ridiculousness of tri's

In search of wrote:

Nyacnyac wrote:

It's a lot like golf. Something to spend money on. And more acceptable than cars or drugs, because you're squandering your money in a healthy, wholesome way.

"Squandering".

So what should we spend our money on? Giode us, please? How much is acceptable to spend on a bike?

WHAT should you spend money on? The usual stuff. Missions! Ransoming pagan babies! Sending your poor niece and nephew away to really good schools so they get away from their abusive, neglectful, mentally ill parents and that crappy public school with its 'diversity' toxin and its hi-grade-moron teachers.

Giode. That is like a diode, only it is used to Light the Way.

$1000 [wince] is acceptable for me. $2500 if I outgrow that and get really serious.

If you're an elite, I'd say spend all you want.

But first take care of those kids.

I agree with the guy who said he was jealous of Triathletes.

I would love to spend the whole day out doing hard ass workouts. I think it sounds great, who cares if it is 3 different sports.

I just don't want to get into the biking stuff. It isn't really the money, it isn't really the time, it is more that I just don't want to have to keep up with the joneses.

I am a pretty simplistic guy, almost OCD. I like minimalistic things. (I am not a minimalist when it comes to running, I wear normal shoes). The whole biking aspect kind of annoys me b/c the guys I know who Tri are always cleaning/testing/fiddling with their bikes. That does not interest me. I am not a gear head, and I don't want to mess with a bike all the time.

I have considered buying a fixed gear bike to enter a few Triathlons, but then was mocked out of the idea by my Tri friends.

I have a fairly decent road bike. A 2003 Specialized Allez Elite S-works with those cool-looking spokes.

It got a flat one day that shredded the tire and I never road it again. That is my fault, I know, I just don't like dealing with that stuff.

If I had someone to take care of my bikes for me - Keep them tuned/cleaned/etc - I would do it. I just don't dig the time and care you have to put into the bike.

I am jealous of the guys that enjoy that though, cause the races look like a lot of fun.

I raced Hunter Kemper quite a bit in college, and while he normally beat me, I could hang with him. I am not saying I would be anywhere near as good as him, but it makes me wonder.

Nyacnyac wrote:

$1000 [wince] is acceptable for me. $2500 if I outgrow that and get really serious.

If you're an elite, I'd say spend all you want.

But first take care of those kids.

You are saying that you would spend $1000 on a bike before you would spend it on those kids? Stop squandering your money, asshole.

And sell you car. Get rid of your TV. Why are squandering all this money?

Most importantly, get rid of your PC and internet connection. That money could be put to much better use.

Materialist prick.

Sammy Wanna Be wrote:

I raced Hunter Kemper quite a bit in college, and while he normally beat me, I could hang with him. I am not saying I would be anywhere near as good as him, but it makes me wonder.

you wouldn't wonder anymore after getting out of the water 10-15 minutes after him.

(disclaimer: i could be dead wrong--you may be a great swimmer/cyclist...what have you. but that is in reply to all the running hard-asses here who think they could be elite triathletes just b/c they can run a 30-32 min 10k...big f***ing deal!)

In search of wrote:

You are saying that you would spend $1000 on a bike before you would spend it on those kids? Stop squandering your money, asshole.

And sell you car. Get rid of your TV. Why are squandering all this money?

Most importantly, get rid of your PC and internet connection. That money could be put to much better use.

Materialist prick.

Hey, they're not MY niece and nephew.

I don't have a car and my TV was picked up for $30 second-hand. I am a regular Diogenes, I am. The PC and internet are here at work. Friday, you know. Slow.

Ah but then there are the missions and the pagan babies. Do you know what that $30 could do for them?

I am ashamed of you.

turn right wrote:

you wouldn't wonder anymore after getting out of the water 10-15 minutes after him.

(disclaimer: i could be dead wrong--you may be a great swimmer/cyclist...what have you. but that is in reply to all the running hard-asses here who think they could be elite triathletes just b/c they can run a 30-32 min 10k...big f***ing deal!)

I know you are not necessarily replying specifically to me, but I want to clear up what I wrote:

I am by no means claiming I could be a good Triathlete. I am a decent swimmer, but have never raced on a bike, and have no idea what it would take. I am sure I would be pretty far back in the swim, get wasted on the bike, and then not have enough road to make anything up on the run.

I am just saying that I wonder about it sometimes...

we had a guy on our team in college who was a terrible runner.. nice guy, but very slow. i'd lap him multiple times in workouts. After he graduated he got into tri's and is now a PRO triathlete. he has his pro card and everything and is apparently one of the better ones in the world.

Also one of the worst female runners on our team is now doing tri's. not sure if she is pro or not, but i know she travels to do them.

I have also known several mediocre collegiate swimmers who have done the same.

because of this, i have always percieved tri's as a bastion for mediocrity in sport where the people who suck at swimming and running turn to when there is no more hope. i'm not saying its easy by any means, but i do believe it is dominated for the most part by third rate athletes at best. I am sure there are a few as some have pointed out that have excelled in swimming/running/cycling individually, but that number isn't so great. The first and second rate athletes for the most part will continue to try and succeed in the "mainstream" endurance sports on an individual basis as they can actually be somewhat competitive in them and have atleast the realistic hope for some success.

