Other than footwear, are you a minimalist triathlete?

SillyC

Barefooters
May 19, 2010
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I'm not so much a minimalist as I am cheap. I did two Sprint triathlons this past summer, and I had heard that triathlons were a great way to part with a lot of money. So I challenged myself to do these with less than $50 dollars worth of additional equipment. I purchased a bottle cage, a water bottle that fits in a cage, toe clips, and two pairs of swim goggles. I also purchased two bathings suits, but I needed those anyways.

I did my events in a regular swim suit and I threw on shorts and sunglasses during T1. No tri suit and no wetsuit because the events were in lakes with water temp in the 70s.

I was looking at these "What to bring" lists, and I probably brought less than 1/3 of the recommended stuff to my events. It got noticed by those around me that everything I had fit into a small duffel roughly the size of a purse. I felt like a visitor from outer space, because a lot of the people around me had buckets, coolers, wheelie suitcases, and someone even had a folding chair.

Do you try to minimize "stuff", or have you found that some key items make the event much better for you?
 
I've gotta admit, if I could

I've gotta admit, if I could afford it I might become a gear whore. But, being a broke teacher in Hawaii, I guess I'm pretty minimalist when it comes to my tris. So I break down the What to Bring list into What You Can Afford, What You Already Own, and What is Extra and Useless lists. But it all fits into a small backpack.

Side note: Its nice to see a whole forum just for triathletes.
 
You think so, DB?  I was

You think so, DB? I was wondering. It seemed no one was using it. I guess barefoot running is in its infancy when it comes to "modern" society, so I guess it's still in the womb when it comes to barefoot triathlons.
 
Well I've been away from my

Well I've been away from my computer and in Texas for five days, so I hadn't noticed the new forum until today. As a triathlete and minimalist runner, it's kind of neat to have a tri forum on the BRS. I use a tri forum on bikeforums.net for most of my questions, but talking about the VFFs gets a mixed reaction there.

Course, I don't know how many triathletes are on here so I don't know much the forum will be used. Also, its the off season right now for tri's because it's winter, so maybe conversation wil pick up in here as it begins to warm up. Maybe we can inspire some run-only people to give a tri a try (I know, that's awful, but it works so well).
 
I've been throwing around the

I've been throwing around the idea of running a few tri's for years now and, since I've just got back into running after a forced hiatus, where I took up mountain biking. I'm seriously considering finally getting off my butt next season. This forum has indeed given me some food for thought.

I'll be swimming in my togs, riding my mountain bike and running BF - I'll probably be wearing a shirt....maybe.
 
No need a shirt, especially

No need a shirt, especially if its a sprint. You won't swim in one, then you have to pull something over a wet body? Nah, too slow. Either buy a tri top and swim in it or go without. I went with just tri shorts for my two sprints, and found a super deal on a tri-suit at REI so I'll be wearing that next season.

Also, I don't know what togs are. Ignorant American and all that. Swim suit?

I've seen some guys riding their mountain bikes and its slower, but if your point is to get out and do it then anything with two wheels is all you need. The last tri I did had a beach cruiser division. If you had a single speed bike you could come out and do the tri but only ride 1/3 of the total ride. Was cool to see some of those bikes out there. And, as a slower rider, it was nice to have someone to pass.
 
We created it in hopes to

We created it in hopes to draw tris over here and stir up some interest among those already here. The thing is, it will take a little time to get this forum going, since it is winter and since it is such a new concept. I also suspect that the whole site will slow down a bit as winter moves through, but hope that binez will be booming come spring. :)
 
SillyC wrote:I'm not so much

SillyC said:
I'm not so much a minimalist as I am cheap.



I SOOOO understand where you're coming from! As much as I'd love to jump on the tri bandwagon, it's kinda out of my price range right now. I started throwing swimming into my repertoire a few years ago when I was getting injured from running too much, and because I just started bf running in November and my mileage is still pretty low, I'm going to be hitting the pool twice a week until spring. Who knows when I'll be able to afford a decent bike, though. 4€ a day for the pool is enough (bordering on too much) for now, and shelling out 1000€-ish for a bike... :sick: I'm thinking that when the time comes (and it WILL come!), I'm going to approach the tris with as much minimalist spirit as I can muster, even if it's just to keep from going broke! :p



Until then, though, I like knowing that this forum is here and that I can use it to live vicariously through the rest of you! ;)
 
I'm not sure if I'd consider

I'm not sure if I'd consider it minimalist, maybe more simplistic, but I ride singlespeed. Both road and alot of mountain biking. The simplicity of not having more parts to fail, also, making me a much stronger rider has me sold on it.
 
