General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
 
 
of 1
 
 
2010-12-06 2:51 PM

User image

Veteran
339
10010010025
Melbourne
Subject: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
I know the old adage of if it's a wetsuit legal swim, then use the wetsuit, but is there a minimum distance where the time saved by swimming is negated by the time needed to take it off?

For example, I have a sprint this weekend where the swim is only 500m, but the water is likely to be fairly chilly (not sure of the temp but I went for a swim yesterday and I know I could swim it either with or without the wetsuit).

Water should be fairly flat, and I'm a confident swimmer both in and out of the wetsuit, but I have been known to get it stuck on my ankles taking it off.

For the distance, is it worth wearing the wetsuit?

Thanks
Nigel


2010-12-06 3:04 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
I figure about 200-300 yards...  I save about 10"/100 and I can get out of one in 20-30 seconds, ez.

So I wear one at ANY tri distance.

Edited by Kido 2010-12-06 3:05 PM
2010-12-06 3:09 PM
in reply to: #3238673

User image

Champion
8540
50002000100050025
the colony texas
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
I understand in therory what you are saying,  but at this time of year, depending where you live of course, I imagine the water is going to be pretty cold.. , are you doing an inwater start??  that could be a long time in the water Regardless of the distance.   So in this case I'm thinking wetsuit for sure.  
2010-12-06 3:13 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Veteran
220
100100
Hudsonville, MI
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
IMHO if you are faster and more comfortable in a wetsuit then I would use one, even in a 500m sprint especially if the water is cold.  Body glide around your ankles and practice will help in getting your wetsuit off quickly.  

Just my 2 cents, I am sure the veterans will offer more insight. 
2010-12-06 3:16 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Champion
10668
500050005001002525
Tacoma, Washington
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
The only tri I've EVER done (out of... I don't even know how many. Probably over 100) was my first, and two indoor tris. Some of these were 300m swims.

Part of the equation that most people don't even think about is this: How much faster will you be on the bike RIGHT FROM T1 if you're warmer from wearing the wetsuit?
2010-12-06 3:17 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Expert
945
50010010010010025
Auburn AL
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
Time Saved > Strip Time = Wear Wetsuit


2010-12-06 3:17 PM
in reply to: #3238673

User image

Veteran
249
10010025
Littleton, Colorado
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
Kido - 2010-12-06 4:04 PM I figure about 200-300 yards...  I save about 10"/100 and I can get out of one in 20-30 seconds, ez.

So I wear one at ANY tri distance.


x2

Hopefully you can estimate how much faster you are with a wetsuit, and how fast you can get one off.

If (Δt/100m) - wetsuit removal time < (distance/100) then go without.  Odds are that distance will be somewhere in the 200-400m range and there aren't many tris out there with swim sections so short.
2010-12-06 3:37 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Member
313
100100100
Ventura County, California
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
I agree with the other posts. 
I did a Sprint with a 500m swim earlier this year and struggled with the same decision. I went with the wetsuit for two reasons...
1. It was not my 'A' race and I felt it would be great practice to go through all the motions in T1. 
2. I calc'd the time required for both scenarios (swim gains vs T1 losses) and 'On-Paper' I was going to save about 30 seconds. My actual times were spot-on with my calcs and I did seem to shave about 30 seconds over my time (sans wetsuit) from the previous year.
2010-12-06 4:09 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
IMO it's not just a time in -time out calculation either.  It's a relatively short swim, but say you spend 8-9 minutes in cold water.  That is quite a bit of heat loss (read: energy) that you are taking away from the bike/run legs.

Use liberal amounts of bodyglide around shins/ankles and it should speed it up
2010-12-06 4:31 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Champion
8936
50002000100050010010010010025
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
486 yards.
2010-12-06 5:21 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Champion
9407
500020002000100100100100
Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
If it costs you more than 10 seconds to get out of your wetsuit, you need more practice taking off your wetsuit.

For me, if the swim is wetsuit legal, I'm wearing my wetsuit.

Shane


2010-12-06 7:31 PM
in reply to: #3238865

User image

Pro
6011
50001000
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
gsmacleod - 2010-12-06 6:21 PMIf it costs you more than 10 seconds to get out of your wetsuit, you need more practice taking off your wetsuit.

For me, if the swim is wetsuit legal, I'm wearing my wetsuit.

Shane
^^^This^^^
2010-12-06 8:10 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Veteran
339
10010010025
Melbourne
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
Awesome guys - looks like I'll be wearing it then.....
I hadn't thought about the heat loss factor and being cold on the bike afterwards, I was more concerned with time saved or not saved.
Guess I'll be practicing taking the thing off a few times before the weekend, and again, this is definitely not an A race for me, more the first race of the season (we're heading into summer down here).
Nigel
Oh, an 486 yds....?  What's that in real money????
2010-12-06 8:50 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
Some folks cut a little off the bottom of their wetsuit leg bottom if it keeps getting stuck on your feet getting it off.

Glad you will wear it.

