Dating myself, but the last time I did a 70.3 or IM distance race, compression socks/sleeves didn’t exist.
Now that they do, I have a couple races coming up and am thinking about wearing my calf sleeves as I feel they help me on longer runs (yeah yeah yeah, no hard data). I don’t want to take the time to put them on in transition so will be wearing them under my wetsuit.
The question is: will I be shooting myself in the foot aero wise? I have heard both they are more aero than bare skin, and they are less aero.
I use the CEPs and have found my bike splits to be repeatably faster with them (~45sec/40k). FWIW, this is vs. shaved legs.
It makes sense, since the CEPs are ribbed and can help lower the pressure drag behind your calves, and your lower leg is basically a big cylinder that stays fairly vertical throughout the pedal stroke.
I really don’t like running in them, but will put up with it for the gains on the bike.
Dating myself, but the last time I did a 70.3 or IM distance race, compression socks/sleeves didn’t exist.
Now that they do, I have a couple races coming up and am thinking about wearing my calf sleeves as I feel they help me on longer runs (yeah yeah yeah, no hard data). I don’t want to take the time to put them on in transition so will be wearing them under my wetsuit.
The question is: will I be shooting myself in the foot aero wise? I have heard both they are more aero than bare skin, and they are less aero.
Any hard data eithier way?
CEP is the brand if that matters.
No hard data but I can at least comment that I always wear my sleeves when I race, from swim start to run finish. I’ve had no noticeable advantage or disadvantage on the bike, I’ll average 20ish on a 56 that isn’t covered in hills. Primarily they are along for the ride so they are on my legs for the run without having to mess with them in transition. I couldn’t imagine trying to pull them bad boys up after the ride, that’s a rib cramp waiting to happen.
You could call it disadvantage but my legs have the most f#cked up tan lines. Then again most of us do anyway.
Dating myself, but the last time I did a 70.3 or IM distance race, compression socks/sleeves didn’t exist.
Now that they do, I have a couple races coming up and am thinking about wearing my calf sleeves as I feel they help me on longer runs (yeah yeah yeah, no hard data). I don’t want to take the time to put them on in transition so will be wearing them under my wetsuit.
The question is: will I be shooting myself in the foot aero wise? I have heard both they are more aero than bare skin, and they are less aero.
Any hard data eithier way?
CEP is the brand if that matters.
My sleeves were faster, I tested 2XU MCS XS, by size chart I am at least a small, maybe a medium.
Next big question is to shave the parts of the legs covered by them, or not bother and walk around with shaved knees and quads, and calves that look like I have furry legwarmers on…
Next big question is to shave the parts of the legs covered by them, or not bother and walk around with shaved knees and quads, and calves that look like I have furry legwarmers on…
I think the answer still depends. If they are small and really tight I think you stand a better chance but it is all going to come down to the individual and shape of the leg too.