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Why Triathlon Is a Lifestyle: Community, Kit, and Commitment with Race Skin
43 Plays2 months ago
In our first episode of the UK TriChat podcast, host Scott Hill speaks with Colin McNeill, founder of Race Skin.
Colin shares the personal journey behind launching Race Skin, how community sits at the heart of triathlon, and what it really takes to design kit that works for everyday athletes. They discuss building trust in the sport, working with clubs and major events, balancing performance with comfort, and offer practical advice for anyone new to triathlon.
An honest conversation about commitment, community, and why triathlon becomes part of who you are.
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:02
Joe Williams
go So the first podcast for UK Tri-Chat with myself, Tri-Wolf Triathlon Coaching, Scott Hill. And today as our guest on the show today, we've got Colin from Race Skin. So welcome, Colin.
00:00:13
Joe Williams
Thanks for joining us on my first podcast for for UK Tri-Chat. It's great to have you.
00:00:17
Colin McNeill
No problem. Nice job.
00:00:19
Joe Williams
Yeah. So um effectively, you know, or You know as much about triathlon as I do and you've been involved in the game for a long time and stuff like that. And the way we're kind of looking at UK TriChat make it reachable for everyone.
00:00:34
Joe Williams
So whether they're new to sport, they've been involved in sport a long time, talking to real people that are out there working within the industry, whether they're athletes and yourself as a retailer as well. And I know you've been involved in the sport for for many years and then we've probably known each other for, I think, 10, 11 years now.
00:00:48
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:00:49
Colin McNeill
was going to say quite a lot of years, yeah.
The Birth of Race Skin
00:00:52
Colin McNeill
We set up in 2014. It wasn't, I bet it was 2015 something, somewhere around then that we've, you know, been involved with each other since then, something like that.
00:01:04
Joe Williams
Yeah. So you are the founder of Race Skin. So what was your, how were you involved in the sport before that?
00:01:08
Colin McNeill
I am. My...
00:01:11
Joe Williams
What made you come into to making up ah like a triathlon brand as such?
00:01:16
Colin McNeill
my The job before that I worked in an design agency. I had my own company publishing and design for maybe 20 years.
00:01:28
Colin McNeill
My background, when I left school, I went went to art college and and then had this company doing in design. While I was there, I got into triathlon and I decided that
00:01:48
Colin McNeill
there was an opening in the market shall say and I then used my design skills to sort of design the kit and that's you know went from there.
00:02:00
Colin McNeill
We started
00:02:01
Joe Williams
So when was started that? When did you start racing?
00:02:04
Colin McNeill
RISC in 2014 and actually my son
00:02:07
Joe Williams
Okay.
00:02:07
Colin McNeill
so and actually my son was ill in hospital, which is quite relevant really. We spent a year in hospital in 2011 when he was born and while I was in hospital I wanted a different lifestyle. It was obvious that he was then um he had ah He had a trackie and he sleeps on a ventilator and I needed to change my working life and Jill and I decided that we needed to do something else and that's when I came up with the race skin idea and
00:02:44
Joe Williams
So, yeah. So there's a reason for change.
00:02:47
Colin McNeill
developed in hospital. um
00:02:48
Joe Williams
Yeah. but I mean, there's a reason.
00:02:49
Colin McNeill
but didn't i didn't just sit around the bedside and think, oh, right, rare skin, that'll work.
00:02:49
Joe Williams
please
00:02:52
Colin McNeill
But that's when the first seed voice was sown. Yeah.
00:02:58
Joe Williams
It's quite interesting because in my mind, it triggers. We always say that triathlon is a lifestyle. um and it straight away that triggers it yes it's a lifestyle but it's it's also a personal lifestyle you know it's changed your circumstances within your personal life as well I suppose so that's that's something I didn't realise from you so that's quite interesting obviously i know about your son and stuff but that's quite interesting that um it kind of ties in with you know we always say oh i say with we've competing and and coaching and stuff myself that you know it becomes a bit of a lifestyle and if you're in it for the long game it is a lifestyle it fits around everything else so um it's quite interesting to see that
00:03:32
Colin McNeill
Yeah, we needed that more flexible than working life that we both had at that point.
00:03:42
Joe Williams
yeah So triathlon has changed your your home life, your personal life as much as your athlete life as well and business and work.
00:03:42
Colin McNeill
um
00:03:49
Colin McNeill
Yeah, totally, it yeah.
00:03:49
Joe Williams
Interesting. Good.
00:03:51
Colin McNeill
And at that point, I wanted to make sure I was doing something that I really loved as well, rather than just going to work and
00:03:51
Joe Williams
Good.
00:03:59
Colin McNeill
um um working and working so that'll
00:04:00
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:04:03
Joe Williams
So with with them their early stages then of, you know, forming race skin in 2014, when did you feel that it was, a business as such when you feel like you had a bit of success in it and it was a long standing thing. So I guess very early on, it was quite, quite daunting about taking that step.
00:04:19
Colin McNeill
it It really was, yeah. And coming to the market as a new player in that marketplace, at first people were like, well, never heard of you. Race skin, who was that then?
00:04:31
Colin McNeill
Where have you just suddenly appeared from?
00:04:31
Joe Williams
Yep.
00:04:33
Colin McNeill
And why would I give you my business?
Race Skin's Growth and Partnerships
00:04:35
Colin McNeill
And um so, yeah, it it presented challenges. It wasn't just we made a we made this brand and it everyone just went oh yes we'll give you our business it's uh as anyone who starts a business off knows it's side worker first and lots of
00:04:53
Joe Williams
And what what products do RaySkin offer then? So very early on, I guess it was quite limited. i know that it's developed over the years. So what was it initially to what it is now and what do you offer you know the triathlon community as such?
00:05:05
Colin McNeill
Yeah, it it was literally custom um custom clothing for triathlon teams and cycle teams and that was it. um So we we spoke to clubs and and companies that wanted you know bespoke triathlon kit for their clubs. um or their company and and then that's that's what we we did.
00:05:34
Colin McNeill
Just designed those initial kits.
00:05:37
Joe Williams
So you probably, clash you quite a major player within the UK scene, definitely. I know you do a lot of clubs out there and you know I'm still on the race team myself, so I see your kit on pretty much every triathlon I go and compete in, it's there somewhere. Whether someone's wearing it as ah as a spectator, as a fan, or you've got athletes themselves using your kit. And I've seen it branch from small clubs to pretty big ones in the UK, and you've even covered a lot of the military as well in some cases.
00:06:04
Colin McNeill
Yeah, so we, you're obviously part of the RAF and we've we've been supplying the RAF for a number of years, but before that was the Royal Marines and then the Royal Navy and you know so some army regiments, some police forces.
00:06:20
Colin McNeill
so
00:06:22
Joe Williams
And
00:06:22
Colin McNeill
But yeah, it's we cover all the military arms.
00:06:29
Joe Williams
then with the brand itself, I mean, I'm sat here drinking a cup of tea out an Outlaw mug. um I know you're there at Outlaw as well. You do a lot of stuff with them. Do you cover anything else with any other sporting events or is it just Outlaw or where can we look to see you in the future of that?
