtle (and not so subtle) feature differences - grip, toe bumpers, support - that make off-road running in off-toad run shoes a more enjoyable and productive experience. In simple terms, off-road running shoes are designed to cope with every type of terrain thrown at them, whether it be mud, hills, gravel or grass. Just remember, always aim to try the shoes before you buy to make sure they suit your feet, and look for…

TRAINInG NUTRITION Never underestimate the power of a good brunch to nourish the busy triathlete! Triathlon training is not just about getting out there and following the plan. Rest, relaxation, quality sleep and fuelling your body with good food is, as some say, the ‘fourth discipline’. If you like to train early on a Sunday morning, brunch is the time you can sit back, unwind and enjoy valuable time with friends and family. You’ll not only boost your recovery from the morning’s activities, you’ll also nourish your soul and be happier for it. And so to my four current favourite brunch recipes. I’ve geared these recipes to serve two, but if you’re catering for more, just increase the ingredients accordingly. First up, why not invite your bike buddies back to share…