<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Duathlon247</title><link>http://www.duathlon247.com/index.html</link><description>Latest articles from Duathlon247</description><item><title><![CDATA[Essential Guide to Road Race Tyres]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5714.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[
(You can also check out our other guides to: Front Lights, Rear Lights and Turbo Trainers). 
Road Race Tyres 
The tyres that you choose for  your bike are a very important factor. They provide the connection between you  and the road surface. Finding a balance between your needs and the various  products available is important both in terms of enjoyment and performance. You  will find a huge range of products available out there and it can be a bit  confusing but there are a few simple steps to getting the right tyre for your  purpose. As a triathlete or duathlete you will need to address whether your  needs are durability, performance or a compromise between the two extremes.  These will be different for many riders but let&rsquo;s look at what we should  consider as the basics of tyre choice. We will look at two key options,  clincher and tubular tyres to help you decide.
Clincher or Hooked Rim
These tyres are for racing style  bikes that use clincher or hooked rims, these are the most common fitment and  hook onto the rim and require an inner tube. The vast majority of everyday  riders use clincher tyres. 
If you require a tyre for all  round use look for something with good puncture protection, an average TPI  (Threads Per Inch) and average weight.
How you do your training is  important here; this could be the daily commute or general cycling where you  need to ensure that durability is high up on your requirement list. If durability  is your priority and speed is not so important look towards the more puncture  resistant tyres and consider going for a wider tyre, these will be less prone  to punctures and offer you more comfort.
For wet road conditions a triple  compound or winter tyre is a good choice, these use a softer compound on the  cornering surface to maximise grip.
  Lighter tyres will accelerate  quickly, but will be more prone to punctures so getting a balance is extremely  important. If you require a fast tyre and speed is the only thing that matters  look for a low weight folding tyre with high TPI.
For ease of use these offer the  best option as fixing a puncture is quite straight forward and they require  less fitting expertise in the first place. In this sector there are tyres to  fit each need so you will definitely need to address the durability versus  speed requirement. With clincher tyres why not consider having a set of tyres  for everyday use and one pair for racing. This will allow you to maximise your  race day potential with a lightweight and fast road tyre but keep your training  as flat free as possible. 
Tubular Tyres
As your racing develops you may  want to consider tubular tyres; more serious racers favour these. In this case  you will probably have a separate set of wheels for race day to maximise your  performance in terms of lightweight and speed delivery. These tubular tyres are  designed for tubular rims; these are glued on using tubular cement or tubular  tape.  A tubular is a sealed unit with an  inner tube sewn into the tyres casing, this means the tubular is perfectly  round in profile and offers a better feel when cornering. The compromise to the  performance is that they are more complicated to fit, typically require a  dedicated wheel type and will be more likely to puncture.
Vittoria have introduced open  tubulars which are the same design as their tubular tyres but with a bead for  use on a clincher rim, these will offer the closest feel of a tubular but the  ease of repair associated with a clincher. Sizing is subtly different to  clincher wheels and can be a bit confusing as most manufacturers still quote  the old imperial sizes. However there are only 2 real sizes: 26&amp;quot; is the  same as 650c, then 27&amp;quot;, 28&amp;quot; and 700c are all the same size.
Our friends at Wiggle have  selected some options for you as great examples to look at if things are just  too over whelming!
Beginners

  
    Vittoria Rubino Road Tyres 2010
      List price&amp;nbsp;&pound;12.99
      SAVE 10% = &pound;1.30
      Wiggle price:&pound;11.69
      
        Top Features  of the Vittoria Rubino Road Tyres 2010
        Nylon 60 TPI  casing, synonymous of good performance.
        New Kevlar&reg;  Endura 3D Compound, with high duration and exciting road-behaviour.
        PRB puncture  protection.
        Updated  tread pattern, with Prisma Vector Design.
        Grommet  rigid bead (4 wires), for an easier fitting.
        Pressure:  7/10 bar, 100/145 psi
    
    
  

&amp;nbsp;
Intermediate

  
    Vredestein Fortezza TriComp Road Tyres 
      List price&amp;nbsp;&pound;34.99
      SAVE 10% = &pound;3.50
      Wiggle price:&pound;31.49
      Top Features of the Vredestein  Fortezza TriComp Road Tyres
      
      
        Competition  tyre for all weather conditions
        Very low  rolling resistance
        Outstanding  riding quality on wet roads
        Maximun grip  in corners
        Curve  control system
        Sportex  Protection Layer
        Use:&amp;nbsp;Road
        Weight(g):&amp;nbsp;225
        Bead:&amp;nbsp;Folding
        Puncture  protection:&amp;nbsp;Yes
        TPI:&amp;nbsp;120
        The best  selling tyre from the Vredestein range !!
    
