Manatee Mentors 2016 - Closed (Page 90)

Originally posted by marysia83 Happy Wednesday Question on the wet suit: my co-worker's husband, who used to do triathlons and completed several IM races, is not doing the sport anymore and wants to get rid of his wet suite. For free. Obviously, I will have to try it to see if it fits me, but just wanted to get some general opinion from you guys. I am 5'9 and he is 5'8. He's male, I'm female. Should I be optimistic? Would it fit? What's the general rule: you buy a bit bigger, just the right size? That would be great if I had a wet suite for free

Wetsuits should fit like second skins. If they are too big they will let too much water in and that will affect performance.  There are also differences between men's and women's wetsuits in the way they are cut, eg, women's are generally wider in the hips, men's have more room in the shoulders etc.  So, your height difference is probably not an issue, but in general, a woman will probably find a men's wetsuit too big/ in certain areas and perhaps not big enough in others.  Of course, your results may vary!  No harm trying it on.    

Did you make the report public?  The link won't let me get there!!

It is public. Maybe the link is the problem? Mel was able to get to it...

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

The link looks like it goes to your edit page. Going to your races list in your profile does work as does going around to the Race Reports forum.

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

THANK YOU for making my swim adventure even more miserable lol So should one swim in wet suite or not? I was not considering buying one, mostly because this sport already costs me enough money and I do not want to spend on things that are not necessary/crucial. Number two is that I really, really want to train for long distance swimming, which is, as far as I know, without wet suite. So I want to practice swimming without it as much as possible. On the other hand, there is a ton of folks who said wet suite gives you some extra bouncy and makes you swim *faster*. Your thoughts...?

Considering the fact that you live on Lake Michigan I would say it's a good thing to have. I've done several lake swims and an ocean swim during which I used my wetsuit. I even got a sleeveless (cheap on craigslist) for the swims where the water is almost warm enough to go without. As a weak swimmer I definitely benefit from the buoyancy.  (bouncy not so much )

Mmmm yeah, probably. I was typing on my tablet which does not play well with BT.

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

THANK YOU for making my swim adventure even more miserable lol So should one swim in wet suite or not? I was not considering buying one, mostly because this sport already costs me enough money and I do not want to spend on things that are not necessary/crucial. Number two is that I really, really want to train for long distance swimming, which is, as far as I know, without wet suite. So I want to practice swimming without it as much as possible. On the other hand, there is a ton of folks who said wet suite gives you some extra bouncy and makes you swim *faster*. Your thoughts...?

I am no expert on swimming with a wetsuit ( most Florida races are  not wetsuit legal), but they do provide the extra buoyancy that should make you faster.  Whether the amount faster is important to you, only you can say . But, like everything else, you should practice swimming in one before you ever try to race in one.   

Thanks so much for the power meter info.

I'm interested in power meters but I'm a little afraid of them.  In the past year or so I have lost some of the joy of riding and while I would like a power meter, I don't think that it would help with the joy part.  As a tool to improve, I am interested, just not quite there yet ;-)

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

Swim in a few times before you race in it, if at all possible.  Definitely do a warm up swim in it on race day.  Lube up thoroughly (arm pits and neck for chaffing, ankles/calves to ease removal.  Every time I swim in one, I need to get used to having it up around my neck.  I get over it but I need to get over it every time.

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

Swim in a few times before you race in it, if at all possible.  Definitely do a warm up swim in it on race day.  Lube up thoroughly (arm pits and neck for chaffing, ankles/calves to ease removal.  Every time I swim in one, I need to get used to having it up around my neck.  I get over it but I need to get over it every time.

See.. all those steps and descriptions scares me haha I think my biggest fear is that I have a Sprint tri at the beginning of June and I worry I will not have enough time to practice in open water, since May could still be too cold. So I thought of wet suite to help me swim during April and May, just to get a sense of swimming in the lake. And then race without it, since there is so much crazyness associated with it

I actually think that you'll like swimming in a wet suit once you try it. 

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

Swim in a few times before you race in it, if at all possible.  Definitely do a warm up swim in it on race day.  Lube up thoroughly (arm pits and neck for chaffing, ankles/calves to ease removal.  Every time I swim in one, I need to get used to having it up around my neck.  I get over it but I need to get over it every time.

See.. all those steps and descriptions scares me haha I think my biggest fear is that I have a Sprint tri at the beginning of June and I worry I will not have enough time to practice in open water, since May could still be too cold. So I thought of wet suite to help me swim during April and May, just to get a sense of swimming in the lake. And then race without it, since there is so much crazyness associated with it

I actually think that you'll like swimming in a wet suit once you try it. 

haha I like your optimism

Generally, people do like swimming with the wetsuit as it does make things easier. They'll tend to use it any time it's ok to. So if you have one that does fit well go ahead and race with it too. I'm not quite sure what the craziness is?

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

Swim in a few times before you race in it, if at all possible.  Definitely do a warm up swim in it on race day.  Lube up thoroughly (arm pits and neck for chaffing, ankles/calves to ease removal.  Every time I swim in one, I need to get used to having it up around my neck.  I get over it but I need to get over it every time.

See.. all those steps and descriptions scares me haha I think my biggest fear is that I have a Sprint tri at the beginning of June and I worry I will not have enough time to practice in open water, since May could still be too cold. So I thought of wet suite to help me swim during April and May, just to get a sense of swimming in the lake. And then race without it, since there is so much crazyness associated with it

I actually think that you'll like swimming in a wet suit once you try it. 

I agree with Janyne. It's a bit more complicated but not prohibitively so. I've worn mine for sprints where I could have gone without, just for the buoyancy.

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by rrrunner

Originally posted by marysia83 Thanks for your feedback re: wet suite. I will definitely give it a try. If I don't feel comfortable, I will not use it for sure. Swimming freaks me out enough, I don't need any extra discomfort

Comfortable is not a word I would use to describe a wetsuit. Comfortable is a nice pair of sweats. Wetsuits feel tight and restrictive by nature.

Swim in a few times before you race in it, if at all possible.  Definitely do a warm up swim in it on race day.  Lube up thoroughly (arm pits and neck for chaffing, ankles/calves to ease removal.  Every time I swim in one, I need to get used to having it up around my neck.  I get over it but I need to get over it every time.

See.. all those steps and descriptions scares me haha I think my biggest fear is that I have a Sprint tri at the beginning of June and I worry I will not have enough time to practice in open water, since May could still be too cold. So I thought of wet suite to help me swim during April and May, just to get a sense of swimming in the lake. And then race without it, since there is so much crazyness associated with it

I actually think that you'll like swimming in a wet suit once you try it. 

I agree with Janyne. It's a bit more complicated but not prohibitively so. I've worn mine for sprints where I could have gone without, just for the buoyancy.

Most people in many races do likewise.

It is fun to have, but is not absolutely necessary. I've had good rides both with it and without it. I don't have it on the mountain bike and don't plan on getting one for it. Do have it with the road setup, but don't always have to use it. For the hard workouts it's been very helpful. It has helped on easier ones, but once learning how to ride by feel better it's use lessened there. Uncertain if I would have learned that without it though.

ETA: And don't forget that some improvement can bring more enjoyment. Not just in going faster over the same things, but new things seem more possible.

I agree, the better shape that you are in, the more fun everything is and seeing improvement is definitely fun.

I just worry that one more metric to keep track of will be just another thing to worry about.