Tip #16: What gear do you need to compete?

Initially, assuming you are focusing on time trial racing, you can use your road bike and everyday cycling clothes. Then, as you gain experience and fitness, buy the best competition gear you can afford. It should be lighter, stronger, and more aerodynamic that your training gear. The chart below is modified from several similar charts for 40 km races published online over the past several years. The priority items should be the skin (or speed) suit, aerobars, aero helmet, and shoe covers. That should cost roughly $700.

If you can afford it, and have raised your fitness level to the point that you have a chance at a victory or podium finish, then spend the money for a TT race bike and aero wheels, which will cost over $3,000. There is another level of gear beyond this chart: shorter crank arms and ceramic bearings for your wheels and bottom bracket. They will cost another $3,500.

Why would you want to spend this amount of money for ever smaller amounts of time saved? It is all about the level of competition you’re facing. At the local or state level, your competitors will have a mix of the best aerodynamic gear. At the regional, national, or world championship level, all of your competitors will have all of the best gear on the market.

In the previous tip, I mentioned the margin of victory in a masters national 20 km time trial championship race. At 26.07 mph average, the difference between first place (0:28:10:1) and second place (0:28:10.8) was only 0.7 of a second. And the time gap between the first and 10th place (0:29:08/25.21 mph) finisher was only 58 seconds. They all had the best gear available. The difference in speed came down to training.

I bought an entry-level time trial bike, the Cervelo P1, when I resumed racing as a TT specialist over 20 years ago. It cost me roughly $1,500. I also bought an aero helmet, speedsuit, shoes, and shoe covers for roughly $750.

Then, after a few years and 25 races, I bought aero wheels: HED front and full disc rear wheels for over $2,000. Meanwhile, I realized that the P1 was not the right bike for my body and upgraded to a Specialized Shiv, a state-of-the-art triathlon bike, costing roughly $3,000. This has been my basic gear for the past 70+ races.

Just before returning to live racing again, I upgraded my Shiv with shorter crank arms (160 mm vs 172.5 mm), ceramic speed bearings (increase of 10-14 watts), and high-angle aerobars. We’ll see how much faster I’ve become along with the change in training focus from heart rate to power.

If you have any questions about living an active lifestyle or about your cycling goals, training, racing, or gear, I’d like to hear from you. I may address your questions in a future tip. Just drop me a note.