    
  

PRS &ndash; Puncture resistance system,  this patented anti-puncture technology reduces the chance of a puncture by up  to 90%. Its secret lies in the supple but exceptionally tough separate rubber  layer with enhanced penetration resistance.
  Tricomp technology is based on the use of three different rubber compounds,  each with its own specific properties. This has a positive influence on  durability, rolling resistance and ultimate grip on corners.
&amp;nbsp;
Advanced

  
    Vittoria Corsa Evo CX Tubular Tyre
      List price&amp;nbsp;&pound;54.99
      SAVE 10% = &pound;5.5
      Wiggle price:&pound;49.49
      
      
        Pressure:  8/14 bar (115/200 psi)
        Twin tread  technology
        42mm valve -  Removable
        Use:&amp;nbsp;Road,  Time Trial
        Weight(g):&amp;nbsp;245
        Puncture  protection:&amp;nbsp;Yes
        TPI:&amp;nbsp;320
          
    
  

Corsa CX has proved successful in  road races all over the world, but the new EVO version is bound to even greater  success.
  With a &ldquo;handmade&rdquo; tubular  structure for superior performance and comfort, it has also got a special latex  inner tube that increases its elasticity and puncture resistance. Further  features are the Kevlar&reg; SiO2 3D Compound with added silica - for reduced  rolling resistance and better grip in the wet Our new high density casing - a  true 320 tpi - delivers unbeatable comfort and superior performance with  inflation pressure of up to 200psi!
New PRB 2.0 puncture resistant belting placed underneath the tread increases  the flat prevention properties of the Corsa Evo CX up to 40%, even while  reducing the weight. The new Corsa Evo CX is tougher and faster than ever  before.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kate Silverton Supports Sparks as official charity for Goodwood Duathlon]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5713.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[
Sparks, the leading children&#039;s medical research charity, will be the official charity of the Goodwood Duathlon, taking place at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, West Sussex on Sunday 9th May 2010, and is supported by BBC TV presenter Kate Silverton.
Sparks is currently funding major research projects nationwide including Southampton University Hospital search for ways of preventing chronic lung infections in children with cystic fibrosis, Brighton and Sussex Medical School which seeks to investigate why some children develop eczema and others do not, as well as a study with the University of Sussex to develop new therapies for meningococcal &#039;blood poisoning&#039;.
BBC TV presenter Kate Silverton, a Sparks Ambassador who has completed triathlons for the charity, said: &amp;quot;I&#039;m delighted that Sparks has been  chosen as the official charity of the Goodwood Duathlon. It represents a perfect fit with the charity&#039;s sporting heritage and dedication to raising vitally-needed funding for children&#039;s medical research. Increasingly, partnerships with such high-profile challenge events play an important role in supporting the research projects being carried out across the UK by doctors and scientists funded by Sparks.&amp;quot;
Said Kevin Stewart from Mass Participation Events: &amp;quot;I am delighted that Goodwood Duathlon is partnering with Sparks to raise money for such important medical research, targeting those conditions that disproportionately affect children.
Every participant in the event will be able to create an online fundraising page for Sparks and we would encourage them to put their best efforts into making the event a major fundraiser for this charity, which is carrying out such important work locally.&amp;quot;
Another famous Sparks Ambassador Steve Williams, the double Olympic rowing gold medallist who has taken part in a number of Challenge events for the charity, added: &amp;quot; Sparks&#039;s vital work in the field of medical research for children amounts to a race to save and improve the future chances of precious young lives. The Goodwood Duathlon offers an exciting new opportunity to help win that race.&amp;quot;
Every day 70 babies are born in the UK with a life-threatening condition or illness - that&#039;s 1 in every 30 babies who have a condition that affects them and their families for life. Sparks funds research across the whole spectrum of paediatric medicine, and the charity&#039;s vision is for a world where all babies are given the best possible start in life and where a medical condition or disability at birth is not a barrier to opportunity or fulfilment. High profile Sparks supporters include Martin Johnson CBE, Chris Hollins, Natalie Pinkham, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Lawrence Dallaglio, Colin Montgomerie OBE, Matt Dawson, Julia Bradbury and Gabby and Kenny Logan.
Enter the event and join the Sparks Fundraising team now CLICK HERE
Doing so involves minimal input from you but can help Sparks raise much needed funds to support their activities.

