220 Triathlon

Triathlon seems to attract people who like to push themselves. I'm just back from working as part of the media team for Norseman, a race which rightly holds a place in the hearts of athletes who like ferry jumps, chilly fjords, mountain plateaus and

The rise of the Brownlees; prime Helen Jenkins; Non Stanford topping the world; a dramatic Grand Final. From 2009, the World Triathlon Series in London marked heady days for our sport in the UK. From 2016 and the Brownlees finding ways to win pre- an

We've seen carbon plates being used in road-running shoes for a number of years now (see issue 419 for a full grouptest), with many top triathletes turning to them to help propel their run performances. Gradually, this new tech is entering the trail-

WHY I TRI I didn't really have a relationship with sport growing up. As a kid, I didn't have great hand-eye coordination, was kind of lanky and awkward. I got teased for being gay before I even knew I was gay myself. The first time I really stepped f

STAR LETTER Got an opinion to share? Then email us at fao220@220triathlon.com Hi, my name is Jax. I'm 13 years old and a triathlon lover. This summer I was encouraged by Sean Conway to raise money for charity by doing something I love. His efforts to

This year's men's and women's Ironman World Championships might be split between Nice (10 September) and Hawaii (14 October), but both genders will remain linked by the top athletes heading to altitude in the build-up. Current men's champ Gustav Iden

It still feels like only yesterday. The memories of wheeling the Motobecane bicycle from the garden shed to the local station in Widdrington to catch the 7:45am train to Kings Cross, stopping overnight in Waltham Abbey, before travelling on to Readin

Triathlon-specific running shoes have recently joined Softride bikes in the multisport history vaults, even if both stand as tech whose influence shines on today. The shoe, however, shows no signs of going full Betamax, as evidenced here in Fizik's l

A pair of good sport sunglasses can make all the difference to performance. Not only do they help you feel like a superhero, but eye protection against harmful UV rays and harsh glare will also help you squint less, which is proven to conserve precio

The fit of your sunglasses is key. While cycling on the roads, sunglasses are unlikely to contend with much movement, unless of course you hit a rogue pothole or climb a steep hill rather vigorously. Throw running into the mix, however, and they're f

£183 Is it possible to run a group test of sport sunglasses without including Oakley? Probably not! On test here is the brand's Radar EV Path. They feature a smaller lens area than many others on test here, so could be a good option for anyone with a

£99.99 AT A GLANCE • A VLT OF 82-17% OFFERS VERSATILITY • SUFFER SLIGHTLY IN VERY BRIGHT, DIRECT LIGHT • NOSE PIECE AND ARMS DELIVER A CLOSE FIT 85 % VERDICT Impressive ly versatile, good value and a very secure fit If understated styling is what you

220 TRIATHLON BEST VALUE £79.99 Versatility is very much the name of the game with this set of sunglasses from Scottish brand Endura, in more ways than one. That's because this set comes with the option of three different lenses, including a mirrored

220 TRIATHLON BEST ON TEST £169.99 AT A GLANCE • ADJUSTABLE NOSE PIECE AND ARM TIPS FOR IDEAL FIT • CATEGORY THREE LENS OFFERS 13% VLT • ARMS AND BUMPERS ARE EASILY REMOVEABLE 88 % VERDICT Impressive functionality and adjustment make these excellent

£69.99 The Stealths come in as the second cheapest option on test and for that price you get the glasses, a solid case, soft bag and two additional lenses to choose from. This represents decent value, so let's take a look at how they perform. First t

£170 Koo says its Supernova sunglasses are a prime pick for triathletes, but as we tested those in our May edition (issue 416, 82%), we decided to opt for something different here. Like the Sungod Ultras, the Novas have been designed for trail runner

£195 The Aeroscopes are far from subtle in their styling, with our pair coming with a large bronze lens and a ‘crystal gloss' frame, though other designs are available. The fit felt secure, with an adjustable nose piece offering a more personal fit.

£190 Unlike a lot of the other sunglasses on test here, which are designed with cycling in mind, the Ultras are aimed at runners. As such the lens isn't quite as ‘oversized' as some others. Despite that, we found the size and shape more than adequate

£64.99 These sunglasses from Decathlon in-house brand Van Rysel are the cheapest on test, yet boast photochromatic performance like the Sungod, Koo and BBB options. Before we get to lens performance, let's talk about fit, which is really rather good.

Admittedly, that title may be a bit of a reach. That said, it's no stretch of imagination to say that an out-and-out triathlon bike will save you time compared to a road bike set-up. The trouble is, many modern-day triathlon bikes now cost five-figur

Weight 9.3kg Frame Unidirectional carbon Fork Integrated bayonet style Gears SRAM Rival AXS wireless Brakes SRAM Rival hydraulic Wheels Reynolds AR58/80 Finishing kit Zipp Vuka alloy cockpit, Vitus TT saddle Great value, wide range of adjustability L

Weight 8.89kg Frame Sigmatex Spread Tow carbon fibre Fork Integrated bayonet style Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 Brakes Shimano Ultegra Wheels Vision SC55 TLR Finishing kit Integrated base bar, Profile extensions, Selle San Marco Shortfit saddle Brillian

An off-season is when you take a break from regular training. You take the opportunity to recharge your mind and body to regain balance after a busy season of racing before resetting for the next season. Your aim in this period is to lay the foundati

‘Off-season' suggests that it's not part of the training cycle, so instead, think about it as the recovery and preparation phase. You still need to ‘execute' this part of the plan, even though it may not contain any actual workouts to execute! Athlet

Snack time! What's your go-to? A sweet treat or something more savoury? As a triathlete, your choice of snack can make a world of difference, not only to your performance but also to your overall wellbeing. If you crave salty, it may be your body tel

When it comes to reaching that time of the month, it's rare to find a single woman firing on all cylinders. The fluctuation in hormones affects most of us physically, emotionally and mentally. In fact, some women can be impacted so severely that it r

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? There's a bear, just sitting on the roadside. Surely somebody must have called the emergency services? The B709 is a quiet road, but not that quiet. It slowly dawns on me it's probably not a bear and after some studied looking as

9-10 SANDMAN (various dists). Newborough Forest, Anglesey, North Wales. alwaysaimhighevents.com 9 THE BRUTAL (various dists). Llanberis, North Wales.brutalevents.co.uk 10 ST NEOTS TRIATHLON •(1.5km S/40km B/10km R and 1.5km S/ 40km B). Riverside Park

Forgive me if this month's column seems even more incoherent than usual, but I've just had a nasty shock! Recently I've decided to come out of unintentional Ironman retirement and enter a race in 2024. Unintentional because I did my last IM pre-lockd