Are there any suggestions out there for some good gear that would still be pretty aero on the bike and do a good job of keeping you warm?
For some of the longer fall triathlons, hopping onto the bike in a soaking wet tri-suit can be pretty cold for a while on the bike. I am looking for anything better than the baggy wind jacket solution.
Cheers,
I was snug as a bug in a rug at the Syracuse race last weekend – which ended up being not quite as chilly as it could’ve been even though it was half-raining up in the hills – with: full-finger gloves, medium-warm socks with toe covers on shoes, aero helmet with visor (no vents), a tight-fitting wind vest (ventilated back) and arm-warmers… Might’ve been a bit of overkill, but knowing that there were fast descents on the course, I didn’t want to be shivering … I never felt over-heated
Check out the Kiwami Kameleon. It was/is marketed as a suit mostly for sprints and moderate temp Oly, but I think it has the most potential for cold weather: http://www.kiwamitri.com/shop/kameleon-neoprene_1-2.html
The rubber panels are located in such a way as to keep your thighs and the upper part of your chest warm. The rest is the super fast-drying amphibian material.
What’s the fastest long sleeve speed suit? Maybe a speed suit and shoe covers on the bike.
That’s a reasonable option as long as you’re prepared either (1) to hold it for the duration of a race (if HIM+, that can be tough); or (2) wee thru the suit
.
Go see the medical staff the day before the race, get yourself a piece of the silver emergency blanket. Cut it to the size of your torso and put it on before the swim, under you race suit.
It’ll keep the wind off your chest/torso in those early times on the bike when latent heat of evap cools you off and makes everything uncomfy. you can ditch it later when you warm up.
Thanks everyone. I will be at Silverman this year so the downhills and wind might play a factor as I guess it can be pretty cold early on. Would be nice to have something to ditch like the emer. blanket or go for something more complete like Jordan suggested.
This raises a good question. Exactly how do people dress and transition for cold weather tris?
I have one locally that I’ve never entered precisely because the weather can be 50s and raining that time of year. It’s also a sprint tri where fast transitions matter.
We have a Sprint and OLY tri in March (Vancouver BC) and sometimes there’s snow on the ground (brrr!). Most often it’s raining and ~5degC with a nice little breeze. So it’s pretty sucky.
For that one: I usually put on a l/sleeve shirt, windproof vest, wool socks (WoolieBoolies), toe covers, full gloves.
I’ll take the vest & gloves off for the run, sometimes the wool socks too.
To the OP, I’m doing Silverman as well, I’m a big fan of arm warmers+toes covers+good socks+full gloves as I hate cold extremities. SalmonSteve’s suggestion is a great one too…
AP
I’d assume that its best to deal with the fact that you’re going to be COLD for the first few minutes of the bike until your clothing can dry. The faster you can get dry, the better. Second thing to worry about is how much cold-weather clothing can you wear for the swim and get away with to save time in transitions.
A full length set of compression shirt (underneath your top) and tights that dry out quickly helps a ton, don’t get tangled up in a wetsuit, dry quickly and most importantly can be put on before the race begins. I wished I had toe covers for my last tri. I’ve never used full neoprene booties in a race but those would certainly help, at the cost of slower transition. Might make your bike a bit faster too 
Skull cap or balaclava (again, can be worn on the swim potentially) would also warm things up pretty well.
Wool socks insulate well when wet. I’ve certainly entertained wearing a really thin pair of athletic socks under a worn out pair of wooly-knee length hiking socks at colder races. Wear’m for the swim–who cares unless it’s illegal for some reason (can’t see why it would be, though)
If I recall, Monty wore a DeSoto polypro long sleeve jersey (It has two small pockets) at Oceanside half (Ralphs) a couple of years ago when he won his AG. I have one, it’s nice.