00:06:43
Colin McNeill
No, we have done. um and We've been to Ironman events. We've been involved with Long Course Weekend as well. There are other event organisers we're talking to in the background now, but the the one that we... And that was one of the big success stories for us right from the start.
00:07:01
Colin McNeill
I knew Ian, um who that point owned Outlaw, and we didn't know him well.
00:07:08
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:07:10
Colin McNeill
We we we had some... bike rides together in Lanzarote where he it lived part of the year and and so I knew him enough to out for a bike ride with and and having set risking up I went to to Outlaw and wanted to get involved with Ian and the Outlaw brand really and quite quickly on that's That was a big success for us that Ian brought us on board as the technical supplier of Outlaw Kit.
00:07:46
Colin McNeill
So we went along and did things they had they had never introduced before.
00:07:46
Joe Williams
Yeah. those you've been
00:07:52
Colin McNeill
branded cycle jerseys and you know rum vests that sort of thing so we went along at that point and just did the the technical side and it gave us some early kudos that we were involved with with Outlaw and so this this brand race skin you know all of a sudden is an Outlaw event so because Outlaw is so well respected we got you know some some respect out of that as well yeah yeah
00:08:16
Joe Williams
publicity from that as well. Yeah, that's good. And I know Outlaw, um over the years, again, you know they've they've bounced around the country they've put some events on for a few years and you know they've moved around and typically now you know they've got the the original grassroots one, but they're still evolving their system as well. So imagine you're going to continue to work alongside Outlaw and support them in the all the events they do in 2026 and beyond.
00:08:38
Colin McNeill
Yeah, lot I love their events. I love going to to the events. and And we've been there, as I say, for well over 10 years now at all the events. So yeah, that'll continue on 2026.
00:08:49
Joe Williams
Yeah, quite a, I'm actually witness to obviously helping you out some of these, these stores and these events and seeing how popular the Outlaw kit also is, and how quick that sells out.
00:08:51
Colin McNeill
twenty twenty six
00:09:02
Joe Williams
And then obviously you need more customers, stuff like that. So,
00:09:05
Colin McNeill
but Well, about four years ago, because Outlaw were were doing their own merchandise at that point, but then they wanted to outsource it to another company um because is you know you've got a lot of stock to store and and trying to develop new designs.
00:09:20
Colin McNeill
And so we tended for that and won that four or five years ago. And we've been doing all the official Outlaw merchandise ever since then. So, yeah.
00:09:31
Joe Williams
Yeah, that's good. Do you think, um you know, talking about the triathlon scene and stuff there, do you find or do you think that the UK triathlon scene quite new unique?
Triathlon Scene Post-COVID
00:09:42
Joe Williams
Bear in mind, you're an athlete yourself.
00:09:44
Colin McNeill
Thank you.
00:09:45
Joe Williams
Not so much these days, but I know historically you were. um Do you find any difference between UK events to being abroad? Do you see any change in the system at the minute or change in actually how triathlon is? You know, from personal experience, I see how quick events are selling out over the last 12 months.
00:10:03
Joe Williams
But is there anything you notice yourself within that?
00:10:06
Colin McNeill
Yeah, the one thing I would sort say is I saw quite a big downturn here in the UK after COVID um and events weren't selling out in the same way. I don't know whether too many events came or people just weren't after us all being locked I mean, the first year that we were allowed back out, everything was was very visible. After that, triathlon seemed to cha one seemed to be waning a little bit and I've seen that pick back up again now.
00:10:36
Colin McNeill
um
00:10:36
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:10:37
Colin McNeill
I've not raced abroad for the last couple of years.
00:10:37
Joe Williams
I think... Yeah.
00:10:39
Colin McNeill
um you know, obviously the biggest thing with the UK is, is the weather, you know, we're, we're prepared here to, to race in all conditions.
00:10:50
Colin McNeill
Whereas when you go abroad, really you're racing in generally the sun. I know there are some exceptions to that, but, and, and,
00:10:57
Joe Williams
Yeah. No, really don't.
00:11:00
Colin McNeill
you know I'd say that UK athletes travel well as well because no matter what race you go to, you always bump into people from the UK. you know There's always a big contingent from the UK. um
00:11:09
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:11:10
Colin McNeill
and I've literally raced on the other side of the world and still as a you know there'll be a ah large contingent there.
00:11:16
Joe Williams
yeah I think ill find I find with the triathlon community itself, it's everyone speaks to everyone as well. So like you say, you bump into people across the world. it's it's um It's nice to see, it's nice to witness. And I'm not convinced that all the other sports are exactly the same as that. I think some create a bit of a click as well. um But I do find in triathlon it's different. I think that's one of the reasons why why I've grown a passion for it and loved it is because everyone's been welcoming. Everyone's, you know, tends to speak and say hello. And and just that that simple high, you know, and you recognize people at different events goes a long way.
00:11:48
Colin McNeill
I've been recognised, in fact, not recognised, but I was speaking to somebody
00:11:48
Joe Williams
um
00:11:53
Colin McNeill
in um San Francisco. I went and did this, Kate from Alcatraz a couple of years ago. And i met a friend yours from the RAF. We just happened to be sat by, the the swim practice. And we we started chatting and he had RAF tri suit on. i was like, Oh, yeah.
00:12:14
Joe Williams
Yeah, I think that was Roy.
00:12:14
Colin McNeill
And, um, yeah, right. And, um, yeah, now that was great. Uh, great chat. we just bumped into each other. And then somebody else that I bumped into at that same event, I happened to be talking to her and she said she was from Skegness and she was, um,
00:12:32
Colin McNeill
I had a race skin top on and she went, oh, race skin, you know, our club buys all the stuff from there. and My friend that was with me at the time went, he owns race skin.
00:12:44
Colin McNeill
um you know, was like, I wish you'd not said that. But um and at that point, you couldn't be nicer to me and and was chatting away about how how much you love the kit.
00:12:55
Colin McNeill
And, you know, I've been in touch with her since then. So it is a triathlon community is quite a tight thing.
00:13:05
Joe Williams
yeah
00:13:06
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:13:07
Joe Williams
I think I know with race skin as such as a brand You do do individual items, but you find you more specialized in club kit or do you like to a bit both or is it like tri-suits for clubs? So then there's other stuff you make that people can purchase individually.
00:13:22
Colin McNeill
Yeah, that's how it started at custom. But then as we started to establish the brand race skin, um obviously there was a demand for um not just, it and there are individuals that do the sport and they're not part of a club or a team.
00:13:38
Colin McNeill
um So we produce our own tri-suits and cycle gear and you know various other things that if people want to, um where the the risk in brand that they can buy that as well. and
00:13:53
Joe Williams
Yeah, and how how do you think, um ah tying in with with that, the athletes, the kit, the you know the events and stuff like that, do you feel as as a brand it's important to to be at Expo? Do you think they hold value for you as a business? Do you think, they you know whether whether it's a case of you may not get the all the sales you require or or you would like, but you think it's quite valuable to be there in a visual perspective?
00:14:19
Colin McNeill
Yeah, I think you get good brand awareness, but more important for us is you get to interact with athletes. So we get to see cost to you know get get see customers and you get some honest feedback.
00:14:27
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:14:33
Colin McNeill
The thing I like about being at races is you see how passionate people are about the races. You see how much time and dedication they've put in. And it makes me want to do better, you know, almost.
