The Streak Podcast

I think all modern triathletes should be reading about our sport’s past.  Especially the 80s stuff. To understand the history of the game. And decide where we should take it. So today I’m talking about 12 triathlon books to get you started on your triathlon history journey.

Some of the books are modern look-backs. And some are books from the early days of the sport.  That will give you a cool feel for the era. Decide what you’re more into and go and get hold of some. 

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/19

Over the last 18 months I’ve been putting together a 1980s tri bike. It was a  fun project. I particularly enjoyed sourcing the bits and learning more about the groupsets of the day. I’m going to race it a few times in 2024.

This episode is about what I like about the bikes from this period. The inspiration for the project. And the component choices I made.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/18

In TSP16 I did a bit of triathlon history from near where I grew up in the UK. And today’s podcast is about some triathlon history from my current hometown. Munich in Germany.

Our story is based at the Regattastrecke in Oberschleißheim. The facility was built for the rowing and flat water canoeing events at the 1972 Olympic Games. And it’s still in use for those sports today.

It’s a super place to visit for some Olympic history. The boat sheds and grandstands at the Regattastrecke really look like they are stuck in 1972. However the tarmac on the rectangular nearly 5km circuit around the lake was brand new in the spring of 2023. This makes the venue an ideal and popular venue for local triathlons. I’ve done quite a few events here.

But probably the best field ever assembled here was for a round of the European Golden Cup Circuit on the 23rd July 1989. In this episode we’ll learn what happened on the day nearly 34 years ago.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/17

In 1991 the team at 220 launched a 5 race triathlon series. It would last 5 years. Add a new narrative to the British triathlon season. And provide plenty of content to fill the pages of the magazine.

One of the races on the docket was Windsor. As teenage tri-nerds, the Windsor Triathlon was a big deal for me and my brother. Because it brought a big race and top athletes to within 5km of our house.

In this episode find out more about the first year of the 220 Triathlon Series and what the Windsor race was like back then.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/16

I'm writing a podcast about the first year of the 220 Triathlon Series. It took place in the UK in 1991. I'll put the full episode out next Friday.

But here’s some raw audio I recorded with Luke when we recreated the 1991 Windsor Triathlon. That was the 2nd race in the 220 Series. After Swindon.

The Windsor Triathlon was a big deal for us as teenage tri nerds. Because it brought a big race and top athletes to within 5km of our house.

And the 220 series brought anew narrative and professionalism to the British triathlon calendar. After the GP ended in 1989.

Leave a comment under the show-notes if you were there!

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/the-windsor-tapes

A couple of weeks ago I was pretty psyched to see what happened at the Olympic Test Event in Paris. Yet. Triathloning isn’t new to downtown Paris. The first Triathlon International de Paris took place on 13th September 1986.

And the Triathlon Hauts de Seine on the Ile de Puteaux was earlier in the 1986 season. There were also ITU World Cup races in 1991 and 1996. And a few French Grand Prix events. I’ll cover all of those triathlons in the future.

Today let’s look at what happened at the first Triathlon International de Paris. Before covering those other races in future episodes.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/15

This episode is going to be the first of hopefully a three part series that will look at the Summer of 1992. 1992 was the first year that I raced in France on a family holiday. And from buying Triathlete magazines in French. Which I couldn't read at the time. I started to get interested in the triathlon scene over there.

The idea for this series comes from a video recently posted by Ben Bright. It’s a must-watch for anybody interested in triathlon history. Following Bright’s career in France from 1992 onwards was one of the inspirations for me to figure out how to move to France and find a French triathlon club to race for.

Today we are going to look at Nice, which took place on 14th June. Then Grenoble from the 28th June and Ironbridge which was organised on the 18th July. Ben Bright did all three. So the logical conclusion to the series would be to try and contact him to ask if he would agree to come on the podcast. To take us through those 5 crazy weeks in 1992.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/14

In 2021 I picked up a set of 10 Tri-Athlete Magazine postcards on ebay. From an anonymous person formerly involved in triathlon media and imports. He also helped me with TSP5: UK Triathlon Magazines 1986-1990. You could order them from Tri-Athlete for 20 French Francs. That was about 2 British Pounds.

The postcards depict mainly triathlons in France. Nice, Avignon, Sallanches, Nantes and Lyon. As well as two photos from the 1988 European Middle Distance Championships in Stein, The Netherlands.

The images really capture the triathlon aesthetics of the day. France is IMO the best country in the world to be a triathlete. And is still a unique place to go and race. Make sure you do it one day.

So in this episode I take you through the images on the cards while offering some backstory and tangents. See the postcards at:

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/13

Recently I bought my first pair of running shoes in maybe 4 years. The Asics Evo Ride 3. They're great. Cushioned. Yes. But more importantly light. As I miss the old super-light racing flats of the 80s.

To make my Asics Evo Ride 3s even better for triathlon I put on one of my pairs of Tinley lace locks. I got my first pair from Total Fitness in Swindon at the end of 1988. I probably had them until the plastic wore out.

Having these dangling from your Londons or Mariahs in the 1980s would certainly distinguish you as a triathlete with some class.

Now I’ve got two pairs. A yellow pair that was a present from my brother a few years ago. And some orange ones that I bought on ebay recently.

Hear a bit more about lace locks and Tinley Performance Wear in this episode.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/4