Bike gear porn
You can understand that this is THE day for all triathlon vendors to show off. The sponsored triathletes will get the latest bikes, helmets, tri-suits,running shoes, goggles and other stuff and the whole community is jumping on it. This is where we can see which new products are coming up for 2014. This is where we can start saving money for the new gear we think we need for the new season. The bikes are probably the most awesome to look at. There is a big difference between a time trial bike, used in UCI races e.g. the Tour de France, and triathlon bikes. There is a big difference between a time trial bike, used in UCI races e.g. the Tour de France, and triathlon bikes.With a true triathlon bike you are not allowed to compete with it in UCI races. Regulations about sizes, weight and other rules exclude those bikes. A triathlon bike is made in such a way that during cycling it spares your legs so you can do a proper run afterwards. There are many other differences like to size of the tubes, seatpost etc. Since the triathlete community is still relatively small for a vendor it is quite an investment and risk to build a 100% triathlon bike. But it looks like this is changing. My own bike is a Specialized Shiv and many new bikes has been or will be released purely for the triathlon discipline.
Our heroes
Every single step of the top 10 contenders are registered by the triathlon media. New bikes, new gear, new training methods etc. If you walk around in Kona you will only see triathletes doing their last preparations. I felt a glimps of it doing my first half Ironman (1,9k swim, 90k bike, 21.1k run) in Austria – Zell-am-See last September finishing in 5:58 hours. I can imagine that in Hawaii this is simply the bomb.
Bas Diederen, Dutchcontender
When you think you have trained well and your are looking good, there are always others that look much more better and more trained. It’s a weird environment with weird people doing weird things. In the US being a pro pays off. Guys like Craig Alexander and Pete Jacobs can live of the sport sponsored by great brands. Our national hero Bas Diederen, who showed to be a serious contender (3rd place EC Ironman), has to do it with a lot less. Off course he has sponsors but you can not compare it with the big guys. That would be great to see if he will be able to get on the podium. Very curious to see what happens than! Age grouper Hanneke de Boer needs to do it all herself. She shows that anything is possible by following your dreams. Her impressive road to Kona inspires others and myself.
Dream
It’s hard to explain to others what triathlon does with your mind and soul. It is taking yourself to the max, a drive to proof yourself that you can do it. I am convinced that doing this sports brings a lot of benefits with it, being fit and exercising the art of discipline. There are also downsides. The number of hours you need to train on a weekly basis is hardly doable. For a half Ironman its about 8-10 hours a week. For a full one you have to training 20-25 hours a week. For a full one you have to training 20-25 hours a week.It is definitely my dream to finish a long distance Ironman at least once, hopefully somewhere in the next few years. The challenge is the balance with the family and my marketing profession. Both I am also passionate about so that makes it even more difficult. For me with the half Ironman the season ended. As of January 1st I will start to pick up my rigid training schemes. Now make sure I maintain my fitness and enjoy all other races like this one. I can’t wait to watch the race later today, looking at our heroes and all awesome gear passing by.