00:14:48
Joe Williams
yeah
00:14:49
Colin McNeill
I'm like, these some of these people are ah putting in so much time and and and effort and and not even the people at the front, but the people that might take longer to finish as well.
00:15:00
Colin McNeill
um and And so I want to produce better kit and and more aerial kit maybe for the people at the front or more comfortable people kit for for someone that's spending 16 hours out on the race course.
00:15:17
Joe Williams
It is that, you know, and I and i do, ah I'm quite passionate about that as in, you know, those people at the podium end or those people at the, you know, the cutoff end. think from a general perspective, you know, if we look at elite level triathletes that get paid a wage by the sport and that's what they do, you know, they have to earn money, they have to get podiums and stuff like that.
00:15:36
Joe Williams
But ultimately, if there was everyone else that's in between, all the way back to that person that didn't, um that, you know, just crosses the line at the cutoff point, we're valuable to them elite athletes because if we weren't doing what we did, you know, paying our entry fees and buying all this kit and you know buying all these expensive bikes and everything else, then only the elite level, the pro level wouldn't get what they get out of the sport because it wouldn't be there. The money wouldn't be there.
00:16:00
Joe Williams
um So it's quite important to it, you know, as you say, to invest in all of those ice athletes from that side to that side, because they are all just as valuable. And that goes even into the clubs and stuff as well across the UK and across the world, I think. So it's, it's you know, for me as a coach, I do think it's valuable to to treat everyone equal in that respect, because those people that are earning money from it wouldn't get it if we weren't all doing what we did as as as a passion, I guess. Yeah.
00:16:28
Joe Williams
Yeah. um So do you, with your kit then, um and know i know there's and i know over the years there's been, especially through COVID again, there's been supply and demand issues and stuff like that and changes.
00:16:44
Joe Williams
um How do you battle them complexities around
Supply Chain and Cultural Challenges
00:16:48
Joe Williams
supply? Yeah. a
00:16:51
Colin McNeill
ah Yeah, it's about picking the right supplier and you can't get it right. Try your best. It's up to us to um to get the right factories. And some of the factories I've worked with right from the start, and I'm still working with.
00:17:14
Colin McNeill
um But yeah, there are there are challenges. There are challenges in culture. um you know There's not much language barrier, I've got to say, most most people.
00:17:29
Colin McNeill
But one of the challenges is culture and and shutdown. So in next month, we've got Chinese New Year, and which means all Chinese factories shut down.
00:17:40
Colin McNeill
for a month in August, the European thatches, so in Italy, Italy shuts for a month in August. um you know So you've got you've got certain points of the year that it becomes more challenging to to make kit.
00:17:49
Joe Williams
Amen.
00:17:58
Colin McNeill
And so you've just got to sort work around that.
00:18:01
Joe Williams
um guess I guess that's something you have to factor in as a supplier and liaising with clubs and stuff and letting them know that, you know, if you want to open club shops for kit, then these timeframes, you know, I have these specific slower periods for for different products, for different supply and and demand.
00:18:19
Joe Williams
um I guess that's an ever revolving wheel. And, you know, we know that, you know, a lot of kit, whatever it is we purchase, a lot of it comes from those places like China and stuff like that anyway. So that's obviously going to be an ever evolving thing.
00:18:34
Joe Williams
um But Italy we know is you know very popular in the sporting world, massive in the cycling industry.
00:18:40
Colin McNeill
Yeah, it is, yeah.
00:18:42
Joe Williams
so I'm guessing, i' not in fact, I'm doing Ironman Italy this year. That's the first time I'm going there to do an event personally. But I've never really seen much of the triathlon scene in Italy as such.
00:18:53
Joe Williams
I talk sort of focus more on the cycling because we get the tours and stuff like that. So it's quite interesting to see that you get supply for tri-kit from Italy.
00:19:00
Colin McNeill
but we We tend to buy our cycling kit from Italy rather than, um they do supply tri-kit as well, but the majority of the the um things that we've always bought from Italy is cycling because they are you they've got expertise in In CycleKit they make their own pads, it's just, you know, it's it's great.
00:19:26
Colin McNeill
We've got other factories in Europe that do try stuff and then we've got Chinese factories that do, that make wetsuits and make some of the other try, run, you know, other bits.
00:19:41
Joe Williams
So, race race can also offer wetsuits, don't they?
00:19:44
Colin McNeill
Yeah, we started we started making wetsuits back in 2018. um So again, that that was a gap that I thought that it was an offering that we didn't up to that point make. And I wanted to be able to offer there a wetsuit that would suit age group athletes.
Product Success and Innovation
00:20:08
Colin McNeill
I thought there was, again, a ah market there, a gap in the market, so that some of the wetsuits that might literally just be aimed at had it
00:20:21
Joe Williams
I know in 2025, the Outlaw team for the full distance, the swimmer was wearing one of your wetsuits and first had the water.
00:20:30
Colin McNeill
Yeah, Joe.
00:20:30
Joe Williams
Ridiculous time. Ridiculous time.
00:20:32
Colin McNeill
yeah
00:20:32
Joe Williams
It's sub 50 minutes or something.
00:20:35
Colin McNeill
And then the guy that won it, Samuel, after seeing George come out of the water, um then approached me. He got his parole licence and then approached me. And now we supply him with his wetsuit as well. So, yeah, it was a great, great successful event for us then. Yeah.
00:20:52
Joe Williams
Yeah, and I know George does a lot of training in Lanzarote as well, and he's always in his, you know, seeing more social media in his wetsuit out there as well. So it's nice to see. And obviously you've got a broad range of kit there for everyone that's interested, I guess.
00:21:05
Joe Williams
um So with the clubs then, you know, there's there's many clubs out there and some of them are larger than others. But working with clubs then, do you have to,
00:21:17
Joe Williams
do they Do they often do like kit change designs? How many suits and stuff would they need to order? how does How does that work for you as from a business perspective and working with clubs?
00:21:29
Colin McNeill
It's obviously a very different club to club. So some clubs would come and it might just be a group of friends. um you know all right is ah A group of us that started off our own club, we work with clubs as small as that. And maybe there's five of us and we want a new design, but we don't know, you know,
00:21:51
Colin McNeill
what we want and and so we can we have our own in-house design team that can help them and other clubs would come to us with a a design that they've had established for years don't want to change it and um you know it doesn't matter which way is know you know
00:22:09
Joe Williams
In fact, do they all like to get some sort of identity on there? So i know obviously you're based in Huddersfield, so Yorkshire, and I guess every club in Yorkshire wants Yorkshire Rose on their kit. Do you see that same across the UK? Do everyone have some sort of identity of where they come from?
00:22:22
Colin McNeill
No, you don't. And and i I've got to say, whilst some clubs have got the Yorkshire Rose on from Yorkshire, I know everyone thinks, oh, Yorkshire people are so, you know, being a Yorkshire man, proud to be Yorkshire. But there's lots of clubs that don't have the the Yorkshire Rose on.
00:22:40
Colin McNeill
um In fact, I would say the majority don't. So, no, it's not an identity.
