|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions |
1.Is your club only for South Africans?
NO! sauk is a triathlon club open to anyone. Our membership base is predominantly made up of South Africans but we do have members of other nationalities. We encourage triathletes of all nationalities to join us in our friendly fun environment.
2.How do I get involved in triathlon?
A good starting point would be to find a group of friends or join a triathlon club. This will allow you to feed off these friends/club members previous triathlon experience and allow you to take up the sport in the correct manner.
3. I have never done a triathlon before and would like to know what is the least amount of equipment I need to finish a race?
Borrow a wetsuit, use any bike (a mountain bike will do), find a helmet and a pair of decent running shoes.
4.Do I need a bike?
Yes, triathlon is a multi-disciplined sport and you will need a bike on race day to compete. However, before you reach race day, you ideally would want to have done some cycling training sessions. People do borrow bikes for races etc but obviously it is beneficial having your own bike - this will facilitate correct bike set-up, familiarity of the bike etc.
5.I am a complete novice, is there a shorter triathlon race for beginners?
Yes, triathlon races vary in distance, ranging from the sprint races (600m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run) to the Ironman races (3,8km swim, 180km cycle, 42km run)
6.Should I invest in a tri suit or is it ok to change for each discipline in a race?
Clothing during a race will all depend on how serious you are about the race and what you motive behind the race is? If you are doing the race for pure fun and achievement, you might want to take the time to change and be more comfortable during each leg. However, if you are taking your time seriously and want to try achieve the quickest time, a triathlon suit/costume etc is best as it will allow you fast transitions.
7.At races I am given a race number which I pin to my shirt, but this means I have to pull on the after the cycle and then again after the run. Is there a better way?
Yes, there is the race belt which has toggles to which the race number is attached. When you finish the swim, you will grab the race belt and buckle it around your waist with the number on your back. When you get off the bike, you simply pull the belt around so the number is now on your waist in front.
8. What is a Transition?
A transition is the change over from the Swim to the Bike, called Transition One (T1), or the change from the Bike to the Run, Transition Two (T2).
9. What does BRICK stand for?
BRICK stands for doing a training ride where you finish a Bike ride and then do a Run. It's also a fairly appropriate description of the way your legs feel like bricks after a hard ride.
10. Is it true that some cyclists put a banana in their shorts when doing long rides?
Yes, in the past, and it is feared even today, some cyclists would put a banana under their shorts to soften the repeated bashing of their undercarriage by the bike seat. Some cyclists even used raw steaks to help prevent saddle rash.
11. I am a runner, training for marathons.Can i still join the club?
Yes, we welcome all athletes. One of the main focuses of the club is to get groups of people training together.It does not have to be focused only on triathlon.
12. How much will triathlon cost me?
The initial layout could be quite inexpensive,as discussed in a previous question. But, as you get more involved in the sport, the sport can become more expensive. There are offers from sports stores starting from £600 for all the equipment. The upper limit is up to you. Races also vary in price, depending on the length of race and the location. You should expect to pay between £30 & £60 for race entries.
13. I would like to find out more information about training, races and getting more involved in triathlon.
There are numerous websites and books offering information on the above. We have a forum where some issues are discussed, which you can join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sauktri . For general information, contact us on info@sauktri.org and we will try to help you out or direct you to where your queries may be answered.
|
|
|
|
|
