When you thought about doing a triathlon, you considered whether you had time in your life to train, whether you were fit enough for the challenge, or if you could make it to the finish line. Something you probably didn’t think about was chafing- ouch!
We pride ourselves at designing our triathlon clothing to minimise the risk of chafing. We flatlock our kit so there are no bulky seams to deal with. Our suits are made of high-performance, quick-dry fabrics. We cut arm and leg holes so that they hit in the most comfortable spots.
However, even with all of that, when you combine moisture and friction over time, there’s still a chance of chafing. In fact, you may find similar in the form of hot spots or blisters on your feet when running.
Arm Warmers Review – Trigirl blogger Jemima tests out this essential piece of spring cycling kit
Trigirl Arm Warmers: “a MUST HAVE piece of kit”
Whoever came up with the idea for arm warmers must have lived in a topsy-turvy climate like the UK and was a genius! They are such a versatile bit of cycle kit.
Arm warmers act as an extra layer for freezing winter days and are great for those ‘too cold to start off, boiling hot midway through’ rides. Easy on/ easy off arm warmers have been a lifesaver for me so many times! They are also a great way to extend use of your summer kit- making fave summer jerseys long-sleeved in a snap!
Unfortunately, for such a simple piece of clothing, arm warmers seem to be pretty tricky to get right. Too tight, too baggy, too cool, too warm, not long enough…
No more!
This week I had the chance to try out Tri Girl’s Cosy Cycling Arm Warmers in Black/ Hi- Viz Pink.
I really liked the style and look of them (the reflective logo is also a bonus!)
These warmers use gripper bonding at the top to hold them up comfortably and securely. They’re also easy to take off (even whilst moving!) and they will fit neatly into your back-jersey pocket. They stayed up well and didn’t rub or chafe at any point.
Trigirl warmers are toasty and warm. The soft insides feel nice on the skin and help to keep the heat in… important for British spring time!
Trigirl arm warmers come in two sizes. I chose small and they were a tiny bit big for my titchy arms, but when my other cycling buddies wanted to give them a try they fit perfectly. For most, sizing shouldn’t be a problem as the stretchy material helps them fit a range of sizes (and makes them comfortable to wear). I do have fairly long arms- these were the first pair of arm warmers that I have found that can actually give me full-length coverage (another bonus!)
Trigirl arm warmers are a definite MUST HAVE piece of kit for your year-round activewear wardrobe!
Buy your set of Trigirl arm warmers in our online shop here.
Read more from university student and ambitious age group triathlete Jemima Cooper here.
Trigirl’s High-Intensity Triathlon Training – Descending Intervals Bike Session
Trigirl’s HITT (High Intensity Triathlon Training) sessions are back by popular demand! (HITT is a hit!) This week, we’re back on the bike for a scorcher session that will increase both your aerobic and anaerobic capabilities and burn loads of calories in minutes!!
Before beginning… If you’re new to Trigirl’s weekly high-intensity triathlon training, see week one for more information on HITT, how it works and how to approach the sessions.
Though high-intensity triathlon training has been proven safe, if you are starting a new exercise plan (whether traditional triathlon training or HITT), it’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor.
Your HITT Session for the Week:
This session can be performed indoors or out. Outdoors is best, though if the weather isn’t very cycling-friendly, you are forgiven if you can’t bear to ride outside.
If you are training indoors, it’s recommended that you ride on a turbo trainer, Wattbike or spin bike, with a typical gym bike being the least-recommended option. (The closer that you can train to your actual bike set-up, the better!)
We’ve adapted this session from Olympic coach Gale Bernhardt’s “miracle intervals”, originally published on Bicycling.com. If the long recoveries seem a bit much, do them anyway. They’ll allow you to go “ALL OUT!” doing the fast intervals for maximum HITT benefits.
Warm-up for 8 minutes: – 5 minutes gentle spinning, making sure that you have enough resistance not to bounce in the saddle. – 3 minutes – add a gear or two, then ride 3 x [30 seconds spinning your legs up to the fastest cadence you can spin without bouncing, followed by 30 seconds easy recovery]
45 seconds all-out fast with 4:30 easy recovery
40 seconds all-out fast with 4:25 easy recovery
35 seconds all-out fast with 4:20 easy recovery
30 seconds all-out fast with 4:15 easy recovery
Cool down, riding another five minutes in an easy gear (still not bouncing!)
