Original ideas to give to triathletes.

There are those who say that the modern triathlon was born from a crazy bet around a bar table, but as crazy as it sounds for someone to come out of the sea to get a bicycle and then get between chest and back for a few kilometers running, this sport does not stop capturing followers (as if it were a sect). It seems that some of us know little about practicing a single sport. Not content with dragging our feet mile after mile, flexing our backs (and the occasional roll) on the bike, we have also decided to see for ourselves how the physical principles of buoyancy make an exception with our bodies. Swimming, cycling and running, three sports that expand the possibilities of finding an original gift with which to surprise an amateur triathlete or swimmer on their birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day or simply because we feel like it.

If you ask any triathlon fan directly what gift they would be most excited about, they will surely answer one of the following:

As triathlon bikes are quite beyond the budget of almost any gift (> €2,000) and for now there is no mechanism to stop time, I leave you with a series of gadgets, books and accessories specific to the practice of triathlon and swimming that you They can serve as inspiration to find a good gift for your partner, family member, triathlete friend or even better, a treat for yourself ;-)

Gadgets and sports technology for triathletes.

Cheap gps watch for triathlon:

The specific gps watches for triathlon are characterized by having a sports profile for swimming in open water (sea) and by being able to also record a triathlon (its three parts) as a single activity, also including the transitions between each of the sectors or sports that comprise it. Of the current models, I think that the gps watch with the best quality / price ratio on the market today is the Garmin Forerunner 745 [review]. If you find it over €350, it is the ideal model to leave the old brick-shaped triathlon watches (310xt or 910xt) in a drawer. A cheaper alternative would be to opt for the Forerunner 935, older, but more than enough for those who start with this triathlon as long as it does not exceed €250 or models such as the Apex by Coros or the Vantage 2 by Polar.

Advanced gps watch for triathlon:

If you are looking for the best gps for triathlons and IronMan-type events, that position is undoubtedly held by the Forerunner 945 [review], now with a color base map, integrated music and an optical wrist heart rate monitor that does work in swimming activities. Its only disadvantage is the price, difficult to find below €470. The Forerunner 945 would be a lightweight (49g) bezel-less alternative to the heavier Garmin Fenix ​​6S/6 PRO. In addition to the Garmin Fenix, other top-of-the-range alternatives could be the Polar Vantage V2 [review] or the basic Fenix ​​6/6S without maps. In any case, if there is no budget limit, any of the above will leave your card shivering and the winner with his mouth open.

GPS bike computer:

GPS bike computer: another interesting option to give to a triathlete is gps for cycling or bike computers. Although the gps watches can be placed directly on the handlebar with a super cheap accessory, the specific gps for cycling avoid having to change the watch from the wrist to the handlebar during the competition, they have a much larger screen and, in addition, many of they incorporate navigation functions with "routable" maps (with turn directions similar to car GPS). Among the cheap options, my recommendation would be the Edge 530 [review], a compact model, with many training functions and autonomy of up to 20 hours. Another interesting option within the “economic” ones can also be the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT (video), somewhat smaller and with an aerodynamic design (video).

If you don't have a budget limit, the most desired options by readers during the last Black Friday has been the Garmin Edge 830 (between €280-340), a compact model, with a touch screen and a color base map with the ability to establish routes specific for cycling.

Yes, with all these recommendations you are not sure, in this article I make a comparison of all Garmin cycling GPS (the brand most currently used by triathletes and cyclists).

And if you already have a Garmin brand bike computer, you may be missing a remote to control it without taking your hands off the bike's aero links or a specific support to place it between the two bars of said aero link.

Power meter:

Potentiometers have become a mandatory device for almost all triathletes who want to go a step further in improving their performance as cyclists and above all so as not to run out of energy when leaving the bicycle and starting with the sector to running foot. In addition, power training is one of the keys to current cycling due to the possibility of controlling our effort in any race situation: wind, unevenness, riding in a group, etc. Although there are many types of potentiometers or power sensors (pedals, cranks or hubs), to get it right without knowing much about the subject, I would personally opt for a power meter integrated into the pedals. This type of power meter or potentiometer is compatible with any type of road bike (not mountain) and they are extremely easy to fit and swap between bikes if you have more than one. Among the most used in the last IronMan in Hawaii you have the Garmin Vector 3 (from €630 in wiggle), the new Garmin Rally RK version or the Favero Assioma DUO model (from €699 /-20%/).

