Even triathletes need to kick back for a cup of joe every once in a while.

So when Linda Mallers decided to open a store for athletes in Evanston, she included a coffee shop with the bike shorts and swimsuits.

RaceLogix, 1642 Maple Ave., opened Aug. 16 and offers apparel, equipment, and advice for triathletes and adventure-race enthusiasts. Triathletes also can enjoy healthy food and a place to gather in the coffee shop.

The store, which features a climbing wall, also offers rope certifications for climbers.

Triathlons are long-distance races that combine biking, running and swimming; adventure races are done in teams and usually involve kayaking and climbing. Mallers, an internationally-ranked triathlete, said she opened the store because she thought Evanston-area triathletes needed a community hub.

Mallers uses a wide-screen television in the coffee shop to show races and triathlons.

“It’s a nice place for triathletes to hang out,” she said.

Mallers said a winter triathlon training club will be starting Nov. 1.

Second-year Kellogg student Gabe Kronstadt has visited RaceLogix several times. Kronstadt, who became interested in triathlons over the summer, said he appreciates the expertise of the staff.

“You feel pretty confident that you’re getting good advice,” Kronstadt said. “When you go in there, you know you’re dealing with people who know what they’re talking about.”

Kronstadt said he has adopted a training plan from RaceLogix.

“That’s the huge appeal to me, to get something to force me to stay in shape over the winter, which can be pretty tough here because it’s so cold,” he said.