EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:           WHAT YOU NEED           TO GET STARTED
		SWIM   Goggles - You can get good goggles for a reasonable price ($8-$15) at most sporting goods stores.  You can find better ones at swim shops, including prescription goggles for eyeglass wearers.  These run a bit more, starting around $25, but they can make a world of diference if you depend on eyeglasses.   Be sure your goggles fit well and are comfortable.  A double strap provides a little more security against getting them knocked off and may provide  more flexibility in adjusting the strap position on your head. Bathing suit -  Any suit will do.  However, most triathletes wear race-style swim suits.  They start around $20.00.  They're available in sporting goods stores and swim shops.  Try one.  Ignore comments from your family.  You'll swim  fast and feel even faster.  It really is true  -- swimming in a baggy swim suit is like dragging a parachute behind you.   Some triathletes wear wetsuits.   Wetsuits or specialized "tri-suits" help with buoyancy and thus usually improve times.   Most open water swims allow them and their use is encouraged by race organizers in the registration packet when  water temperatures warrant it.  However, there is no need to run out and by a wet-suit.  There are plenty of races,  probably most in fact, where the water is warm enough to swim in without a wetsuit.                                                            BIKE Your bike and helmet are  important pieces of equipment.  Look for a helmet that meets ATSM/ANSI safety standards.  You need a reliable bike both for your safety and to ensure that a mechanical failure doesn't prevent you from finishing the race.  No one wants the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish) posted next to their name.  Bikes that are not deemed safe will  be excluded from the race by the race director.  Many races require that your bike pass a pre-race inspection.  While you need not have a racing bike, the more gears your bike has the more thankful you will be.  Mountain bikes are permitted and they often have 21 gears (that's good).  But they also have fat, knobby tires and that's bad for on-road racing, because  fat tires create more friction  and therefore  more resistance when pedaling.   Hybrids with medium tires and typically straight handle bars are also allowed.  However, the road bike with its  trade-mark thin tires that minimize friction, and curled down handle bars for aerodynamic position, is the bike of choice for most triathletes. Road bikes and touring bikes (similar design but slightly thicker tires and heavier frame) may have anywhere from 10-21 speeds.  It's not a problem to complete a triathlon with a 10 or 12 speed bike, but most weekend warriors will appreciate a bike with a third chain ring that gives a choice of 18 or 21 gears when pushing those hills.  So what if those higher gears are sometimes referred to derisively as "granny gears?"   Pride goeth before the fall!! Be sure to get the necessary extras for your bike.  Water is essential and water bottles are the most economical way to carry water with you.  You will also need a small bike pump you can mount on the bike frame.  Don't forget a spare inner-tube, a basic set of tire changing tools, a  tire repair kit, and a saddle-bag to put everything in.  Those are the basics. Other extras which are not necessary, but provide more convenience include  CO2 cartridges which can inflate your tires in seconds, water tanks for the handle bars, toe straps, clipless pedals,  bike shoes,  a cyclometer, and aerobars.  Aerobars attach to and extend over the middle of the handlebars, giving the rider a  more aerodynamic form and affording a wider variety of hand positions, and easing stress on the neck, back and shoulders.  Toe straps are cost-effective and do a great job of keeping the foot positioned on the pedal.   Toe straps make good sense as an affordable way to improve both technique and time.   A cyclometer is also a good immediate investment because it keeps track of your mileage, time, and average speed.  This is an enormous help on training rides.  The other items can wait, depending on how competitive you want to be and your level of interest in the sport.  It's not a bad idea to put a small a mount of cash or a credit card in the saddle bag for unanticipated emergencies.   Practice changing tires on a rainy day.  Don't wait for race day.   Practice  drinking and riding, and turning your head behind you without turning your bike.  It's  not as easy as you might think.  There's definitely a knack to it.  Most important, be careful of pedestrians, cars, and other vehicles.                                                           RUN Do not run without a good pair of running shoes.  Your old sneakers will not do the job.  Running shoes are padded and built to withstand the constant pounding of a training regime.  Even good running shoes should probably be replaced every year or 500 miles.  They will protect your feet and help prevent injury to other parts of your body as well.  Remember, stress not handled properly by one part of your body  risks injury to other parts that are absorbing abnormal amounts of stress to compensate.  Running shoes are a sound investment.  I  like to wear socks.  They help prevent blisters.  Light-weight shorts and shirts can add greatly to comfort while running.  Get a pair of sunglasses dedicated to running and biking and keep them in your work-out bag.  A hat is also good to have for particularly hot days.