Top 5 Triathlon Equipment Do’s & Don’ts – Along With Videos!

More than most sports, triathlon is an endeavor in which even the best training plan and cardiovascular fitness can be sabotaged by improper or improper use of triathlon equipment. But with these five triathlon equipment do's and don'ts, along with the videos from Ben and Kerry that you'll find below, you'll be instantly equipped to make the best choices when it comes to triathlon equipment.

Triathlon Equipment Don't: Don't Use A Big, Long Straw On Your Aero Bottle. Did you know that the speed-enhancing effects of that sweet, carbon aero wheel into which you sunk $500-1000 are just about completely negated by the big, long strong sticking up out of that aero bottle that is mounted on the front of your bike? Here's the solution: go to a hardware store or aquarium and get a flexible straw that can actually curl up inside your bottle. You'll literally save dozens of seconds over a 40K time trial. For a demonstration of how to do it, watch the video below.

Triathlon Equipment Don't: Don't Mount Too Many Bottle Holders. In a supervised triathlon (which most are) you only need enough water to get you from one aid station to the next, which is typically five to fifteen miles. So why are you weighing down your bike with three to six extra water bottles, and all the weight and aerodynamic disadvantages that comes along with them? The best solution is a single, aerobar mounted water bottle, along with a down tube bottle *if*  you need it.

Triathlon Equipment Do: Do Wear Sunglasses Without A Frame On Top. When you use sunglasses that have a frame along the top, you have to crane your neck just a bit extra to see above the frame - which slightly alters your aerodynamic position and head/neck comfort. As you pick your triathlon equipment, try to choose sunglasses that are frameless along the top. To see the difference between sunglasses with a frame along the top, and sunglasses that don't have a frame along the top, watch the video below in which I show you the difference between two different types of sunglasses from Zeal Optics (and you DO get a discount on those by going to Members on the menu above, and clicking Discounts).

Triathlon Equipment Do: Do Pull Your Wetsuit Sleeves and Legs Up. Wetsuits weren't meant to fit like your favorite sweater or pair of pants - pulled all the way down to your wrists or ankles. Instead, the wetsuit should be worn just a few inches above the wrist and ankles, which frees up extra material for breathing and shoulder flexibility. To see Rock Star Triathlete Academy coach Kerry Sullivan demonstrate the proper wetsuit entry technique, watch below:

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Triathlon Equipment Don't: Don't Pin Your Race Number To Your Top. One of the body's primary areas of cooling is across the chest and stomach. So by pinning your race belt to your shirt or triathlon jersey, you're putting a big piece of non-breathing paper over your body's primary cooling radiator. Instead, get a race belt and wear it around your waist, with your number attached to your race belt. Race belts cost very little to free, and are one smart and crucial piece of triathlon equipment.

While it is unfortunate that many people sabotage triathlon success with simple triathlon equipment mistakes, it is fortunate that these mistakes are easily avoidable with just a few triathlon equipment tweaks. What do you think? Do you have any other triathlon equipment advice or questions? We'd love to see it below!