Garmin Varia RTL 515 Radar:

The Garmin VARIA RTL 515 device [review] will not leave indifferent who you give it to if they do not know it beforehand. This is the third version of the bicycle rear light with built-in car radar, a device that is placed on the seat post and warns us as vehicles approach (video). We will see (and hear) the warnings in all the Garmin brand cycling GPS that I mentioned before, in the Wahoo models, in the Garmin triathlon gps watches that I mentioned at the beginning of the article and in its own mobile app (Garmin Varia) for iOS/Android. In my opinion, it is still one of the best inventions I have seen related to safety in the world of cycling. Its price is around €199, but you can almost always find offers on Amazon Spain. As a novelty, Garmin simultaneously released the RVR315 radar, a model without light, but with the same radar functions and somewhat cheaper [<140 €].

Gifts for triathletes (swimming sector) and swimmers:

Swimming goggles:

In triathlon competitions you have to keep in mind that there are many, many people in the open water swimming sector. The slaps and kicks are inevitable if we are not one of the fastest. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid the rigid goggles used in the pool to prevent them from hurting us if they hit us in the face. Also, the sun can be quite uncomfortable on many occasions. For all these reasons, the Zoggs predator model is one of the most used by triathletes and open water swimmers around the world. They are very comfortable and flexible frame swimming goggles. They can be found with transparent glass and also with polarized glasses between €20 and €35. With a more rigid frame for training in the pool, two of the most used models are the Speedo Fastskin Mirror with mirror lens and the Arena Cobra Mirror model. Swimming goggles are a gift that will never hurt even if we already have some because it is common to lose them or scratch our lenses easily.

Swimming training material:

A complete swimming training kit or some of the basic tools that make it up can be a good (and not very expensive) gift for triathletes (and swimmers). Whether you're new to swimming or have been swimming for many years, continuous work on swimming technique is the only way to get better as a swimmer (or at least not get worse). The basic elements to work on the swimming technique are: the typical cork or pullboy (from €11), the new boards that can be used both as a board or as a pull, the short fins, the paddles/mittens and the breathing tube. Combining any of them together with the typical microfiber towel and classic flip-flops for the pool, you can make a perfect gift basket for a swimmer or triathlete.

Swimming or triathlon backpack:

Both to carry the necessary equipment in the different sectors of the triathlon and to put the swimming training material that we have seen before, the specific backpacks can become a very good gift for any triathlete or swimmer. Before choosing them you have to take into account that they must be of great capacity, have several compartments and some of them are watertight to be able to store wetsuits, wet clothes and/or shoes. Triathlon backpacks, although they are designed to last a long time, have always been quite expensive (>100 €). Of all of them, the ones with the best reviews are the Arena Fast Tri model (from €97) and the Orca Transition model (from €120 on Amazon). Although they are already models with little stock and other brands such as the TYR Apex at half price, it is also highly appreciated by triathletes.

Among the most used backpacks for daily training in the pool, you have two with very good comments from the Arena brand: the 45 L Fastpack model and the slightly smaller 40 L Spiky. Other backpacks to go to the pool widely used by swimmers are the TYR Alliance model (45L) and the Speedo Teamster (35L)

Winter swim kit:

Although it sounds like a truism, cold is the biggest problem in open water swimming in winter. And not only on the body, which is relatively protected with the wetsuit (at wiggle you will find the widest range of wetsuits for open water swimming and triathlon). If we spend a long time swimming we can "literally" stop feeling our ears, hands and feet. Taking advantage of this problem, and as with the winter kit for runners, we can always do something similar with gloves, booties, a neoprene hat (with ear flaps) to swim in the sea or simply a neoprene swimsuit for those months in between.

