All you need to know for the Hawks Nest Triathlon

Racing Hawks Nest this weekend? Here’s the quick rundown on what’s happening, what distances are on offer, and how to set up your bike with the right TT mount, shifter mounts and bar tape so you’re not leaving free speed on the table.

Event overview

The Triathlon Hawks Nest is back on Saturday 29 November 2025 at Bennetts Beach, Hawks Nest, NSW 2324, with event HQ at Providence Bay Park. It’s a sanctioned AusTriathlon event run by Elite Energy, known for:

• Calm, ocean swim in pristine water
• Fast, flat bike course that rewards a good aero setup
• A scenic run to finish things off

The race festival offers multiple distances on the same day, so there’s a start line for almost everyone — from beginners to seasoned age groupers.

Key details at a glance

• Date: Saturday 29 November 2025
• Venue: Providence Bay Park & Bennetts Beach, Hawks Nest, NSW 2324
• Swim type: Ocean
• Organiser: Elite Energy Pty Ltd
• Event type: Public, AusTriathlon-sanctioned

Race distances

Here’s how the Hawks Nest distances break down:

Event	Swim	Bike	Run	Notes
Standard Triathlon	1.5 km	40 km	10 km	Classic Olympic/Standard distance
Standard Aquabike	1.5 km	40 km	–	Swim + bike, no run
Sprint Triathlon	750 m	20 km	5 km	Good hit-out or stepping stone to Standard
Super Sprint / Tri-a-Tri	200 m	8 km	2 km	Beginner-friendly, low pressure
Enticer / Tri a TRI listing	200 m	8 km	2 km	Short, confidence-building option

Pick your distance based on current fitness and how cooked you want your legs to feel on Sunday morning.

Who this race suits

• First-timers: Super Sprint / Tri-a-Tri is short, simple and welcoming.
• Intermediate racers: Sprint is ideal if you want a solid race without the full Standard-kilometre tax.
• Experienced triathletes: Standard distance + flat bike course = perfect for chasing a PB.
• Bike-focused athletes: The Aquabike option lets you lean into your swim–bike strength and skip the run altogether.

Course characteristics

Swim

The ocean swim at Bennetts Beach is typically calm and clear. Sight on the buoys, give yourself room at the start if you’re not a fan of washing-machine chaos, and remember: it’s very easy to overcook the first 200 m in adrenaline.

Bike

The bike course is marketed as fast and flat. That means:

• Staying aero and steady will usually beat surging and sitting up.
• A clean cockpit, good mounts and sensible gear choice really do matter.
• For Standard and Aquabike, your 40 km pacing will set up the rest of the day.

Run

The run caps things off with a coastal vibe. If you’ve paced the bike ride properly, this is where you can either hold strong or pick off athletes who over-biked.

Dialling in your cockpit: TT mount, shifter mounts and bar tape

A flat, fast bike course is where a tidy, well-thought-out front end starts to pay off. Here’s how to get your setup sorted using products available from Bspoke Velo.

1. TT Mount – keep data where you can see it

For Hawks Nest, you want your power, speed and distance where you can read it without sitting up out of aero. A dedicated TT mount does that job properly.

 76 Projects – TT Mount (3.0) is a highly configurable TT mount that has been used by world, Olympic and Ironman champions. It lets you run your head unit, lights, cameras or aero sensors off one modular system, so you can:

• Keep your head unit centred and easy to read in aero.
• Add or remove devices (light, GoPro, CDA gadget) without hacking your cockpit.
• Avoid DIY zip-tie “solutions” that move or rattle mid-race.

For a flat 20–40 km effort, that’s exactly what you want: stable, repeatable position and data you can see while staying low.

Get it here.

2. Shifter mounts – SRAM and Shimano options for aero extensions

If you’re running Blips or satellite shifters on your extensions, proper mounts stop them from rotating, shifting under your hands or forcing awkward wrist angles.

Shifter Mounts for Aero Extensions – SRAM AXS version
Designed for SRAM AXS wireless Blips. They place your shifters ergonomically at the end of the extensions so you can:

• Shift while staying fully aero.
• Avoid “clawing” at the shifters or twisting your wrists.
• Keep the bike feeling predictable when you’re on the gas.

Get them here.

Shifter Mounts for Aero Extensions – Shimano version
Built for Shimano SW-R9150 satellite shifters. These route the cable through the wedge mechanism and bar, giving you:

• A clean look with minimal exposed wiring.
• Shifters exactly where your hands naturally sit on the extensions.
• Reliable shifting under load when you’re pushing along the straights.

Bottom line: if the course is fast and you’re spending a lot of time in aero, proper shifter mounts are a comfort and safety upgrade, not just a cosmetic tweak.

Get them here.

3. Bar tape – grip and comfort for race pace

Bar tape isn’t glamorous, but on a course like Hawks Nest it’s still doing real work. You’re dealing with sweat, possibly salt water and maybe a bit of wind. You want:

• Enough cushioning to keep your hands happy over 20–40 km.
• Reliable grip even when things are a bit damp.
• A thickness and feel that matches how direct you like your steering.

Bspoke Velo stocks a full range of Bike Ribbon bar tapes, including options like  Bike Ribbon “Drops” Bar Tape , which offers a tacky surface and mid-range cushioning that suits racing and fast training.

You can also browse the full bar tape lineup here: Bspoke Velo Bar Tape Collection.

Practical race-day tips

• Do a full cockpit check the day before: TT mount tight, shifter mounts secure, bar tape properly wrapped and plugged.
• Set up your head unit screens: Keep it simple – power/HR, lap time and distance are usually enough.
• Walk transition: Know exactly where you’ll come in from the swim, grab the bike and head out to the mount line.
• Ride the first kilometres under control: The course is fast – don’t burn all your matches in the first 5–10 km.
• Respect the run: Even on a flat course, a 5–10 km run bites if you’ve over-biked.

Final word

Hawks Nest is the kind of race where a well-sorted bike setup and a bit of pacing discipline can make a noticeable difference to your time. If you want help choosing the right TT mount, shifter mounts or bar tape for your bike, get in touch with Bspoke Velo and we’ll help you get your cockpit dialled before race day.