No sponsorship forms or collecting money from  people.
Family, friends and colleagues donate money online  via Everyday Hero.
No minimum fundraising target.

Every member of the team will receive:

Advice and suggestions on fundraising
Acknowledgement on the website that you are part  of the team

How to contact Sparks:

  Saiqa Raja: saiqa@sparks.org.uk
  Tel: 020 7799 2111
  Address: Sparks, Heron House, 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0DX
  Website: www.sparks.org.uk]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sheactive Every Woman’s Duathlon Series]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5711.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[The Every Woman&rsquo;s Duathlon is in its third year and attracts over 1,500 women of all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels and in 2010 there are four venues to choose from, so wherever you live there&rsquo;ll be one not too far away. The series starts in May so there is plenty of time to get yourself involved:


	Cotswolds Country Park, Cirencester - 23rd May
	Bucklers Hard, New Forest - 12th June
	Bristol Downs, Bristol - 26th June
	Bushy Park, Hampton - 4th and 5th September


Whether you&rsquo;re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner to running and cycling, there&rsquo;s plenty of time to improve your fitness and distance. And, if you don&rsquo;t have a bike, don&rsquo;t panic &ndash; you can even hire bikes and helmets at the event itself! Races cost just &pound;32-&pound;36 so it&#039;s not expensive.

For more details, visit www.everywomansduathlon.co.uk and go to Challenges or call 07930 624 453

]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Raf's Corner: The Mekong Multi-Sport Festival]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5710.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[While we&#039;ve got Jez Cox taking care of the domestic race calendar we&#039;ve got the ITU&#039;s World #3 duathlete, Raf Baugh, taking care of the international calendar. In this month&#039;s &#039;Raf&#039;s Corner&#039; we&#039;ve got Raf taking a look at a very &#039;hot&#039; race, but if Thailand seems a little too far then there&#039;s always Spain, which is renowned for putting on some great races! 


Howdy Folks,

Trust your all getting fitter and faster as the season approaches...

For March, I highly recommend a race I have attended the past three editions of The Mekong Multi-Sport Festival in Thailand. It is unique, challenging (largely due to the heat and humidity), carries decent prize money and most importantly has heaps of great Thai hospitality.

The event is conducted by the Thai Triathlon Association at various venues (changing annually) along the Mekong Delta in the north of Thailand. Over the three day festival there is an Aquathon (Friday) ITU Asian Cup Duathlon (Saturday) and ITU Triathlon Asian Cup (Sunday) and it is not uncommon to see the locals racing all three events chasing some of the age-group prize money which is on offer. In the Pro field, there is around 10,000 US dollars given away between all the pro events and this has helped to attract some solid fields in the past. All the event details are available at www.thaitriathlon.com. As an extra note; the swim times are always around ten minutes for the leaders of the Olympic Triathlon as it is straight down stream and just by floating you should exit the water in under 20 minutes if you want to try the Triathlon as well!

Athletes from Oceania and throughout Asia are always present and there is a spattering of European countries represented through ex-pats and also athletes in training camps. In previous editions, Brett Sutton has sent athletes from his squad to compete while they are doing training in the Asian region; including none other than Chrissie Wellington who made the podium in 2007 in the year of her maiden Hawaii Ironman victory.

The post race festivities are a no holds barred affair with heaps of traditional thai food, dancing and entertainment. Expect to see some elephants thrown in somewhere as well and it all makes for one heck of a party. The post race massages on the Delta are also a bargain at two Pounds a pop (3-4 US Dollars).

This race is definitely one to mark in your calender. Race Director Vijitr and his team are always very accommodating to international athletes and you can contact him direct at vijitr_thailand@yahoo.com .

If Thailand is simply too far, then the Spanish season is definitely in full swing in March. The National Qualifying Series (you have to qualify for the National Championships) includes four races during the month so check out the competition calendar here and turn on your translation skills. 

Another option in Spain is two very famous Basque Duathlons (fly into Bilbao):

March 13th Duatlon de Onati (8km/40km/4km) for race information click here. 
March 27th Duatlon de Durango (9/41/5k) for race information click here. Last year the winner here was Patxi Villa (8th 2007 GC Giro D&rsquo;Italia).

Both are very hilly on the bike but carry prestige of being tough hard events. All categories are draft legal in the region (which doesn&rsquo;t help too much up a mountain) and prize money is present (600 Euro for the winner in Durango and 300 Euro in Onati).