We all know that triathlon is a really cool sport. Yes, people swim, bike and run, but put them together and something unique and special is created. And no one can say that training for a triathlon is boring! Triathlon’s training diversity is what attracts so many people to the sport.
Unfortunately, it’s also what often puts triathletes at high risk of postural imbalances, muscle strains and over-use injuries.
This is where a fourth discipline, Pilates for triathletes, comes in. New Trigirl blogger and qualified Pilates instructor, Jemima Cooper, recommends Pilates as a way to keep muscles lean, balanced and injury-free, with the added benefit of some free speed in your next tri!
Pilates for triathletes is one of the most effective forms of body maintenance and injury avoidance, so why not add Pilates to your training today?
See Jemima’s article here for Pilates exercises that you can do in less than 10 minutes at home and more advice about Pilates for triathletes!
Help us in helping others by running the Women’s Aid 10k race.
Want a fun challenge? Want to raise money for Women’s Aid? Join team Trigirl UK and run the British 10k in support of #TeamWomensAid!
The iconic British 10K is the fastest way to tour central London’s famous landmarks from Piccadilly to Whitehall with a route that races past Regent Street, Trafalgar Square, the Embankment, and Westminster Bridge.
More importantly, by running for Women’s Aid, you’re helping to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.
If you’re interested in running with us, sign up here. You’ll receive a ticket to sign up at British 10k’s website. When asked if you’d like to join a team, type in Trigirl UK.
Whoopee I did it! I’m delighted to report that last week I finally crossed the line of the Pendle Sprint Triathlon.
I’d been pretty chilled as I counted down to the big day. I was enjoying the training for the most part and loving being bigged-up by friends and family who were really proud of what I was hoping to do.
It was only the arrival in my inbox of the arrangements for the event itself, that made my stomach churn and gave me a bit of a wobble. The info I received was long and thorough with detailed instructions and timings of what I needed to do once things got under way.
Race day dawned beautifully and my husband, Dean, and I set off early for Barnoldswick – a very pretty village in the Pennine hills. Dean, who has been a star throughout the process, was there armed with his camera and best cheering voice. I was so glad to have his company and moral support.
Since our launch in 2007, Trigirl’s goal has been to empower women in the triathlon community, starting with triathlon kit that works for women. But we feel that supporting women in the triathlon community isn’t enough.
In keeping with our mission to empower women, Trigirl is proudly supporting Women’s Aid, a grass-roots federation working to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.
Two of our exciting new initiatives to raise funds for Women’s Aid include: running the British 10K in support of Women’s Aid (more details of how you can get involved soon!) and for every Spice trisuit we sell, Trigirl will donate £3 to Women’s Aid.
We are proud to be supporting women, both in triathlon and in the community!
To see more about Women’s Aid’s valuable work, click here.
On the back of recurring joint problems, I’ve had the last couple of years off running. Consequently, I decided to enlist the help of my physio to get me back in shape for the run leg of the tri. The aim was to sharpen my performance while at the same time avoiding any further problems.
Dom* is a trained PRI (postural restoration institute) therapist. He is passionate about the potential to improve athletic performance (and avoid injury) by addressing our postural imbalances.
In layman’s terms, we humans are asymmetrical in many ways.
Trigirl is now using ECONYL® for a truly sustainable triathlon clothing collection.
Starting with our 2017 collection, Trigirl is very proud to be using VITA high-performance fabric, made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon yarn. ECONYL® is an innovative fibre produced with discarded nylon consumer products such as carpets and fishing nets.
“Eco-friendly” or “recycled” are big buzzwords these days, but prior to introducing ECONYL® into our line, we did our research. We wanted to ensure that our eco-friendly fabric would truly have a reduced impact on the environment, and, very importantly, still maintain the high-performance qualities our customers have grown to expect.
Excitingly, VITA fabric achieves both, so we are thrilled to introduce it in our forthcoming line.
For more information about VITA and ECONYL®, click here.
To check out our new collection for 2017, click here.