I'm totally cheap when it

I'm totally cheap when it comes to athletic pursuits. I like the idea of tri's but the whole expense thing keeps me away from it. The beauty of running is that it's about the cheapest activity you can do, especially, if you're not spending much or anything on shoes.

I'm currently exploring the world of body weight exercises, which also appeal to my sense of cheapness.
 
I'm new to the BRS, and a

I'm new to the BRS, and a triathlete. So far, I've only done tris with shoes and other gear and gadgets. I'm hoping to do a sprint next year where I have my VFF's on for the swim, and ride a single speed bike with platform pedals. T1 would mean take off goggles, put on helmet. T2 would be remove helmet and clip on number belt.
 
Fastest. Transitions. Ever.

Fastest. Transitions. Ever.
 
I have just found the BRS

I have just found the BRS site and it feels good to have found people like me. I have done a lot of tris but quit when I had kids. The last iteration of racing was definitely a gear glutony. But as I get back into it, i am very minimal.

So, I am signed up for Ironman CdA next June, I am planning on making it as minimal and fun as I can. I am going to ride my round tube, steel fixie for the bike. It is already my primary commuting machine and I think with the purchase price (used) and all the replaced parts over the past few years riding it, I am probably in less than $300. I know, not a super cheap ride, but considering the last Ironman I did was on a $6,000 carbon beauty with all the bells and whistles. It will be interesting how much it changes my times. I actually think the ride will be pretty similar, but the fixed gear will take its toll on my legs for the run.

I will do the marathon barefoot.

Ideally, the water will be warm enough for no wetsuit, but that is not likely in that lake. Last time I did it the water temps were 52 f. I would be a popsicle after an hour.

So, to answer the OP question, yes, there are some minimalist triathletes out there.

It would be nice to see this forum get more use, but I doubt BF triathlons are going to be the rage anytime soon. I certainly don't mention BF running much in the slowtwitch forums.

t
 
Yeah, I don't know what the

Yeah, I don't know what the slowtwitch people would say about barefoot tri, but it probably wouldn't be the most encouraging thing in the world.
I just registered for the Honu 70.3 in June and will be doing it in my Bikilas, with the bike I bought from craigslist a year ago. But doing an IM on a fixie? Hardcore.
 
Starting training for a

Starting training for a venture into the world of tri's (Ironman) for 2013. Got lots of supportative friends around here who do the Ironman circuit and are helping me out with advise and pushing me where I need that extra push. What's another challenge right?
 
Hi Silly! It's good to see

Hi Silly! It's good to see you here. As far as your question goes, I do have a ton of gear, but they all help.

Swim: I have a 2-piece wet suit. It gives me choice. Depending on how cold the water is I can choose to wear it all, just the bottom or no wetsuit. I also have a tri-suit I wear through out the race.

T1: I take my wet-suit off standing up. I have a regular bike with tri-specific shoes that remain attached to the pedals. So All I have to do is put my helmet on, grab a few powerbars (if the race is long), grab my bike and I'm outta there.

Bike: I have 2 cup holders on the frame and an attachment for 2 more cup holders behind the saddle (for longer rides). I usually have one of my bottles filled with banana smoothie (banana and milk in a blender). Biking is synonymous to feasting to me. Sip on some smoothie, chow on some powerbars, try to engage people in conversation... which doesn't work very well 'cause triathletes have no sense of humor.

T2: I'm already barefoot when I'm in the transition area. I just have to remove my helmet (which I did forget for my first tri :shy:), slip shoes on (I haven't done a barefoot tri yet), grab my racebelt and I'm off.

No buckets, folding chair and other crap. I do bring towels and a plastic matt to stake-out my area.
 
Ive only done one sprint tri,

Ive only done one sprint tri, and all I wore was a pair of compression shorts and a pair of running shorts over that. So heres how my race went....

Swim: dont drown!

T1: Remove swim cap, throw on Garmin, take off on bike.

Bike: Pedal...

T2: Jump off bike and hit multi sport button on Garmin.

Run: Run fast and catch all those people that swam (?) faster than I did...


Post race: Explain repedately that it doesnt hurt to run or bike BF.

As a side note I took 4th out of 9 in my age group, which consisted of 3 Ironmen and other seasoned triatheletes with all the fancy gear.