Equipment tips - The basics

(check also: Equipment tip - The ad ons)

Here are the only pieces of equipment you will really need to bring with you for completing the Schiniathlon:

Swimsuit
A real swimsuit. The kind used by swimmers in competition.  You can choose to swim in your favorite flowery-windsurf shorts, but you'll feel like you are dragging a boat anchor in the water! Don't be embarrassed by how you look in a swimsuits.  If you’re not convinced, have a look at our Photo Gallery of the 1st Schiniathlon : the most convenient for guys is to do the whole event in just one swimsuit, something tight so you can cycle and run with it without being annoyed.

Swim Googles
You will need to find goggles that seal out water and do not fog up during swims. Try a lot until you find the ones that fit. You’ll find 3 kinds of goggles: 1) the kind with foam around the edges, 2) the kind with plastic suction seals around the edges, and 3) the "Swedish" style that has no seal and relies purely on suction around the eyeball to seal out water (weird !).

Bicycle
For the purpose of the Schiniathlon, any kind of bike would do ! In fact, on the 12th May 2007, lots of you were riding mountain bikes, and you did just fine. For those of you with more ambition or who might want to try and break the speed record set by Markos Pachos and Kostas Koumargialis at the 1st event, you will need either a light road bike or even maybe a triathlon bike ?  In comparison to these, riding a mountain bike will feel like riding a tank ! Whatever type of bike you use : make sure the bike fits you.  We give you more advise on how to fit your bike on the “Bike Equipment Tips” section.

Bicycle helmet
You will need a bicycle helmet.  It’s compulsory at the Schiniathlon !  It comes relatively cheap and light these days, and it doesn’t have to be un-comfortable – most of them got loads of holes for ventilation in it, so you wont suffer in the heat.

Running shoes