In the build-up to our fabulous new 2017 collection, Trigirl has just opened our shiny new online shop and we must say, we’re pretty chuffed!
With a brand-new look and some great new features, our new Trigirl shop is ready for your orders and will be stocked with our new collection soon.
In the meantime, there are plenty of other products to check out, including a wider range of swimming and wetsuit items and accessories (neoprene warmth vest, booties, as well as the fantastic Zone3 women’s-specific wetsuit line).
The website also has a more customer-friendly checkout, hopefully making our customers’ lives just a little bit easier.
Of course, most exciting of all will be our new collection, coming in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!!
Our latest article focuses on triathlon’s longest leg – the bike.
Even if you’ve ridden all of your life, there are some easy ways to help your triathlon bike leg go smoothly (and to help make it even more fun).
You will spend the majority of your time in a triathlon on the bike, so even if you feel comfortable with basic cycling, it’s worth spending a little time thinking – and practising – how to get the most out of triathlon’s longest leg.
Trigirl adds running bras to our successful Anita line
The Trigirl online shop has been carrying Anita bras for the past few years to great success.
Our customers love their excellent support and quick-drying capabilities, which are perfect for triathlon. So we’re especially excited to announce new styles and colours, including the Dynamix running bra, a high-impact bra with a softly padded lining.
The Dynamix is the ideal running bra for a full range of cups sizes, offering extra-firm support, easily adjustable straps, and a special easy on & off design, a detail which has won design awards in 2014 and 2015/2016.
In addition to the Dynamix, we’ve added fun new Anita colours, including grape and peacock, to compliment our previous range of neutrals. And speaking of awards, Triathlon Plus previously tested the Anita Extreme Control bra (which we now carry in a range of four colours!) and awarded it four stars for support, comfort and breathability in their ‘Best Sports Bras for Triathlon’ review.
Getting a sports bra right takes special know-how, something that Anita has after over 125 years in the business. Anita Active sports bras are comfortably fit for cup sizes A-H, giving support to a full range of active women. In addition, they have ergonomically-designed straps for maximum comfort.
And of course, we still offer our Trigirl super fast-drying crop tops for women who need a little less support, as well as including a supportive separate bra or crop top with every trisuit. If you would like more advice on sports bra fit and care, we can help with that, too. See our article Triathlon Bra Tips and Advice for more on how your triathlon or running bras should fit, things to look for in a bra and the best ways to care for them.
If you’re looking for the best running bra or triathlon bra available, look no further! Buy Now.
Our Vivacity Trisuit is now on sale at 20% off! The Vivacity comes with a separate, supportive crop top, is available in two beautiful colour combinations and is super-flattering. It also has all of the amazing details that go into all of our Trigirl trisuits, including a top-of-the-line female-specific triathlon chamois, high-quality, quick-drying fabric, and soft gripper tape in the hem to keep the shorts in place.
So why would we ever put our best trisuit on sale?
We know at Trigirl that triathlon is an expensive hobby, but we feel that the kit that you wear for training and racing isn’t the place to scrimp. What you wear can really influence how you feel on race day (or in your training sessions)! So we always like to offer one of our top-quality trisuits at a friendly price – you can get all of the benefits of a flattering, gorgeous trisuit that really performs, without all of the cost.
Consider it our gift to you… and speaking of gifts, we’ll also throw in our 12-week beginner’s training plan FREE to help you train to race at your best!
Click here to shop. Just enter promo code “TrainingPlan” at checkout and we’ll include easy-to-follow, effective and fun plan in your package.
The 2015 triathlon season is kicking off! You’ve decided on a race schedule, you’re training, maybe you’ve even completed an early season race or two. You’re working hard towards achieving your triathlon goals, but why work harder than you have to?
Having some trouble figuring out your sports bra size?
Trigirl is now offering a quick and easy fitting service to help you get the best sports bra for you. Send us your measurements (this video will help figure out the best way to measure) and we’ll match you with the perfect size sports bra. No more pinching, sagging, chaffing or otherwise annoying bra discomforts!
Need more advice on what to look for in a sports bra? We can help with that, too. See our article, Triathlon Bra Tips, for more on fit, what to look for in a triathlon sports bra, how to care for your bra and more!
