AustrAliAn triAthlete | 89Training TOOLBOX
more quickly and also run faster off the
bike than the first athlete.
This leads us to the conclusion that the
‘theoretically faster equipment’ is not
always the fastest for everyone. What I
firmly believe in is a smarter and more
calculated approach surrounding the
decisions of our equipment choices. If we
look at the example of wheels, then this
may start simply by testing out a few
different depths of carbon race wheels to
find the set which allows you to feel
controlled, relaxed and stay on your aero
bars even in a stronger cross-wind
situation. For some triathletes, this may
lead to the discovery that the best option
for them may be just a 45mm rim depth
and this, in fact, can often be the case for
lighter and smaller athletes.
Another significant point of difference
that I alluded to earlier is the importance
of a professional bike fit and an
appropriately sized bike. Without question,
I can personally attest to the value of this
and just how big a difference this can
make. Setting up your bike with the
guidance of an expert bike fitter is
something that I continue to do at least
once a year, even though I have been
racing for over a decade and a half.
Having your bike setup to suit you and your
riding style will make more of a difference
to your riding than any single piece of
equipment alone could ever have, as it
gets us as close to feeling like one with our
bike as possible. Even experts in cycling
aerodynamics that I have spoken to have
said that comfort should always be the
number one priority followed by
aerodynamics. This is because they
understand that a rider who is
comfortable will be able to hold their
aerodynamic position longer and will be
faster than a rider who is set up in a more
aerodynamic position but is unable to
hold this comfortably.
Another valuable asset to your bike is
taking a good look at how you store your
hydration, nutrition and spares on your
bike, especially for racing. If you spend
good money on a bike that has been
designed to cut through the air as easily as
possible, then the last thing you want to
do is to negate countless hours a bike
manufacturer has spent testing and
optimising your bike in the wind tunnel by
slowing it down with your extra
accessories. In a basic sense, you should
be able to look at your bike and see a
streamlined and sleek looking setup, withbottles hidden behind the saddle or
between the bars, and your spares and
other nutrition hidden from the wind. From
my own testing in the wind tunnel, I can
assure you that there are minutes to be
saved on being smart in this area.
My final take away point is this. While it
is always nice to have the latest and
greatest equipment - there is absolutely
nothing wrong with this - it is more
important take a good look at your riding
style, your equipment and the bike setup
that will make you faster based on your
ability level and style of riding. After all, we
are all very different, and we need to
ensure that we set ourselves up for our
own success out on the racecourse.SAM BETTEN
A professional triathlete from QLdfeeling of being blown around as the solid
rear wheel catches the wind gusts much
like a sail. This will mean that the rider will,
in turn, spend more time upright and not in
an aerodynamic position, which, therefore,
will result in a slower time/more watts
needed. If this same rider rode this 40km
time trial with a shallower set of wheels,
which allowed them to ride relaxed and in
the time trial position for longer, then this
would, therefore, result in a faster time
and fewer watts for this particular rider.
Another excellent example of this that I
have given to many triathletes is that an
athlete who rides a $15,000+ bike that
has not been correctly set up to suit both
their body and riding style will often be
slower than a triathlete who may ride a
$2,500 bike but has had this bike sized
and set up properly via an in-depth bike fit
to find their ideal riding position on the
bike. This, therefore, could mean that the
rider on the cheaper bike is more
comfortable, able to generate more power,
ride more relaxed and, in turn, can ride
BEING SMART: Paying top dollar is not a
guarantee for performance and results.