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What temp til you start open water swimming?
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HXB
Apr 28, 12 8:48
Post #1 of 29
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What temp til you start open water swimming?
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Here in the midwest I'm waiting on 70 degree water to get in with my wetsuit and start regular open water swimming. I am at 5 percent body fat so that has something to do with it also, what temp would you begin swimming in the local lake with or without a wetsuit?
LuvMyCrappyBike
Apr 28, 12 8:53
Post #2 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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Here in Los Angeles, where the water temp in the Pacific rarely even reaches 70 (seriously, it doesn't), those among us who call ourselves wimps wait until the water's over 60.
Those among us who are tough guys get in year round, in 50 degree water.
Insane, they are. They haven't made a neoprene hood insulating enough for that.
Although most folks wear full sleeved wetsuits here, even in the summer, I do know a few brave souls who swim in sleeveless suits or just in a swimsuit.
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monty
Apr 28, 12 9:00
Post #3 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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If it is lower than 53 i will probably go with the wetsuit, any warmer than that it is skin to win baby!!! Only can do about a mile in 53 though, did the san fran bay crossing last year at around 58. That was about an hour twenty..
My buddy just crewed for a guy that attempted to swim san fran to the farallon islands. Water started out 51, but after a couple hours dropped to 47. He made 6 1/2 hours before getting pulled just 8 miles from the finish. His support swimmers had a real hard time just doing an hour with him without freezing up, dude was tough.. This is all no wetsuit of course..
LuvMyCrappyBike
Apr 28, 12 9:05
Post #4 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [monty]
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There's a very old trick to cold-water swimming from the pre-wetsuit days, and that's to smear your body with either lard or Crisco.
The fat doesn't dissolve in the water and helps keep the swimmer warm. Sounds gross, but it actually does work.
I don't know if anyone does that anymore.
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B.McMaster
Apr 28, 12 9:15
Post #5 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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what ever temp the water is at my 1'st race of the season.
tricrazy
Apr 28, 12 9:17
Post #6 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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been swimming open water for about the last month in the Henderson NV....Lake Las Vegas/Lake Mead, with water temps mid 50's and now at about 62......wetsuit of course, but I believe this is the earliest that I have swam open water!
MARV
Apr 28, 12 9:18
Post #7 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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usually try to hold out till 60 degrees but this year I got in the ouside pool, not heated, when it was 57 and did a few 20 minute sessions prior to first race
--------------------------------------------------
Triathlon was started by a bunch of kids at the swimming hole, who heard the ice cream man. They swam to their bikes, chased down the truck, jumped off their bikes, and ran to be first in line.
HXB
Apr 28, 12 9:19
Post #8 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [LuvMyCrappyBike]
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I imagine your minimum tolerable temperature is strongly related to your body fat % and additionally to the intensity at which you swim. I seem to remember seeing a show about someone's attempt at the English Channel swim and they needed to actually gain body fat in order to have a legitimate shot at making it without hypothermia.
LuvMyCrappyBike
Apr 28, 12 9:24
Post #9 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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Well, that and I don't make the effort to get used to the colder water. That's a big part of it, too :)
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TBinMT
Apr 28, 12 9:28
Post #10 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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I think 70 is almost too warm for a wetsuit. But folks who say 50 ... That's ridiculous. With a neoprene cap, 55 is bearable & 60+ is great.
Power13
Apr 28, 12 9:43
Post #11 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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One of the local lakes we swim in (northern Chicago burbs) is now @ 55* and I am seriously tempted to give it a go. I have done 60* and while cold at first, I settle in pretty quickly, so I think I can hack 55*.
Gonna be in Taiwan for the next week, so when I come back, I think I'm gonna give it a go.
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tenerife triguy
Apr 28, 12 9:47
Post #12 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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I must say I am a bit spoiled. Where I live the ocean temp flucuates between 64 and 68 degrees year round.
othegrch
Apr 28, 12 16:40
Post #13 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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Some of the members in the local pod here were swimming straight through the winter (salt water) water temps in the upper 30s lower 40s. I'm awestruck. Nobody can tell them to HTFU!
---
"Sometimes it's just easier to do it the hard way."
LazyEP
Apr 28, 12 17:46
Post #14 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [LuvMyCrappyBike]
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Just don't go try to run afterwards. You'll get cooked by your own juices.
Sean Phelps
Those who can tri. Those who can't du. Those who won't cycle.
CapnMols
Apr 28, 12 19:37
Post #15 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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tempe town lake is currently 72 so probably about that in my first open water triathlon next weekend but that's pretty warm
i would be fine in the low 60s
90mtx
Apr 28, 12 19:59
Post #16 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [CapnMols]
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To kick the trend, not comfortable below 80. Down in the Florida Keys, you get acclimatized to the weather quickly. It is not fun to swim cold.
Jonathan
Allie
Apr 28, 12 20:09
Post #17 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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Lakes here are around 60-65 degrees now and I will use a sleeveless wetsuit to swim in that. It is cold but not so cold I want to chatter my teeth out of my head once I get going.
Other than that, it gets so humid in the summer that 68-70 feels wonderful.
realAlbertan
Apr 28, 12 21:09
Post #18 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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Some of the lakes here never get that warm...
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Pickles
Apr 29, 12 4:54
Post #19 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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I am starting open water swimming next week and I am in Kentucky. Water will be in the low to mid 50s.
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tribritre
Apr 29, 12 7:00
Post #20 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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~55F/12.5C is my cut-off point w/ wetsuit, 68F/18C non-wetsuit. Much below 55F and it's just not fun. At 55F my hands and feet go numb, but I can keep myself going without worry. I froze myself to the bone too many times as a kid in winter (having too much fun and no common sense to come inside once I was soaked through), I see no sense in doing that under completely controllable circumstances.
I expect these temp "limits" to start raising a few degrees over the next few years, as I'm turning 50 this year & my tolerance for cold is getting less and less. I now totally understand the Snow Bird phenomenon.
Later!
Brian
Swim. Bike. Run. Repeat as necessary.
Welcome to the Church of Briantology!
Duffy
Apr 29, 12 7:04
Post #21 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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Is there some special training benefit to swimming in open water that makes you faster?
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HXB
Apr 29, 12 7:20
Post #22 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [Duffy]
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Physiologically it can be more difficult given your swim isn't parsed out in 25 or 50 yard bits with those small breaks. I swim open water though for many reasons the first of which being that I find it much more fun and entertaining. Many exclusive pool swimmers swim slower in open water races given that they are not as comfortable in the environment and haven't developed skills such as open water sighting, navigating and group swimming. Marking out a known distance is also a great way to know exactly how fast you will swim in open water races in addition to learning proper pacing without relying on a pace clock.
Duffy
Apr 29, 12 10:01
Post #23 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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I'm just teasing.
I swim in the ocean all the time. Not to get fast. I do it because I like it. Sometimes I wear a wetsuit but I never use goggles.
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jkahan
Apr 29, 12 11:03
Post #24 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [HXB]
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where I live is still top secret, but I am allowed to say that I will start ows on may 1st -- water will be in high 40s/low 50s
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HXB
Apr 29, 12 11:36
Post #25 of 29
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Re: What temp til you start open water swimming? [Duffy]
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I really envy the ocean swimming, but with no goggles? I always thought that wasn't possible.
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