Now on Five:

Quoted message said:

Ladies Triathlon (ITU Triathlon World Championships)

And then the men's afterwards. The cycling wasn't particularly
entertaining (tho there was a crash when some unfortunates didn't make the
corner) as there wasn't much trading of places or breaks shown. Never
watched a triathlon before so not sure if that's the rule or the exception.
I guess those that fade later wear themselves out keeping up.

Do the athletes tend to specialize in one event or devote their training
time equally to all three? One of the British guys was mentioned as
specializing in the swimming which surprised me, as it uses arms unlike the
other two that use the legs - I thought they'd be more crossover between
the 2nd two disciplines, making either of them the more logical choice.

"Mark Thompson"
<pleasegivegenerously@warmmail*_turn_up_the_heat_to_reply*.com> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ladies Triathlon (ITU Triathlon World Championships)

And then the men's afterwards. The cycling wasn't particularly
entertaining (tho there was a crash when some unfortunates didn't make the
corner) as there wasn't much trading of places or breaks shown. Never
watched a triathlon before so not sure if that's the rule or the
exception.
I guess those that fade later wear themselves out keeping up.

Do the athletes tend to specialize in one event or devote their training
time equally to all three? One of the British guys was mentioned as
specializing in the swimming which surprised me, as it uses arms unlike
the
other two that use the legs - I thought they'd be more crossover between
the 2nd two disciplines, making either of them the more logical choice.

Yup, I was still up too, so watched that. Just caught the mens.

That swimming looks dangerous! I hate going down the local pool and having
people splash about ...

The cycling, they didn't show how they got their feet in the shoes. Do they
do that once moving? Special shoes?

I thought the guy who won was lucky to keep that lead at the end.

elyob said:

The cycling, they didn't show how they got their feet in the shoes.
Do they do that once moving? Special shoes?

Roadie type shoes but with easy-to-manage straps, often just one strap.
Some of the riders leave the shoes clipped in the pedals.

~PB

elyob said:

That swimming looks dangerous! I hate going down the local pool and having
people splash about ...

It can get rough. People have lost teeth.

Quoted message said:

The cycling, they didn't show how they got their feet in the shoes. Do they
do that once moving? Special shoes?

It takes you time to put your shoes on whatever you do so you might as
well be rolling while you do it. So you leap onto the bike, pedal with
your feet on top of the shoes, then slip them on and do them up once
you are up to a reasonable speed. As long as you have practised it, it
is quicker to run barefoot through the transition area and put your
shoes on once rolling than to put them on in the transition area and
run in cleats while pushing the bike. Remember you are not allowed to
ride in the transition area. Triathlon-specific cycling shoes will do
up with a single velcro strap.

At the end of the bike phase the athlete will slip his/her feet out of
the shoes in the last few hundred metres and again pedal with the feet
on top of the shoes. As they approach the transition line they will
swing one leg over the saddle, bring it forward between the supporting
leg and the frame, and freewheel to the line under braking. They can
then jump off the bike and run into the transition area without
stopping.

--
Dave...