I started buying Tri-Athlete UK in July 1988. Then early editions of 220 Magazine and British Triathlon Scene. On a family holiday to Florida in 1989 I even picked up a few copies of the US version of Triathlete.

Over the last couple of years I’ve been buying up vintage triathlon magazines on eBay. Some of them I’d previously owned. But they hadn’t survived multiple international house moves and a few loft purges.

Then I started researching the early UK triathlon magazines.

This episode is therefore just a gathering of my resources rather than an in-depth historical study. But I hope it sets the scene. Starting in 1983 with the emergence of the first two triathlon titles in the USA.

https://www.thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/5

In 1988 I started buying Tri-Athlete UK magazine to follow the Le Coq Sportif Grand Prix Series. There were 10 events that year. The venues were Swindon, Barry Island, Otley, Ripon, Milton Keynes, Redbridge, Keswick, Wakefield, Leicester and Bedford.

For the 1989 season the series was sponsored by Carlsberg. I also had club-mates at Berkshire Tri Squad who were driving up and down the country to do as many Grand Prix races as possible. Finding cheap B&Bs or camping at lake complexes and beach towns.

They wore fluorescent clothing and had the new Scott DH aerodynamic handlebars bolted onto their Dave Russell Bikes. As far as I was concerned they were living the late-80s triathlete lifestyle that I aspired to.

In the spring of 1990 I passed my driving test and bought my first car. A Skoda Estelle. The engine was at the back which left a bike-shaped space under the bonnet.  So my plan was to do a mediocre job with my A-Levels to take on the Grand Prix.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/4

In 1987 The Scott DH handlebar became the first aerobar to achieve popularity in triathlon. The improved aerodynamic advantage from the hands forward position instantly took minutes from your bike split.

So in early-2021 I bought 4 sets on eBay. Long story. Then I started to trace the history of the bars and how they first made their way to triple-effort start lines in the USA and the UK.

Thanks to Brad Kearns, Scott Molina and Phil Gable for all your help on this episode and your overall enthusiasm for the project!

https://www.thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/3

In this bonus recording you’ll hear about a short bike trip that I took to Roth in August 2022. I was there to trace the history of the Challenge Roth Triathlon.

I’ve also included tips if you’re planning your own Roth racing and spectating weekend. And we look closely at the 1988 race. The best ever edition. IMO.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/bonus-a-short-trip-to-roth

In this episode I tell you about my first triathlon. The race was held on 7th May 1989 at Martin’s Pool in Wokingham. It was organised by Thames Valley Triathletes. Britain's first triathlon club.

As I crossed the finish-line I knew this was the most exciting sporting thing I’d ever done. And by the end of the season I’d already made the decision that I wanted to be a professional triathlete.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/2

Let me tell you about the triathlon history podcast that I’m starting.

It’s only taken me nearly 15 years to hit the record button after reading a book called Podcast Solutions back in 2008.

I’ve also had 2 or 3 false starts but with a re-organised work schedule I’ve got way more time to dedicate to research, writing and recording.

And once again I'm enjoying the process of preparing the shows, tinkering with the gadgets and experimenting with audio quality and editing.

So on this podcast I’ll mainly be using my collection of vintage triathlon magazines to take a deeper look at the articles inside.

Stories that inspired me as a young triathlete and some that I’ve discovered recently. Whenever possible I’ll be talking to people who were there as well as exploiting the triathlon history resources available on YouTube.

So expect future episodes about the big races, the different race series that existed, the athletes, the bikes, the clothing and kit; and occasionally triathlon politics and controversy.

I’ll also be building my own experiences into the narrative to help explain the triathlon scene at the time. And although I’m starting with the late-1980s and early-1990s I'll definitely be exploring other periods.

At the moment I’ve got 12 episodes finished. So I’ll get them out as soon as possible. Before trying to drop into a weekly schedule. On Fridays.

https://www.thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/1

Like a lot of you I’ve been planning what races I’m going to do this year. I was initially thinking about staying in Europe and focusing mainly on the new Le Coq Sportif - Arena - Peugeot series in France. 

But I weighed everything up and I’ve decided to race the 1985 Bud Light USTS. In this episode I tell you a bit about the short history of the series. And other things I’ll be doing in the USA this summer.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/12

Just a short episode to check that my equipment is still working.

In the next episode I’ll explain more about what I’m now doing with the project and what you can expect to find at thestreakpodcast dot com in the future.

It’s certainly not going to be an attempt to be a player in the triathlon podcast space. I just like researching, writing and recording stuff.

So. I was 50 in October. It makes you think. About a lot of things. Especially Triple Fitness. So here are 10 triathlon goals starting now.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/0

Before 1989 and the formation of the International Triathlon Union. If you offered enough prize money and the best athletes in the world showed up. Then why not call your race a World Championship. There was nobody with any authority to tell you not to.

Both The Nice International Triathlon and The Hawaii Ironman were promoted as World Championships from 1982 onwards. But today we’re talking about the self-titled World Sprint Triathlon Championships that took place in Perth, Australia on 17th January 1987.

https://thestreakpodcast.com/podcast/11

Yesterday I recorded a podcast about the French Grand Prix. I presented the history of the competition, the format and this season’s races. 

I also spoke about the year I spent racing the Grand Prix for a team in the east of France. GT Vesoul 70. This was 1996.

But I also raced in the second Division with Rouen Triathlon. In this episode I go through that season and have a fun chat with John Newsom from the IMTalk Podcast about the two years he spent racing in France.