Guide to buying a triathlon monkey

Our collaborator Zone3, tells us in this article that things must be taken into account to choose the best tritraje that suits our needs

What should you keep in mind when purchasing a tri suit?

For many people, the price is their only consideration, but there is much more that you should value before doing it. It really does not make much sense to spend thousands of Euros on a pair of aero carbon profile wheels or a super expensive TT bike, while wearing a wet, loose and wavy tritraje.

La comfort and performance should be the main features  to take into account when choosing your tritraje. For those who have just started, it does not mean that you have to spend a fortune, there are initiation tritrajes with exceptional quality.

When choosing the tritraje, it is important to understand and evaluate exactly what you are willing to invest and what you get for the extra money that the higher-end tritrajes mean.

The proper tritraje can have a Positive impact whether you are a beginner or a professional, as well as for the latter, who are those who seek to obtain the maximum performance for their effort, since those marginal seconds really count in the final classification, as for amateur athletes, slower in general and who are going to spend more time in career, where comfort plays a decisive role, here are the main things to consider.

Trituration Vs. Two Pieces

 Currently, in the market there is the option between buying a piece tritraje, or the upper and lower part separately. Ultimately, the choice between these two options depends on personal preferences and how you feel most comfortable.

Benefits of conventional trituration (one piece)

-Adjustment more aerodynamic

-With less seams, so there are fewer opportunities for friction or discomfort.

-La Top will not rise and, in general, it will move much less.

-Help to keep shorts in the right place.

Benefits of a two piece

-Greater flexibility in size: different sizes can be used in the two pieces, the one above and the one below, which makes the two pieces more comfortable than a one piece tritraje.

-You can use separately in training.

-Easier for toilet stops during the race. This is an advantage mainly in long distance triathlons, where toilet stops can not be avoided.

Mangas?

Some tritrajes have a short sleeve version. Again, it depends on what is most comfortable for each one, but the main benefit of wearing sleeves is sun protection on the shoulders.

On the other hand, sleeveless tritrajes They offer more flexibility on the shoulders, especially during swimming. Some people find that the seams in a sleeveless suit can rub, so some athletes opt for a short-sleeved tritraje for this reason.

Short sleeve tritrajes can also give you a aerodynamic advantage in the cycling sector.

One thing to keep in mind is that some events and races have specific guidelines on the tritrajes, so it is always recommended verify the regulations of each competition to verify that a short sleeve suit can be worn.

Distáncia Corta Vs Media y Larga distancia

Our tritrajes have been designed taking into account the distance, therefore, each of them have a combination of characteristics according to the distance for which they fit more.

Short Distance Vs Medium and Long Distance

Body position and basic support

A tritraje it should be tighter than loose. In addition to the fact that all tri garments will stretch over time, the best tri suits have been designed with a strategically located compression around the core and hips.

In swimming, this "holds you back" in addition to allowing the work of all the muscles of the core, which increases the drive of the hip and, therefore, reduces fatigue during the course of swimming.

This support is the one used in "trap suits", like our Swim Skin, used by many pros in races in which the neoprene suit is prohibited; The trap suits are worn over a tri suit and are removed in the T1. These suits use very rigid fabrics, which compress the entire swimmer providing a minimum surface.

Drag and buoyancy

Contrary to popular belief, the most aerodynamic / hydrodynamic fabrics they are not the ones that are super soft, but the ones thaton slightly rough. A smooth fabric allows air or water to adhere to it at the molecular level, which creates a "pull" in the fabric that causes a turbulent (rough) flow around the surface; increasing the resistance.

Well-designed textured fabrics actually "induce" a very fine and controlled layer of turbulent flow immediately above the surface, which acts as a super slippery surface so that most of the air / water flow moves smoothly (laminar flow).

Our high-end suits, such as Zone3 Lava, use fabrics that feel "like paper" to the touch, making the most of this principle. While in most races the regulation prohibits tritrajes contain rubberized or floating materials, there are some ingenious tricks to create buoyancy 'indirectly' with hydrophobic (water repellent) coatings.

