triathlete wall

Specialized’s top of the line road shoe, the S-Works model, are for those wanting the very best. Their lightest and stiffest cycling shoe starts at $350, and it features a carbon sole using high modulus, unidirectional carbon fiber, BG+ high performance footbed to improve foot/knee alignment, Micromatrix water-resistant upper for comfort and a vented tongue for added breathability. Two independent dials optimizes closure, one in the ankle and heel and the other in the arch and forefoot. Cleat pattern fits Shimano, Look, Time and Speedplay.

Every time you push your body past its limits, proper rest is needed to allow the muscles to repair and become stronger. Now rest doesn’t mean lounging on a couch all day in a hunched position eating chips and dips. To really make the most out of every training session and race, The Athlete’s Guide to Recovery will help you understand how much you’ve been fatigued, how much rest you need and how to make the best use of recovery tools that will get you back on your feet (or bike or in the water) in good form. The book describes daily recovery techniques and how to employ restorative practices, such as massage, meditation and yoga. Learn about which methods work best, how and when they’re most effective.

Swiss bike maker BMC brings to us the time machine TM01, ‘the bike that makes you faster’. The aerodynamic frame shape has a length to width ration of 3:1 and uses Tripwire technology, where special wind curbs molded into the carbon frame form a sort of air cushion for the wind flow. A flatter profile with minimized raw materials helps reduce weight and increase stiffness. The adjustable integrated stem system allows for more than 30 different positions to ensure the best fit. Comes in 4 different sizes, small, medium short, medium long and large and is offered with Di2 and Zipp 808s as the top of the line package, but will also be available in much more affordable options with SRAM Red or Shimano Ultegra groups.

Scape’s SPF 50+ athlete sunblock is made for endurance sports. This long lasting protection minimizes damage from the sun’s UV rays and it’s waterproof and sweatproof, which means it won’t run into your eyes. The formula also lets your skin breathe naturally and is fortified with Vitamin E and antioxidants. A must have in your tri-gear.

The Pearl Izumi Kissaki shoes are meant to be weapons for your feet. The energy foam cushions the forefoot on impact while the rubber outsole with carbon rubber crash pad protects the heel. It has a seamless upper, interior seam taping and memory foam in collar for comfort and custom like fit. Reflective laces help you stay visible in dark situations and weighs about 9.4oz/266g for mens size 9. Ideal for short races and long distances.

This is the most expensive wetsuit in the world at the moment. Zone3’s MMXII wetsuit costs £1,000, and it’s a limited edition model with only 100 available worldwide. Sold exclusively at Harrod’s or directly from Zone3, each individual suit can be tailored to the swimmer’s body for a perfect fit. The famous Yamamoto SCS 40 and 45 neoprene are used with a titanium lined inner jersey fabric and Aerodome panels to create more buoyancy than conventional neoprene. There is also an ultra thin one-piece shoulder panel stretching from elbow to elbow to free the shoulders when swimming. Not only is it supposed to have an extremely comfortable feel with speed and flexiblity, Gold and Gunmetal fabric on the suit adds bling like no other wetsuit has done before. The price tag includes more than just an individually numbered suit. Other goodies, such as a transition backpack, swim caps and an exclusive invitation to an open water training event with top coaches and athletes, are included.

Zoot’s latest backpack is lightweight and durable to handle all your gear for race day. The Ultra Tri travel bag is airline carry-on compatible with a removable sealed wetsuit compartment, molded helmet compartment, exterior water bottle pockets, fleece lined top pocket for delicate items, mesh interior storage pockets for organization and even a triathlon checklist inside the bag. Dimensions are 13″ wide (33cm), 10″ deep (26cm), 23″ tall (58.5cm) with an adjustable waist belt and sternum strap.

Swimovate designed the PoolMate watch just for swimmers. This lightweight, flexible strap watch has an easy to read display with backlight and stainless steel buttons to keep track of your laps. Its software measures the movement of your wrist during the swim to recognize the stroke and calculate lap information based on it. Compatible with freestyle, back stroke, breaststroke and butterfly with an accuracy rate of over 99.75%. It also stores session time, average strokes, speed, distance, calories and efficiency. Forget the days of forgetting how many laps you just did – just hit the start button and swim.

On Running, a Swiss based company founded by triathlete Olivier Bernhard, introduces a new shoe named the Cloud Racer. The sole contains the patented CloudTec™ system, three dimensional elements in the outsole called clouds that absorb both vertical and horizontal shocks. This helps reduce lactate acid build up and the runner uses less energy to move faster. 18 CloudTec™ elements are in the active sole. The upper is made of light air-mesh with a perforated tongue for maximum breathability and cooling. 5mm toe drop, weighs 245g (USM 8.5) and designed for those with a neutral gait.

Whether you are new to tri or have taken a long break, Spinervals Competition 21 Aero Base Builder IV will help build and develop your aerobic base. This 70 minute DVD with Coach Troy Jacobson focuses on training your blue aerobic zone, which is ideal for long races by getting your body to adapt to using fats for as the primary fuel. There is an option to turn off the audio so you can jam to your own music if wanted. Compatible with all stationary bikes.