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2011-06-05 1:24 PM

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Subject: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!
i have my first tri in 2 months and i still caught up in if i wanna wear the wetsuit for the swim or not..also any good words on tri shorts?...ive been losing weight and i dont wanna grab a pair and use them then, have them be to big on race day....


2011-06-05 1:33 PM
in reply to: #3533278

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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

mr.rogersisinthehood - 2011-06-05 12:24 PM i have my first tri in 2 months and i still caught up in if i wanna wear the wetsuit for the swim or not..also any good words on tri shorts?...ive been losing weight and i dont wanna grab a pair and use them then, have them be to big on race day....

 

I have only done one tri, but I don't think I would want to do one without a wetsuit. If you are a good swimmer and the water temp is good"mine was 51 brrrr" go without. The wetsuit felt like cheating to me so I will keep mine on. Tri Shorts are great, wear them under your wetsuit. Then bike and run with them. I would wear them all the time on runs if I loved the way I looked in spandex Embarassed The weight lose might be a concern if you buy one then need another right away. That could cost quite a bit.

Good Luck!!

2011-06-05 1:34 PM
in reply to: #3533278

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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

Wetsuit depends on temperature of the water. Where do you live? I've only done one in straight tri shorts and a zoot tri tank. The water temperature down here in sunny Florida (82) is mighty warm compared to up north.

Tri shorts: The more money = more features = better

For shorts I would get just bike shorts/bibs to train in in the cycling portion (unless you want to train swim to bike directly) and just swim in swimming shorts/trunks/board shorts.

On the week of race day, get yourself a nice pair of tri shorts. Train with them early on so you know there are no issues and you get used to them. If there are issues on race day and you didnt practice with those tri shorts - bye bye time.



Edited by flashpoint145 2011-06-05 1:34 PM
2011-06-05 1:50 PM
in reply to: #3533278

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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!
im on cape cod- ive ben doing my trainning with the wetsuit open water is still a lil cold, and ive just been using my under armour i use for rugby for under the wetsuit..which i wont use for the tri...my big concern is transition i don't wana get caught struggling with the suit in transtion.
2011-06-05 1:57 PM
in reply to: #3533310

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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

mr.rogersisinthehood - 2011-06-05 3:50 PM im on cape cod- ive ben doing my trainning with the wetsuit open water is still a lil cold, and ive just been using my under armour i use for rugby for under the wetsuit..which i wont use for the tri...my big concern is transition i don't wana get caught struggling with the suit in transtion.

You've got two months to make this not a concern.  Practice it a bunch of times and there will be no doubts about whether or not to wear it.

2011-06-05 2:22 PM
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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

Just completed my first Tri this morning, and I was going back and forth last night on whether or not to wear it as the temps the last week got the lake up into the mid 60's so it wasn't needed.

My training was done without the wetsuit, in fact Friday I used it for the first time just to see what it was like. I decided to wear it this morning, because with it being my first Tri the added buoyancy could only help. And I'm glad I did because I was really gassed at the end of my swim.

Good luck. You've got some time so experiment with it and without it and see how you feel.



2011-06-05 2:27 PM
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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!
axteraa - 2011-06-06 3:57 AM

mr.rogersisinthehood - 2011-06-05 3:50 PM im on cape cod- ive ben doing my trainning with the wetsuit open water is still a lil cold, and ive just been using my under armour i use for rugby for under the wetsuit..which i wont use for the tri...my big concern is transition i don't wana get caught struggling with the suit in transtion.

You've got two months to make this not a concern.  Practice it a bunch of times and there will be no doubts about whether or not to wear it.

x2. You should be practicing transitions anyway--and it helps to practice them dizzy, wet, and tired as you're likely to be in transition on race day.

If your race is wetsuit-legal, wear the wetsuit.

As for tri shorts, how much more weight are you planning or likely to lose by race day? All of them are stretchy, so if your measurements wind up being slightly smaller on race day, it shouldn't be a problem. Also 2 months is plenty to order tri shorts, try them on, and ship them back if need be.

Like any other clothes and weight/body reshaping, especially if the clothing is spandex ... if it fits a bit too snug now, it should be perfect for race day.

I'm also assuming this is a sprint or Olympic/international distance? The tri shorts don't have to be perfect--just to be able to bear you through the race.

2011-06-05 2:47 PM
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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

x2. You should be practicing transitions anyway--and it helps to practice them dizzy, wet, and tired as you're likely to be in transition on race day.

If your race is wetsuit-legal, wear the wetsuit.

^^^^+100

2011-06-05 4:36 PM
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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

A wetsuit will improve your swim performance,

more than EPO improved Lance's cycling.  er... that is, if he took EPO.

2011-06-05 5:07 PM
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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!
i just did my first tri, while wearing a wetsuit.  Holy cow did i improve.  Now, if a race is wetsuit legal, then i will always wear one!  No matter how short the distance, or how warm the water.  You can get out of it in seconds, if you practice a little, and it helps way more than i thought
2011-06-05 5:31 PM
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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!
GaryRM - 2011-06-05 2:47 PM

x2. You should be practicing transitions anyway--and it helps to practice them dizzy, wet, and tired as you're likely to be in transition on race day.

If your race is wetsuit-legal, wear the wetsuit.

^^^^+100

 

I see this posted here a lot and disagree.  Wetsuit legal does not necessarily mean you should wear a wetsuit.  There are several factors that one should consider with water temperature and swim distance being the most important.  Another factor is how hard you intend to press the swim.  Swim balls-to-the-wall for 1.5 km with a full wetsuit in 78 degree wetsuit legal water and chances are you will be uncomfortably hot.  One should also consider what one's goals for the race and what is important to them.  I love to swim and love the feeling of being free and cool in the water without a wetsuit.  To me it it the best feeling in entire the sport of triathloning...and comfort and enjoyment mean 100x more to me than shaving 2 minutes off my swim.

People ask all the time "should I wear a wetsuit" and really they should ask, "what factors should I consider when deciding whether or not to wear a wetsuit". 

 

~Mike



Edited by Rogillio 2011-06-05 5:35 PM


2011-06-05 6:47 PM
in reply to: #3533278

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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!
i did the .3 mile swim the other day and did it in 12 mins(wet suit on).i wanna get it down to 10 mins....i planing on losing 5 more to put me at 180..ive just been very catious about buying clothes to early because the last 6 months ive lost 65lbs..and i dident want tog buy all new clothes  and then 3 weeks later al the money go down the drain...and should i buy smaller than my waist size for tri shorts like if im a 36 should i go 34?
2011-06-05 6:48 PM
in reply to: #3533704

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Subject: RE: to wetsuit or not to wetsuit!!

mr.rogersisinthehood - 2011-06-05 8:47 PM i did the .3 mile swim the other day and did it in 12 mins(wet suit on).i wanna get it down to 10 mins....i planing on losing 5 more to put me at 180..ive just been very catious about buying clothes to early because the last 6 months ive lost 65lbs..and i dident want tog buy all new clothes  and then 3 weeks later al the money go down the drain...and should i buy smaller than my waist size for tri shorts like if im a 36 should i go 34?

Look at the sizing chart for whatever brand you are thinking of buying.  If those 5 lbs move you into a smaller size then get that.  If not, you are good to go.

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