The weather all morning was ominous, with clouds big and dark enough that it you saw them in a movie you'd balk at their obvious symbolism and heavy-handedness. It seemed unlikely that we'd get through the race without some precipitation, (even though it's sparkling Downtown as I write this) and we indeed did not. The cloud omen proved true in another way, as upon opening co-racer Nick's trunk we discovered that his bike tire had developed an incurable (for us) flat, marking the third time in six triathlons his bike has experienced a pre-race deflation. Anyway, my small band and I hopped in the lake (which was warmer than the air) later than anticipated thanks to an unusually pokey female Sprinter...

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This year's Cycle Show had a definite tarmac bias, with road, commuter and e-bikes everywhere you looked, and just a smattering of mountain bikes and kit. TLD's 2012 Skyline Corona jersey, Ace shorts, XC gloves, 5550 arm pads and 5450 leg pads. We were particularly taken by the latest Ace shorts and Skyline Corona jersey, but the big news is the new 5000 series pads. Troy Lee Designs always have an eye-catching booth at trade shows and at the NEC it was their custom-painted Specialized Demo downhill bike that took pride of place, with its sparkly orange paintjob and SRAM X0 World Cup brakes. The mesh construction and Vent-Trak air channels help keep sweat at bay, while the pads are kept in place by a Lycra sleeve and silicone grippers (on the knee/elbow cup itself, not just the sleeve) instead of Velcro straps. The latest D3 and D2 helmet designs were also on display, along with plenty of TLD's trademark lairy downhill kit. instead, the pads use flexible, impact-absorbing Strata-Foam from American sports protection specialists Shock Doctor , along with an abrasion-resistant aramid weave.

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