Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Welcome back to the Uncomfortable Triathlon Podcast. I am one of your hosts, Andrew Orsul Turner, and I am joined by my co-host, Harry Palmer, who is fresh off a trip to the pub, and I think three pints deep, was it Harry? Harry: It's slightly embarrassing but I do have to say the cider was quite strong and I was also quite dehydrated but even saying that I am such a lightweight so yeah three pints has made me feel a little bit a little bit fuzzy Andrew Horsfall-Turner: But other than that, mate, how are things? I know you are fresh into a race week, which we're obviously gonna chat about today. But yeah, how are things? How's life? How's training? Etc. Harry: Things, yeah, so I mean, I don't know if I'd recommend going to the pub on the first day of the week when you've got a race on the weekend, but ⁓ fuck it, carb loading is very, very serious. So that's, we're taking that seriously. And yeah, I mean, I'm looking forward to the first race of the year. I'm sure we'll dive in a little bit more about that in this podcast, but training has been going pretty well. I don't think there's been anything. spectacular, just kind of consistently average, which I guess is nice. I don't think anything's gone particularly wrong. It's just been nice to get back involved with the squad here in Bath. I was running back with the the Team Bath Run Club the other day, which is really, really nice and just trying to get some like good, consistent training in. It's always easier at home when the weather's been nice. I'm sure you've you've had it over your way like when when it's nice weather like it's just so easy to get out and actually want to do it. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so much easier and also, I was just listening to you then and it must just be so nice to kind of be well over that niggle slash injury you had in the knee and be able to actually like join in with Run Club and be like, yes, I'm back. Harry: Yeah. Exactly that. Yeah, it felt like the start of this year was literally just one step forward, two steps back. was like injured or ill or just not in a good place. And so it's nice to feel like I'm through the thick of it. I mean, we'll see this weekend, you know, maybe I go into it with unrealistic expectations. I don't really know. Like, it's always hard to know where you're going to be at the first race of the year. But I think think numbers are good and ⁓ Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Harry: I know that the competition is going to be good, yeah, we'll just see and it'll be interesting. But how's your life and training and stuff been going since South Africa? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, no, good. You literally asked me before we started recording, like, have you been up to? And I kind of had to stop for a second because I'm like, wait, what have I actually done? ⁓ But I think that's a good thing. also, I guess it shows I'm kind of like back into maybe like a bit more of like a mundane kind of, you know, back training. I've had my first full week of training again. ⁓ You know, typical. Harry: I'm Hahaha! Yes. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: things with the kids at the weekends, ⁓ you know, just ⁓ like the day to day. I think sometimes, ⁓ you know, as triathletes we're pretty boring sometimes. And ⁓ I think actually, but being boring, I actually think sometimes is quite nice as well because it just means that you're kind of like, you you're just doing your day to day and nothing's going wrong. ⁓ You know, when there's too much to report, things are happening and things are going to shit basically. Harry: Yep. Yeah, life is boring. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: But yeah, I'm back training. I've done... I've shifted focus a little bit. So I'm actually gonna hit a few 70.3s ⁓ over June and July. And then I'm gonna back end the year, back end the year again, going back obviously Ironman Wales being a big, big goal in September. And then potentially do another race after that, another full maybe. ⁓ But yeah, I've entered... Harry: Yeah. Thanks. Yeah. So what are these 70.3s that you're doing? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, so I've entered Challenge Gdansk, which is in Poland. So that's going to be kind of like my dip in my toe back into 70.3 racing, try and rev the engine a little bit, see how I get on. And then obviously, run into Swansea and then potentially race 70.3 Gdynia the weekend after Swansea as well. So kind of like three races, relatively close succession. And then... Harry: Mmm. Cool. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, I'm not sure I'll race then after that till Ironman Wales, but yeah, we'll see, we'll see. ⁓ But it's nice as well because I feel... Harry: Yeah. And then after Ironman Wales, what are you looking at? Because I know there's like, what is it, Ironman Florida, which we've both done in the past, or there's like, guess you could do Western Australia, but that's then you're eating into like December. like, you reckon you can keep on top of it until December? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah. And there's Cozumel as well, which is think November time. ⁓ Not that I'm actually, I'm not opting for that one, because it's meant to be brutally humid and horrible, but yeah, it would be a cool holiday. No, I think the initial thought is potentially Florida again. Again, being a bit of creature of habit, I quite liked Florida. It was quite, you know, pretty chill place to be. Harry: ⁓ yeah, I forgot, yeah. Cool holiday. Yeah. Hmm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: ⁓ I didn't have a great race there last year. So there's kind of an element of like, you know, sort of my shit out and, you know, trying to right or wrong almost. ⁓ and then also there's the semi, you know, long winded idea of potentially having the family come out with me and then doing a road trip down to Orlando for like a day or two after the race. ⁓ obviously I've got a soon. Harry: Sure. Yeah. to go to, what's it called, Disney or some shit? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, go Disney World. Yeah, so I've got a soon to be one year old and a soon to be three year old. And I think my three year old will absolutely love Disney. that might make me like the best parent in the world as well if I did that. Harry: Yeah. Probably would. Win, tell you what, gotta win the race, take it to Disney World. I mean, that's just dreamy. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: If I win the race, we'll go first class on the way back to you. Harry: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're having steak and champagne tonight. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: No, I'm... But yeah, I that's the tentative idea. ⁓ But I kind of want to really focus in on Wales first, I think. I think it's always difficult when you're looking at races because ⁓ there are so many options and I know that I've already kind of pivoted a little bit my season, but I knew from the beginning that Wales was going to be... Harry: Ha ha ha. Cool. Mm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: like a big race for me, so I've just kind of tweaked the middle of my year a little bit, that's all really. Harry: Sure. I think that's almost nice as well is to like have these bigger, like a few bigger goals in the year of races you really want to go to and then you can always, depending on how you're feeling, like if you feel really fit at some point, it's like, you know, Trevor Foley, he ends up going to Ironman New Zealand. It wasn't his plan, but he was like, ⁓ training's going really well. And again, race ends up winning. Like it's like... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. I should race, yeah. Harry: It's one of those where it's good, I guess, to stay a bit fluid because you never know. Like sometimes the fitness comes really quick and it surprises you and you're like, I just, I feel fantastic. And other times like it does take a little bit longer and you need to be a bit more just some consistent like weeks in of, of, know, solid training. But I quite like the idea of being a bit more fluid with it because as a pro as well, you can always jump on a start line pretty last minute, can't you? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Yeah. Yeah, and I think that's like I'm in a good position where obviously as you say we can do that and I think but I've also I do have to balance the other side of it which is like If I go away for a weekend I've got to make sure the wife is happy with the kids or if I you know for the most part for the most part if I try It's it's a balancing act and I think ⁓ when they get a few years older ⁓ Harry: Yeah. Yeah, I mean you've got a lot more responsibility than me. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: it will become a little bit more easy. I think, cause I still have like Ellis's, yeah he's one next weekend. So, cause he is so little still. ⁓ Whenever I go away I do try and make sure that either my in-laws are around or like my mum can go and help Emily for, you know, the duration I'm away. Which is like, yeah, obviously then you're juggling not only what you want to do and what Emily's schedule are, you're juggling like other people's schedules, so. Harry: Yes, yeah. Okay. Sure. Yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: yeah, but I think the the definitely got in the good books by putting two British races in this year like Swansea I live here so easy and Tempe down the road. So again easy Harry: Yeah. I'm sure, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's dreamy. Okay, and then you just have to slide in there that you want to go to Florida. But you can make it about the kids going to Disneyland, so it's fine. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: haha Well actually I said, ⁓ like, what do you think about going to like, you know, Disney World in November? ⁓ by the way, I'll do an Iron Man. Harry: Yeah, by the way, I'm gonna be out for eight hours just like slogging myself ⁓ Yeah, cheers then Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Have fun! ⁓ ⁓ Anyway, mate, right, let's get into it. Let's get into the the main event this week. again, typical Harry and my style, well, more Harry than me. We haven't really planned much. But the idea behind basically the episode this week and then our follow up episode, which will be come out probably next Monday, is around Challenge Saloo, which is obviously Harry's season opener. Harry: It's definitely not me. ⁓ Andrew Horsfall-Turner: So we want to dive in a little bit to, you know, we know he feels pretty good but maybe like some strategies or kind of things he's trying out, different equipment or whatever it is really. And then hopefully next week we'll have like a bit of a recap show and hopefully Harry is gonna, well there's quite a few like British athletes racing and I've tasked Harry with basically finding one after the race, grabbing them Harry: Mmm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: and saying that he'll buy them like a beer or something later to come and chat to us for a bit. Harry: I mean challenge accepted. I can't say I'll be successful but challenge accepted. I feel like I've got a good idea. I mean, I so I think and this is so I still need to confirm but I'm pretty sure I'm staying with Malachi. He's very kindly offered. I don't know if I'll have my own bedroom or if it's a bed or whatever. I mean, I'm happy with anything to be I sleep on the sofa. And then I think that Finnerens Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Are you sure you're not sharing his bed? Harry: Well maybe, I mean I'd also potentially be okay with that as well so I'm not too fussy. So yeah I think maybe we'll try and get Malachi on or I think Finn or Finarenda's out there ⁓ or if we can try and get Jack Hutchins or something but I'm pretty sure Jack said he's got to shoot off literally straight after the race because Tamsin, his fiance, is pretty much ready to give birth right now. So that'll be, yeah. So. ⁓ Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Ready to go. Yeah, no, I saw that, yeah. Wow. He's lucky man, he got the pass for the weekend. Harry: I- if I was her I probably wouldn't let him go but I mean... you know, each to their own. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Well, you know, one less person on the start list, you Harry: Yeah, exactly. For me, I'm kind of wishing that she did tell him to not go. ⁓ Well, that would be dreamy. Imagine tomorrow, like, I'm so gutted, mate, you can't be there. So that would be, yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Or she has the baby early. But yeah, as you alluded to, mate, there's there is so many Brits on this start list. It's unreal. So just to read out a few, we've got Tom Davis, Will Draper, yourself, Jack Hutchins, Malachi, Sam Wardley, Ben Akin. I thought I saw another one. Ollie Weymark and also Joe Skipper. I don't think I missed anyone there. So that's like, what, seven or eight Brits? I think there's only like 30 of you on the start line. Harry: Yeah. Yeah. Unbelievable. It's like a British champs, isn't it? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: ⁓ and Finn obviously we missed Finn as well ⁓ Harry: It's... yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, other than that mate, I see some Spanish names. I don't recognize a load of them. But you, is there anyone on the start list? Who on the start list? You can obviously talk about the Brits as well, but who on the start list are you eyeing up and thinking like, ⁓ you could be really good. You could be quite hard to catch on the bike, know, potentially a good swimmer or, you know, someone you're eyeing up and thinking, I don't really want to like run toe to toe with you sort of thing. Harry: I don't recognise many. Hmm. Yeah, I mean that's the issue with not knowing everyone on the start list like when you go to these you've done it before you know like you go to these Spanish races and there are some people that they don't necessarily have a big name or you don't know who they are and whatever they fly under the radar but they're potentially like a shit hot swimmer or you know just like an uber runner or something like that and so they there definitely could be a few people that fly under the radar that I'm not aware of but Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Harry: For sure, I'm looking at most of the British names, to be honest. So, you know, I've got a thought process of how the race is gonna go because you have an idea of how people race and what kind of form they're bringing into races. And of course, with this being my first race of the season, I don't exactly know how I'm going to do, but given that I think I'm in good shape, I can have an idea of how I would... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Ha ha! Harry: Yeah, fingers crossed I can I can have an idea of how I would stack up against certain people but you know like you look at Like Jack Hutchins, he's raced Valencia already this year and he ran incredibly well So he's he's on absolute form at the minute will draper race Valencia. He's in absolute ripping form ⁓ You've got people like Who as Tom Davis has done really well in Salou before so he knows he knows how to race it Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Make it. Harry: ⁓ There are some really good athletes. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: and he went pretty well and ⁓ where did he race? He raced Oceanside didn't he? and I think he was a few places behind Josh I think he raced pretty solid there as well ⁓ Harry: Yeah. Yeah. So there's a lot of guys who on their day could do very, well. And it's, it's one of those where you, you can only bring in the form that you've got and you just have to hope that you make good decisions on the day and the tactics work for you. For example, whatever. if there's, I dunno, like with it being a Spanish race, more often than not, there's going to be a little bit of, ⁓ funny stuff going on on the bike maybe there's gonna be some motor pacing maybe there's gonna be some drafting ⁓ but that Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Is it 12 meters or 20 meters, do know? Harry: I know, I mean I feel like all challenge races are now 20 aren't they? But maybe I got that wrong. I don't know. But in the past I know that they've not been fantastic for policing that so it will be interesting to see. I know full well that someone like Jack Hutchins is going to, because I'm pretty sure it's a beach start, he's got a really good surf lifesaving background. He's unbelievably great get out speed. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: hope so. No. Harry: So he'll be someone to be chasing and the idea essentially will just be find his feet. And I hope he doesn't listen to this podcast before the race. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Try and get them, yeah, yeah. I recognize the name, ⁓ Nicholas Quinette. I feel like he's a good swimmer, but I could just be completely... I just, I may be just completely making this up. I might carry on talking. I might carry on. I don't do some like stalking quickly. Harry: It does ring a bell. Yeah, you have a little bit of research and I'll just chat absolute bollocks for a minute or two. So, yeah, I mean, the goal would be to ⁓ get on, like, let's say Jack's feet or the back of the front pack. I know that someone like Will Draper, he's obviously an Uber biker and I'm sure his swim, his swim has definitely got better and he's a very obviously incredible runner as well. So you'd almost want to stay away from someone like Draper. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Nicholas Clunet. Harry: So utilize other people in the front pack on the bike, whether Jack will be there and a few others. The issue is as well is Jack's a very good runner. Like I'm pretty sure he ran like a 68 in Valencia or something, which is quicker than I've ever ran off the bike. yeah. Well, it does seem like everyone runs quick in Valencia. So I'm wondering if it isn't a hundred percent legit, but I... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, yeah, 100%. Was- you- Do you know if that was accurate or- or was it- Harry: I doubt it's out by too much because he is also a really good runner. I wouldn't be surprised to see him run a 68, 69. I wouldn't love to start the run next to him, but I also am pretty aware that I feel like I'm good on the bike, but I don't feel like I'm good enough to drop Jack on the bike. He's not just some guy that you can just ride away from. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah. Okay. Would, so I was gonna say, so would you be looking for an opportunity with, I don't know, if you're riding with another athlete or athletes, would you be looking for like a tactical opportunity to, you know, if they're gonna try and make a break, try and almost like play the chess game and try and sneak away without having to kind of like, I guess like. Harry: Yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: There's kind two ways of like getting away from people. There's either like putting your head down and smashing out 400 watts for a bit. Or there's the kind of the chess game of like where you're sitting in a draft line and when an opportunity arises, making sure you're on the right side of a split sort of thing. ⁓ I guess you'd be looking for that. Harry: Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly it. It's like there's... Yeah, it's exactly it. Like there are two ways of doing it. You can either take it upon yourself to drop people, but you need to be really fucking confident and you need to be really, really good. To ride someone off your wheel is difficult. So yeah, you've got to be confident in yourself or maybe a potential idea would be... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah. Harry: I just sit in the group and I'm like, well, I'll let these guys work for it. Like I could, I could sit behind Jack, let him work a little bit harder on the bike and then hope that he's worked harder than me so that it deadens his legs a little bit for the run. But then what would I, I hate racing like that because it doesn't feel like you're actually working for it. And everything in my head would be telling me someone like Draper, for example, is behind and he is working his arse off to catch us. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Yep. Harry: And so I don't want that to happen as well. yeah, so I feel like there could be maybe four or five of us that get off the bike and it's just literally full hand taking chunks out of each other for 21k. ⁓ And yeah, it'd be interesting. