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Triathlon · Interesting Facts

Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 16 October 2026 · markdown

The kit and the companies behind it: the Timex Ironman, the first racesuits and GPS watches, HOKA and On, Cervélo and Zipp, the timing chip, wetsuits and smart goggles, energy drinks, bars and gels, and indoor trainers.

5.51The Ironman Watch

How a Timex sports watch took the Ironman name.

Test 1A watch and a nameTake a test

  1. It sold so well that the Ironman organisers got in touch.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  2. A Timex vice president said Timex Triathlon was so successful that Ironman reached out.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  3. The deal gave Timex the right to use the word Ironman on its product.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  4. It showed there was a market among runners and triathletes.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  5. Runner Mary Decker Slaney is also named in some accounts.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  6. His team worked with runners on what athletes needed.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  7. The idea dates from the mid-1980s.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  8. 1984, then the deal, then 1986.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  9. The trip proved the idea before the Ironman deal.

    Source: Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch' · recall

  10. The model is still sold as the Ironman 8-Lap.

    Source: Timex Japan, 'Ironman 8-Lap OG' (timexjapan.com); Triathlete · recall

5.52Suits and GPS

The first racesuits sewn in Kona and an early GPS watch for all three sports.

Test 1What triathletes wearTake a test

  1. She noticed that the Ironman transition area was used more like a changing room.

    Source: Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com) · recall

  2. Run singlets were also attached to bike shorts before one- and two-piece suits followed.

    Source: Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com) · recall

  3. Ali'i Drive is the famous seafront street of Kailua-Kona.

    Source: Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com) · recall

  4. The company had moved from Hawaii to California in 1996.

    Source: Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com) · recall

  5. It was also Garmin's first waterproof multisport GPS watch.

    Source: DC Rainmaker, 'Garmin Forerunner 310XT in-depth review' (2009); Garmin blog, 'Garmin gives fitness a facelift with Forerunner 310XT' · recall

  6. Reviewers noted the ANT+ signal was too weak to pass through water.

    Source: DC Rainmaker, 'Garmin Forerunner 310XT in-depth review' (2009); Garmin blog, 'Garmin gives fitness a facelift with Forerunner 310XT' · recall

  7. It also added a barometric altimeter.

    Source: DC Rainmaker, 'Garmin Forerunner 310XT in-depth review' (2009); Garmin blog, 'Garmin gives fitness a facelift with Forerunner 310XT' · recall

  8. 1983, 1985, 1996 and 2008.

    Source: Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com) · recall

  9. The 310XT replaced the 305 in 2009; the 910XT followed in 2011.

    Source: DC Rainmaker, 'Garmin Forerunner 310XT in-depth review' (2009); Garmin blog, 'Garmin gives fitness a facelift with Forerunner 310XT' · recall

  10. The company that grew from them, Zoot, opened its first shop there two years later.

    Source: Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com) · recall

5.53HOKA

A French mountain brand with a Māori name and a thick midsole.

Test 1HOKA's storyTake a test

  1. Its founders, Nico Mermoud, Jean-Luc Diard and Christophe Aubonnet, started near Chamonix.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  2. They first thought of a downhill-only overshoe.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  3. The founders admired New Zealand's adventure-racing heritage.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  4. The first shoes reached the US market in 2010.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  5. He was also a physical therapist and co-owned the Boulder store.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  6. The brand is now based in California and keeps an office in Annecy.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  7. Diard had begun work on a plated racer in 2014.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  8. 2009, 2010, 2013, 2018 and 2021.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  9. 2009-10, 2015, 2018 and 2019.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

  10. Outside also names mountain-bike wheels and tennis rackets.

    Source: Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com) · recall

5.54On

A Swiss shoe that began with a garden hose and an Ironman champion's Achilles.

Test 1On's storyTake a test

  1. The first On shoes were in shops the same year.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  2. The idea grew into the brand's cushioning system.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  3. His friend from ETH Zurich came up with the fix.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  4. It pairs a cushioned landing with an explosive take-off.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  5. Its shoes are now sold in more than 50 countries.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  6. On has since moved into lifestyle shoes and clothing as well.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  7. WIPO calls them a trio of friends, among them an Ironman champion.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  8. Before 2010, 2010, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  9. 3, 12, more than 50 and about three million.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

  10. The Refugee Team wore On at the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

    Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int) · recall

5.55Cervélo

Two engineers, an aero time-trial bike and a Tour de France win.

Test 1Cervélo's storyTake a test

  1. Traditional bike makers had turned down its founders' time-trial design.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  2. They were post-graduate engineers there.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  3. The Italian professional loved it.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  4. They returned to road bikes later with that aero expertise.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  5. The aluminium tubes were extruded to NACA-derived profiles, not flattened from round tube.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  6. The team was led by Bjarne Riis.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  7. A year later Cervélo launched its own team.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  8. 1986, 1995, 2003, 2008 and 2009.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  9. 1995, 2002, 2005 and 2022.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

  10. Carbon was the brand's preferred material from the start.

    Source: BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com) · recall

5.56The Timing Chip

From volunteers with stopwatches to chips, bib tags and live tracking.

