M-Dot tat.... Left calf or right calf?

Steve West · August 6, 2015 9:00PM

Looking to see if there is a general consensus of where an M-Dot tatoo should go, if you were interested in have such a thing.

Paul Hough · August 6, 2015 9:02PM

Right calf. When you are passing a line of roadies on the bike trail you want them to know. And if you ever blow up on a training ride and are getting passed by a 10 year old on a BMX bike, you don't want him or her to see it.

Dino Sarti · August 6, 2015 9:10PM

I agree with Paul, by my thinking would be left. That's where they typically put your age. But, maybe I would do right.... hum?

FWIW - I went with my tat on right arm up at the top about 7 inches from my elbow....

ezellrh · August 6, 2015 10:12PM

Is there a reason why the options are limited to calves? I recognize the calf has the whole "look at me" thing going for it at races and during training, but there are other prime real estate options available.

And I'm not bashing folks that get M-Dots or calf tattoos, everyone has their thing and ink is a personal decision. I'm sure there are people that think my wife's name, USMC, and Japanese coy fish are silly.

ironmikega · August 7, 2015 6:58AM

Posted By Paul Hough on 06 Aug 2015 09:02 PM
Right calf. When you are passing a line of roadies on the bike trail you want them to know. And if you ever blow up on a training ride and are getting passed by a 10 year old on a BMX bike, you don't want him or her to see it.

This is the definitive answer and should be made sticky on every triathlon forum around the world.

Fwiw - mine is on right calf but slightly off center so you get a better view of it when I pass you. <<-- I was in better shape 7 years ago when I was Making this decision <img src='http://members.endurancenation.us/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/unsure.gif' align="absmiddle" border="0" class="afEmoticon" />

morpheus · August 7, 2015 7:52AM

That ^^^ is why I haven't picked one up. I'm afraid it would jinx me and I'd gain 50kg in a year and never get back into shape...jinx.

Steve West · August 7, 2015 8:16AM

@ Paul - I've seen that logic before and made sense to me. That's the way I am leaning too.

@ Dino - Saw a pic of someone with a bicep M-Dot and looks cool but I am not as bold as you and don't think I could go that way.

@ Roy - Being a fairly conservative guy I don't think I could be comfortable wearing a tat in a more dominant location like Dino. Yes, lots of options to chose from but not for me. I think the only time I expect it to be seen is at races, especially open marathons - something I do a lot of (23 in 11 years and counting).

@ Mike - well put.

@ Chris - too funny..... I'm visualizing a sagging m-dOt that is altered by muscle atrophy and wrinkly skin.... =:-(

Dino Sarti · August 7, 2015 9:56AM

Mine is really high up my arm. You can't see it when I have a shirt or jersey on. You can only see when I am shirtless or sleeveless. On your leg means people will see it in shorts unless you go so low as to cover it with socks I guess?

Either way, if you are going to brand yourself as a member of the tribe, don't you want peeps to see it and recognize?

Steve West · August 7, 2015 11:02AM

Living in Maine with less than 3 days > 90* per year, fewer than 12 days > 80* with enough black flies, mosquitoes, moose flies and deer flies around all summer (a few weeks) to require minimal skin exposure at the risk of needing a blood transfusion..... Shirtless is impossible and long sleeves and long pants are often advised.

Hmmmm.... looking at it that way makes me wonder why I live here..... :-(

Al Truscott · August 7, 2015 2:12PM

When WTC pays me $10,000 (so I can buy a new Felt TT bike), with annual rental of $750 (so I can register for an IM), then I would consider putting their logo permanently in my skin.

Now, if you want to get something like swim/bike/run logos, with distances below, I'd feel a little bit better about that.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/01/06/2a/01062ae4a9b29041441c1f16960cfca1.jpg

John Withrow · August 7, 2015 2:18PM

Hey Al, you have cute toenails...

Peter Noyes · August 7, 2015 2:23PM

I have one on my right calf, but that is only because my left leg already had something there.

