Triathlons are demanding and exhilarating events that challenge athletes to excel in three different disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. To perform at their best, triathletes need high-quality gear that can enhance their performance and provide comfort throughout the race. This is where custom tri-suits come into play. Designing your own tri-suit allows you to create a personalised piece of equipment that suits your body, style, and preferences. In this article, we will explore the benefits of custom tri suits and provide you with tips and tricks to design your own.
The Advantages of Custom Tri-Suits
When it comes to triathlon gear, having a custom suit can make a significant difference in your performance. Here are some advantages of designing your own tri-suit:
1. Perfect Fit and Comfort
A well-fitting tri suit is essential for optimal performance. With a custom tri-suit from Champion System, we offer customisable options to help match your preference to fit, eliminating any discomfort or chafing during the race. The suit should be tight but not restrictive, allowing for freedom of movement in all three disciplines. You can tailor your suit options with extra leg length, sleeve length, pockets and chamois, to suit your preference.
2. Enhanced Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics play a crucial role in triathlon races, especially during the cycling leg. Our custom tri-suits are performance orientated and designed to reduce drag and optimise your aerodynamic profile, helping you slice through the air more efficiently. By minimising seams and loose fabric, you can achieve a smoother and more streamlined silhouette, saving valuable seconds on the bike.
3. Personalised Style
Designing your own tri-suit allows you to express your personal style and stand out from the crowd. Whether you prefer bold and vibrant colours or a sleek and minimalist design, a custom tri-suit gives you the freedom to create a look that reflects your personality and makes you feel confident on race day. Most custom tri-suits are worn in the team or club colours you represent.
4. High-Quality Materials
Custom tri-suits are made using top-quality materials that are designed to withstand the rigours of triathlon racing. Our suits are all Lycra based, known for their durability, elasticity, and high-wicking and offer protection from UV rays. These fabrics ensure that your suit will last season after season, maintaining its shape and vibrant colours.
5. Functional Features
When designing your own tri-suit, you can choose a suit with enhanced functional features that will enhance your performance. Considering our Performance or Apex tri-suits will offera more anatomical fit as we incorporate strategically placed compression panels to support your muscles and improve blood flow. Our pioneering hydrophobic fabrics repel water, allowing for faster drying after the swim leg. Additionally, pockets can provide convenient storage for nutrition gels or other essentials during the race.
Now that we've explored the advantages of custom tri-suits, let's dive into some tips and tricks to help you design your own.
Tips and Tricks for Designing Your Custom Tri-Suit
1. Consider Your Body Shape and Size
When designing your tri-suit, it's crucial to consider your body shape and size. Triathlon suits are designed to be tight-fitting, so taking accurate measurements is essential. Pay attention to your chest, waist, hips, and inseam measurements to ensure a proper fit. You can find our size guide here: https://champsys.uk/pages/sizing-guide
2. Choose the Right Fabrics
Selecting the right custom tri-suit for your level of performance will make a difference. Champion System custom tri-suits are all lycra-based but the technicality of the fabric varies across the range. For athletes competing in races then the Performance Tri-Suit offers a ‘cool-feel’ treatment so the fabric stays cool to touch even when your body warms up. This helps with thermoregulation.
3. Optimise Swim Performance
The swim leg is the first discipline in a triathlon, and having a tri-suit that enhances your performance in the water is crucial. Tri suits with compression panels strategically placed around the core and hips to improve body position and support your core muscles will help. As these features can increase hip drive and reduce fatigue during the swim. The biggest help comes from the hydrophobic fabric in the Apex Tri-Suit, which literally repels water away, making you faster in the water, and instantaneously dry when coming out of the water.
4. Prioritise Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics play a significant role in triathlon racing, particularly during the cycling leg. When designing your tri-suit, focus on minimising seams and loose fabric to reduce drag. Consider a sleek, form-fitting design that contours to your body and eliminates any excess material. Our Apex+ Aero Tri-Suit incorporates fabric with a dimpled surface texture that creates controlled turbulent flow, reducing drag and improving overall speed.
5. Ensure Comfort on the Bike
Comfort on the bike leg is crucial for maintaining power and endurance throughout the race. All of our tri-suits incorporate well-designed padding or chamois that provide adequate support and cushioning while being thin enough to allow for a smooth transition to the run leg. Consider the length of the leg length and the position of the padding to ensure optimal comfort on the saddle.
6. Support and Compression for the Run
The run leg of a triathlon is the last leg, so it requires support and compression to reduce muscle damage and delay fatigue. A close anatomical fit offers compression in the right areas to support your core and running efficiency. These suits can provide additional stability and reduce muscle vibration, allowing you to maintain a strong and efficient stride.
7. Functional Design for Quick Transitions
Efficient transitions are essential in triathlon racing, and your tri-suit can play a role in making them smoother. Consider designs with functional features such as front or rear zippers for easy opening and closing during transitions. Champion System offer both front and back zipper options along with secure and well-sealed pockets to store nutrition gels or other essentials. Additionally, ensure that the suit is easy to put on and take off quickly, saving you valuable time during transitions.
8. Reflect Your Personal Style
Designing your own tri-suit allows you to showcase your personal style and create a unique look. Choose colours and patterns that reflect your personality and make you feel confident on race day. It is most common to wear your team branded kit with sponsor logos. Remember, your tri-suit is not just a piece of equipment; it's an expression of your individuality and dedication to the sport.
In conclusion, designing your own custom tri-suit offers numerous benefits, including a personalised fit, enhanced aerodynamics, unique design, and high-quality materials.
At Champion System we can take you through the process from start to finish, not only ensuring you get the graphic design you want to stand out from the crowd, but that it fits you well and enhances your race performance. Take a look here for more information on our process, and bring your vision to life: https://champsys.uk/pages/custom-apparel
At Champion System, we pride ourselves on crafting bespoke, high-performance kits that elevate the identity of cycling teams. Our passion lies in creating custom cycling jerseys that seamlessly blend style and functionality.
Founded in 2005 Champion System are global leaders in custom cycling jerseys. Our team cycling kits can be customised with virtually any design providing you with innovative, race proven quality garments.
But why stop at just a custom cycling jersey? Explore the world of personalised cycling kits where each element is meticulously designed to align with your team's vision. Our commitment to quality extends beyond aesthetics—every stitch, fabric choice, and design detail is a testament to the pursuit of cycling excellence.
All our garments are put through extensive testing with professional athletes. Product development is an essential tool to our business and ensures we meet the ever-advancing needs of our customers.
Champion System design and manufacture custom kits that will get your heart racing. We are a B-Certified corporation which underpins our commitment to sustainability and the planet.