Test 1Chip timingTake a test

  1. MYLAPS calls the town the chip's birthplace.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  2. They wanted fast, accurate results with individual start and split times.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  3. Receivers at the start and finish read it electromagnetically.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  4. Later chips were black, then encrypted white ones owned by the timers.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  5. It was the only system then able to register and send out split times automatically.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  6. AMB was a Dutch timing company.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  7. The disposable tag replaced the shoe chip at mass events.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  8. 1993, 1996, 2008, 2010 and 2015.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  9. Mass-event timing went from hand-held watches to live data in about two decades.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

  10. MYLAPS pictures the system in use at the Frankfurt Marathon in 1994.

    Source: MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com) · recall

5.57Zipp

A race-car engineer's disc wheels, from Kona in 1990 to whale-fin rims.

Test 1Zipp's storyTake a test

  1. He registered the Zipp name after looking at bicycle disc wheels.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  2. It was dropped once Zipp found faster designs.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  3. Zipp's tri-spoke and 440 deep-section wheel followed as early aero favourites.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  4. The 2001 and 3001 framesets were later discontinued but stayed sought after.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  5. Andy Ording had owned Zipp Speed Weaponry since 1999.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  6. SRAM calls it the first major cycling product designed using biomimicry.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  7. It moved into a factory on Main Street there in 1999.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  8. 1988, 1990, 2007, 2010 and 2016.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  9. 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

  10. Sargent wanted to build what Zipp called 'Speed Weapons'.

    Source: SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com) · recall

5.58Swim Tech

A Kiwi wetsuit maker and goggles with a display inside the lens.

Test 1Wetsuits and smart gogglesTake a test

  1. He had been a New Zealand age-group champion.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  2. He started making suits of his own.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  3. It was run from his parents' house in Auckland.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  4. He sold them at swim meets and triathlons.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  5. FORM calls them the world's first augmented reality swim goggles.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  6. He had swum competitively for 14 years.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  7. He incorporated FORM in 2016.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  8. The early 1990s, 2004, 2015 and 2019.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  9. Earlier swim goggle plans were dropped because the parts were too big.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

  10. FORM Athletica is based in British Columbia.

    Source: Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers' · recall

5.59Fuel in a Packet

Where the drink, the bar and the gel in every race bag came from.

Test 1Energy drinks, bars and gelsTake a test

  1. The name refers to the university's teams, the Gators.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  2. An assistant coach asked Dr Robert Cade about the players' dehydration.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  3. Stokely-Van Camp later produced it for sale.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  4. They worked out the recipe in their Berkeley kitchen and launched in 1986.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  5. The company had grown to about $150 million in yearly sales.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  6. Her stomach struggled with bars in longer and longer trail races.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  7. He decided he could not face another bar; the Clif Bar is named after his father, Clifford.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  8. 1965, 1986, about 1992 and 1993.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  9. The University of Florida had turned down Cade's offer of the patent rights.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

  10. PowerBar had started in Berkeley too.

    Source: Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story' · recall

5.60Indoor Riding

From the CompuTrainer to smart trainers and virtual worlds.

Test 1Indoor trainersTake a test

  1. It could demand a set power from the rider whatever the cadence.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  2. The company had earlier made a wind trainer and later the Velotron ergometer.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  3. Bicycle Retailer reported stiff price competition from trainers made in China.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  4. Its founder was Chip Hawkins.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  5. Wahoo's first product was a key that shared training data from fitness sensors.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  6. Zwift was co-founded in California in 2014 by four people.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  7. The beta opened on 30 September 2014.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  8. 1986, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  9. 3 (London, New York and San Francisco), 4, 1,000 and about 13,000.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

  10. Wahoo's chief executive said it turned a gadget company into a cycling company.

    Source: Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: company histories (SRAM, MYLAPS, FORM, Wahoo, Zwift, Clif Bar, GU), WIPO, Lemelson-MIT, Outside, BikeRadar, Bicycle Retailer, Timex, Zoot, Garmin.

  • Outside, 'Ten Things You Didn't Know About Hoka' (outsideonline.com)10
  • World Intellectual Property Organization, 'Designing for High Performance and Style - On Running Shoes' (wipo.int)10
  • BikeRadar, 'Icons of Cycling: how the Cervélo Soloist defined aero bikes' (bikeradar.com)10
  • MYLAPS, 'The History of Running Timing' (2023) and 'ChampionChip celebrates 25th anniversary' (2019) (mylaps.com)10
  • SRAM, 'Zipp History' timeline (sram.com)10
  • Orca company history as told by its retailers and sponsors; FORM, 'Our Story' (formswim.com); ASME, 'AR Goggles for Swimmers'10
  • Lemelson-MIT, 'Robert Cade'; Reference for Business, 'PowerBar Inc.'; GU Energy Labs, 'About'; Clif Bar & Company, 'The Clif Bar Story'10
  • Bicycle Retailer (2017, 2018); Wahoo Fitness, 'About us' (wahoofitness.com); Zwift, 'CEO Eric Min shares his story' (zwift.com)10
  • Triathlete, 'The (inexplicably tri-intertwined) history of the Timex Ironman watch'9
  • Zoot Sports, 'Zoot story' and 'About Zoot Sports' (zootsports.com)6
  • DC Rainmaker, 'Garmin Forerunner 310XT in-depth review' (2009); Garmin blog, 'Garmin gives fitness a facelift with Forerunner 310XT'4
  • Timex Japan, 'Ironman 8-Lap OG' (timexjapan.com); Triathlete1