I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
I have to agree with you.
Entry level bike prices are crazy. Trisuit prices are crazy.Shoe prices are crazy…ad nauseam infinitum…
Granted you dont need all the high zoot equipment to do the sport but…
Yeh it’s easy to get swept up in it but remember Iden won 70.3 worlds on a roadbike with clip-ons and a pair of his friends 404s. I know it was hilly blah blah but if you want to race on a budget you can be extremely competitive. I think I read somewhere the average AG ironman is on over 100k a year salary so is it that much of a surprise that people try to shill us stuff? There is clearly a market
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
They’re all just trying to make a Maurten Moveâ„¢.
Growth economy gotta keep growing somehow
.
I don’t begrudge the pros from marketing. The only reason you’re noticing it now is that social media makes non mega sponsorship possible to earn some money with . You don’t have to watch nor buy.
But I don’t think tri is over or remotely close from consumerism growth. Heck I have disposable income now to spend and my problem is that I’m still eager for new GOOD things to try.
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
yes, I forgot about the silly ketones commercial on Long’s last video. that really takes the cake
Gustav is not the only one. Jodie Swallow (Cunnama) won the 70.3 worlds in 2010 with a road bike and clipons. Nicola Spirig went 7:34 ?? (might be wrong on the time) in the sub 8 project on a road bike with clipons (albeit in a pace line) - and I don’t believe she was riding a disc either. Sprig also won the European middle distance race in 2021 on a road bike with clipons. I think Taylor Knibb got third at the 70.3 worlds on a road bike with clipons in 2021 and also destroyed the field at Collins Cup on the same bike?
There are plenty of YouTube videos around showing a well set up road bike with clipons is faster than a poorly set up TT bike. How many age groupers hand on heart know how to set up a TT bike properly and get the real benefits? Less than half I would hazard a guess. Most age groupers with deep pockets (generally white middle class males!) just can’t help themselves!
Selling $10,000+ triathlon bikes to age groupers seems to be the norm in our sport if you look at the advertising. Its just plain crazy.
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
yes, I forgot about the silly ketones commercial on Long’s last video. that really takes the cake
The one that got me was TTL. The music was mellowed out coffee shop songs with clothing displays launched mid video. I guess they were trying to be subtle, but I just turned it off at the end. It was too much for me.
Sam doesn’t even try to hide it with Ketones. It can be tough to watch.
I understand they have to do this stuff, but thr reality is that it doesn’t make it anymore watchable.
Its not just triathlon though. Vast majority of youtube content now has sponsored segments etc. Gotta make a living. Then again you look at how much the content has improved to be fair - Anyone remember the old Tedd Carr videos? cus that was about it a few years ago.
Also £10,000 bikes are half price on ebay 1 year later barely used when people realise they cant ride them because their backs hurt
I doubt it. Maybe when the average consumer is wearing virtual reality goggles most of their waking hours. 
Gustav is not the only one. Jodie Swallow (Cunnama) won the 70.3 worlds in 2010 with a road bike and clipons. Nicola Spirig went 7:34 ?? (might be wrong on the time) in the sub 8 project on a road bike with clipons (albeit in a pace line) - and I don’t believe she was riding a disc either. Sprig also won the European middle distance race in 2021 on a road bike with clipons. I think Taylor Knibb got third at the 70.3 worlds on a road bike with clipons in 2021 and also destroyed the field at Collins Cup on the same bike?
There are plenty of YouTube videos around showing a well set up road bike with clipons is faster than a poorly set up TT bike. How many age groupers hand on heart know how to set up a TT bike properly and get the real benefits? Less than half I would hazard a guess. Most age groupers with deep pockets (generally white middle class males!) just can’t help themselves!
Selling $10,000+ triathlon bikes to age groupers seems to be the norm in our sport if you look at the advertising. Its just plain crazy.
Gustav won Kona on a Giant Trinity, a Giant TT helmet, and a Santini Tri Kit (just like the IM branded ones). Think about it, these pros need this stuff because the fitness between the top competitors is so dialed in (and similar to each other) that they need every second of advantage. And even then, just flat out fitness and execution wins the day. For the average joe better fitness wins the day over equipment every time. Uber expensive equipment for AG’ers is for suckers.
