Triathlon jargon
As with any sport, triathlon has its fair share of jargon. Here's an explanation of some of it:
- Aerobars/tribars: added to the bike in order to achieve a more aerodynamic position whilst cycling
- Age grouper: triathlete who is not a professional (elite)
- Drafting: the action of swimming or cycling behind or to the side of another competitor to go faster for less effort. In the cycle leg of the race, drafting is legal for Elites but not for age groupers. In swimming, anyone is allowed to draft.
- Brick: training session comprising a cycle then a run, or a swim and then a cycle
- Elastic laces: elastic shoelaces, enabling athletes to pull their running shoes on in T2 for a faster time
- Mount/dismount: getting on and off the bike at the start and finish of the bike leg, also the name for the physical line at which athletes must mount and dismount
- Oly: Olympic distance, the standard race distance (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run)
- Race belt: an elastic belt to which the race number is attached
- Racking: the action of setting up your bike so it is ready for you after the swim
- T1: transition one, the section of the race between the swim and the bike
- T2: transition two, the section of the race between the bike and the run
- Transition: the name for the area in which athletes rack their bikes and transition from swim to run, and run to bike
- Tri suit: an all-in-one race suit worn by men or women for the entire race, making it unnecessary to add or remove clothing during a triathlon