All the best for the final preparations for 2010 and next month we have some ripper races to fill you in on for April.
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Column: Jez Cox]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5709.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[This month, Duathlon247&#039;s most popular columnist, Jez Cox, has put together a great piece on the early season races to sign-up for. So whether you&#039;re looking to qualify for the World or European Championships, or just looking for a great race to focus on, then Jez is sure to have the answer for you!

To read Jez&#039;s February column click here.
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spring preview]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5708.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[The evenings are just starting to get lighter and all across the country people are starting to feel the racing itch having suffered a winter disrupted with snow and cold weather. Before you know it spring duathlons will be blossoming all over the country and the ever growing mix of newcomers, old timers and triathletes looking to taste the greener grass of Duathlon&rsquo;s pastures will be donning their lycra and pinning on numbers. 

 This spring promises to blossom early than ever in Duathlon&amp;rsquo;s history with the national Duathlon Championships being held at the Clumber Park Duathlon on the 6th of March. Knowing the large number of athletes that want the chance to test themselves against the best nationally this will mean that many will be revved up and ready to go from March onwards so I have chosen six must-do races this spring and some of my inside tips on how to get the most from them. 

With this year&rsquo;s European Championships being in Nancy, France on 1st May, and then the Worlds at the other end of the season in Edinburgh many Duathletes will be thinking of trying to qualify for age-group teams for one of or both and the qualification races are:

ETU European Duathlon Champs. Nancy, France:

Clumber Classic Duathlon - 6th March
Stirling University Duathlon - 28th March
Steyning Duathlon - 5th April
 

ITU World Duathlon Champs. Edinburgh, Scotland:

Clumber Classic Duathlon - 6th March
Stirling University Duathlon - 28th March
Big-Cow Emberton Duathlon - 11th April
Cambridge Duathlon - 2nd May


For more information on applying for the age group teams and the qualification process click here:  

I&rsquo;ll start by previewing three big Classic races:

Clumber Classic Duathlon BTA National Championships - 6th March  
     
This is not one of the oldest Duathlons on the UK scene but has rightly gained itself a reputation amongst the best UK races. With a rolling run on closed roads within the park it provides an ideal competitive testing ground for running form before heading out onto the bike. Classic distance athletes find themselves doing two out and back runs on the first run and this is an ideal platform for seeing where you are in the race and where your rivals are too.  Just make sure you practice the &ldquo;I&rsquo;m gonna catch you even though you&rsquo;re three minutes ahead of me&rdquo; look for the second lap when the leader comes past. Either that or be the leader...Your choice! 
 
The bike leg is a strong bikers dream. I went from seventh after a bad run up to first with a minute lead by the end of the bike leg in the 2007 race, and this was proof that if you have a bad run (and I was crawling by the end!) you can still make good in-roads on this course. It&rsquo;s the sort of bike course that suits strong efficient bikers that can hold a good rhythm. And if that&rsquo;s not you then my top tip might just help:

Top Tip: The bike course takes in a long main road before you head back into Clumber Park and on this there is a painted white or yellow line which appears intermittently along the edge of it. When it does, try to ride on it and stay on it. You&rsquo;ll find it&rsquo;s much smoother and faster that the standard tarmac. Just make sure you keep focussed on the road conditions around you and take care if it&rsquo;s wet because the lines can become slippery.

Big Cow Emberton Duathlon  (Emberton) 11th April
             
The Emberton race is a classic which has become a mainstay of the national series and has hosted a number of National championships. It&rsquo;s a course which has rarely changed and as a result many of the competitors this year will have raced there before so, if you haven&rsquo;t, a drive around the bike course in advance would be advantageous so that you can see where the hills are and get a feel for the course overall.

 The run course is utterly pan-flat as it uses multiple-laps of a series of lakes on a service road. This could be seen as a blessing, but that would depend what kind of runner you are. Being pan-flat means that it becomes what I call a &lsquo;rhythm run&rsquo;;  meaning that your rhythm should hardly ever change save for the occasional speed bump on the way round. This can be some people&rsquo;s downfall though. Where Clumber has an early hill to force athletes to back off a bit and pace it Emberton Park has none of that and so it can be easy to run too fast over the first 5k, and then suffer badly over the second half as a result. Careful Pacing is the key on the first run.  The bike course is open and exposed and has two climbs of note on it. They are longer rolling climbs and again, when paced out correctly shouldn&rsquo;t leave you struggling to recover too much after them.

Top Tip: After your second transition, going out onto the final run, aim to have a lighting quick transition but then run just within yourself and holding back for the first 30 seconds. That will allow you to get beyond transition and onto the road having crossed a narrow section of off-road trail.  Running within yourself for those 30 seconds will just allow for your body to adapt without risking cramping before you unleash the beast on the final run. Oh;  and never EVER look back. It serves no purpose...