Uber expensive equipment for AG’ers is for suckers.
Or just for people who enjoy tech stuff. I’m a milqetoast athlete, but I love building up tricked out TT bikes. It can be expensive, sure. But on the spectrum of stereotypical affluent white guy hobbies, it’s not that bad. Vs. golf equipment and club fees, or just one set of carbon rims on some Porsche, etc. Much less the rest of the Porsche.
Also, don’t knock the Giant stuff. It can be pretty darn good.
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
yes, I forgot about the silly ketones commercial on Long’s last video. that really takes the cake
You only get to Choose 1
Uber expensive equipment for AG’ers is for suckers.
Or just for people who enjoy tech stuff. I’m a milqetoast athlete, but I love building up tricked out TT bikes. It can be expensive, sure. But on the spectrum of stereotypical affluent white guy hobbies, it’s not that bad. Vs. golf equipment and club fees, or just one set of carbon rims on some Porsche, etc. Much less the rest of the Porsche.
Also, don’t knock the Giant stuff. It can be pretty darn good.
Got it. I guess I think there are better ways of spending my money but that’s and age-old argument. BTW, I own and race on a 2018 Giant Trinity bike with awesome (although bought used) Reynolds deep wheels. I have been a Giant customer for many years and I love their stuff. No knock intended. Great value for the money. Oh, and my favorite tri kit is a Santini kit that I bought for less than $200. Gustav got it all correct! Although those On shoes are a bit suspect… 
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
yes, I forgot about the silly ketones commercial on Long’s last video. that really takes the cake
You only get to Choose 1
Except if you purchase Youtube Premium for a monthly subscription you are still subject to the in-video commercials and ad-reads.
but I love building up tricked out TT bikes. It can be expensive
If you have the money and get the enjoyment I can’t knock it. if money was no object we would all be rocking our favourite kit.
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
yes, I forgot about the silly ketones commercial on Long’s last video. that really takes the cake
The one that got me was TTL. The music was mellowed out coffee shop songs with clothing displays launched mid video. I guess they were trying to be subtle, but I just turned it off at the end. It was too much for me.
Sam doesn’t even try to hide it with Ketones. It can be tough to watch.
I understand they have to do this stuff, but thr reality is that it doesn’t make it anymore watchable.
TTL is different (for me) because they are pushing their own brand a clothing line. Some of their clothing line supports their development team and in general Eric and Paula seem super genuine for what they do for the sport. They are heavily sponsored and it never feels that way even though they are backed by some huge names.
The fact that they use their own channel to build their own brand is completely different from the Ari and Sam Ketone show. Lionel seems to have switched from subtle to blatant with some of his stuff lately.
I openly admit I am a supporter of TTL, I think they are one of the best couples in Tri and are truly trying to help.
I get that pros need to make a living by selling us crap we may or may not need and that the disposable income for triathletes is relatively high, but it seems like tri pro videos lately are just endless informercials and also Є1,000 for a trisuit, really?
Examples:
48 Hours with Lionel Sanders - YouTube
The Norwegian Method - Episode 2 - Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden’s 2023 Pre-Season Training - YouTube
You recenlty had Lionel with The Feed, Lululemon, and Zwift being name dropped on repeat. Kristian and Gustav with the ridiculous Surpas trisuit. That Triathlon Life with a mind numbingly boring video featuring their TTL line like a long melodramatic infomercial. Then Tri Daily with a DeBoer shirt and product placement in his video. Finally, you have Sam Long and Ari Klau pumping Ketones ad nauseum. You can’t get away from the mass marketing and commercialization.
yes, I forgot about the silly ketones commercial on Long’s last video. that really takes the cake
You only get to Choose 1
the thing I am ranting about is not that they promote products, its how they do it. it used to be subtle part of the narrative of the video (e.g. slow down the camera on the downtube bearing the bike brand name when filming a trainer workout), now its just shameless string of advertising with no context. or so it feels.