All dressed up with
somewhere to go

This is it, time to put the past 12 weeks of training to the test.

Yesterday was for the elite and professional triathletes. Today is for all the age-group competitors. Thanks to a rush of last-minute sign-ups, about 1,400 people are registered for today's Honolulu Triathlon, more than double the number of individuals who finished last year.

Even with this many participants, don't expect to see too many, if any, mountain bikes on the bicycle course. The number of recreational triathletes dwindles as the race gets longer.

Except for an annual revisiting of the original Ironman, which draws a select group of nostalgic triathletes, today's triathlon is the longest on Oahu.

People who participate in the longer triathlons invest more time and money in their chosen pastime. Expect to see a lot of triathlon-specific bicycles and road bikes with aero bars on Kalanianaole Highway.

Equipment designed specifically for triathletes is not cheap. There is no line bargain or discount triathlon gear.

The bicycle is the most expensive piece of equipment for the triathlete. Decent road bikes can cost as little as $500. But bicycles made specifically for triathlons start at around $1,500 and can easily top $10,000 for people willing to spend that much.

Tri-bikes put riders in a more forward position than a road bike for a flatter back and better aerodynamics.

But with more weight over the front wheel, tri-bikes don't handle turns or go up hills as well as road bikes. They're designed for flat, straight courses. And if you don't go faster than 20 mph, the aerodynamic advantage is marginal at best. You're better off riding in the more comfortable, upright position on a road bike.

No serious bicyclist, even mountain bikers, would race or train in anything other than shoes made for clipless pedals. Road bike shoes can cost as little as $60. Triathlon bike shoes start at $150.

Besides being more expensive, triathlon shoes are less comfortable because they don't have as many straps to secure your feet, and are less durable. But they are friendlier to sockless feet and can be slipped on and off while still attached to the pedals.

There are a few manufacturers that make running shoes friendly to sockless feet that slip on and off easier than regular running shoes. But those models are not widely available.

There are bicycle helmets made for time-trialists. If anyone is going to be wearing one of those today they better be fast. Otherwise they're subjecting themselves to some serious ribbing. Everybody should be wearing the same type of helmets worn by road bikers.

And finally, there is the triathlon suit. It is a cross between the skin-suit worn by sprint bikers and those worn by swimmers. The one-piece suit allows triathletes to jump out of the water and onto their bicycles without having to change shorts and put on a jersey.

The tri-suits are not as hydrodynamic as the swim suits and don't offer as much seat padding as the bicycle suits. And they restrict ventilation during the run. They start at $100.

If you're not able to make it to the finish line, honk if you see me on Kalanianaole Highway today. I'll be wearing a black, blue and gray tri-suit, silver tri-shoes on my black tri-bike adorned with metallic blue flames.