Steyning Duathlon (Sussex) 5th April 

Steyning has long been held on Easter Bank holiday Monday and this has always been a mixed blessing in the past. The fact that it is on a bank holiday means that the town centre run course and transition area become packed with people out to watch a good race and as such the atmosphere is excellent. The fact that the bike course for many years has snaked close to one of the main trunk roads down to the coast has been the source of problems in terms of traffic bunching up. The organisers have stuck with the date and now seem to have found the perfect all-round bike course which has a mix of fast stretches and some testing hills.  This is a race to do for the atmosphere on the run course, the slightly shorter first run (which suites the strong bikers!) and the fact that it&rsquo;s the ideal opportunity to take family and friends so that once the race action is over you can go and sample the coast (at spring time) which is just a short drive away.

Top Tip: I&rsquo;d say the majority of people overcook the first 3k of the opening run by going too fast. It starts downhill and has a great crowd spread along the main street which your ego will want to dash along but trust me, once on the quieter back road you&rsquo;ll be paying for it before you turn back onto the high street again. Even pacing and tunnel vision might just help you stay on track on the first run.    

Now I&rsquo;ve chosen some smaller races which really deserve a big reputation. These are my Hidden Jewels:

Maidstone Duathlon (Kent) 7th March  

A rolling country lane first run followed by a rolling (mostly) A-road bike course which is fast and exciting. The out and back nature makes it ideal for measuring your effort. A straight up and down two sides of a hill makes the short final run. Lovely people, nice atmosphere and easy to get to just off the A2 in Kent.

Top Tip: For your warm-up, run right out of the car park and up what will be the hill for the final run so that you can run the length of it and know how to pace it at the end of the race. 

1485 No Frills Duathlon (Market Bosworth) 21st March

A pan-flat run around a picturesque water park followed by a rolling country lane bike course. The bike course is a great blend of testing rises and fast windy lane sections. The final run is another flat fast run out to a turn and back. 
Top Tip: Wear trail shoes for the run sections if you have them. You could even wear cross country &lsquo;spikes&rsquo; just whack some elastic laces in them to save time.   

Knockburn Duathlon (Scotland) 4th April
 
Duathlon is set to be a big part of Scotland&rsquo;s sporting landscape in 2010 with the World Championships being held there in September. The Knockburn Duathlon is the final round of the Aberdeenshire winter series and comes not long after the Stirling world championships qualifier so it&rsquo;s an ideal time for Scottish Duathletes to polish their form on a beautiful course.

A loch-side first run gives way to a hilly and exposed cycle section before doing exactly the same run again.

Top Tip: The bike course has some tight and fast turns on it. Always remember: try to take these bends by going wide, tight, wide by clipping across the apex of the bend and staying low on the bike to maintain a low centre of gravity. Obviously make sure that you ride safely within the lane though.  

Gower Duathlon (Welsh Championships) 15th May

This young but ambitious event has gained the status of a Welsh Championship this year which should be the start of it growing into being one of the all time great British Duathlons. It deserves it with a course like that!

A slightly rolling cliff top run overlooking Rhossili beach will take your breath away before you head out onto a hard but exhilarating bike loop which takes in most of the Gower peninsula and really shows off the landscape before heading out and back to another stunning view which you could easily have missed on the final cliff top run. The views are so good you&rsquo;ll feel guilty for not stopping!

Top Tip: Make sure your tyres are well inflated. If it&rsquo;s wet you would be better leaving them at your standard pressure that letting any air out for better traction as it&rsquo;s a rural loop with often gritty roads and you don&rsquo;t want a puncture to ruin a great day out. Soft tyres deform more easily around a piece of grit or a thorn and welcome it into it&rsquo;s rubbery clutch. A hard tyre says &ldquo;Oi! Thorn! No!&rdquo;  and leaves it sitting upright for the next person behind you.




  ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Essential Guide to Jackets]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5707.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[
(You can also check out our other guides to: Front Lights, Rear Lights and Turbo Trainers). 
Introduction to  Jackets - Cycle Waterproofs
It has been said  there&#039;s no such thing as bad weather - only the wrong clothes. We couldn&#039;t  agree more. If you&#039;re a cyclist in the UK and you want to make the most of your  riding time, you have to invest in a waterproof jacket. Thankfully modern  waterproofs are a million miles away from the clammy, leaky crinkly things we  all had as kids. Modern waterproof jackets owe their existence to the fabric  developed by WLGore -&#039;Gore Tex&#039; - these days there are many versions of this  microporous membrane material that stops rain water from getting in but allows  moisture vapour from sweat to escape. The theory is the hard working membrane  keeps you dry.
In reality, it  actually does work - to a point. There is only so much the material can manage  and you will need to manage the venting of your waterproof jacket during  strenuous activity, such as riding up long steep climbs. So, cyclists usually  look for jackets which have a degree more venting options than jackets made for  hiking, climbing or nipping to the shops, details such as pit zips, packets  with  vented backs and even removable sleeves all help cyclists manage their  core temperature during their ride. If you are staying dryer, you are more  comfortable and more comfort means more fun. Fun is good.
Beyond the weather  cheating fabric, you can have as many or as few technical features as you feel  necessary. One of the best selling jackets from Wiggle has been the multi award  winning Pro Speed model from Gill an eVent (now called the dhb eVent Wickham  jacket) fabric jacket stripped of every unnecessary feature, leaving only it&#039;s  great cycling ergonomics. But if you think you need handwarmer pockets, a map  pocket, stowable hood or arm pit zip vents, then there are models with those  too. Modern waterproof jackets are so comfortable and stylish, you&#039;ll probably  end up wearing them off the bike for other outdoor activities as well as  cycling.
Entry level:
Even entry level  waterproof jackets can be peppered with features and you can expect these  jackets to do the business in foul weather situations. Look for microporous  laminate materials, sealed seams, storm flap, pocket baffles and some ergonomic  tuning for the cycling position.
Intermediate:
  Many of the more  expensive waterproof jackets will feature higher quality materials which will perform  better under more severe rainfall situations. Many feature laser cut, thermally  welded seams removing the needle holes created with traditional thread which  can lead to water ingress. Fit and ergonomics may be more tailored to riding.
  Performance:
This is where the  extra expense makes a huge difference. Premium price means premium quality from  the basic ability to shed water for extended periods, through to a more  function specific design ethos, jackets may be stripped for sleek performance  or loaded with the highest level of features.
Gore Fusion II Waterproof Cycling Jacket (More Details)

  
    
      GORE-TEX&reg;  Performance Shell
      Highly  functional material mix
      Slim fit
      Reflective  print for more safety
      Close-fitting  hood
      Stow-away  hood in collar
      Zip tags  for easy opening
      Zip-underflap  and zip-port
      Napoleon  pocket with zip
      Pre-shaped  elbows
      Adjustable  cuff
      Ventilation  slits with zips at back of sleeves
      Ventilation  in back
      Lasercut  pouched pocket with zipper
      Fold-away  shirt tail, extra-long
      Hem-width  adjustable by easy-to-use covered cord stoppers and elastic draw-cord
      Press-stud fastening for       cord on inside
      
        
    
  

Wiggle price: &pound;242.99 (BUY NOW) 
dhb Wickham eVENT Waterproof Cycling Jacket (More Details)

  
    
      Fully taped seams - makes the garment 100% waterproof
      Waterproof YPK zipper on the front
      Velcro adjustable cuffs
      Drop-tail hem 
      High slim line collar design
      Single-handed adjustable waist pullers
      Reflective piping and dhb branding
      
	  An award winning jacket which compromises nothing when it comes to performance and comfort. Made from the eVENT three-layer fabric &ndash; one of the most breathable fabrics on the market - this superlight shell looks the part and certainly delivers. Its fully taped seams make it 100 per cent waterproof while the Velcro adjustable cuffs, waterproof front zipper and reflective piping and dhb branding all combine to help keep you dry, warm and safely seen. The drop-tail hem and high slimline collar design give this jacket a sleek look.
	  
    
  

Wiggle price: &pound;65.99 (BUY NOW) - SAVE 45%! 
Altura Nevis Waterproof Cycling  Jacket (More Details)

  
    
      Altec waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric
      Airflow underarm/back vents
      Internal front storm flap with rain gutter
      Dropped tail
      Velcro adjustable cuffs
      Drawcorded hem
      Fleece lined collar
      Stores in own rear pocket
      Fabrics Used:&amp;nbsp;Altek 2 layer
      Fit:&amp;nbsp;Performance
      Venting:&amp;nbsp;Pit And Back Vents
      
   The Nevis is now produced in a  more vibrant blue and with a xxxl size option with new features including a  chest pocket with water repel zip, a water repel front zip and increased tail  reflectivity. Altec waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric 
Wiggle price: &pound;44.99 (BUY NOW) 
    
  
]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[London Duathlon launches Ultra Distance]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5706.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[London Duathlon,  the world&#039;s biggest duathlon event to be held on Sunday 12th September 2010,  has launched a new Ultra Duathlon distance that will appeal to the thousands of  athletes now focussing on longer distance racing. The 20km : 80km : 10km  event will be integrated into the existing Challenge and Fun distance events for  the London Duathlon, held annually in Richmond Park - the only day in the year  that the Park is closed to vehicles. 