1Whitfield Simon CAN 01:49:16 00:18:11 00:59:23 00:29:52

2 Potts Andy USA 01:49:18 00:17:57 00:59:34 00:29:55

3 Reed Matthew USA 01:50:11 00:18:13 00:59:16 00:30:53

1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run

I dont know about you but I cant run a 29:52 in my best shape muchless after all that. My guess is they would kick most "good runners" ass if they were fresh.

If you want to see more times go to

www.triathlon.org

just look at the 2006 times there were 6 races where the winner ran under 30 min.

BTW a good bike is $6500 without "race" wheels thats more than I have to spend on my car.

Like U.S. Army fitness tests, many triathlon run & run courses are not on certified courses.

Show me one of these runners who has done a legit sub-30 10K on the track or a certified course and I will believe.

Doubting Thomas wrote:

Like U.S. Army fitness tests, many triathlon run & run courses are not on certified courses.

Show me one of these runners who has done a legit sub-30 10K on the track or a certified course and I will believe.

exactly. some of these guys are good runners, but those times are misleading. i know a guy competing for the US now that couldn't get close to 30min in the 10k on the track in college. i would be shocked to have seen a sub-32 out of him even (again, fresh and on the track).

i wouldn't want to race him in a 1500m swim though...

Doubting Thomas wrote:

Like U.S. Army fitness tests, many triathlon run & run courses are not on certified courses.

Show me one of these runners who has done a legit sub-30 10K on the track or a certified course and I will believe.

Craig Mottram was National Schools Champion in triathlon. Hasn't he run a few seconds under 30:00?

btw, cervelo p3 carbons and kuota kalibur's are around $4500 and at the top of the list of high end tri bikes

Look,BMC, and Time all make frames that are $9,000(or more) frame only, a set of $4,000 ADA race wheels $1,200 Hed tt bars and a $1,000 DA set up and you have just spent a down payment for a house on your bike.

They all must suck wrote:

1Whitfield Simon CAN 01:49:16 00:18:11 00:59:23 00:29:52

2 Potts Andy USA 01:49:18 00:17:57 00:59:34 00:29:55

3 Reed Matthew USA 01:50:11 00:18:13 00:59:16 00:30:53

1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run

I dont know about you but I cant run a 29:52 in my best shape muchless after all that. My guess is they would kick most "good runners" ass if they were fresh.

If you want to see more times go to

http://www.triathlon.org

just look at the 2006 times there were 6 races where the winner ran under 30 min.

BTW a good bike is $6500 without "race" wheels thats more than I have to spend on my car.

You are missing the point. These are NOT the people that posters are referring to. They are referring to guys who can barely break 38:00 for 10K while fresh or can't break 3:10 for a marathon and yet somehow they are "Pro" triathletes or are nationally ranked triathletes. Sure, a guy that can break 30:00 at the end of a triathlon is a stud. But a guy who can't run 38:00 when fresh and is a professional triathlete must be able to outswim a Great White Shark and kick Lance Armstrong's ass in the Tour de France.

missing the point wrote:

You are missing the point. These are NOT the people that posters are referring to. They are referring to guys who can barely break 38:00 for 10K while fresh or can't break 3:10 for a marathon and yet somehow they are "Pro" triathletes or are nationally ranked triathletes. Sure, a guy that can break 30:00 at the end of a triathlon is a stud. But a guy who can't run 38:00 when fresh and is a professional triathlete must be able to outswim a Great White Shark and kick Lance Armstrong's ass in the Tour de France.

Guys who can't run 38:00 when fresh or 3:10 for the marathon are not "pro" triathletes. And they won't be very highly nationally ranked unless their swim and bike are phenomenal.

The triathlon measure of overall fitness in 3 sports, not in one.

The fact that Jarod Shoemaker is a very good runner and does triathlons doesn't make triathlons any less ridiculous. Like I said, most people don't do them just because it costs too much time AND money. It's a competition between rich white dudes. For every Jarod Shoemaker that does well in triathlons, there are many talented runners that will never try one because it requires a road bike, all the other schwag that goes into it, plus a ton of free time to train with all three.

It's akin to setting up a road race on a Tuesday morning with a $5,000 entry fee. Who's going to show up?

You're an idiot.

Yeah, triathlons are "ridiculous." So is running 400m (a totally arbitrary distance) while jumping over arbitrarily-placed barriers of arbitrary height. Steeplechase is even more "ridiculous." Triple jump? Hammer throw?

The point is people can compete in whatever the f#ck they like. Why does it bother you so much? Better-looking triathlete steal your girl (who doesn't care that you can beat him by 30s in a 5k)?

Before you bash senselessly (and I know you will), let me tell you that I've never been involved in triathlon. I just respect dedicated athletes. Tri has some of these, and some tools. Just like running.

Someone please link this to a Tri board, and then later, we can read the responses! :)