"But it's a cheap sport"

Awhile back, a good friend was commenting about how training for triathlons is pretty cheap after you buy a bike.  I can see the merit in this comment and it *seems* like this would be the case, but this triathlon thing is really quite an expensive hobby.  Let me caveat this post that I am NOT complaining.  I am simply documenting (and educating).

Registration fees are costly.  Registration for Ironman is $613!  This buys me a t-shirt, maybe a hat, a medal, water, powerade, cookies, broth, bananas, and  cups of Coke on race day.  Of course it goes to pay for street closures, police blockades, etc. but with 2800 people paying over $600 per race, that's quite a chunk of money to shut down a small portion of a couple of cities for a few days.  Even the small triathlons are anywhere between $45-$95 a pop.  The big name ones like Alcatraz or Wildflower will set you back a couple hundred dollars.  

Besides the bike, gear is costly.  While not all of it may be *necessary* most of it is -- wetsuit, bathing suit, cap, goggles, tri top, tri shorts, a tri bag, a dry bag, bike trainer, bike shoes, bike pump, CO2 pump, bike jerseys, bike shorts, a bike rack, heart rate monitor, helmet, compression socks (if you like them), sport sunglasses, race belt, visor, and wicking socks.  Cold weather training requires arm warmers, bike pants or leg warmers, base layers, wind jacket, weather jacket, long sleeve jersey, and ear covers.  

Ongoing investments include tubes, tires, CO2 cartridges, body glide, sunscreen, chamois butter, running shoes that get replaced every 200 miles, bike shop maintenance, and nutrition!

Portable nutrition is a must with powders, bars, blocks, Gu's, water bottles, fuel belts, etc.    

Fortunately, I already had a lot of bike gear!  Of course, now it just means I want an even better bike and bike shoes, and helmet, and..., etc.  :)