Mass Participation Events, organisers of the Goodwood Duathlon and Liverpool  Triathlon, recently acquired the London Duathlon, though Kevin Stewart,  Managing Director of MPE, was instrumental in establishing the original London  Duathlon as a Director of London Triathlon Ltd. He said &amp;quot;I am delighted to  be involved with the event again. Richmond Park provides a stunning venue and  we feel that by launching an Ultra Duathlon, we can draw a new audience to the  London Duathlon. This is one of several new initiatives we are looking at to  build on the existing success and make 2010 the best event to date.&amp;quot;

The Ultra distance will involve two laps of the Park for the first run,  followed by seven laps on the bike and a further full lap of the Park to  finish. Places in the event will be available on a first come, first  served basis and limited by the route capacity. Athletes will start in the  first waves of the day and be limited to 6hrs 15 mins to complete the  distance. 
Entries are open now: www.TheLondonDuathlon.co.uk]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Joerie Vansteelant to race Powerman Alabama]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5705.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Powerman  Alabama Multisport Weekend
  New Location Outside of Birmingham - March 27/28th
2009  LADIES WINNER JESSICA JACOBS COMING BACK AS  WELL AS &amp;nbsp;WORLD CHAMPION DUATHLETE JOERIE VANSTEELANT OF BELGIUM!

  Team Magic is  excited to confirm the return of our 2009 Elite Duathlon National Champion  Jessica Jacobs as well as the entry of 2009 Powerman World Champion Joerie  Vansteelant of Belgium.
Jacobs is returning to claim her  crown as USA Triathlon Elite Duathlon National Champion once again, and along  with Joerie, will be competing in the 10k/60k/10k distance for and a piece of  the $5,000 cash purse. The Elites will race on their own Saturday to make a  great spectator friendly race. 
Joerie Vansteelant has  a quite an impressive resume and is known as a clear champion across the world  when it comes to duathlon. Therese Bynum  and Faye Yates, directors of Team Magic, Inc. that hosts Powerman Alabama, knew  duathlon champion Benny Vansteelant before his tragic loss and are looking  forward to meeting his brother Joerie while he enjoys some training in the  Birmingham area prior to the event. In addition to winning the Powerman World  Championship in Zofingen, Switzerland, Joerie won 9 out of 12 events in 2009,  capturing 2nd place in 2 and 3rd place in the other. 
Jessica  Jacobs, local to the Birmingham area, took an impressive victory with  Team Magic not only at the 2009 Powerman Alabama Elite Duathlon National  Championship, but also won her 1st triathlon as a professional racer  at Team Magic&#039;s Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon in 2008. Jessica&amp;rsquo;s career has  really taken off since that win, with a 3rd  at Ironman Florida and Wisconsin. In 2009, she was 6th at Germany&#039;s Quelle  Challenge and 21st at the Hawaii Ironman Championships. Team Magic Fueling Sponsor Quintana Roo  Bicycles has just announced its sponsorship of Jessica. Chris Hewings,  Sales &amp;amp; Marketing Director for ABG, said, &amp;ldquo;Jessica is a superb Triathlete  who has put together a string of very impressive results over the past few  years. She&#039;s the perfect match for Quintana Roo, and we are looking forward to  her incredible bike splits being improved now that she&#039;ll be riding the QR  Cd0.1.&amp;rdquo;
Other pros confirmed for the Elite  Duathlon Championship are: John Phillips, Ryan Giuliano, Robert Wade, Guy  Petruzzelli, Jennifer Garrison, Anne Curi Preisig and Rachel Chambers.
Along with the Powerman Alabama  Elite Competition, a host of amateur events will take place during the weekend. 
With its&#039; nationally acclaimed  off-road trails, Oak Mountain State Park opens the door for the addition of our new XTERRA Off-Road Duathlon and Trail Run to be held on Saturday along  with the PowerKids Duathlon and Elite Race. 
The Powerman Alabama Duathlon  Amateur Race (10k/60k/10k,) the NEW Team Magic Signature Duathlon (5k/40k/5k)  and the Double Oak Duathlon (2.5k/20k/2.5k) will all take place on Sunday  morning. 
Visit www.team-magic.com for complete  information and online registration links.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Merrell TuffMan report]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.duathlon247.com/article_5704.html]]></link><description><![CDATA[Merrell TuffMan Duathlon and 10km RunSaturday  6th February 2010
Pippingford Park, Nutley, East Sussex 
The fourth and final event in the Merrell Off-Road  Series was the culmination of an exciting winter series of mountain bike  duathlon and trail run events organised by Human Race.  A brand new venue  in East Sussex and a super technical course greeted both the duathletes and  runners for what would turn out to be a gruelling race.
The Merrell TuffMan had promised to be &amp;lsquo;tough&#039; and it  certainly lived up to expectations. The new course had been designed to be more  technical, especially on the bike and with sections running along the side of  the lake, it was a challenge for cyclists just to keep their bikes upright and  avoid sliding into the water.  The 10k trail run, was simply a mud fest  and had challenging,technical twists and turns to keep everyone on their toes. 

