A triathlon without the run — an open-water swim straight into the bike, and you finish on two wheels.
A swim followed by a bike. Aquabike is a triathlon without the run. Athletes cover the first two legs of a triathlon, with only one transition in the race.
Aquabike can be offered at a wide variety of distances, but common distances are Sprint and Olympic, usually sharing a venue and course with a triathlon the same day. For swimmers and cyclists, or anyone managing a running injury, aquabike is a great way to race multi-sport without the run.
An open-water swim start, often crowded and adrenaline-heavy. Athletes transition from the swim onto the bike, exactly like a triathlon. The difference comes at the end. Instead of racking the bike and running, you cross the line on your bike. You can leave it all out there to the finish, with no run waiting for you.
Swimmers and cyclists who want a multi-sport race without running, triathletes nursing a running injury, or athletes returning to racing who want to protect their legs. Strong open-water swimming and steady cycling matter more here than run fitness.
Goggles, a bike that fits you, and a helmet. A wetsuit helps in cold open water and is allowed at many races below a temperature cutoff. Most bikes work fine for a first sprint. Because there is no run, you can skip running shoes and run-specific gear entirely.
Recommended starting point
A 750m swim and a 20K bike — the swim and bike of a sprint triathlon, minus the run. Short enough for a first multi-sport race, and a low-impact way to learn open-water starts and transitions.
Why start here
Aquabike is the gentlest entry into multi-sport for anyone wary of the run. The sprint distance teaches two skills that intimidate many first-timers — an open-water swim start and a clean transition. It is also a method some athletes use to maintain endurance and keep racing when they can’t run.
Best starting point. The swim and bike of a sprint tri, no run.
Double the sprint. The common next step once you want more distance.
Train the swim-to-bike transition
Even without a run, the swim-to-bike switch is a skill — getting out of the water, out of a wetsuit, and onto the bike efficiently. Practice it so race day is not the first time you try.
Build the bike — it is your finish
With no run to save anything for, the bike is where the race is decided. Longer rides, with some harder efforts late in them, prepare you to keep pushing all the way to the line.
Explore the pace you need to hit to reach your aquabike goal finish time. Endurance Grid's aquabike pace calculator will help you better understand what finish times equate to specific paces to help you plan your race accordingly.
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