I’m doing an Olympic in water that will be around 65 degrees. I don’t need to make a choice based on water temp being uncomfortable—I could handle that without a wetsuit. Assume no wetsuit peelers will be present. I am a strong swimmer by triathlon standards, although not an elite college-level swimmer (I.e., my position is helped somewhat by a wetsuit). Should I:
1. Use a regular sleeved wetsuit.
Advantage: fastest in the water
Disadvantage: longer transition time
2. Use a sleeveless wetsuit
Advantage: slightly faster transition
Disadvantage: slightly slower in water
3. No wetsuit
Advantage: no wasted transition time
Disadvantage: significantly slower
4. Use SIM shorts. Never seen anyone do this in a race.
Advantage: a lot of the buoyancy advantage of a wetsuit. Very fast transition.
Disadvantage: loss of the textile advantage of full body neoprene
Bottom line: it really comes down to how fast transitions are for me. I’m not lightning quick at getting the wetsuit off.
1. Use a regular sleeved wetsuit.
Advantage: fastest in the water
Disadvantage: longer transition time
2. Use a sleeveless wetsuit
Advantage: slightly faster transition
Disadvantage: slightly slower in water
3. No wetsuit
Advantage: no wasted transition time
Disadvantage: significantly slower
4. Use SIM shorts. Never seen anyone do this in a race.
Advantage: a lot of the buoyancy advantage of a wetsuit. Very fast transition.
Disadvantage: loss of the textile advantage of full body neoprene
Bottom line: it really comes down to how fast transitions are for me. I’m not lightning quick at getting the wetsuit off.