I know the conventional wisdom is that a perfectly fitting sleeved trisuit is the fastest thing to wear. However, I’m guessing that in a sprint distance the difference is too small to matter. I’m currently racing in a DeSoto sleeveless jersey and DeSoto tri shorts. I am moving towards the front of my age group so every second counts. What do you guys think?
Over sleeveless?
I’ve run 100s of sleeveless vs sleeved kits and have seen 1 person test faster in sleeveless and that was on the velodrome which is a low yaw situation.
Sure on some the difference was so small that if no one is +/- :10 of you it won’t matter. On others the differences have been worth :30 savings over 20k. last couple of sprints I did if I was :30 faster I went from 10th to 8th OV. At USATAGNC in the sprint at least 1 maybe 2 spots and in the olympic 2 spots maybe 3 ahead.
A few years ago in the last race I won money at, which was a sprint but with a 16 mile bike I was 3rd OV. 4th OV was somewhere between :15 and :20 behind me not wearing sleeved kit. Sleeves could have been the difference between covering my entry fee, lunch w/beers and gas to the race or not.
What i would do if I was really concerned is look through my last 2 seasons of results and bank on being :15 faster. Then see what that gets you both OV and in your AG.
Hopefully giving you some testing data, real life and practical ways to look at it helps. anymore questions lmk
Unless it’s an ITU race and you’re a professional, I wouldn’t worry waste money on a new kit to possibly save some seconds in a sprint.
Here another thread: https://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/aero_suit_vs_tri_suit_P5528042/
Speedo only.
In my experience, every second matters in a sprint. I typically win or podium my AG, and frequently one of the positions from 1st to 4th were decided by fewer than 5 seconds. Any piece of gear that can make a second or two of difference is worth it.
Now in your case, a sleeved top is faster than a sleeveless. That alone could be a second or two in the swim. I bet more than a few. Then a one-piece will be a little faster overall than a 2-piece on the bike and in the swim. If you are aiming at the top of the podium, I would get a good, sleeved, one-piece tri suit.
In my experience, every second matters in a sprint. I typically win or podium my AG, and frequently one of the positions from 1st to 4th were decided by fewer than 5 seconds. Any piece of gear that can make a second or two of difference is worth it.
Now in your case, a sleeved top is faster than a sleeveless. That alone could be a second or two in the swim. I bet more than a few. Then a one-piece will be a little faster overall than a 2-piece on the bike and in the swim. If you are aiming at the top of the podium, I would get a good, sleeved, one-piece tri suit.
That’s pretty much my experience too. (on a local level)
I know the conventional wisdom is that a perfectly fitting sleeved trisuit is the fastest thing to wear. However, I’m guessing that in a sprint distance the difference is too small to matter. I’m currently racing in a DeSoto sleeveless jersey and DeSoto tri shorts. I am moving towards the front of my age group so every second counts. What do you guys think?
I think it matters way more in these COVID times, time-trial starts make it impossible to know where you are in a field. In ye olden days I could find an extra gear in a sprint finish for OV place, but now these ‘sprint finishes’ are virtual and usually take place minutes apart. Every second of the finish time you dont have to push for, the better.
In my experience, every second matters in a sprint. I typically win or podium my AG, and frequently one of the positions from 1st to 4th were decided by fewer than 5 seconds. Any piece of gear that can make a second or two of difference is worth it.
Now in your case, a sleeved top is faster than a sleeveless. That alone could be a second or two in the swim. I bet more than a few. Then a one-piece will be a little faster overall than a 2-piece on the bike and in the swim. If you are aiming at the top of the podium, I would get a good, sleeved, one-piece tri suit.
That’s pretty much my experience too. (on a local level)
+1
The savings is less because the course is shorter….but so are the winning margins.
Aero is actually more important in a sprint, because speeds are higher.
I know the conventional wisdom is that a perfectly fitting sleeved trisuit is the fastest thing to wear. However, I’m guessing that in a sprint distance the difference is too small to matter. I’m currently racing in a DeSoto sleeveless jersey and DeSoto tri shorts. I am moving towards the front of my age group so every second counts. What do you guys think?
I agree with others posts above. At least for me, Everything matters at every distance. And, I don’t really understand why someone would think otherwise.
One thing not mentioned so far - my aero kit makes me feel faster and certainly contributes to positive thinking on the course.
this is the correct answer.
I got tricked again. I thought it was finally a post about triathlon racing in the nude.
I tried it and I don’t think I’ll put anyone through that agony again.
Is this for draft-legal racing?
I’m a pretty competitive guy, so I’m always looking for an advantage. Sleeves are definitely faster than no sleeves, and the fabrics and patterns matter. Skin is slow. There are plenty of sleeved tri suits that are very comfortable and would be faster than no sleeves. If you can swing it, even for a small gain, it makes sense. I’ve had a few races where I won or lost my only a few seconds or an almost KQ I missed 10 years ago by only 7 seconds (sleeved suits weren’t really a thing then, though). Time matters, and if you can save time by simply wearing something (as long as you can afford the cost), it would make sense to do it.
It seems is really does make sense as several people have pointed out. I’m getting to the point where I’m often on the podium and if I miss, it is usually a matter of seconds. Thanks for all the feedback.
What a great thread. And as we all get closer to racing more frequently, in the flesh and wind, this thread is very timely, as well. I guess I have been guilty of spotting hacks like Stover some free time over me, due to little/no concern about clothing choices ~ at any distances. I’m the chump who shows up at our cycling club’s TTs in a tri-top and shorts…but an aero helmet, and bottle cages…
Maybe 2022 is the year I start to PAY ($$) attention to detail.
Anyone know of any 150 dollar (Canadian) long-sleeve suits in orange or do I need to sell my Softride to come up with the coin to get serious?
Is this for draft-legal racing?
Draft legal would theoretically make less difference than non-draft events, but it still matters.
Is this for draft-legal racing?
Draft legal would theoretically make less difference than non-draft events, but it still matters.
I think it depends on how good a swimmer you are. If you don’t have any problems coming out of the water and getting in that lead pack, then it probably doesn’t matter too much because the bike leg isn’t that important. If you aren’t a good swimmer, or you are Lucy Charles-style out in front, than you are going to burn some serious matches either bridging to the lead pack or keeping them at bay. That type of effort is going to really kill the legs for the run, so aero saves matches.
+1
The savings is less because the course is shorter….but so are the winning margins.
Aero is actually more important in a sprint, because speeds are higher.
Yes! The laws of physics - I love them.
“It’s just a sprint†is the dumbest common 5-word phrase one hears in the context of aero. Unless of course the athlete in question has only one gear and does sprints at ironman speeds.