Gray Guys/Girls Masters Focus Triathlete Forum (all levels welcome)--CLOSED (Page 13)

Dave,

65 degrees is cold in a sleeveless, you may want full sleeves....but then I personally find the shoulder movement limited in a full.  The advantage of ordering a wetsuit earlier is time to practice in it.  You might be able to rent one from a local tri shop but then you won't have the advantage of training in it in advance.  I have swam in water that cold, either double up your cap or spring for a neoprene one---and wear ear plugs cause it cuts down on the dizziness when that cold water gets into your inner ear.

As to the bike....it's your first tri. --I did my first tri on a hybrid and while it stunk miserably it was the right move to not sink a lot of money into gear until I knew if I wanted to stick with it.  If you get a used bike, make sure you have a good idea for fit before dropping money.....if you get a new entry level road bike the fit is still key.  

Kathy lives up there and could probably chime in on water temps for other races in RI/ CT area early season.  

Dave,

Unlike Judi I find 65-68 degree water fairly comfortable especially for a short race.  A lot will depend on the air temp as well as you really don't want to come out of the water cold before getting on the bike.  I have only worn a wet suit once (for a HIM in September in Maine) and just am not a fan despite the advantage it is supposed to give. . I think if you like cooler water temps a sleeveless would be fine but I may be the exception on that. You can also buy  sleeves to wear if needed which would give you a lot of flexibility but is more to change out of for a sprint.  I went into the bay at 38 degrees on New Years and loved it so there it is.

As for the bike, this is a great time to shop for last year's models at discount prices.  I would check with a local bike shop about what they have and pay for a good fit.  A nice bike at a great price that doesn't fit you right will not be worth it.  You might be able to find something you will enjoy riding for many years.

Hey Dave -

65 degrees is kinda right on the border between a sleeveless and a full wetsuit.  Depending upon how good (or not so good?) your swim is, you may be in the water for 15-20 minutes.  Maybe longer.  What is your tolerance for cold?  I would probably wear a sleeveless, but I use to go out in my short pants and a tank top and fire up the barbeque when it was 10 degrees back in Indiana so not sure I am a good guide.

Whatever you decide, make sure you wear it in training several times before race day.  It will be different.  There is an old saying that applies here, "Nothing new on race day."

On the bike, unless your thinking your going to podium finish, maybe just put smooth tires on and do it on your mountain bike if it is close to being the right size.  This is your first Tri and it's a sprint.  I guarantee you, there will be other people on mountain bikes, maybe not a lot, but they will be there, probably more than one or two on beach cruisers.  I have a friend, actually the one that challenged me and got me on the triathlon road, that rode a mountain bike in his first Kona IM back in '94 (he has since graduated to a tri-bike).  I will tell you a little story about my bike journey since it directly applies.  When I started out, I figured I would use the Schwinn 10-speed that I rode back in high-school.  Except when I pulled it down out of the rafters after 30 years, the crank was rusted solid.  Couldn't get it to break lose, plan 'B' was to ride my mountain bike.  That was working fine until I started worrying about what everyone thought as I rode by, so I went and bought an entry level Trek 1.2 - paid something like $1,000 give or take.  That worked really well . . . at first.  I had a 'real' bike, it said Trek on the downtube telling the world I had a real bike and I was happy.  For about a month.  Then I started wishing I was still on the mountain bike because I had more gears on the MB.  So, I went out and bought a high end Trek rode bike.  Now the $1,000 road bike sits in the garage collecting dust.  Then at Christmas, Mrs. Claus 'surprised' me with a Tri-bike, which is where I really wanted to be all along.  Looking back, I kinda wish I had stayed on the mountain bike until I knew what I wanted out of a bike.  I could have saved at least the 1.2 purchase, and probably would have gone with a much 'lower' high end bike, certainly I would not have paid to put the Dura-Ace drivetrain on it.  I could have easily saved $2,000 - 3,000.

Just my two cents.

Sherman Oaks is a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive in traffic, so maybe not.  There really isn't even a good beach we could meet at 'half-way.'  Oh well, have a good time.  Today was COLD out here, only got up to 68!

Anne, the Xterra events sound like a good fit for you, I know you like the mountain biking

Good morning everyone!

I managed to remember and try to put more effort into my morning commute.  So where possible, 20 hard strokes followed by 20 easy.  Did manage to work up a bit of a sweat.

Anne - Mountain bike races?  Wow.  I've never really been tempted since everyone I know who has taken up mountain biking has dislocated something at one time or another.  And I seem to become more risk averse w/ respect to events that have a higher injury potential than others.  Although I do commute by bike every day and almost everyone I know who does this has had one or two good crashes either with other bikers or cars.

Have a great day everyone.

Oh dammit! I hate that for you. You are right, about 8 weeks to running. Go get that surgery and you will be stellar by Summer.

Bummer  
My BT Buddy  -  dexter (also known as my BT husband cause he's been my best buddy here since I joined up) had arthroscopic surgery last year.  That was about his time out of the loop.  He's a PT so he started his own therapy when he was ready.  He did complete a HIM and the aqua-bike for an IM (pulled out halfway through the run cause the hills were killing his knee)

Sorry to hear this Dave.  Hope you can get the surgery scheduled soon and everything goes well!

Hey Dave -

Bummer.  But you know what?  It isn't the end of the world!

You have been through it before so you know you can/will comeback.

Last year I had an emergency gall bladder surgery.  I was so incredible bummed.  Doc's told me it would only be a few weeks, turned out it was 8 weeks before they cleared me to workout.  Just do what the doc's say.  Don't be silly like yours truly and try to shortcut the system, you will only add recovery time!

Get well!