My suggestion practice taking it off a few times between now and the race.
2010-12-07 12:26 PM
in reply to: #3238706

User image

Master
1410
1000100100100100
White Plains NY
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
Plainsman AU - 2010-12-06 4:17 PM Time Saved > Strip Time = Wear Wetsuit


^this
2010-12-07 12:51 PM
in reply to: #3239035

User image

Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
nigelw - 2010-12-06 9:10 PM

Awesome guys - looks like I'll be wearing it then.....
I hadn't thought about the heat loss factor and being cold on the bike afterwards, I was more concerned with time saved or not saved.
Guess I'll be practicing taking the thing off a few times before the weekend, and again, this is definitely not an A race for me, more the first race of the season (we're heading into summer down here).
Nigel
Oh, an 486 yds....?  What's that in real money????


Soak your wetsuit in the tub overnight the week before you put it on the first time of the year. That's a suggestion from Emilio, one of the makers of tri wetsuits. The only time I've ripped my wetsuit is before I got that advice and tried to put it on without soaking it a few days before.


2010-12-07 1:41 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Reston, VA
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
A wetsuit saves me about 4-5 seconds per 100 and I can get it off in 7-8 seconds so anything over a 200, I wear it.
2010-12-07 2:39 PM
in reply to: #3238865

User image

Champion
11989
500050001000500100100100100252525
Philly 'burbs
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
gsmacleod - 2010-12-06 6:21 PM If it costs you more than 10 seconds to get out of your wetsuit, you need more practice taking off your wetsuit.




Do you practice taking it off repeatedly, like put it on, get wet, take it off, repeat? It's a real pain putting on a wet wetsuit.
2010-12-07 5:51 PM
in reply to: #3240144

User image

Champion
9407
500020002000100100100100
Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
mrbbrad - 2010-12-07 4:39 PM

Do you practice taking it off repeatedly, like put it on, get wet, take it off, repeat? It's a real pain putting on a wet wetsuit.


No, but during the summer, I am often doing 2-3 OW swims a week.  Probably half of these have been in a wetsuit so I practice getting out of my wetsuit on a fairly regular basis.

Shane
2010-12-07 8:22 PM
in reply to: #3240144

User image

Pro
4360
200020001001001002525
Baton Rouge area
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
mrbbrad - 2010-12-07 2:39 PM
gsmacleod - 2010-12-06 6:21 PM If it costs you more than 10 seconds to get out of your wetsuit, you need more practice taking off your wetsuit.




Do you practice taking it off repeatedly, like put it on, get wet, take it off, repeat? It's a real pain putting on a wet wetsuit.


I do.  I will jump in our pool (above ground, won't put in chlorine for a few days before), get out transition to bike, transition to run, repeat.

To OP: if its wetsuit legal I am wearing a wetsuit.
2010-12-08 8:03 AM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Master
2073
20002525
The Redlands, FL
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?

I don't care of the distance...If it's wetsuit legal, I'm wearing my wetsuit.

I'm usually the fastest in my T1 and T2 in my AG...and...I always practice and practice removing my wet-suit...



2010-12-08 12:38 PM
in reply to: #3238654

Member
53
2525
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
It does take time to take off a wetsuit - typically 15 - 20 sec in total if everything goes smoothly. However, you rarely do that start-to-finish. You pull down the zipper and get out of the arms as you run out of the shallow water. You get the top down to your hips as you run to your bike. Then at your bike you pull off the legs - so the process is broekn up into 5 - 6 sec chunks of time. The only difference being that 5 - 6 seconds to get the legs off at the bike, would be a differential compared to someone who arrived at their bike with no wetsuit with you!

If you are having problems getting the legs off, look overthe design of the lower legs carefully. Note and angled cutt at the bottom of the suit is helpful. Or you can shorten the whole bottom of the legs a few cm. Don;t cut outside the seam tape.

Hope this helps.
2010-12-08 2:38 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Veteran
339
10010010025
Melbourne
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
Some great replies, and tips, so thanks guys.

Wetsuit has spent the night in the bath, so will be good to go.  I've not had problems getting the top half off before, but I have had it stick getting it over the ankle band.  But then it was a bit tight for me and I've since lost weight, so hopefully all will be good.

We'll find out Sunday...
2010-12-08 6:30 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Veteran
277
100100252525
The Nation's Frosty Capital
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
I'd really work on getting your suit off.
I have used body glide but have found lots of sun block on my shins and ankles does a lot better job and I have not damaged my wet suits. My oldest I bought back in '95.
I also always turn my wet suit into a real wet suit with a big scoop of water.  In cold water, this quickly warms up to give you some of the real benefits of a 'wet' suit and it makes the suit slide right off.
I've never timed the strip but it could be no more than 5 seconds.

So no distance is too short.
Why leave one of your toys at home.
2010-12-08 7:11 PM
in reply to: #3238654

User image

Expert
1091
1000252525
St. Paul, MN
Subject: RE: Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial?
I seem to be with a lot of people here saying "wear it." Usually, 400 meters is my cut off. And yeah, if you're worried about the water being a bit chilly, this will have you warmed up for the bike.

Good luck!!
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Minimum distance for a wetsuit to be beneficial? Rss Feed  
 
 
of 1