The “Making a case for drafting” thread got me thinking…
I really like the idea of leveling the playing field in triathlon. The problem is that triathlon combines running (which i would classify as a pure sport) with biking and swimming (which I think are now evolving into tech/gaget sports). Look at swimming (with wetsuits now going for over $1000) and the apparent fact that there is no limit to wetsuit thickness (and everyone next year will be running out and buying the new 7mm DeSoto T1) just seems like it is becoming a rich mans sport more then it is about the time and effort you put in the pool.
Of course the same can be said with biking…I mean seriously how could you expect someone with a $XXX bike to compete with someone a $XX,XXX bike? That isn’t fair at all? I know pros could beat me riding a mountain bike…that isn’t my point. I guess my point is I think…a sport should be fair (or at least reasonably fair) and i think triathlon is getting to the point where it really isn’t. I think more rules should be put in place to level the playing field. WHat do you guys think agree? Disagree? Any ideas as to how to better level the playing field are welcome (BESIDES allowing drafting…i am not a fan of that).
Sounds like you need to HTFU by buying bigger and better toys. That’s what I have been told. If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em, right?
But the real suggestions:
No aerobars. This will cut down on crashes as well. In fact, at the last timed charity ride I did, the directors were adamant about “NO AEROBARS”.
If your bike had aerobars, you would be extinguished from the event records. The compliance rate was very high.
Lower wetsuit threshold temperature. Use same rules as FINA for over 60F/16C. The study is pending, but having fewer wetsuits may cut down on deaths as well.
Make fun of anyone who uses a coach. If you can’t write and carry out your own training plan, you need to HTFU.
I liked the idea in the other thread of having neutral buoyancy wetsuits. It would never happen though.
Even if you don’t like it, drafting is the answer. Right now with the race distances what they are and with new thick wetsuits that do all the swimming for you, these triathlons are basically bike time trials. Allow drafting and it evens things out a bit more. People will actually have to learn the other sports too.
Change the distances so that it actually matters if you suck at one of them other than biking.
Well, the thing is it is not just the engine or the bike. How about position?
Aero position is HUGE and you can’t buy that.
I am not going to say you can buy a $999 bike that is going to be stupid fast, but EASILY in the 1-3k range.
If you buy a cheap frame, and used parts, you can put together a stupid fast bike for $2000 orless. Mine with NEW parts, $3000 including deep dish carbon wheels, Ultegra Kit, wireless power meter.
If they said no TT bikes allowed, I do not think I would be so interested. Unless of course, this were Hell’s Kitchen TT. REALLY interested to hear what people ride on that course.
Great now socialism is infecting triathlon…come race the first Obama-man where we all get to where purple outfits and finish at the same time. Give me a freaking break. I’ve never placed all that well in tri’s because I’ve never trained all that consistently. People who trained more finished faster. If you don’t like the distances of certain races than RD your own or HTFU and train your weakness. Packs are not the answer and personally I think violate the spirt of the sport.
We probably need to petition Obama for some “Cash for Bike Clunkers” money. That way we can get those old nasty bikes off the road and everyone on a nice new Cervelo.
What do you propose about the people who have dumped $8k into their TT rigs? Sell them and give you some $? Time penalties for disc wheels? Too many AG wins in a 90 day period means you have to sit out a race?
Perhaps anyone with a certain $ amount of gear who wins prize money must donate back to those who have had their feelings hurt. Those with hurt feelings will be assessed and determined by a Federally mandated mental health counselor, paid for by a surcharge on top of entry fees for anyone with a trick ride…and appointed by the Speaker of the House.
We need Congress to step in and make triathlon fair…oh the humanity!
This is a joke right?
JUST FOR KICKS I happened to look at the pics you have posted. Your freaking race wheels cost more than my entire bike by about $500…and yet somehow I am not looking for an equality clause to reform the sport.
so you say swimming is done by the suits and you want drafting onth ebike so everyone finishes at the same times. By process of elimination, you have a running race. You should change sports, ie only run. Why bother mixing other things in which have a net effect of only making the beginning of a tri one great big transistion.
these 2 threads seem like a really thinly veiled attempt to get more " me me me" accolades at the h20 cooler.
limit training hours as well.
I’m married, 3 kids, full time working stiff…clearly I cannot train as much as a single teacher with rich parents who has summers of…simply not fair.
In addition to regressing technology within the sport, I propose the following:
sprints, one cannot train more than 8/ week
olympics, 10
HIM, 12
IM, 15, and you can only run 7 miles per week.
the amount of sleep and napping one gets should also be leveled. single teacher guy can easily get his 8-9 plus a 30 minute nap in each day, me, I cannot do it, just not fair.
unless you are a pro and get paid for it, above hour and sleeping limitations apply to everyone.
Of course, just like drafting, these rules are purely based on the honor system and unless you are extremely unlucky and caught napping in T1, you will never receive a penalty.
You appear to be honest in your post…Here are my thoughts
Do you really feel that a 7 or 10mm wetsuit would give anyone more than maybe 30 seconds over a current wetsuit in an oly tri? I think it’s marketing.
