North Devon Triathletes - FAQ's
This page will give you answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
How do I get involved in triathlon?
Email any of the club members listed on this site, or turn up at our Sunday morning swim session and have a chat.
How do I join North Devon Tri?
You don’t have to join the club straightaway. Come along to a training session or local race and talk to other members and get an idea of what triathlon’s all about. At any point contact one of our listed members who’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.
What equipment and kit do I need to get started?
Nothing fancy to start with. Swim gear, a roadworthy bike (preferably a road bike but a mtb is ok in smaller club races), bike helmet (mandatory in ALL races) and running kit with a decent pair of running shoes. Don’t worry about wetsuits at this early stage. There are loads of sprint distance pool based races to get you started.
What costs are involved?
You do not need to shell out thousands to get involved! Your main outlay will be your bike.
Also remember that races cost money to organise so there is a small matter of entry fees! These vary considerably.
How fit do I need to be?
You’ll need to be in good general health and moderately fit. Don’t think you need to come in to the sport super-mega fit. But a basic level of training will be needed before you start racing.
How much training do I need to do?
Two –three times a week will be plenty to start with. A general build-up of endurance takes time and fitness will come as you start enjoying your training with other club members.
How intense are club training sessions?
Any training session is only as intense as you make them. You won’t be forced to work yourself silly. Every individual is different and even group sessions will cater for all.
What distances are involved in triathlon races?
There are 4 regular distances that you will see. They are Sprint, Olympic/Standard, Middle/70.3, Long/Ironman (different names are down to
copyright issues):
- Sprint = 400m-750m swim, 15km-20km bike, and 3km-5km run
- Olympic/Standard = 1.5km swim (usually open water), 40km bike, 10km run
- Middle/70.3 = 1.9km open water swim, 56mile bike, 13.1mile run
- Long/Ironman = 3.8k open water swim, 112mile bike, 26.2mile run
If you’re starting out then there is no need to worry about anything further than Sprint just yet! There are also Aquathlons (Swim/Run) and Duathlons (Run/Bike/Run) of various distances.
Are there any tri-specific magazines?
Yes, 220 magazine. It’s a quality monthly publication packed with info on training, races, equipment and diet, written by triathletes and good proven coaches. You should be able to pick it up in any WHSmiths.
Do I need to join British Triathlon (BT)?
No - not at all. But there are advantages and discounts to race entries at local and national level, and your money goes towards the promotion of the Triathlon at a national level.
If you have any further questions you'd like us to answer, please contact us via this page.