because it seemed that so many people were just about the gear and looking cool. being a former runner, I’m not really used to this type of showmanship.
maybe I’m just a total newbie and don’t get it–but all of the excessiveness in equipment sure seemed ridiculous.
Not sure how I feel about it. Maybe next year I’ll just do seperate running events and cycling events and swim for fun. (but now that I say that, it doesn’t make any sense to do that, huh?)
There can be a lot of “gear” in triathlon between bikes and bike crap, wetsuits and swim crap, and even extra run crap. It’s not like road races where you can just show up with your go-faster’s on and head on out. part of that is just the sport, and part of it is that people like stuff. Don’t let it turn you off.
For some reason I had first impressions that the crowd at triathlons seemed aloof or something. You need to give people a chance. I think before the race people are preoccupied with gear, simply because there is so much to have ready. I’m always asking myself things like: do I have my shoes, wetsuit, etc. ready? Are my tires pumped up?
If you give it a chance I think you will meet lots of interesting and friendly people. I have made a lot of good friends from triathlon and duathlon. I think you can too.
IMO it’s just part of triathlon. Why let it bother you. If a BOP’er can afford an expensive bike then let them go for it. You don’t have to be an elite to purchase a Cervelo P3,etc. Nor will expensive equipment make a slow trigeek fast, but they still can enjoy their purchase. Does every Porsche or Ferrari driver have F1 skills?
At the other end of the scale I know a woman who only does one sprint tri a year but has won her AG every year on an old Sears 10 sp. When asked why she rides such a crappy bike her response is “to make a point”.
I agree - it intimidates the crap out of me too. My first race this year was full of expensive bikes. I got to see alot of them as they whooshed past me.
Not trying to patronise you, but don’t let it get you down. It was kind of neat to be able to walk around and actually recognise bikes and set-ups and see people racing that had done so much more than me, and it definitely spurred me on in training. I had my epiphany about what training hard and training lots (thank you TriBriGuy) really meant as I was going backwards up a hill.
Not that I would compain if they set up a “second hand, under $100 bike” category , but it isn’t about what you are sitting on, it is about how you ride what you are sitting on.
I have to say that I’ve found the exact opposite. Sure there’s lots of expensive gear at races, but I’ve never met a friendlier bunch than triathletes. They all encourage one another all day long, even me way at the back of the pack. Even the elites are cheering people like me on (as I go out on the run and they’re finishing up!). I get cheered when I’m passed and when I’m the passer. I think it’s an amazing feeling of camraderie. I have a 10 year old road bike that I race with, but I’ve never felt that I didn’t belong. Perhaps it depends on what part of the country you race in, but that has been my experience.
Also, in the running races that I’ve done, hardly anyone talks to anyone else and certainly no encouragement going on.
Don’t let expensive gear get you down. Triathletes are a great bunch at heart.
I have to agree with Dawn. Swimming and running are not as gear-oriented as cycling or triathlon, but overall, triathletes are the friendliest, most supportive group. Of course, there are a few butt-heads everywhere.
I used to be intimidated by all the nice bikes and gear. Then I realized that many of these people are no better or worse than me. If someone has nice stuff but isn’t specifically throwing it in your face why should you care? I’ve seen a ton of comments from people all upset over how others are “posing” and “strutting around” with their fancy equipment. These same complainers then usually go on to put down and belittle those other people simply because they have nice stuff! I’m not saying you’re being a snob, but you’re certainly judging people you don’t even know. If I heard someone put down or make fun of someone who had cheap equipment I’d be pissed. That said, I think it’s equally bad-form to put down those with better equipment. People should worry about themselves before worrying about what everyone else is doing, unless it somehow directly affects them.
kittycat,
I do think there are some egomaniacs out there, but probably not more so than any other racing environment. It is definitely intimidating the first few times out, but as soon as you get a few races under your belt, you’ll start recognizing people, and feeling more in your element. People may seem aloof, but mostly they’re really just running through things in their head to make sure they didn’t forget their goggles or their race number. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to buy a lot of tri-gear if you can afford to, but I’ve passed people on their $5000 bikes and I’ve been passed by old guys on mountain bikes with sideview mirrors and a flag on the seat. Try a couple more races before you decide to give it up. hopefully you’ll have a better experience. By the way, it’s not everyday I can get away with calling a woman “kittycat”. What a thrill!