Dino Sarti · August 7, 2015 3:05PM

Posted By Al Truscott on 07 Aug 2015 02:12 PM
When WTC pays me $10,000 (so I can buy a new Felt TT bike), with annual rental of $750 (so I can register for an IM), then I would consider putting their logo permanently in my skin.

Now, if you want to get something like swim/bike/run logos, with distances below, I'd feel a little bit better about that.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/01/06/2a/01062ae4a9b29041441c1f16960cfca1.jpg

I like the tattoo a lot, but it seems counter intuitive to me. It looks like the swimmer is being chased by a cyclist being chased by a runner. I think they should be head the other direction. But, it super cool.

Shaughn Simmons · August 7, 2015 4:15PM

I've been along the line of Al's thoughts for sometime now......

Paul Hough · August 7, 2015 8:33PM

Too much concern about a corporate logo. I will put money that the majority of the people that recognize the tat as Ironman could not tell you what company owned the trademark if their life depended on it. The logo long ago transcended the owner.

Dino Sarti · August 8, 2015 12:31AM

Posted By Paul Hough on 07 Aug 2015 08:33 PM

Too much concern about a corporate logo. I will put money that the majority of the people that recognize the tat as Ironman could not tell you what company owned the trademark if their life depended on it. The logo long ago transcended the owner.

I totally agree. It represents "Triathlon" to most people. Is there an international symbol for triathlon other than M-dot?

You know kleenex is corp. trade mark. It's actually called facial tissue....

scott dinhofer · August 9, 2015 5:33AM

@paul - WTC changed their name a year or so ago to "ironman." found that out when in a recruiting meeting with a team at an IB and they went through recent deals they did and "ironman" was on the list, we had a conversation about it...
that said, as dino said, it is about a tribe, not a corporation. At some point, while a corporation (evil empire) owns the logo, rights, etc, we are all still the free people that are passionate about our pursuit...
@Dino - MOT is an official term that my people co-opted some time ago... just sayin..

Steve West · August 9, 2015 8:10AM

Thanks for all the feedback. Love the spirited discussion and varied points of view by all.

The plan it to go with it on my right calf as soon as I get back from my canoe trip.

Eric Ensminger · August 9, 2015 8:22AM

I went left, being left handed it is my preferred side for everything.

ezellrh · August 9, 2015 8:31AM

Posted By Dino Sarti on 08 Aug 2015 12:31 AM

I totally agree. It represents "Triathlon" to most people. Is there an international symbol for triathlon other than M-dot?

While I won't speak to true 'international', living in Japan and traveling / training extensively all over Asia, my experience is that, at least in Asian cultures (Japan, South Korean, Thailand, and Philippines), M-DOT and Ironman are next to meaningless, even to locals that talk the lingo/race. There is a large fitness and endurance sport culture here (and triathlon is a LARGE part of that) but Americans are the only folks I see wearing M-Dot apparel. This includes local gyms, running/cycling trails, organized bike rides/running/swimming races and triathlons. Here, all the locals ask if I have done any of the many long standing organized events on island (Strongman, Izena 88, Tour of Okinawa). Most don't even know there is a WTC event on mainland Japan. My ROK friends that actually live in Seoul and race in triathlons had no idea there was a WTC race in their own city until I told them. I think the fascination with M-Dot may be a uniquely American thing. My n=1 (and total thread hijack).

In a related note, I think we in the Triathlon space overestimate even American recognition of M-Dot or Ironman. I wore a Timex Ironman watch for 15 years before I even understood that the little symbol meant anything besides Timex.

Paul Hough · August 9, 2015 12:30PM

@ Roy - having raced a number of times in Europe, I can assure you that the MDot logo fascination extends beyond America.

@ Scott - I don't believe they changed their name. They are just 'dba' ironman. Marvel Comics owns the Ironman name and the biggest mystery of all is how much WTC has to pay them for the rights to use it. Check the settlement on the lottery issue ... it was issued in May 2015 -- to WTC.

M-Dot tat.... Left calf or right calf?

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