Safety buoy for swimming in the sea:

The main and essential element for swimming in the sea is, without a doubt, the safety buoy. This gift provides three super-important features: visibility (against jet skis and other boats), a watertight deposit to carry your keys or mobile phone and a buoyancy element to lean on in case of any unforeseen event (ramps, jellyfish or simply to rest) . A swimming buoy will be an excellent gift for all triathletes who have to go to the sea to train or for any swimming enthusiast who wants to start in the open sea or simply change the pool for the sea for a few months when summer comes. summer. Safety buoys can be easily found for between €20 and €35 ​​depending on size and type. There are classic types in the shape of mini-mats of different sizes, to put more or less things inside, and also of the "doughnut" type to carry a bottle or energy gels with which to supply ourselves during training.

MP3 player for swimming:

If you're a regular at the pool and your swim sessions exceed swim time, you may need some "extra" motivation to stick with your workouts. Here the MP3 players integrated into submersible headphones come into play that will allow us to listen to music while swimming. Although the sound quality under water is not comparable to that of normal players and its durability is not eternal, the Sony model is one of the few swimming MP3 players that does not have disastrous comments. The 4GB NWWS413 version can be found for €70-80 and the 8GB Sony NW-WS414 for €90-100. If you are looking for something cheaper, you can try the GPTEK brand, with many sales on Amazon and that can be found for less than €35, but if you read the reviews you will see that they are very different. Another option is the bone conduction AfterShokz Xtrainerz, they are the most expensive (RRP €159) but they are also the ones with the best comments.

Pool swimming watches:

Swimming is by no means an exclusive sport for triathletes. The pools are full of lovers of this water sport to whom we can always give a sports watch with a swimming profile that records all the lengths they do, the rhythm and the strokes they take. Among the non-triathlon specific watches with a good pool swimming profile, I would highlight two. On the one hand, there is the new Garmin Swim 2 [analysis], a specific model for swimming (pool and open water) also with GPS and that is not very cumbersome [ø42 mm]. If in addition to swimming you usually run a lot, the Garmin Forerunner 245 [review] is designed specifically for runners and has a very good profile for swimming in the pool (not for the sea). Both models record the pulse while swimming with their optical heart rate sensor and have GPS for outdoor sports activities such as running or cycling.

Gifts for triathletes: cycling sector.

CO2 inflation pumps:

The CO2 pumps are a wheel inflation tool that will allow you, after changing the tube or repairing a puncture in a tubular, to inflate the wheel again in a few seconds, thus saving time in a competition and effort on very hot or cold days. There are many models of CO2 pumps but, of those that have a regulator, the best sellers are the Lezyne Control Drive and the Pro Bike Tool. You also have this velochampion mini regulator that also takes up little space. CO2 pumps only have the adapter to place (and regulate) the CO2 cartridges (which is what provides the "air" under pressure). The cartridges are bought loose, they usually cost about €2 each and they are easily found in any online and neighborhood store.

Air bag for frame:

The bike segment, being the intermediate part of the competition and having simple (straight) sections, is where many triathletes take the opportunity to recover strength through bars and energy gels. The "air" type bags for the frame allow you to store solid supplies without compromising the aerodynamics of the bike itself, so it can be a good gift for a triathlete. For short triathlons, the best sellers are the tri-seven (€20) with a capacity of up to 6 gels or the Box 1.0 (from €23) from Zipp and for distances up to half Iron Man the Box 2.0 (from €30) . In amazon you will find more models of bags for the frame of other brands such as Profile Design or Xlab models.

Sleeves:

Light and very useful both in spring and autumn. This accessory can prevent the cold in the early hours of the day and can be easily stored in the pockets of the jersey. Those of the VeloChampion brand are one of the best sellers for winter. There are also more and more summer sleeves, designed specifically to protect the skin from the sun. The best sellers of this type are the Bwiv (from €10) with UPF 40+ Anti UV protection and unlike what we might think, more and more cyclists are opting for this type of protection or clear long-sleeved jerseys in summer. , both for skin health and to improve thermal sensation on very hot days.

Bicycle rear light:

Carrying a rear light is increasingly necessary when we go out on the road, and not only at night. During the day or at dusk they are one more element of security and it finally seems that who wears them is no longer considered a "balloon". Even the DGT has fallen from the donkey and has modified its regulations allowing the use of the flashing mode on red lights during the day. There are plenty of rear lights on the market, I leave you a few cheap ones with thousands of sales on Amazon. And if you want to go for something more “pro”, I also leave you with three models from well-known brands with very good reviews (especially the Bontrager).