00:22:43
Joe Williams
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:45
Colin McNeill
but Welsh, they're Welsh. Yeah. I was going to say, oh they're like they are very proud um but we Welsh people. they do it's not Every kit's not emblazoned with the the Welsh Dragon across it. or they so Now, you do see we can put flags on, country flags, and we've done that before. We supply clubs out in...
00:23:12
Colin McNeill
Dubai, where it might be very diverse, you know, people from around the world, their membership. And whilst it's a, know, a design that's, I'm trying to say that if each individual country, the they can, they can put their flag on the, on the sleeve, even though the rest of the the thing looks uniform.
00:23:34
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:23:37
Joe Williams
Yeah. Yeah. So yeah.
00:23:39
Colin McNeill
So,
00:23:39
Joe Williams
So it's all kind of, the design is the same, but there's a bit of identity or of personality in there to where each person comes from in the world.
00:23:47
Colin McNeill
Yeah, and you can put your name you know you can put your name on and your your country code if if that's what you want to do on the ah on the suit. So, yeah, we can.
00:23:56
Joe Williams
So if there's any clubs out there at the minute that listen to this and they're looking to to get some kit done done for their club, what is that process then? And what is the the design process from your perspective if they're able get in touch? How would that work?
00:24:09
Colin McNeill
Yeah, so they would speak to us. They would you either get in touch through with the website or oh give us a ring and tell us that they they were looking for new kit, we would then um sort of send them out prices and and talk to them about the the level of kit because we offer different levels of kit that they might want.
00:24:30
Colin McNeill
and um And then from the design process, we have a designer in-house. So we'd talk to them about the design. We'd send them them out various designs.
00:24:40
Colin McNeill
We'd do three or four different designs for them. And that, again, would depend on So if you were coming with your try wolf and saying, I want to ah change the design a little, I'd talk to you about the colors and what you might want on there and sponsors logos and that sort of thing.
00:24:56
Colin McNeill
And and then get all those elements together and design something and send you those designs back and work on it.
00:24:57
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:25:01
Joe Williams
I guess it helped them with all this sizing as well. That would help them with all that, you know, i guess with samples.
00:25:05
Colin McNeill
Yeah, we'd send out full sizing kit, yeah, so that once I knew what items it was that they were thinking of ordering, so if it was tri-suits and cycle kit, we might send out you know a range of sizes for club members to be able to try on and and order.
00:25:10
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:25:23
Colin McNeill
Because each manufacturer, that's that's a thing, you're not a standard medium or a standard large across different manufacturers.
00:25:34
Colin McNeill
So it's it's quite essential, especially with tri-suits. Everyone wants it to to fit well and fit fit nice and tight. So to try on rather than just trying to use a size guide to pick out.
00:25:47
Joe Williams
Yeah, I know with with my, I'm in my tri suit obviously from myself as well. And I know um I've always opted to have, you know, the the better grade padding in there, which we call a more elite padding there for obvious reasons, just to make it more comfortable for myself. You know, I typically race,
00:26:02
Joe Williams
the long course so the Ironman distance and stuff like that so for me that's something I invest more in knowing that I'll get more out of that personally when I'm out on the bike for 112 miles knowing that you've got to run afterwards so it's good that you've got the flexibility and you're able to do that with your kit as well so I think that's really really a good thing that you do and something that you offer the clubs as well
00:26:21
Colin McNeill
Yeah, we can offer pad upgrades and and we've even done personalised now. Not that i want everyone to come with a personalised length of, but we have done that for for people as well where they say, okay, I've tried the tri-suit on, but I'm,
00:26:36
Colin McNeill
four foot nine and and you know the the legs need to be a little bit shorter. where It fits everywhere else, but you know we can but could tailor it as well if if... I hope I'm not opening a can of worms here.
00:26:49
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:26:50
Colin McNeill
But yes, it's it's important to us that the kit fits athletes well.
00:26:50
Joe Williams
roll what
00:26:55
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:26:55
Colin McNeill
you know That is important to us, not just selling something that...
00:26:58
Joe Williams
Yeah. um And ah um what do you, reckon what do you looking back then over the many years you've been doing it now, what's the most unusual request you think you've had when it comes to kit?
Creative Design and Logistics
00:27:09
Colin McNeill
a I don't know if could even say it.
00:27:12
Joe Williams
don't have name a club.
00:27:13
Colin McNeill
and No, well, I definitely wouldn't. um Yeah, some because we do work with clubs abroad as well, um some of the designs that you see and some of the colours that they pick that they want you to work with are not the choice that we might make. Should of try and diplomatically say it that way and you're like...
00:27:37
Colin McNeill
No, it's hard to say doesn't look great.
00:27:37
Joe Williams
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, look. I always on Google and look at, you know, ah or you know I guess you can use AI now, used always look at Google and go, what colours work well with each other? And then obviously it will give you a full screen of whatever works for whatever in a way to match.
00:27:47
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:27:51
Joe Williams
i think that's a good way to do it. I mean, for for me, i pick the green because it stands out so well. And that's the way I went down that road. I know it was ah it's a massive safety aspect when we look at how green works with being out the road, whether you're cycling and stuff like that.
00:28:04
Joe Williams
And you can see this color green from 130, 150 meters plus.
00:28:09
Colin McNeill
yeah
00:28:10
Joe Williams
But that's for me, it was a safety aspect to say, yes, I want it to be seen and visible, but it was more, I wanted myself and my athletes that i coached to be to be seen on the road, to be safe. And I've had people that I know um but we We even see it outlaw, you know, you're you on one side of the lake and you can see this green on the other side. And it and it's great in ah in in a race where spectators and friends and family can see their athletes, but that was never my incentive for It was just to make sure that athletes were safe when they were out on the road cycling, because we know how dangerous UK cycling is, you know, with traffic and potholes and various other road conditions that we have. um
00:28:47
Joe Williams
But it just transferred into the triathlon world where you can see it so far away. And, you know, I said 130, 150 meters, but we know the length of that nu lake at Outlaw is far greater than that.
00:28:59
Colin McNeill
yeah
00:29:00
Joe Williams
And we can still see it.
00:29:01
Colin McNeill
As you were talking about it, that's what I was thinking about. about thinking about kits that you could see from the other side of the lake and that sort of thing. So there are some colours, I want to, but if you if you said red and and black, for instance, there's a lot of kits in those type of colours or blue and white, so they don't stand out the same.
00:29:09
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:29:25
Colin McNeill
um So if you're looking for your athletes, it's quite difficult. And sometimes we've got photographers out there and you're trying to look for kit and um if i if you're coming towards me you know it's you from hundreds of meters away so you're like all right but yeah
00:29:36
Joe Williams
That's when you don't want to wipe. Yeah.
00:29:43
Joe Williams
And that's when you don't want to wipe tri-suit when the photographers are right there, right? Because obviously when you sweat, you're making liquid all over yourself and they become see-through.
00:29:51
Colin McNeill
that is one of the disaster colors that you know there has been a few haven't there from not necessarily ones that we've designed but over the years that you might have seen um
00:29:52
Joe Williams
But yeah.
00:29:58
Joe Williams
Yeah. didn't even say at elite level.
00:30:00
Colin McNeill
You know, Sky has gone to White Shorts, I think, now.
00:30:01
Joe Williams
Elite level. with
00:30:03
Colin McNeill
So I've not actually ah seen what the White Shorts look like.