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: If he catches you, So obviously on his recent form, he's obviously riding and running well, ⁓ Mr. Joe Skipper, do you see a world where he maybe works with a Will Draper? Do you reckon there's any world they swim together? Harry: Yeah. Yeah. Maybe, maybe I, I tell you what, I love Joe. I think he's fantastic. And I was really, really happy to see him get that result in ⁓ South Africa. thought he was, I he was awesome and it's really cool to see. I just don't think that in a 70.3 on a middle distance race, he's going to be able to get near the front and maybe, yeah, maybe, maybe I'm completely wrong with this and on the weekend he'll win it and fair play if he does. But I just think Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Up to the front. Yeah, yeah. Harry: in an Ironman, he's just got something that he's just able to suffer a little bit more than other people and just hold it together. And I think where he makes the big moves is from like, let's say 150K on the bike where he holds strong and other people fade and similar on the run. And I just don't think you get that in a 70.3. It's more just the raw speed and raw power, which I don't think he's better than anyone else at that. He's just very good at enduring. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah. Harry: being uncomfortable for long period of time. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Then to be fair, someone said that after, I can't remember who said it, but someone said it after South Africa, saying, just watching Joe out on course said, man, that guy can suffer. Like he just, like he can just put his, like especially on the, like a marathon run, like when he's on form and he's having like a good one, like he can put himself in a hole and just stay there. Harry: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's like the guy just enjoys marinating in the sensation of feeling shit. He just... Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just like everyone else is like, no, get me out of this situation, like as quick as and he's like, nah, fucking give me some more of that. So I don't know. I don't think in a middle distance race he'd... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: an absolute like pain and misery. Alright. Harry: he'd be there like near the front but I could be wrong and he's clearly in good form currently so yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: So. So let's throw it out to a different perspective. you haven't had your good swim, you haven't found Jack's feet, and you get out of the water and you're like, shit, the gap's pretty big here. And someone shouts to you, Harry, there's three athletes up the road. You've got Tom Davis, Jack Hutchins, and Malachi. They got 75 seconds on you. And you're completely isolated on your own. What's your move? Harry: Yeah. Mmm. Yeah. Kill myself. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: You Harry: Okay, so ⁓ we're talking So talking jack-ut-chin's malachite. Sorry, that was a bit of a curveball ⁓ So I guess I guess I would probably I probably have a look and see Where other people are out like if draper's close to me like for sure like draper Andrew Horsfall-Turner: You I wasn't expecting that. You Harry: you he can swim well and so if he's there, then I'm like, well, I know I've got some good firepower and he'll probably end up bloody ripping my legs off. mean, if I, if I'm being honest, I probably, I probably would see red and I would probably just absolutely drill it to catch up with them because I feel like, I feel like, yeah, I feel like at the start of a race, you're coming out of T1, it's actually not that useful to be around people. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. just see what happens. Harry: because no one wants to get on the front. No one wants to do some work. There's always like a bit of a kind of, I don't know, like no one's really willing to put in the shifts until positions have been made and you're into the bike course. So I think it's actually somewhat useful to come out of T1 on your own. You can be in complete charge of your own effort. And so if I saw a gap that was like, let's say 90 seconds, the guys in front, I'd probably just. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Harry: absolutely drill it for like 10 minutes, catch up, refuel on the back of that group and then probably like go again and just try and yeah I think I'm probably just gonna try and be and this look you can if it works out you look like an absolute legend but if you blow up you look like an absolute twat but I do think there's something in just being aggressive on race day and just not pulling your punches and just like just because Andrew Horsfall-Turner: and then start again. Yeah. Yeah. Harry: Yeah, you get on the front of the group, you drill it and like, you've you know, if you're suffering, other people are going to be suffering. And if you can just endure it for a little bit longer and throw some punches at people and really like make them work for it, then that will potentially throw them off their game. It will potentially throw them off their idea of how the race is going to go. And you just almost need to bluff like a little bit longer than them. