20 WAYS TO TRI ON A BUDGET
We recently spent the day riding around the beautiful Leicestershire countryside, trying desperately to hold onto the rear wheel of tri legend Tim Don. An impossible task, compounded by Don’s incredible Specialized S-Works Shiv. “With the customised cockpit, it’s valued at over £10,000,” Don told us. Blimey.
Thankfully, despite its reputation, triathlon doesn’t have to break the bank. You see, as Britain’s former ITU world champion and one of the fastest-ever Ironman also proclaimed, “Ultimately, you compete using your heart and your head, not your wallet.” And if you use your head – and time – wisely, you can make huge multisport inroads for a fraction of a Don Shiv. Or a fraction of the ‘average’ triathlete.
According to the Triathlon Industry Association (TIA), the mean 2018 spend by an age-grouper in this country reached £2,970, making the UK triathlon industry worth £475-million. That’s money spent on wetsuits, bikes, more bikes, run shoes, sports nutrition, race entry, travel and training. Which is all fine but, especially if you’re starting off, there are several shortcuts that’ll delay the extra spend until you’ve hook, line and sinker caught the triathlon bug – which we