00:30:05
Joe Williams
Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:08
Colin McNeill
But I know Sky, Sky, sorry, Ineos, which used to be Sky, have gone to White Shorts, haven't they, this year, which has caused a lot of chat about it.
00:30:12
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:30:17
Joe Williams
I don't know. We used to see... Yeah, Kristen Blumefeld used to always wear his white denim, and now it is white, but he's got his black shorts or very dark blue shorts, whatever they are, for obviously that reason as well.
00:30:28
Joe Williams
So, yeah, it's um it's never been a colour that's there's been one that stands out to me that, oh, yeah, want white. They look great when you're you're nice and dry, but i think when you you start sweating and, you know, you you're soaking wet from...
00:30:40
Colin McNeill
Beige as well. That's another, like a skin-toned coloured one. That's not a great colour.
00:30:45
Joe Williams
No, no, and I bet there's been some
00:30:46
Colin McNeill
thank Thankfully, I've not had too many clubs go and say, I want to use this skin tone. Yeah.
00:30:52
Joe Williams
Yeah, I think there's been some pro cycling teams that have done that skin colour before as well.
00:30:56
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:30:57
Joe Williams
Yeah, big errors. They don't tend to last 10 months. um So, but you know, i guess you're based in Huddersfield then. I know you've just recently moved offices and stuff like that. All your contact details and everything else are the same on your website, I'm assuming.
00:31:14
Joe Williams
So how is it, how do you find logistics then for yourself or um for going to these events and stuff like that? I know, you know, it's, you have a lot of supplies stuff you have to pack up and take with you.
00:31:26
Joe Williams
Do you have to go earlier? Do you leave later? Do you get to an expo and then realize i've forgot something? what happens then?
00:31:32
Colin McNeill
You just just try and set me up there because you know that of but I once turned up and forgot the roof to the gazebo. um Yes, that has happened before where um you're a few hours away and the worst thing that you could possibly do is forget the roof to the gazebo if you turned up somewhere.
00:31:52
Colin McNeill
but And now it's a standing joke every time I turn up to Outlaw, did you bring the roof, Colin?
00:31:56
Joe Williams
I really got it. Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:58
Colin McNeill
So...
00:31:59
Joe Williams
That's something you'll never to make that mistake again. That'd be the first thing you pack away, right?
00:32:02
Colin McNeill
It is the thing that we constantly check over and over and over again to make sure we've got the roof. Yeah, yeah lots.
00:32:10
Joe Williams
Yeah. and I guess that ties into weather disasters. Have you had any over the years?
00:32:15
Colin McNeill
um It's just unpredictable, isn't it? I think you were actually racing one year when Outlaw, it rained overnight. So was the day before.
00:32:25
Joe Williams
Yeah. I came out of the water.
00:32:26
Colin McNeill
It was lovely.
00:32:27
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:32:28
Colin McNeill
And the day before, and then it rained overnight and it just started, think, as the race set off, it just started to rain again. And then by the time you came out of the water, like some of the roads were flooded across the road and they to cancel the bike.
00:32:44
Joe Williams
Yeah,
00:32:47
Colin McNeill
So that wasn't particularly great for him.
00:32:49
Joe Williams
yeah i remember I remember that. quite vividly actually coming out of the water and it was you got you getting all the helpers pulling you out and then it was don't rush don't rush you're not biking and everyone was like what but some people were really fuming about it and i remember um i want my bike back now because they're all in transition one stuff like that and it just wasn't as easy as that and you know you couldn't cycled in that condition anyway i mean some of that flood water under them flyovers you couldn't get a car through it so
00:33:15
Colin McNeill
yeah If you saw the pictures afterwards, you understand why. they you know It wasn't even it was the police that had so i said you can't let this race go ahead. and and yeah the
00:33:25
Joe Williams
It was good.
00:33:26
Colin McNeill
where they can play a part in triathlon and in in both places.
00:33:30
Joe Williams
I think I went out
00:33:31
Colin McNeill
Because I don't know whether you were there the year that, I think they had it 35 degrees there one year as well, where their tarmac was melting as they were in Rana Lake. So, yeah.
00:33:42
Joe Williams
funny it It's funny how UK infrastructure can't deal with these variants in weather, but if you go into Europe and they have, yes, they might have a shorter winter, but this is' pretty more it's a bit more extreme, but their roads don't you know crumble under ice and rain and ever snow and everything else.
00:33:55
Joe Williams
And then they have a really hot summer and their roads don't melt. I just don't understand how the UK can't get it right. And I always think, well, maybe maybe the products they use aren't to the same standard, or maybe they you know they've just use cheaper products and stuff.
00:34:02
Colin McNeill
it.
00:34:08
Joe Williams
And in Europe, they spend bit more, but it's... um Yeah, it's definitely interesting to see and and you know cycling a lot on UK roads. We see how much they've degraded over the years and now they just can't keep up with them. So I guess i guess that's that's something events have to think about now as well when they're doing their planning and preparation and and you know route selection. And if they're using the same route they've used for many years, can they still use that same route if the road conditions aren't up to help to scratch?
00:34:35
Joe Williams
um One for the event organizers, I guess, that one.
00:34:39
Colin McNeill
Yeah, i mean i did ah I did Dubai 70.3 the year of COVID actually. thought that be And the the difference in the roads there was like riding on glass and i was like, oh, wish I wish our roads were like this.
00:34:55
Joe Williams
yeah
00:34:55
Colin McNeill
But you ride around now in the UK and of the roads are polled, aren't they?
00:34:55
Joe Williams
Yeah, i
00:35:00
Colin McNeill
And it's difficult. yeah Especially if you're on your aero bars as well.
00:35:03
Joe Williams
it is difficult. it
00:35:06
Colin McNeill
That's, you know, in traffic contest.
00:35:07
Joe Williams
Yeah, i think the saving grace with the big events though, it's the bigger ones the roads are closed so you yes you might have to you know in the run the potholes are marked and you might have to swerve and miss things but there's not really traffic on them it's the smaller ones where you may be coming across traffic as well which answers that you know race head you're on your tri-suits on yeah you're clipped in you've got your glasses on and and off you go and people forget about potential traffic you know and stuff like that as well so um
00:35:17
Colin McNeill
Thank you.
00:35:35
Colin McNeill
I'd almost forgot that you're racing at some of the shorter distance races. you know it's It's just open roads. And that's how started. I started racing in sprint distance char phones. And um last year did Rippon.
00:35:52
Colin McNeill
Now I've had years and years and years of racing at Outlaw and 70.3 and roads are closed. And then then when when I did this event, enough you know and the roads were all open and I forgot that I was sort of riding through, not through traffic, but that you're on the road with traffic. so
00:36:13
Joe Williams
yeah what what whatd you think you would but What would be your bit of advice then um as being an athlete, as being a business owner, supplying many
Advice for Newcomers
00:36:22
Joe Williams
clubs? What would you give them? Someone starting out in the sport, what do you think you would give them as a bit of advice as being a newbie to the sport as such?
00:36:28
Colin McNeill
someone who was just new to triathlon.