The World Record Holder of &amp;lsquo;10 marathons in 10 days&#039;  (brathaychallenge.com) Adam Holland (Votwo) was the &amp;lsquo;surprised&#039; winner of the  10km run and thrilled with his performance &amp;lsquo;I didn&#039;t expect that at all!&#039; he  exclaimed.  Only seconds behind him in second position was David Hellard  and Mike Page in third place.  First lady was top triathlete Fiona Moorhead-Lane  who declared it to be &amp;lsquo;hilarious and loads of fun!&#039; with Yseult Whitaker in  second and Carys Mills in third for the ladies.  The canicross runners  with their dogs were back in action with Mark Dunbar, running with Norman and  Ringo, taking first place.
In the duathlon however, all eyes were on the supreme  Colin Dixon who already had three wins out of three under his belt in the  series&amp;hellip; could he make it four out of four?  But XTerra pro Sam Gardner and  newcomer Tim &#039;Macca&#039; McDowell along with the ever present Jim McConnel and Paul  Davies, were all on the start line to see if they could give him a run for his  money.   Dixon was sadly forced to pull out however after one lap of  the bike with technical difficulties and McDowell suffered a &amp;lsquo;race ending&#039;  puncture. This left Gardner, McConnel and Davies to battle it out for the  win.  The hugely experienced Gardner put the hammer down though and pulled  away leaving the rest in his wake, to take the win with a great performance. 
McConnel took second place with Davies in third.  &amp;lsquo;Gardner was supreme on the bike today&#039; said McConnel &amp;lsquo;and he&#039;s in great form  at the moment. I&#039;m really happy with second place though and now off to XTerra  Portugal which will be fantastic. Thanks to Human Race for an excellent series  it&#039;s been great fun&#039;.
&amp;lsquo;It was perfect conditions for me today&#039; said Gardner  &amp;lsquo;I love racing in the mud and the course was ideal for me too. These events are  perfect sharpeners for the XTerra circuit. I&#039;m off to Saipan in a few weeks to  try and retain my title, and really looking forward to a great season&#039;. 
For the ladies it was the ever improving Fay Cripps  taking her second win of the series and an impressive 40th place  overall, with Claire Weldon in second and Elizabeth Wilson of clapham chasers  in third.  Team Hoof It took the honours in the relay to score their  fourth win out of four.
The TuffMan marks the final race in the Merrell Series  for this winter. However more off-road fun will be back in November &amp;ndash; check out www.humanrace.co.uk for more  details. 
Next up from Human Race is the Lucozade Sport Race Your Pace  Half Marathon on 28th March at Dorney Lake, enter online at www.humanrace.co.uk.

  
    Pos
    Men
    Women
  
  
    1st
    Sam Gardner (Berkshire Tri Club) 1:52:57
    Fay Cripps 2:35:47 
  
  
    2nd
    Jim McConnel (driventotri.com) 1:58:20 
    Claire Weldon 2:42:55 
  
  
    3rd
    Paul Davies 2:05:07 
    Elizabeth Wilson (Clapham Chasers) 2:52:26 
  

&amp;nbsp;

  
    Pos
    Men
    Women
  
  
    1st
    Adam Holland (votwo.co.uk)
    Fiona Moorehead-Lane (Planet-X) 50:23 
  
  
    2nd
    David Hellard 40:52 
    Jane England 55:02 
  
  
    3rd
    Mark Dunbar 42:18 
    Yseult Whitaker 57:07 
  


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