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're in a ⁓ situation there as well where if you, you know, if you waited up too much and you didn't kind of risk it in that initial phase, you could get to the end of the bike and come off, you know, still 90 seconds down. And even if you had like an incredible run, you may still not be able to run the boys down and you'd then feel a bit stupid if you hadn't tried. Whereas if you caught, if you catch the front, Harry: Hmm. Yeah. Hmm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: and you come into transition in the lead group and then you blow on the run, you're like, well, at least I risked it to try and win or be there. Harry: Yeah, at least you gave yourself the opportunity, you know, like it's, think you get to a point where you're like, and people might think this sounds cocky or overly confident, but you get to a point where you're like, I want to race for the win, you know, like I'm not going to this race and I'm thinking, ⁓ I want to get a top five or I want to get on the podium, whatever. That's great. But I'm going in there wanting to win. And so I need to erase aggressively for that win. Like I don't want someone to I don't think you can win these races now by being passive and just letting things happen. Like you almost need to take the race to everyone else and you need to dictate it and be like, no, this is, this is how I'm going to fucking race it. And if you want to win and if you want to take it from me, you've got to work for it. And I think that will be. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Well you've said it before, in terms of the whole luck aspect of it, by doing that you're creating luck, you're creating your own luck kind of thing. Harry: Good. Hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And like you said, like it may not work and you may blow up on the run, but at least you you kind of gave it a go and you found your limits a little bit. Whereas it would suck to finish and let's say I finished in like seventh or eighth place and I was like, I could have made some better decisions there. Like that would suck. Whereas if I completely blow up and I came like 20th, but I was like, actually like it was quite good fun. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah. Yeah, don't know. Yeah, again, it's probably nice this kind of race being like a season opener, not necessarily like the biggest field in the race. Like obviously you're to have some bigger fields later this year and you probably race some big names as well. But I think it's probably nice where you're in a field where the athletes are looking at you like, right, you know, you are there to try and win. You can play it a little bit risky. Harry: Mmm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: You know if it pays off then happy days if it doesn't then you can kind of regroup and say well That was the first hit out of the year I can learn from this and I've got another opportunity in I don't know how many weeks two or three weeks time isn't it? Two weeks, yeah Harry: Mmm. Literally two weeks, yeah. it's good and it's funny, do have some interesting motivation for this race. I'm basically, I'm getting a patio done at the house and the prize money for first place would pay for the patio. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Gone. Harry: So that's my motivation. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: That is, wow. You've, uh, yeah. It's always nicer when you feel like the patio is free, right? Harry: Yeah exactly that's my mindset is like well if I win the race then I get a free pass. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: You Harry: So that's definitely a good amount of motivation. But yeah, I mean, I don't know. We'll see. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: ⁓ mate, love it. Love it. What ⁓ I'm interested, like, I guess fresh season, new start, ⁓ from my knowledge, not like you haven't made any like major like changes in terms of like bikes or kits. ⁓ I know you've made a couple of like adjustments to like cockpits and stuff like that. So what, like, what have you done differently to your setups or like your race equipment, tri suits, et cetera? Is there, is there anything you've changed going into the season? Harry: Mmm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: and how I guess you're probably excited to try them out and I guess you haven't like tested necessarily in the wind tunnel yet but yeah what was what's kind of new this year Harry: Yeah, good question. ⁓ I think it's always useful to try and... I mean, like, everyone's getting good now. I know we say this a lot, but everyone's getting so good, so you have to optimize everything you possibly can. Yeah, yeah, like, incredible. So it's basically just been trying to optimize everything. ⁓ I'm very lucky in the fact that I am still... I'm still sponsored by Argon 18, so... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Very good. Harry: That's really exciting. So I've got a new frame this year, same as the old one, just a different colorway, which is, which is cool. but everything else on the bike is quite. Yeah. Yeah. Why is faster, mate? I bloody hope so anyway. and so, so yeah, a few different things on the bike to hopefully make it more error. But as you've alluded to, I've not actually been in the wind tunnel with the new bike. So. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: It's a faster colour way, right? Is it? Harry: It's just like, it's a bit of a guessing game, hoping that it is faster. And then hopefully at some point I'll get in the wind tunnel with Fusion, maybe mid season to try and get some time in their tunnel, which would be really cool. And so yeah, as you've mentioned, like a new cockpit system, which in training has been like super, super comfortable. It's one of those mono cockpits from, from AeroGrip. And it just, it just feels really good. So I don't know what it'll be like on race day, obviously first race coming up, so we will see whether there'll be some teething issues with the setup, but it feels fantastic. ⁓ I've got some new, like a new ⁓ crank set that's like got these aero crank arms called Overfast. It's this Chinese company, which looks, I mean, looks cool, don't know if it's any faster. I got what else? They're pretty light. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Okay, yeah? Yeah. I've heard they're quite light aren't they in terms of like they're like quite like a low gram. Yeah Harry: They are pretty light. Yeah. So I've also tried to optimize weight as well this year. Not that, not that it's a massive thing, but TT bikes obviously generally a little bit heavier. Um, and I wanted to make sure that I gave myself a chance to make the setup as light as possible. I've gone for things like, for example, the Woe saddle, which is super, super light. Um, I've gone for, yeah, they're like those, that overfast crank set. I've gone for look, uh, Kyo pedals that are lighter. The aero grip cockpit is lighter than the drag201s. I'm going to go for some lighter wheels as well. So I've opted to use the CES ⁓ front tri-spoke, which I should actually be setting up tomorrow. Supposedly that's like a faster wheel to use. And then I'll use actually a CES 80 rear with an easy gains cover, which A lot of people might be surprised by, but it means you can run like a slightly lighter wheel. It's not like a full like a full disc, but it and the the arrow kind of fairing the arrow cover almost creates this like it's like kind of bow like wave effect. And that's supposedly more arrow than a disc that is completely like parallel, if that makes sense. So a kind of Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, so you need the shape of the disc. think you get, there's two types, it? It's either the perfectly flat ones, or you do see a lot of the... The Evolve one I've got, for example, it's like a two bulge. So you kind of bulges out and then comes back in. And I think the Envy one as well has almost like an S shape to it. Harry: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah, it's like a bit of a cone almost, like it, yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, I think it definitely that what the easy this does is a similar kind of effect. It's it's not flat. It's all trying to help manipulate there, isn't it? Harry: Yeah. Exactly. Exactly that. there's like maybe five or six different things that I've got on the bike that potentially might make a difference. but potentially might not as well, but I mean, yeah, it's like, if you feel like you're doing something to really optimize it, then you kind of feel, you feel good. You feel, you feel better. So Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Yeah, yeah, no, no. When I was in South Africa with Joe, obviously we were both riding the Argon 18. And we had similar wheel setups as well. And I was just like, he's like, oh, I've changed a few things on my bike to make it lighter. And I lifted up his bike and then initially lifted up mine and I was like, fuck, why is mine so much heavier? To be fair, I had... Harry: Mm. Was it quite a big difference? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: spares in the tube with CO2 canisters and a few other things. ⁓ But I think a couple of things, I obviously had stock cranks ⁓ with a ⁓ 60 tooth ring and also the Drag 2 Zero has a flat plate because it obviously has two bars. ⁓ I think aerodynamics wise it's incredible. ⁓ Harry: Okay. Yep. Yep. Yeah, that's heavy, that aluminium plate. Mmm. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: you know, if I had to put a number on it, I reckon he got his bike a kilo lighter than mine, maybe even a kilo and a bit. And I'm like, ⁓ damn it. But thankfully I'm a few kilos lighter than he is, but. Harry: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's right. Wait. Yeah, it evens itself out. It's one of those though, that's like, it's cool to really optimize, but ultimately, unless you're doing like a mountain stage race, like, it doesn't matter that much, does it? And like you said, like, the aero is everything. So it's going to far out. Yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Mm. Aeros everything and also once you add like, once you add like 2 plus litres of liquid and stuff on it it's like, ⁓ fuck. Harry: Yeah, it's gonna be heavy anyway, isn't it? Like, it's... Yeah, you put two to three litres of bloody gels on there. Like, who actually gives a shit? Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, yeah, true, true. And in terms of, I guess, other equipment, still gonna be rocking like, I don't know, what you were running, were you running like ASIC shoes last year? Are you still gonna be running the same sort of shoes and everything like that? Yeah. Harry: Yeah... Yeah, so I've got some... the ASICS... what are they? The ASICS Metaspeed Skies, the Tokyo version. I've still got a pair that weren't like... they're not that used and I just hate spending so much money on shoes, it's ridiculous. So I'm like, I'll just use those from last year. So, I mean, maybe not the most professional approach but I'm like... Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Nice. Yeah, yeah. Harry: I'm fucked if I'm gonna spend another 250 quid on a pair of new shoes when these are like, they're not that used. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: You can tell as well when a racing shoe needs to be changed, like, your no sort of thing, won't you? Yeah, can definitely get a couple more. Yeah, if Jackout runs you, you'll be getting a new pair of shoes on the Monday. Harry: Yeah, yeah. I mean, I can blame it on the shoes if I run really slowly. Yeah, 100 % 100 % So yeah, those are those would be the run shoes I What else have I got? I'm still in the fusion trisuit, which I really like I've got the Roka wetsuit and swimskin. I don't know if it's gonna be it's normally a wetsuit swim I think but I'll take the swim skin just in case Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Anything different? No, yeah. Harry: which is very unlike me, because normally I don't prepare and then I end up messaging you. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, You not only phoned me the day before. By any chance have you got a spare swimskin? Yes. To be fair, who would have ever thought that we'd be in a swimskin in Swansea? Harry: Yeah, Andy help me right now I know right? Like everyone's like shitting on me for not being prepared I'm like it's fucking Swansea! So yeah I've learnt my lesson, I've learnt my lesson ⁓ and yeah yeah always take more than you need ⁓ but yeah it should be good mate I'm like I'm looking forward I'm quite relaxed but I'm sure like the nerves will catch up with me Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Hahaha You UGH Always take, always take spares. Yeah. Harry: later in the week but currently I'm just quite chilled and yeah I don't think I've got too much pressure on me I don't have much like expectation because I haven't raced for ages and the last few races of last year didn't go well so I don't feel like there's people looking at me thinking ⁓ fuck no like he's gonna be he's gonna be really good I think I might yeah yeah I think I think once you get a few good results people are like ⁓ this guy's on form but because I've not done anything for ages Andrew Horsfall-Turner: He's on form sort of thing, yeah. Harry: People have probably forgotten about me, which is quite good. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: No, no, it'll be good, mate. I'm excited to see you toe the line. Excited to hear all about it next week. Yeah, it'd be nice to, yeah, if you do get Malachi on, I guess, he's become a of a personality on the Instagram reels. So it'd be interesting to hear the dynamic between the two of you and discussing, I guess, from both of your perspectives, how the race went. yeah, I'm sure... Harry: 100 % yeah, yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: He's potentially a faster swimmer than you, so I'm sure at one point you'll cross paths at least. Yeah. Harry: He definitely will be mate, like he's he will, he will out swim me and then I will make a very big point of absolutely drilling it past him on the bike. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: What's his thing on Instagram? Like, dropped as a baby, not dropped since? Is that right? So mate, if you drop him on the bike, you have to call him out for that. Harry: Yeah, that's it. It's so good. Yeah, yeah, just be like, mate, your bio needs adjusting. I mean, he is like, he is a very good athlete. Like, I know people, he probably doesn't get taken that seriously because of all of his social media stuff. But he's really good. So he could have, like, no joke, like, he could have a great race. Yeah. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, no. And he's young as well. Yeah, yeah. Right, mate, let's call it there. I know, right? ⁓ Yeah, mate, let's call it there and let's catch up next week. Best of luck. yeah, excited to hear all about it. Harry: You all these bloody youngsters mate, we're getting old. Appreciate it mate, can't wait to pay for that patio. Andrew Horsfall-Turner: Cheers! Harry: you