00:36:32
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:36:32
Colin McNeill
um
00:36:35
Colin McNeill
when it comes to racing there's so much information out there constantly at least when I started there wasn't all the millions of social media posts and and things to you know like your mind there's some great information out there but everyone there's so much information if you're if you're new to the sport you could be pulled in 15 different directions that's the
00:36:56
Joe Williams
Oh,
00:37:05
Colin McNeill
That's the thing. um and it I'd just be sort saying, enjoy it. Your first race, going to make probably lots of mistakes. and um please yeah yeah
00:37:16
Joe Williams
ah you made mistakes not even on your first one. I've made some mistakes.
00:37:23
Colin McNeill
Definitely in your first one, though. um you know Sort of set realistic goals.
00:37:24
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:37:29
Colin McNeill
um you know Maybe look to get a coach, that'd be a big one. you know thatd be a big one um
00:37:43
Joe Williams
Yeah, I guess don't get flooded by the masses of social media and pick what's right for you. And normally what I always say to people is it's most of us, we're not here to make a living out doing the sport. So it's, you've got to enjoy it all the time. um Otherwise it's pointless.
00:37:59
Colin McNeill
Yeah, I'd sort of written down, I think, so something earlier about starting out in triathlon and saying, remember to enjoy it. And it's not a job. And, you know, those are some of the things that, you know, you can get caught almost too much in it and stress as if your living depends on it.
00:38:16
Joe Williams
Yes.
00:38:18
Colin McNeill
Well, the only people that should be feeling that pressure is people who are earning, you know, the professionals that are earning a living and have got to appear on a podium. and
00:38:28
Joe Williams
And it goes back to, I think goes back to that, what you said at the very start there about, you know, it's good to be exposed yourself and and be with the athletes and see them and get supporting them and, you know, your kids out there and you're supporting them that are wearing stuff like that as well.
00:38:41
Joe Williams
But, you know, and they spend many hours doing their training. So it's important to be there to support them as well. um and it And it is that I think it's don't, is to always enjoy it. And that's, you know, it is a hobby. Don't put pressure on yourself. And if people are there, i always say to people, if it's the first one, you are nervous.
00:38:59
Joe Williams
But even if it's your 20th one, you are nervous. If you're an elite level athlete, you are nervous.
00:39:02
Colin McNeill
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:39:04
Joe Williams
That's, that doesn't change whoever it is. Um, and you've just got to get on that start line and just start. And as soon as you start, all of them nerves disappear and then just break it down into blocks and just like you say, enjoy it.
00:39:18
Joe Williams
Um,
00:39:18
Colin McNeill
but Those nerves are probably a good thing anyway. See your body getting you know ready to race into it and then just don't let it become overwhelming. Yeah.
00:39:28
Joe Williams
Yeah, well, before I did triathlon, I did a bit skydiving and i lost I lost the buzz for it and I got no excitement out of it. And that was a turning point for me.
00:39:38
Joe Williams
i was like, this is, I think this is either going to go one or two ways, either an accident is going to happen or I'm going to want to go and dive into doing stuff like base jumping and stuff like that to get the thrill.
00:39:40
Colin McNeill
Thank you.
00:39:49
Joe Williams
So I was like, and not enough's enough for this. i'm And I parked that. And I did a bit of, i didn't do triathlon as such, but I did the disciplines just through if you work really. And you know I used to cycle to work. used to swim.
00:40:00
Joe Williams
used to go to the gym. used to obviously do a bit of running and stuff. and just chatting through some friends and they'd done some triathlons and then it, it led me on that path. Then obviously i got involved and I thought, I really enjoy this. Um, and I, ah personally, I love, I love training probably more than I do racing weirdly. Um, but I feel like I've got to justify all the training by going and doing racing.
00:40:23
Joe Williams
Um, what I love about it.
00:40:23
Colin McNeill
That's funny because I had a conversation exactly the same as that with a friend the other day and we were both talking and saying it's the whole process of training that I love. It's, you know, that and the racing but bit of it, almost I can take it or leave it, you know.
00:40:32
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:40:40
Colin McNeill
I like to do the racing because, you know, that that that's almost the end goal, but it is the it's the training bit that I really love doing and, yeah.
00:40:40
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:40:45
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:40:48
Joe Williams
What's that lifestyle? The lifestyle there. um but And I would say when you stood on a star line, you know, to get in the water at six o'clock in the morning, that's, it's almost like, I wouldn't, I would say forced fun.
00:41:00
Joe Williams
It's, you love the sport and you love it, but it's like, you're forced to be there. Would you be there normally on a Saturday morning, Sunday morning? Possibly not. you you know You probably have a lion and then go for your swim. um So it's kind of like it's not on your terms, whereas most of your training might be on your terms. So I think that's that's the thing I find different is if want to go ride my bike, I plan to do that. Whereas if want to go and do a race, I'm now stuck to someone else's timings.
00:41:25
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:41:25
Joe Williams
Maybe that's the issue.
00:41:26
Colin McNeill
Although when I'm at expos, when I'm at race expos and they're about to set off, um I can't tell you sometimes how I'm like, I wish I was in about to get in the water now, because i know what I know that feeling that they're all going through at that point.
00:41:35
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:41:37
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:41:39
Colin McNeill
So...
00:41:39
Joe Williams
Yeah. It was an event. And then then when they cross the line as well, you know, it's that elation and, you know, you see tears and everything else. And and I think that pays a big part of it. And and again, you know, are people I've, I've coached and I've gone and done events with, and you know, I've crossed the line and then I'm waiting for them to come through.
00:41:56
Joe Williams
and I see them get emotional. It makes me emotional. And I and parcel of the sports. It's quite good. So, um, so yeah, cool. Um,
00:42:08
Joe Williams
So do you see what do you see with Rayskin now? you know Looking for this year and beyond, have you got some some updates, some amendments, you going to keep designing the kit? Where do you see your kit
Product Development and Future Events
00:42:19
Joe Williams
going?
00:42:19
Colin McNeill
Yeah, we constantly look at it year on year. So if you took the tri-suit that we had 10 years ago and where it developed, it just wouldn't be the same thing. Fabrics are constantly changing and we're trying to bring in new developments all time. as fabrics, sometimes they don't change and there's no point in changing it for the sake of change. But it might even be something as simple as the premium tri-suit this year has got slightly changed the pattern and then the sleeves have got high-speed Lycra sleeves and that sort of thing. So the slight updates to improve the suit, which makes it slightly more aerodynamic and
00:43:07
Joe Williams
that Is that you looking for advancements in aerodynamics and stuff, or is that the the companies are also looking to develop it that way as well? And it kind of falls into...
00:43:16
Colin McNeill
Yeah, both. th but it's not it's not all about just aerodynamics and being aero.
00:43:18
Joe Williams
of it
00:43:24
Colin McNeill
Yes, that's important. But it's about making it comfortable as well. It's just it's the same almost as going for a bike fit. You could could make the most aero suit ever when you're on the tri bike. But if it's not comfortable and you can't,
00:43:40
Colin McNeill
sit there in that position um for for five hours then it's sort of pointless you've got to then be able to get off and run in it and it'd be comfortable and you've got to be able to swim in it and and so it's an overall package that you're looking at and and the materials again what might be the most aero material might not be
00:43:43
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:44:03
Colin McNeill
sori you know as breathable or whatever so it's this this whole combination and finding a suit that weighed over heat in it and
00:44:12
Joe Williams
yeah and again You get a lot of athletes out there that are looking for all these marginal gains and you know they might be looking for the the very top aero suit, but in reality, they might able to make those gains by just having a bit more specific specific specificity in their training. or in a It might not be the kit, it might be the way they train that would give them the increases they're looking for rather than looking for their marginal gains in suits at that point. I guess it's...