Chain cleaning and cleaning kit:

Just as important as having the bike adjusted is keeping it clean, and at this point cleaning and lubricating the chain is one of the most thankless tasks. To save some work and avoid getting lost doing this task, we can always give you the best chain cleaning device on the market, the Park Tool model. We can make a cleaning kit if we add a set of brushes, a degreaser to the chain cleaner biodegradable and a good lubricant to grease the chain after cleaning.

In two other similar articles (Part I and Part II) you will find many more ideas to find a gift related to the world of the bicycle: tools, more security elements for the bike and other cycling accessories.

Gifts for triathletes: race sector.

Triathlon suit or tri-suit:

In triathlons, clothing is needed that can be adjusted to the characteristics of the three sports that comprise it. Tight so that it does not weigh down in swimming, but that it does not absorb the water after it. Also, that it has a pad for cycling and that it is not too thick so that it does not bother when we run. The triathlon jumpsuit or tri-suit has become the favorite garment of triathletes and can certainly be a great gift. We can also find triathlon shorts (tri-shorts) and opt for a set with a compression shirt. You have from the cheapest of the own brand own brand (dhb) of wiggle or even more "pro" models in the bikeinn catalog (men and women).

Triathlon running accessories:

Although running is running, whether it's a marathon or an IronMan, I propose several fairly inexpensive ideas, as well as essential, which are common to compete in triathlon events of any distance. To prevent sweat from reaching our eyes, the typical triathlon visor (from €16) or the HeadBand type strap (€11) never hurts and can save some invisible friend type gifts. In addition, two interesting gifts for those who are going to compete for the first time can be a belt carrier (€10) or an ankle chip holder (€8).

Medal racks and bib hanger:

Preparing for an IronMan-type event requires a lot of effort, organization and determination. Hence, not everyone who starts training manages to finish this type of long or medium distance triathlon and those who manage to cross the finish line tend to do so quite excited (and sore). A good gift to remember that moment can be to frame the number of that race that you have enjoyed/suffered the most and, if there are already many, surprise him with one of the medal racks to organize all those memories in the form of a medal and numbers. Although most are just for hanging the medals, I personally like the ones that also serve to hang the bib number. Among those with the best comments on Amazon you have:

Electrostimulators:

Electrostimulators are useful both for massaging the muscles after training and for increasing tension while doing strength exercises. These devices that look like miniature torture machines have become an almost essential tool for any athlete preparing for demanding or long-distance events. The Beurer brand Electro-stimulator is a very economical option and with very good comments so that it fits within the budget of a gift. If you want to go further, I leave you with two slightly more advanced models from the Compex brand with excellent comments.

Massage guns:

Another of the novelties of this last year in terms of sports recovery are the massage guns, small torture tools that allow the muscles to relax or activate them depending on the type of accessory that we attach and the speed of work. Here are four of the best sellers on amazon.

In the following gift guide for runners you will find more original ideas related to the world of running: clothing and accessories or specific training books for running.

Triathlon training books and triathlete biographies.

The triathlon requires, in addition to a lot of time, a correct planning between the training sessions of each sport and the necessary rest to assimilate the load of the same. Poor planning almost always leads to over-training, which is the cause of most injuries in which a triathlete falls. Therefore, in addition to having a good coach, books related to cycling and triathlon training can be an excellent gift that will help them understand why they do some training sessions and not others or why they do them at a certain time. it's from the season.

BIOGRAPHIES:

A pulse (The story of overcoming Javier Gómez Noya): this book recounts in a threaded way the involvement of the five-time world champion and his entire circle to become one of the best triathletes in history, a story marked by a heart anomaly that prohibited him from running during his early days. From €17 on amazon.

Instinto Raña: un libro que relata la historia de Ivan Raña, uno de los pioneros del triatlón y de las pruebas de Ironman en España y figura clave en el crecimiento de este deporte. Un referente para triatletas como J. Gómez Noyay muchas veces incomprendido por parte de la maquinaria comercial que envuelve el triatlón actual. Se puede comprar por 17 € en amazon.

Swim, Bike, Run, Our Triathlon Story (Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee): No se entendería el reinado de Javier Gómez Noya sin los hermanos Brownlee. En Inglés, este libro nos cuenta sus inicios (duros) y las distintas mentalidades de ambos afrontando los mismos retos. Lo tenéis por menos de 8 € en amazon.