I don’t know anyone that has a bike that costs over $10,000. There are a lot of $2,000 to $6,000 bikes out there. I ride on a P2 that was $2,700 plus my race wheels that were brought over from my old bike. I feel that I’m near the bottom of the bike pricing, my old bike was a 2003 Felt S32 which costs less than $1,400 when I got it. I rode it through last year and was able to put down 1:03 oly bike splits and 2:25 HIM splits. I saved my cash for 2 years to purchase the P2 not complaining at all about others that had better bikes.
Just where do you see the price going to level the playing field when people will spend over $500 for an IM race plus the trip? If they didn’t do an IM for 2 seasons they could purchase a $1,500 bike without any additional funds. It’s not my fault that they are getting into a sport that they cannot afford. I rode my S32 for 6 years and was very competitive on the bike.
If someone is riding on a $xxx bike, they probably can’t afford to do IM either, HIM would be a stretch. They will need to consider their budget and live within their means. That might include finding a sport that they can afford.
If you brought this up with the guys I ride with…you would be doing a lot of solo rides from now on. Not because they cast you out, but because you would be embarrassed that guys(not myself I’m a slow poke)with bikes that cost less than your ZIPP wheel set would most likely drop you like an anvil out of an airplane.
PS People absolutely could get an extremely fast bike for under $1000. Many STers have posted their sweet rides they have put together on a budget. My first bike was $350 and was surprisingly quick after about $250 worth of modifications.
I’d enter a race where the only equipment permitted are goggles and running shoes.
Before the race, everyone gets to pick a Walmart bike of their size (included with your $150 entry fee).
Do the swim no wetsuit, go over to your $100 new Walmart bike, put on your running shoes and your $10 Walmart helmet (included with entry fee cause we don’t want anyone sneaking in an aero lid), finish the bike and start running.
Only clothing permitted is a speedo for men and a two piece speedo equivalent for women.
Who is in?
PS. (I might bring some duct tape to transition to tape up the vents of my $10 Walmart helmet to get an advantage on you guys…)
I’d enter a race where the only equipment permitted are goggles and running shoes.
Before the race, everyone gets to pick a Walmart bike of their size (included with your $150 entry fee).
Do the swim no wetsuit, go over to your $100 new Walmart bike, put on your running shoes and your $10 Walmart helmet (included with entry fee cause we don’t want anyone sneaking in an aero lid), finish the bike and start running.
Only clothing permitted is a speedo for men and a two piece speedo equivalent for women.
Who is in?
PS. (I might bring some duct tape to transition to tape up the vents of my $10 Walmart helmet to get an advantage on you guys…)
Dev
I will do it so long as the women wear the same speedo bottoms, but no top…remember it’s all about equality here;)
Also, can I start in the last wave(not only b/c I’m slow), but because I want to take in all the scenery.
I’d enter a race where the only equipment permitted are goggles and running shoes.
Before the race, everyone gets to pick a Walmart bike of their size (included with your $150 entry fee).
Do the swim no wetsuit, go over to your $100 new Walmart bike, put on your running shoes and your $10 Walmart helmet (included with entry fee cause we don’t want anyone sneaking in an aero lid), finish the bike and start running.
Only clothing permitted is a speedo for men and a two piece speedo equivalent for women.
Who is in?
PS. (I might bring some duct tape to transition to tape up the vents of my $10 Walmart helmet to get an advantage on you guys…)
Dev
at least helemts would have the CPSC sticker…shocked i havent been DQ’d for my $100 giro yet…
QuoteI mean seriously how could you expect someone with a $XXX bike to compete with someone a $XX,XXX bike? That isn’t fair at all?
By being less slow? I see almost no correlation between bike cost and bike time. In fact, there tends to be a reverse correlation because a lot of older folks have more disposable income. Regarding leveling the playing field, are you really trying to reduce the vast ability/training difference between 8 hour IM finishers and 17 hour IM finishers, or are you just complaining that the sport is too expensive? I agree that it is too expensive, but you are exaggerating the effect of money on speed. Almost all the major speed gains can be had for under $2K. The last 3 years I rode a Felt S32 (<$1K), and (after a crash) have now built up a used P2C for <$1.5K.
We need Walmart to sponsor this event and throw in the unisex speedo bottoms.
Don’t laugh, this is pretty well all the equipment I used in my first triathlon in 1985 and I was not in the minority by any means and on a 2/55/15 course I did it in 3:30 with no training and no real equipment. This year on a race of the same distance with all the experience, training and equipement I was only 3:14…go figure!
I think you’ve got a great point. I’m on board. Until things level out, I’m boycotting triathlon, and going to other “age group participatory sports.” I’ll play tennis and golf (both encourage older, age-group type “competiton.”) Oh wait, someone can buy nicer clubs, balls and rackets than me? Never mind, I’m out. Maybe I’ll join the barbecue tour. Nope, dudes can get nicer grills than me. Maybe race cars or boats - nope, nicer stuff can be had. Looks like I’m sitting home with the book club . . .
Bottom line is all this stuff is designed to encourage participation and increase ROI for someone. Who cares what some other guy is doing. Like another poster said, I bet you have more time to train than me. You willing to “really” level things and cut your training down?