00:44:37
Joe Williams
guesses people are so individual and that you've got various ranges of kit and it's looking at that for your club um so yeah yeah
00:44:44
Colin McNeill
If you get a comfortable, well-fitting suit, unless you're talking, you know, 10 to the second, you're right at the very, very top end. You know, is it's not going to make any difference. The, um,
00:45:02
Colin McNeill
you know, the wind tunnel, you know, slight difference in in material in your sleeve. It just isn't. I ah see people with aero helmets on it in races where they're sat up on the top of the tri bars because they're, uh, And with the head down like that, so the the big points pointing up and they're almost, they've got a sail on the top of the head and they've got all this this kit and it's, they can't hold the bike position or, you know, what what's more more important is it's a combination of comfort and aero comfort.
00:45:26
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:45:31
Joe Williams
That's right. I think, yeah.
00:45:37
Joe Williams
Yeah. And I think that would like kind of elaborate to where I was going with it in a better content. You kind of triggered a trigger me in my brain little bit there. is It's all when good having all these best selling trisuits everything else, but it is right, about being comfortable. And someone might make that performance gain by having a proper bike fit and being on the bike properly. It's not gonna be the trisuits because that's the way they're on the bike. So having the proper bike fit and making sure they are as aero as they can be. And I guess, a but you know, bike fits are important for for comfort, for reduction or not getting injured as well. So obviously if we're not cycling properly and stuff, then we can lead into injuries and everything else.
00:46:17
Joe Williams
um
00:46:18
Colin McNeill
If you had a trisoe when it's flapping around or you've got any clothing item and it's flapping around and like creating a
00:46:19
Joe Williams
So, yeah. Yeah.
00:46:24
Colin McNeill
almost a sale-like effect, that that is going to have ah an effect on performance, no matter how comfortable it is, thats you wouldn't want it like that either. So it it's kind of a combination between the the two, really.
00:46:37
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:46:38
Joe Williams
And all your suits and stuff, you're catering, you've got women's suits and you've got men's suits and stuff as well, don't you?
00:46:43
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:46:45
Joe Williams
Yeah. So I think clubs looking out there then.
00:46:45
Colin McNeill
So, and different obviously different paths for the genders as well.
00:46:47
Joe Williams
you can
00:46:49
Colin McNeill
And, yeah. yeah So,
00:46:53
Joe Williams
So I think with the clubs and then with their looking at your suits, you could come up with various designs for them or they could have an idea they could come to you with and be like, we've got, this is ah an idea. You can provide them with some prototypes and then, you know, lean on from what you said before, you can send them some some ideas, send them some kits to try different styles of kit and then different sizes for male, females and cater for everyone in the club, I guess.
00:47:17
Colin McNeill
Yeah. And it we can do a whole range of kit.
00:47:22
Colin McNeill
back from swimwear all the way through you know to the tri-suit. So we now do, we started off with just triathlon clubs and cycle clubs and just offered those ranges, but now it's sort of all the different training kit in between and even casual wear. so
00:47:42
Joe Williams
Yeah. Yeah. I think I've seen you with um even run kit, like running leggings and all sorts in the past.
00:47:48
Colin McNeill
yes Yeah, it's... this
00:47:50
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:47:51
Colin McNeill
it's almost a price list. If somebody said, oh, send me your full price list, there's hundreds of items on it. It just blows people's minds. We must do nine or ten different types of short-sleeved jersey.
00:48:03
Colin McNeill
And, you know, it's probably more than that even. but
00:48:07
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:48:09
Colin McNeill
And if you put all those on, they'd be like, well, I don't understand what's the difference, but it's, again, it's just difference in materials and fit and some are are much tighter fit, some are more aero material. It's about a conversation with the people that are wanting to buy the kit manager or whoever it is that we're speaking to in the first place and saying, what is it that you want? I got an inquiry yesterday for 40 jerseys for a sportive ride and
00:48:50
Colin McNeill
that's more, ah they're just wearing it once. They're wearing it for this one ride, so it wants to be comfortable for the ride. But it doesn't need to be the top, cutting-edge sort of materials because they might have it as a souvenir afterwards, but they're just using it for this one event.
00:49:00
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:49:08
Colin McNeill
So that would be a different jersey to someone that is saying, I'm ae racing crits and I want it to be the most aero jersey it possibly can.
00:49:24
Joe Williams
do you ever Do you ever get people come up to to races then that have
00:49:29
Joe Williams
forgotten kit and they're like, I've forgotten this. And what's the most popular product you think people come up to? I've forgotten this. have you got?
00:49:38
Colin McNeill
I'll tell you what everyone forgets on race days, race belts, which is great because we sell them race belts. but um and And that's why everyone's got a collection of race belts. you've been in the sport for any length of time, you've got this collection of race belts because you're like, I've got my race belt again.
00:49:53
Joe Williams
Yeah, yeah.
00:49:53
Colin McNeill
And then I suppose after you've bought 10, maybe you think, right, i but I need to write this down somewhere that can make that. on my thing but i've had people forget wetsuits before that's
00:50:01
Joe Williams
I've done that.
00:50:09
Colin McNeill
I once took the wrong wetsuit to a race in Australia yeah yeah
00:50:11
Joe Williams
Yeah. Yeah. yeah i i do I did an open water swim the day before and I'd hung up to hang my wetsuit up to dry out. Yep. Take it next day. left it in the morning, early morning to go to race, got there. i was like, I forgot wetsuit.
00:50:26
Joe Williams
And it was too far to drive back and get it. There wasn't really any, it was but it was a monster event. Years ago, this was. But I wasn't brand new to this, but I'd been doing it a little bit, you know. um
00:50:36
Colin McNeill
Yeah.
00:50:37
Joe Williams
And it was a half distance event and they were like, can't let you do it. And the race officials there and everything. And that says, why not? And they were like, it's too cold. I says within the British triathlon guidelines, that water temperature is okay.
00:50:49
Joe Williams
It's legitimate for going without a wetsuit. And they were really quite cautious and panicky about it. And, uh, I did the swim. but It was bloody cold. It was cold. Um,
00:51:00
Joe Williams
But yeah, I did the swim and I could see someone like walking around. they had their eyes on me the whole time just in case someone went wrong. um But it was within within the parameters. It was a mistake, one of my mistakes I've made. um But it was within the legal temperatures for us to do, you know, the event swimming. But it was, I remember it was so cold.
00:51:21
Joe Williams
But hey, I'm not forgetting it since. I've never never forgotten one since.
00:51:25
Colin McNeill
We've sold a few wet suits a day before our race because people have forgotten them. So it's a that's an expensive thing to, you know, race mistake to make.
