By 
The original triathletes were amazing. Dave Scott and Mark Allen accomplished amazing feats in triathlon long before technology took over the sport. They didn’t have metrics like we have today and they certainly didn’t have all of the information gathering capabilities that we have. However, they set records and competed bravely. In fact, Mark Allen still holds the Kona marathon record to this day. Technology is a great friend to triathletes, but it has a downside.
TECHNOLOGY ARTICLES
So technology has taken over all aspects of triathlon. One of the most researched areas is the triathlon watch area. Each and every year there are new watches available for purchase that have ever-increasing measurements for the triathlete. My personal favorite is the Garmin 910XT. This watch gives me heart rate, power (with a power meter), pace (with optional pedometer), speed, cadence (with optional cadence sensor), mileage, swimming yards, and much more. Each of these measures helps me measure my success or failures in each and every training and race session.
Technology has made great strides in bicycles and wheel sets. The amount of research that is carried out on these two elements within the world of triathlon is incredible. Every year there are exciting new advances in aerodynamic speed in bikes and wheel sets. Most of the time, these technologies can take two very different points of view. This was most evident at the 2016 World Championships in Kona. Diamond Bikes presented their Andean bike that fills the entire space between the front and rear rim with a solid piece to make the wind pass through this area for aerodynamics. Another bike debuted at Kona this year with the exact opposite idea. The Ventum bike removed the down tube from the bike and left a gap between the front tire and the rear tire, leaving only the top tube. These are two very different ideas about aerodynamics. This is one of the amazing things about the advancement of technology and also one of the downsides.
Each and every one of the triathlon teams is experiencing constant technological advances. Shoes, wetsuits, socks, nutrition, hats, sunglasses, helmets, racing kits, and anything else you can imagine. This world of technology in triathlon is not close to completion and will continue to push the limits.
THE ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY
The technology in triathlon is amazing. These new items are exciting and make every year different. There are new advances that help triathletes to go faster and for longer. These new technologies help even the amateur triathlete to go faster. Just buying new wheels can mean the difference between being on or off the podium. The advancement of shoes has helped many athletes avoid the injuries that affect so many, such as plantar fasciitis. Technology will continue to help the sport to improve more and more.
THE LOW SIDE OF TECHNOLOGY
The downside to technology is that the amateur triathlete comes to his local race already unable to win because someone else has the money to buy some of the latest technology. Major purchases such as wheel sets and bicycles can be prohibitively expensive for the average triathlete, and yet there are people who buy these items at alarming rates. The amateur triathlete may also feel overwhelmed by what to buy and what not to buy. Some technology items are not worth the additional cost because they do not significantly reduce race time for what they cost. Now that these new technologies have been out for a while, knockoffs have started to make lower-cost items. It will be interesting to see the avalanche of these knockoffs on the market and see how that affects the big guys in tech.
If you are an amateur triathlete, shop smart and don’t go buying the new gadgets just because they are new. Make sure to invest in items that will actually get you going faster and not just a gimmick.