So You Want to Do a Triathlon?

Triathlon has no shortage of ways to spend money. However, the ROI for that spend is often something we need to sell ourselves on.

If I were starting again, here’s where I’d spend my money and the order I’d do it in.

Same logic applies to the bike as everything else here: a proper shop fit catches things you can’t see yourself. Saddle height, reach, cleat position, the correct saddle, etc. They’ll help get you dialed in before you spend another dollar on anything else.

Go to a real running store — a Fleet Feet, or your local equivalent — and let them actually look at your foot and your gait. They do this every day and know things about your stride you don’t. Custom insoles are definitely worth it if they recommend them.

For the wetsuit, I go sleeveless. It’s easier to peel off in transition and doesn’t feel as restrictive through the shoulders, and you still get the buoyancy and core-temperature regulation that matters for most races. The bigger thing than sleeve length is fit. A wetsuit that lets water in or shifts around while you swim will chafe you raw, so get one that actually fits your body.

Fueling is a lot of trial and error. It took me several different gels before I found what actually worked for my stomach, and I use a different one on the bike than on the run — 40g on the bike, 25g on the run, mostly because running jostles everything around more than cycling does. On the bike, the pull-tab staying attached is a dealbreaker; fumbling with a loose wrapper mid-ride is annoying, and you risk littering. On the run, it matters less, since you’re better balanced and usually have a free hand.

Electrolytes are similar — less about the brand, more about finding one you like the taste of, at a sodium and mineral level that matches how much you sweat. I run on the higher side, but I’m not a heavy sweater; if you are, you’ll need more. If you live somewhere hot or do a lot of threshold work, a proper sweat test is worth it and helps eliminate some guesswork.

Start with the sports watch — it’s one of the best things you can buy for actually tracking and understanding your training: pace, heart rate, duration, distance, all of it, across swimming and running. A separate bike computer is a phase-two purchase, not something you need out of the gate. I use one now and love it — better readability, and it gives me power data the watch alone doesn’t — but that’s a nice-to-have once you’re further in, not a starting essential. The watch is also how I track sleep — more on that below. Bottom line: you don’t want to train blind, and the watch solves that.

Also, get versions of these things you’re actually excited to use. Looking good and feeling good in your gear is real, and it’s part of why you show up consistently. That’s different from needing the top-of-the-line version of everything — the $500 aero helmet, race wheels, aero socks; none of it is doing much for you yet. At beginner speeds, your fitness and your fit are doing almost all the work. That money isn’t wasted; it’s not due yet.

Buy once, buy right — but only once you’ve earned it. A nice set of aero wheels or an aero helmet is great, just not something you need when getting started. Wait until you’ve got real training history and data behind you, so you’re upgrading off proof instead of a hunch. And if the honest reason is simply they look cool — that’s a valid reason also.

This next part isn’t really “gear” at all, but it’s where I’ve gotten the best return.

I see a chiropractor about once a month and get bodywork done twice a month — that’s the maintenance rhythm I’d recommend to a lot of athletes training regularly.

For sleep, my Garmin gives me plenty on its own — I don’t personally use a WHOOP, though it’s a solid option if you don’t already have a sports watch and want more dedicated sleep and wellbeing data. I also like Cadence’s sleep hydration sachets, especially before races or any night I know I need extra good sleep — staying hydrated through the night matters more than people think. And then there’s the boring stuff: blackout curtains, a decent pillow, the basics most people already know but skip. All of it matters more once you’re asking this much of your body.

Your gear closet two years from now won’t look like the one you’re building today. Your training changes, your style changes, you’ll probably cycle through a bike or two before this is over. Get this first round of decisions right, and everything downstream gets easier.

— Iggy

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