I prefer swimming without it, but I am faster with it...

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I prefer swimming without it as well, but I use it in every race it's legal anyway.

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+1

Same here...been a swimmer all my life so wetsuits feel weird to me, but I'll wear it if it's well within legal temps for speed. If it's borderline, it's probably going to be too hot for me, so I'll ditch it in favor of not overheating.

x3 on the prefer without but faster with, but since I'm probably not winning any awards this year I've swam every event without. :)

I have no issues swimming without a wetsuit down to around 60F. It does take a while for me to get in the water, but once I'm there I don't have any problem swimming.

Hell yes, and I'm not even a "real" swimmer. Not only do I find it MUCH more comfortable (assuming reasonable water temps) but I also love how a non-wetsuit swim really mindfucks some 85% of the field... :D

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x2

My problem with wetsuits is that I feel like I have to wear one, or else give up a couple minutes in speed on a HIM swim. But then I start the bike half cooked.

I understand using wetsuits in really cold water to prevent hypothermia, but 75 degree water is perfect for swimming competition. And hyperthermia on the run is usually a bigger problem that hypothermia on the swim, unless the water is actually cold, which in most triathlons isn't the case. I suspect that I've melted down on HIM runs due to overheating on the swim, and being hot for the whole nearly 5 hours.

I really despise the whole wetsuit in triathlon concept.

But I suppose its the only way that ordinary people who can't swim very well can do an ironman.
What's the point of an ironman race if people who don't swim well can't do it?

Stopped Clock.

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Correct twice a day.

I suffer from cramps in the pool without a wetsuit and also get cramps in the ocean with a suit, I don't think your cramping calves is caused by the wetsuit, it's prolly more to do with nutrition or hydration.

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res, non verba

I never get cramps in the pool though, not sure why.

Anyway is 65-68 acceptable to swim without wetsuit or will I get cold?

Probably depends on your size. I'm about 6'0", 185-190lb and 65-68 feels fantastic to me. Maybe a little chilly at first, but I warm up quickly. It's when you start getting closer to 62 and below that I get a little chilly. If you're smaller, you might get cold easier.

Funny you ask. I did the Carlsbad sprint last weekend in my sleeveless wetsuit and was going to use that at Vineman this weekend as well. Problem is every time I wear it in a race I get a nasty neck rash. I assume its because I have my try suit underneath it and the neck cut is different then a regular full suit. One option is to do the swim with my try suit pulled half way down while swimming but I am actually contemplating switching things up and going sans wetsuit. The water will be nice and it might provide me a good change of pace. Besides, if I get gassed I could always stand up...right?? I always find it awkward kicking in my wetsuit too. I tend to drag my legs more. And if I ever made Kona I'd need to know how to swim without one anyway. Decisions, decisions.

I used to get neck rash... Put lots of glide fixed it.

I prefer you all swim without one while I wear mine.

I prefer when wetsuits aren't allowed because I love to hear the pansies bitch and moan.

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"That doesn't make any sense at all, you can be second, third, fourth... hell you can even be fifth." - Reese Bobby, Taladega nights

hehe, I love that too :)

think we're up to x5 on prefer without but faster with

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Honestly I don't care in the sense that as long as everyone is playing by the same rules, it's fair.

But I'll be honest on this too: They help me, a poor swimmer, more than they seem to help the average triathlete. In a wet suit legal race I might be in the top 70% of my age group in the swim. Yes I know that sucks but in a non-wet suit legal race I'll likely be in the bottom 10% of my age group, IF I beat anyone at all, which is not often. So for whatever reason, I get more of a boost from a wet suit than most of you do.

Still, for me, triathlons are about personal challenges and overcoming what's hard. So I'm happy to do non-wet suit legal races. Not gonna improve if I don't do them.

Either is fine with me. I grew up wearing wetsuits because I live near a cold ocean.

That being said I prefer no wettie because that means the water is warm enough.

I swam an hour yesterday in 62 degree ocean water and was a little chilly, but fine. YMMV.

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Nope. I get calf cramps when I wear my wetsuit too, nutrition and hydration otherwise identical. I much prefer non-wetsuit swims. If temps are in the 70s I'm going without, and really wish USAT would adopt ITU wetsuit temp rules. 78 is like bathwater.

Curious, anyone swim in a swimskin?

I swam my first race this year (HIM) with a wetsuit and I came out of the water dehydrated, cramping, etc and it defenitly impacted my bike and run.
I swore not to put one on unless it is colder than 65. Since then I have done 2 Oly and swam both in my swimskin just becuse I have 2pc tri suit and practice for IM Coz.

How was the experience with the swimskin? No cramping im assuming?

Also, Im not sure I understand why the 2pc tri suit has to do with a swimskin?

I have done probably 70+ triathlons, only wore a wetsuit in two of them. And I do not not live in a warm climate.

I HATE being cold, but I think 65-68 is doable w/o a wetsuit, probably depends alot on the air temp too. If it was warm and sunny, then yes.

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