00:51:32
Joe Williams
yeah
00:51:35
Colin McNeill
So,
00:51:36
Joe Williams
yeah i've seen it i've seen it you know you might get a mic announcement such and such has forgotten their wetsuit they normally wear this has anyone got a spare one and and again you know the triathlon community people do step up and like yeah i'm spectating but i've i've got myak my kit anyway i'm spectating my partner you can use this i'm gonna after you i've seen it i've seen it with bikes um happen at once as well so it's quite good um
00:51:55
Colin McNeill
Yep.
00:51:57
Colin McNeill
I don't know you forget your bike. But, you know, as far as I suppose it's possible.
00:52:01
Joe Williams
Well, I don't, I've seen it. Yeah. Well, I think if you're traveling abroad and stuff, bikes don't arrive, do they?
00:52:08
Colin McNeill
Yeah, bikes don't arrive, that happened to me once.
00:52:08
Joe Williams
Airlines. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:52:11
Colin McNeill
Not for a race, but for a training week that I'd gone away for and half the week went before it turned up.
00:52:11
Joe Williams
um
00:52:18
Colin McNeill
So...
00:52:19
Joe Williams
Yeah. And I've seen it. I've known bit of a people to have these bike racks on their cars and they've gone into a service station to get, you know, a a coffee or lunch or use the loop and they come out and the bikes gone.
00:52:30
Joe Williams
I've heard of that happening as well.
00:52:31
Colin McNeill
Oh, no, no. night
00:52:32
Joe Williams
I'm absolutely devastated with you, but hey, lessons learned, guess. um Cool. So i think you've got lot of kit out there for clubs, I guess. If anyone's interested, they can get in touch with you and and find out what you've got on offer and you can work with them and do some some kit designs and size and everything else.
00:52:53
Joe Williams
um What events do you think you're going to see we're going to see racing at this year?
00:52:57
Colin McNeill
It definitely will be all the Outlaw ones, possibly Long Course Weekend, Wales.
00:53:08
Colin McNeill
We've sort of stopped doing the the Ironman ones now, but ah those are the confirmed ones so far. So maybe maybe some others, yeah, as I say.
00:53:18
Joe Williams
yeah okay
00:53:20
Colin McNeill
Yep.
00:53:20
Joe Williams
you get this I mean you're on social media you've got all your social media channels Instagram and stuff like that so people can find you on there as well cool I think it'd be good to get your publicising your events on there what you going to be taking part in this year get them on your social media
00:53:39
Colin McNeill
Might even take a part a few this year. I've started running again. So yeah.
00:53:43
Joe Williams
what post back injury good
00:53:45
Colin McNeill
Yeah. It's all going well. I looked at some sprint work the other day when I managed to make my calf slightly tight for the last couple of days, but yeah, it's all going
00:53:57
Joe Williams
What have got your eye on then?
00:54:02
Colin McNeill
well. A friend wants to go and race in Poland. later on this year and do the the half in Poland. And I quite fancy doing the new Outlaw Middle, you know, same day as Outlaw.
00:54:17
Joe Williams
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:54:17
Colin McNeill
Just because I've done all the other ones and I've not done that long. Obviously, it's a new race. So...
00:54:22
Joe Williams
Yeah. when they when they announced When they announced that there was a new event coming, um I thought it was going to be something along the lines of a T100 type um distance. But obviously it had gone into the half.
00:54:34
Joe Williams
So yeah, it's good. But i think they've had
00:54:36
Colin McNeill
and think that That's idea. All those resources are there on that day put on outlaw. Why not do a half?
00:54:42
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:54:42
Colin McNeill
That's a great idea.
00:54:43
Joe Williams
hello hello
00:54:43
Colin McNeill
so let Yeah, there's like a gravel triathlon the day before, I think, that they do yeah on the ground.
00:54:44
Joe Williams
i know in their event they got in in Holcombe, they've evolved that over the last couple of years, haven't they? They've chucked in some some trail bike stuff and things like that as well, which has been really popular.
00:54:57
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:54:58
Colin McNeill
That might be another one I might do. I've not done that one.
00:55:01
Joe Williams
There you go. Gravel on. Yeah. In fact, I'm looking at, or the weather is, it's just now looking at, I just, I like the turbo and I love riding outside, but I find that if I go and get in the turbo and I get in the routine, I'm doing that sort of on a daily occurrence, then I get, I tend to go that way more often. And then when the summer comes and I'm outside, then I won't really go on the turbo. So i'm I'm looking at,
00:55:25
Joe Williams
cycle mountain bike sort of area just to see if i through the winter months i can still get out because like being outside um but
00:55:32
Colin McNeill
Yeah, it's much it's much more fun being outside, although, like you say, this week I'm i'm not so sure.
00:55:36
Joe Williams
yeah yeah
00:55:38
Colin McNeill
And after my, I'm sorry, the listeners don't know, but I broke my back last May in the gym. um And so I've not really been on my bike, sit well, I've not been outside on my bike since.
00:55:52
Colin McNeill
And I've hardly even been on my turbo. So if I'm going to race, I need to start to to ride again.
00:55:59
Joe Williams
and you've got full motion back now. You'll able to get down on a bike.
00:56:01
Colin McNeill
Yeah, it's all fine. back at the... I'm even high rocks training at the moment, although that's swearing, I think, to triathletes currently.
00:56:04
Joe Williams
Or maybe have to come to you.
00:56:08
Colin McNeill
my book
00:56:09
Joe Williams
Yeah. I don't know. A lot triathletes crossing over to it through these these three months and stuff like that.
00:56:14
Colin McNeill
Yeah, through winter months, just keeping the training and interesting.
00:56:15
Joe Williams
Yeah.
00:56:16
Colin McNeill
and
00:56:18
Joe Williams
It's not for me. Not for me though. they all They all got the tops off, haven't they?
00:56:21
Colin McNeill
No.
00:56:24
Joe Williams
They run around with no top on.
00:56:25
Colin McNeill
Yeah, I don't think I'd do that. That's no good for me anyway, is it?
00:56:27
Joe Williams
it
00:56:30
Joe Williams
but no maybe i'll have to come i yeah yeah well if i get outside in this weather and i think january february should be quite cold maybe i'll come to you for some winter kit um keep me warm when i'm out there but um because i definitely won't be cycling as fast as we're doing the summertime no okay i think well thanks very much for for talking to us today i think um
00:56:30
Colin McNeill
I need to be there going put this vest on.
00:56:46
Colin McNeill
No, no good.
00:56:55
Joe Williams
just as, you know, what we'll do is we'll get ah your contact details, your Instagram stuff and things like that. And we'll add that to the the podcast and we'll put that on our social media channels anyway out there, which will be fantastic.
00:57:03
Colin McNeill
Yep.
00:57:09
Joe Williams
And it'd be good to see you more so this year at events, no doubt. And maybe in the future, we'll get you back on and we can talk about race again more so as the year goes on.
00:57:15
Colin McNeill
Yeah, you definitely will.
00:57:21
Colin McNeill
Okay, great. Thanks for having me on.
00:57:22
Joe Williams
Thanks.
00:57:24
Colin McNeill
Cheers, Scott.
00:57:25
Joe Williams
No, thank you very much. Great to speak to you. And ah we'll see race again at events throughout 2026.
00:57:27
Colin McNeill
You too.
00:57:31
Colin McNeill
You will.