Coming from the running background too. Did my first few duathlons on a mtn bike w/ knobbly tires. Tons of people would fly by me on the bike and I’d chase down a dozen people or so at the second run. Now I ride a C’dale road bike w/ a pair of Syntace bars. The only ‘fancy’ gears are a pair of used Spinergy Rev wheels.
Don’t be intimated by those ‘aero-this’, ‘titanium-that’. Enjoy your own race!
I have to admit I turned in to a tri geek this year and have bought alot of stuff ($$$). I also tend to get abosrbed in checking details in transition, although in almost every race I have done this year I have struck up a great conversation with my “neighbor” and have zipped and been zipped by the person i was talking to. In any sport you will find the same excessiveness in gear and snobby/rude people, don’t think it’s a tri thing just a people thing. For the most part all of the races I have done in the last 2 years since I started have been very positive people wise. As for the gear thing stay in the sport awhile and you may turn in to a tri geek yourself
I’ll just chime in again kittycat, and say mostly the same thing as everyone above and what is going on in the other thread on rudeness in a race. Morning of a race I am pre-occupied with running the race through my head, but once I get set up I lighten up. Some don’t until after the race is over. For example, I ran into the change tent in T1 at CDA (my first IM) and yelled in my best Rodney Dangerfield voice “Anybody got a cigarette?” Thought at least one person would laugh, but no one did. But many of these same people (including the pros) were down at the finish line with me until midnight cheering on the last finisher. I have discovered people can be really serious about their own race, and still be great people. Again, don’t let one experience get you down on the sport.
Hey Kittycat… Don’t worry about that crap. I know I’d love to have a Litespeed Blade or a P3 and those new $250 A1 shoes that automatically adjust to your feet/running style (yeah… right), or that sleek-looking T1 wetsuit… But I don’t… not that I don’t have some really nice gear (I probably look pretty funny riding my non-aero old 2002 Trek 2000 with Zipp 404’s).
I’m a MOPer, and resigned to the fact that I may never be a FOPer. That’s okay. I do it 'cause I like it. I think you’ll find that most triathletes, whether they put a lot of money into their gear or not, are pretty nice folks. The pros, as a whole, are especially nice, and they get the BEST gear available.
“Anybody got a cigarette?” Thought at least one person would laugh, but no one did.
That’s probably because they thought you were serious. I once watched a guy finish an Oly, go to transition, and then light up a smoke. Was even more shocked at the awards when he picked up his bronze podium medal.
One of my training partners did IMKorea several years ago and was shocked at the number of Asian participants getting that last smoke in on the beach, in their wetsuits. When the horn blew to start, they dropped the butts and took off.
As others have said, don’t let it bother you. I have friends who are into equipment to make them go faster, but I still have my original equipment with no race wheels, etc. Do I wish I had them - at times. But at the same time, any improvements are directly attributable to me and what I have done.
Then there was this weekend. My bud and I are getting bikes ready when a pro who has won 3 Ironman races comes by on her bike and wants to know if we have a pipe she can borrow for her disc - call me what you may, but that was cool and more than makes up for the arogant age grouper or two we meet.
I’ve been making the rounds this summer entering competitions in the 3 individual sports as well as triathlons. The differences in the “vibe” at the various events is pretty interesting.
Running events are the most egalitarian - everyone is welcome whether you walk or run 5:00 miles. You got a bannana and some water at the end and everyone goes away happy. As long as there are not cars on the course and the event starts on time, I can’t imagine a runner complaining about anything.
Cycling races are the closest to the vibe I am used to from having competed in sports in high school and college. Most everyone wanted to win not just be there. No shirt, no “goodie” bag; no pizza and they only posted the results through 15th place, because, of course, what happened below that didn’t matter. I like this attitude but it is definitely an aquired taste.
The open water swim I did had the best vibe since it was mostly teenage swimmers and, though it was a race, most people were there with their teammates and were having fun. (Sidebar - After watching over 300 kids under 17 swim a mile in 69 degree water without wetsuits, I’m not sure I can ever really fully respect any triathlete again).
The triathlons are the most festive and party like but they also have the biggest collection of middle aged folk (almost always men) who are much too full of themselves. The party, the chatting, the goodie bag, showing off your gear - all of this was part of the show.
Triathlon is sport meets party time and like at any good party, how you dress and who you chat with are important to a lot of people.
