My equipment

In this section, I’ll discuss some of the equipment that I use.

The Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored Swim Goggles are my go-to googles for training and competition swimming in both the pool and open water.

These google are durable and reasonably priced. They are ideal for swimming under the bright sun and bright indoor swimming pools.

They are comfortable and don’t need to be super tight to stay in place and remain leak free.

I have noted that it is a little harder to see through the sides and the top of them. This is most apparent while sighting during open water swims.

Overall, my confidence in these googles is high, off the block, in the pool and in open water.

SCICON Aerocomfort Triathlon 3.0 TSA Bike Travel Bag

I purchased my Scicon Triathlon 3.0 TSA Bike bag in 2021 in preparation for the May 2022 National Senior Games in Ft Lauderdale, FL. However, I first used the bag to fly from Minneapolis to Phoenix, AZ to compete in the Tri 4 the Cure Sprint Triathlon, Anthem, AZ, March 2022. I intended the Anthem Tri to be a rehearsal for the National Senior Games both as a Triathlon, but also as a test for shipping my bike in the Scicon bag via an Aircraft. Both trips went off without any issues to my bike.

I chose to purchase the bag for the following reasons:

  • Bag Weight: The weight of my bike in the bag is under 50 pounds with weight to spare for some of my bike accessories i.e., helmet, water bottles, hydration system, bike pump etc. This is key so I can check in my bag on any Delta Flight without incurring additional baggage fees!
  • Minimal bike disassembly required. No removal of handlebars, saddle, seat post, pedals. Wheels only.
  • Easy to carry – eight 360° wheels and multi handles.
  • Made from tear-resistant, padded, triple-layer material.

My initial bike packing took some additional time for bag set up and to gain experience. I had to view several You Tube videos prior to the actual packing. The bag comes with sufficient padding, but I do use bubble wrap as well particularly around the handlebars and derailer to increase my confidence.

Items to note:

  • You cannot ship CO2 cartridges on an Airplane.
  • I used the TSA lock provided with the bag for my first flight. I received the bag without the lock. I have not used a lock since without issue.
  • Always identify a local Bike Shop near your race location in advance – just in case.

I have flown my bike in the Scicon Bag at least eight times and only had an issue once. The bag was lost and arrived only the day before my race ripped at the seam and my bike handlebars were twisted so severely my shifting cables were damaged, Luckily, we found a capable local bike shop who was able to repair the bike quickly. Additionally, the airline reimbursed me for the damage to the bag which was sufficient to pay for both my bike and bag repair.