These coatings significantly reduce the ability of the fabric to absorb water, which creates a union of air bubbles under the swimmer that provide buoyancy.

A suitable tritraje or a Swim Skin can save between 2 and 4 seconds for each 100 m on a more economic tritraje, depending on the shape of your body, swimming technique, natural buoyancy and speed.

In the Cycling sector

Drying after Swimming

After getting out of the water, putting on your helmet and getting on your bike, the last thing you want is a "sticky" suit. This would restrict the range of movement and increase the effort needed to pedal.

If you wear a suit of low quality and little adjusted, it is possible that it is still wet when you get to T2, which means that you will have to carry that extra weight. The hydrophobic properties of lThe costumes of good quality create an absorbing action, who removes moisture from the skin and allows it to evaporate easily.

This reduces the wrapping effect and allows you to move more freely and naturally. The specific of this type of fabrics cause them to dry faster once they leave the water. Our Aquaflo ™ fabric used in the Aquaflo + collection features a Teflon coating to help reduce drag and repel water.

Aerodynamics

The aerodynamics on the bike not only depends on aerodynamic couplings and expensive wheels. Nowadays, more and more speed is being found from improvements in the aerodynamics of specific triathlon clothing.

In addition to the beginning of the boundary layer described above, minimize seams and loose fabric make a measurable difference. As mentioned earlier, tritrajes short sleeves are more aerodynamic on the bike than the sleeveless suits.

The bibs that we ride on the bike are another producer of aerodynamic drag, so make sure everything is well laid and moored. At 40 km / h, more than 80% of the power used is used to overcome air resistance. Even saving a handful of Vátios can save you a few minutes on the clock.

Comfort

The pad is an important part of the tritraje. It can not be as thick as a full cycling pad, but it has to provide adequate cushioning.

Different brands are using different solutions, from a thick floating pad, a thin strip of polyester wool, or even no padding for many of the elite athletes who run to Olympic distance. Our Lava collection uses a slightly thicker tri long distance pad, from the Italian manufacturer Cytec for greater comfort on the saddle.

As the distance becomes shorter, the pad changes, our Aquaflo + model uses our "Tri-lite" triathlon pad of competition with Fine seams to further reduce irritation. This lighter pad helps minimize water absorption while providing protection during the cycling phase, without bothering swimming or running.

In the sector of Carrera on foot

Support and compression

As with swimming, a well-designed triathlon suit with compression in the right areas will support your core and your career efficiency, will reduce muscle damage y will delay fatigue, What is important for that final sprint!

Women, obviously, need a little extra support in specific areas, so our tritrajes contain inner support bras for them. These are made of a lycra fabric of greater strength to ensure comfort. The bra allows you to lower the main zipper on the front to keep you cool, without exposing your chest too much.

Scratches / irritations

We have all experienced rubbing or irritation during a triathlon. The main culprits are the shape of the body, the fit of the suit, the temperature and the humidity. While a suit can not change the shape of your body and the fit will always be an individual thing, a suit that absorbs moisture from the skin and dries quickly te will keep comfortable throughout the race.

The Aquaflo + collection uses a material called 'Revolution-X', which is the latest generation technology manufactured in Italy. This material is used in the back panels, since it is very light, provides a flexibility of 360 degrees and is extremely breathable.

Temperature control

Temperature control is key in racing, so keep in mind things like zippers and fabrics. There are front and rear zippers, if you want a rear zipper, Make sure you have a handle in the form of an elastic cord at the end of the zipper so you can reach it when it's time to open it.

The hydrophobic fabrics absorb moisture They help maintain optimal body temperature in hot and cold conditions. In hot conditions, it facilitates evaporation, which eliminates body heat. In cold conditions, remove cold moisture from the body and reduces the amount of energy needed to stay warm.

Further information:   https://zone3.es/