Newbie: MTBing first tri...

[Urlea]

Alright, confession. I am stuck using a MTB for my first triathlon this weekend. Sigh. :(

I have a Cannondale Synapse on layaway, but after tax season (I'm self-employed) I got set back on the purchase of it. :p For those of us who had to pay in.

Anyway, I need some encouragement. This triathlon is fairly rural so I'm guessing I wont be the only one on a MTB. But the very feel of this bike is inefficient.

Where any of you in the same position when you started doing Tris?

[KSH]

Tons of people use a mountain bike in sprints. Don't worry! Just go out there and have fun!

Good luck!

[IronSnoopy]

I used a mountain bike in several of my first tris. :) Many people do. It's a great way to see if you like the sport before making a bike investment.

[Tri Girl]

There will be many others doing the same thing. In my first duathlon I got passed by an old lady on a mtn bike (and I was on my new road bike). I felt pretty good about myself right then. :p Tried like heck to catch her and couldn't. You'll be just fine! Just go out there and soak up the whole experience. Smell the smells, really be in tune to the race environment and savor the fact that you're out there doing it. You only get one first triathlon, so have a great time and don't worry about time, place, bike, etc. Enjoy the day- there will be plenty of time for PR's later! :)

[alpinerabbit]

If you can afford that, you could put on slicks at least.

[Urlea]

Hey Ladies...

Thanks for the encouragement! :D

Given the competative personality I have it is good to be reminded to put that on the back burner for now and just enjoy my first Tri for what it is and not worry about time or place so much. The competitiveness can have it's hold later in the season.

Also, tapering is difficult for me this week. I'm training for several 1/2 marathons this year, my first on the 17th of May so I'm not quite sure how to keep to my marathon training schedule and obey my Tri regimen. *shrug*

My husband has been learning "the evil eye" look when I tell him what I did for training that day. It helps keep me in line. Hopefully he'll retain that "talent" for when we have children. ;)

Anywho, I will let you know how things go and try posting some pictures Sunday or Monday.

Take care!

[jesvetmed]

Good Luck Ulea!!!!! :D
You'll do great.
My first tri I lined my bike up on the rack, and looked around and saw almost all mountain bike types. I felt silly having an actual road bike there!

Keep us posted!

[teigyr]

Urlea,

You will do great. If anything, I have a bike that is beyond my riding capability right now so when I racked it next to all the experienced people on hybrids and mtn bikes, it was kind of horrifying. I think I looked clueless and lost! There are people who do tri's to compete and there are some who do it for the experience. Especially for your first one, do it for fun. It's a whole different experience than a single sport event and (for me, at least) it'd be impossible to try to do the tri and think I was actually racing against people.

Just as a sidenote, in my first one (and I've only done two), I was passed by people on mtn bikes. I also passed someone on a Cervelo as we were going up a hill. It's all relative :D DANG that Cervelo was pretty though...