Bribie Island triathlon preview

Just getting into triathlon? Or need a hit out or two leading up to big races like Mooloolaba or Noosa?

The Bribie Island Triathlon series is a great event for families. . Picture: Vicki Wood/SIN081011jnr3

JUST getting into triathlon? Or need a hit out or two leading up to big races like Mooloolaba Triathlon or Noosa Triathlon?

The Bribie Triathlon Series provides distances for varying levels of athletes.

Races for juniors are held on the Saturday over three distances, while the seniors are put to the test on the Sunday. The next events will be staged later this year.

The first and third race of the series offers seniors the chance to tackle a 300m swim, 20km ride and a 3km run. The longer course for the round is 750m swim, 20km ride and 5km run.

During the second series round, the short course is the same but the longer course is 1000m swim, 29km ride and 8km run.

There are no entries on the day, but bike racking and registration can be done on the Saturday afternoon at the race site from noon-4pm as well as Sunday morning.

Registration is also available on the Friday of each race weekend at The Run Inn, 452 Enoggera Rd, Alderley 4051 from 9am-5pm.

All bike racks are numbered. Your space allocated in transition matches your race number.

The swim
Those who despise the water-based leg traditionally have the support of a strong current. The water flow can be strong in the Pumicestone Passage so it makes the journey easier for those who aren't strong swimmers.

It is worthwhile keeping some energy in the tank for the end of the swim, as the right turn after the buoy back to the beach can be difficult as competitors get pushed downstream and away from the gates back to transition.

The start of the swim is help up stream, so competitors have to walk along the footpath to the designated point.

The ride
Flat and fast, there are no hills to cause any angst no matter what the distance.

Weaving your way through Bribie Island's backstreets and cul-de-sacs, the bike course is quite technical with a lot of tight turns. This can mean regularly having to get up out of the saddle to maintain a good pace.

The longer course requires three laps, the smallest only one.

The run
Depending on the distance, runners vary between one and three laps of the course.

From transition competitors journey along the footpath toward Caloundra.

Finding overtaking space can be difficult on the path depending on the length of the event. Those quicker on their feet need to take overtaking opportunities when possible as there is regularly oncoming runners.

 http://www.bribietri.com/

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Posted by The Morning Bulletin on Friday, July 24, 2015

Originally published as Bribie Island triathlon preview