Tri FAQs

1. I have only got a mountain bike – will this stop me from getting involved?

No! Many 1st timers use mountain bikes to race & train and this is quite acceptable. Ultimately if you wish to progress you will need to purchase or loan a road bike but its something that needs to be considered early on. NTC members benefit from discounted purchases from our sponsors Longstaff Cycles & they will offer help & advice when choosing any cycling equipment.

2. Do I need to join a club to do triathlon?
No, but it helps. You will receive lots of guidance & encouragement from club members & will benefit from team camaraderie as well as the subsidised financial benefits that most clubs have to offer. Take at look at the information page of our website to see the full benefits of joining NTC.

3. I can only swim breast stroke, can I use this in a race or will somebody be able to teach me to do front crawl?
You will see lots of swimmers doing breast stroke in training & racing. Although front crawl is the preferred stroke purely because it is the fastest, breast stroke for those that cannot swim front crawl is completely acceptable. Alternatively our coached sessions provide you with the opportunity to learn/improve your front crawl technique. We have a novice lane at our Friday night swim session & a coach specifically assigned to help & teach front crawl to beginners.

4. Do I need a wetsuit?
No. Many races are pool based where a wetsuit is not required. If you wish to do an open water triathlon or open water training you will need to buy or hire a wetsuit. NTC are sponsored by Xterra who provide competitively priced wetsuits at a discount price for the club. There are also many companies who offer annual hire of wetsuits sometimes with the option to buy at a discount price at the end of the year.

5. I have family commitments & most evenings & weekends are busy but I wish I could get involved.
Many of our sessions are aimed at all abilities & ages so why not bring the kids along & train together. Specific sessions which are particularly suitable are the 2 run sessions (Tuesday & Sunday) the junior/beginners bike rides at weekends & the Friday night swim session. Family membership is available & includes any number of children.

6. Does joining NTC mean I am a member of the BTF?
No but if you are a member of NTC (or any other club affiliated to the BTF) it is cheaper to join the BTF.

7. If I join the club will I be insured to train/race?
No you will need your own insurance – this is covered by joining BTF or other organisations such as CTC.

8. I’m scared I won’t be able to keep up with everybody as I am not very fast.
Don’t worry about this. The coach in charge of the session will ensure that your training is suited to your ability & you will be encouraged to train with a group that are a similar standard to you. Our group rides are as slow as the slowest rider – nobody gets left behind & everybody remembers what it was like when they were struggling to keep up – the same rule applies to the run & swim sessions.

9. I’ve never done a triathlon before but want to try, are there any races for novices?
Yes there are lots of races that are suitable for 1st timers – we will be able to point you in the right direction.

10. I am only interested in one or two of the disciplines, can I still get involved?
We have a percentage of our members to whom this applies & they are more than welcome to join us for training, health or simple enjoyment. There is no obligation to race or train in areas that you are not confident with or dislike. You may find yourself being invited to join one of our relays that only involve you doing one of the disciplines but this is entirely optional. Triathlon also encompasses duathlon & aquathlon – only involving running & cycling or swimming & running. We also have many cyclists in the club who tap into our cycling training – all are welcome.