Una cuestión de pasión: con coraje y motivación para el éxito (Jan Frodeno): La autografía de Jan Frodeno, aunque tiene muy buenos comentarios y es quizás una de las leyendas del triatlón de larga distancia moderno, de momento sólo está publicada en Alemán.

LIBROS DE ENTRENAMIENTO:

La biblia del triatleta (Joe Friel): la piedra filosofal para cualquier triatleta que quiera planificar los tres deportes dentro de su vida diaria y no morir en el intento. 400 páginas llenas de información y consejos para las distintas fases del entrenamiento y niveles de exigencia. Lo podéis encontrar en amazon por 46 € en la versión papel y bastante más económico en formato electrónico (11,39 €).

Swim, Bike, Run, Eat, The Complete Guide to Fueling Your Triathlon (Tom Holland): un libro en Inglés sobre la nutrición durante la competición y el entrenamiento previo. Con este libro entenderemos, entre otras cosas, la diferencia entre el aporte calórico sólido y líquido, cuándo tomar pastillas de sales y cuándo electrolitos o la influencia de las diferentes dietas (vegana, paleo, …) en el rendimiento de los triatletas. Lo podéis encontrar en amazon por 17 € en la versión papel y casi regalado en formato electrónico (3 €).

Entrenar y correr con potenciómetro (Hunter Allen y Andrew Coggan): los potenciómetros y los famosos «VATIOS» se han convertido en una herramienta imprescindible para cualquier triatleta. Con este libro con excelentes críticas descubrirán y profundizarán en las claves del entrenamiento con potenciómetro en el ciclismo. Se puede encontrar en amazon por 41 € y mucho menos en formato electrónico (9 €).

«Training and Racing with a Power Meter» [2019]: es una tercera edición actualizada del libro anterior que se publicó en 2019 del mismo autor anterior que incluye nuevas métricas (FRC, Pmax, mFTP, Power Duration Curve, …), nuevos planes de entrenamiento en función del FTP y casos de estudio más recientes. Se puede encontrar de momento sólo en inglés ya un precio bastante menor (23 € en amazon) que la versión traducida.

Pedaladas bajo techo (Chema Arguedas Lozano): un libro repleto de tablas para realizar entrenamientos en rodillo por pulso y potencia, muy útiles para ciclistas cortos de tiempo. A diferencia de los anteriores, este libro recomiendo comprarlo en formato papel (desde 19 €) para que las tablas se vean correctamente.

Este libro está escrito por uno de los autores más prolíficos y con mejores críticasen cuanto a libros orientados a planificar el entrenamiento de un ciclista, ya sea de carretera como de btt. El último de ellos («Potencia tus pedaladas») es un manual básico para todo aquel que quiera entrenar por potencia.

Ciclismo y Rendimiento (Yago Alcalde): un libro algo antiguo, no toca tanto el tema de la potencia en el ciclismo, pero explica de forma muy didáctica los principios básicos del entrenamiento en ciclismo para la mejora del rendimiento. Lo podéis encontrar en amazon por 14,25 €.

Libros de Natación: en este caso, más allá del interesante «Inmersión Total»y sus ejercicios para mejorar la técnica de nado, o el escrito por el propio autor centrado en la natación en aguas abiertas (English), la literatura existente para entrenamiento de natación es bastante regular tirando a mala. Sólo a nivel avanzado encontramos bastantes estudios científicos relacionados con algunos aspectos concretos del entrenamiento (recomiendo seguir a Antonio Oca en twitter), por lo que más que libros, sería mucho mejor regalar un trimestre (o varios) de clases presenciales en cualquier piscina que tenga cerca de casa.

Espero que alguna de las ideas os pueda ayudar a elegir un regalo original y que realmente sorprenda a ese amigo, pareja o familiar que ha decidido no volver a dormir nunca más para poder ser triatleta. Como siempre, tenéis el apartado de comentarios para cualquier pregunta o sugerencia sobre qué podemos regalar a un aficionado del triatlón o cuál fue el regalo que más ilusión os hizo a vosotros. Gracias por leerme y hasta el siguiente artículo.

Victor – @PreMarathon