Triathlon Wear

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Replies

  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Sadly triathlon is an expensive hobby/sport...

    All told my BIKE (the one you see in my profile pic) is worth $6k

    So much easier to spend big cash on a BIKE though. Its completely annoying to spend over $100 on a wetsuit when you a) have TONS of wetsuits and b) are ONLY swimming 400m
  • RaeN81
    RaeN81 Posts: 534 Member
    Contact the race organizers with the pics that you showed here and see if either choice would be acceptable. The event organizers are usually pretty decent and will have more insight into the venue.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Wow nice. I use an Orca and it has been great. 5 years on that wetsuit and I see no need to replace it. Was a good investment for me for sure.
  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Wow nice. I use an Orca and it has been great. 5 years on that wetsuit and I see no need to replace it. Was a good investment for me for sure.

    Yea, this is their entry level price point. It was $160 which is about what I spend fullsuits for surf.
  • HillOE
    HillOE Posts: 61 Member
    You've made your choice, but if you get the suit and don't like it, I'd rent one for the day. Yeah, spending money for a rental, but if you're not going to get use out of it (as in you hate the sport) the rental is worth it. There are a few on line rental options and I would imagine that there is at least 1 tri store or bike store in the metro Boston area that does rentals. Also, I find tri wetsuits a little different than my other wetsuits, a lot harder to get into and a bit more restricting...practice getting in and out of it and swim with it before the race.

    It's not really like renting underwear, and you'll have your bike/run gear on under the suit anyway. It is a short distance, but you'll be wet on the bike and if it's chilly, the wind will add to the potential of hypothermia. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I do a race in early September that there is a potential for it due to the combo of cold water, and high speeds on the down hill at the start of the bike.

    Good luck, I hope you enjoy your race.
  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    HillOE wrote: »
    You've made your choice, but if you get the suit and don't like it, I'd rent one for the day. Yeah, spending money for a rental, but if you're not going to get use out of it (as in you hate the sport) the rental is worth it. There are a few on line rental options and I would imagine that there is at least 1 tri store or bike store in the metro Boston area that does rentals. Also, I find tri wetsuits a little different than my other wetsuits, a lot harder to get into and a bit more restricting...practice getting in and out of it and swim with it before the race.

    It's not really like renting underwear, and you'll have your bike/run gear on under the suit anyway. It is a short distance, but you'll be wet on the bike and if it's chilly, the wind will add to the potential of hypothermia. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I do a race in early September that there is a potential for it due to the combo of cold water, and high speeds on the down hill at the start of the bike.

    Good luck, I hope you enjoy your race.

    I used to train marathon and I know all about hypothermia, unfortunately. Just wearing cotton clothing during an 18 mile run in 40F weather was enough to make me pretty ill. I get what you're saying about the potential for it.

    I should get the suit in some time early next week, and will get it down to the pool. You really find that tri suits are harder to get into and out of than surf suits?
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Make sure that if you use it in a pool that you rinse it *really* well. The material is not designed for use in chlorinated water and can be harmful to it over time. One test-swim in a pool won't hurt it though.
  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Make sure that if you use it in a pool that you rinse it *really* well. The material is not designed for use in chlorinated water and can be harmful to it over time. One test-swim in a pool won't hurt it though.

    Tough one... not too many places in Boston allow open water swimming. In fact, I don't think it's allowed ANYWHERE before Memorial Day, though I'm sure they can't keep me out of the ocean. I know I've been kicked out of Buckmaster Pond, the Charles River near Millennium Park, and the Jamaica Pond... and that was just doing SUP
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Well like I said if you are planning a single trip to the pool with it to make sure it works for you, it wont harm it. You just want to make sure to rinse it well, and don't make a habit of using it in the pool (not that I can imagine why anyone would want to)
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    As for getting out of it quickly - I always lube my legs and arms with TriSlide or Body Glide. Get really greasy. Usually I have no problem getting it off in a hurry.

    Also don't forget to REALLY lube the back of your neck. Most suits chafe miserably back there since your neck is always turning back and forth. You won't notice the chafing, though, until the next morning when you get in the shower and the hot water hits the freshly scabbed over chafed area and you feel like someone is chopping your head off from behind with a hot rusty knife.
  • ashenriver
    ashenriver Posts: 498 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    As for getting out of it quickly - I always lube my legs and arms with TriSlide or Body Glide. Get really greasy. Usually I have no problem getting it off in a hurry.

    Also don't forget to REALLY lube the back of your neck. Most suits chafe miserably back there since your neck is always turning back and forth. You won't notice the chafing, though, until the next morning when you get in the shower and the hot water hits the freshly scabbed over chafed area and you feel like someone is chopping your head off from behind with a hot rusty knife.

    I am seconding the body glide and especially the back of the neck. My first open water swim last year (2.1km) ended up having a freak underwater current that had me swimming for 2.5 hours. I did not use enough body glide.

    Also my wetsuit cost me 350 CAN on sale. Unfortunately the cheaper ones did not fit me properly. I have not worn surfing suits but I know swimming wetsuits are meant to fit closer to the body. I was told the tighter the better, and if you think it fits, then go smaller.

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Good thread. I need a wetsuit for a late May Tri. Was looking at the Xterra site, and the 2015 models have a pre-order discount of 50%. So a sleeved Male vortex for $200, ships on April 28th.

    Will probably end up doing that...
  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    ashenriver wrote: »
    glevinso wrote: »
    As for getting out of it quickly - I always lube my legs and arms with TriSlide or Body Glide. Get really greasy. Usually I have no problem getting it off in a hurry.

    Also don't forget to REALLY lube the back of your neck. Most suits chafe miserably back there since your neck is always turning back and forth. You won't notice the chafing, though, until the next morning when you get in the shower and the hot water hits the freshly scabbed over chafed area and you feel like someone is chopping your head off from behind with a hot rusty knife.

    I am seconding the body glide and especially the back of the neck. My first open water swim last year (2.1km) ended up having a freak underwater current that had me swimming for 2.5 hours. I did not use enough body glide.

    Also my wetsuit cost me 350 CAN on sale. Unfortunately the cheaper ones did not fit me properly. I have not worn surfing suits but I know swimming wetsuits are meant to fit closer to the body. I was told the tighter the better, and if you think it fits, then go smaller.

    I ordered a small so far, and with 37" hips I cant imagine sizing down to the smallest size. Hopefully it will come in today or tomorrow and I can test it out soon. Will let you guys know how it goes and pick up some TriGlide at City Sports

  • HardcoreP0rk
    HardcoreP0rk Posts: 936 Member
    Wetsuit felt fine, if not a little too large. Here's my results:

    bqsqzyyni440.jpg
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