I used to swim with my car key tied to my tri shorts, with bike safely locked in the van.
The high tech car keys with remote opener integrated into the fob makes that a problem with the new van.
Do you just hide your key somewhere?
Do you have a valet key?
That’s what I use, no electronics what so ever.
hey when you free to go to Sasamat? 
I leave it unlocked and put the key under the seat. screw it, if they my car gets stolen, oh well.
below my wetsui, I have a trishort with a small inside pocket (that does not zipp) and I put my keys in a ziplock then the ziplock in that small inside pocket
Fred.
That’s a good idea. Thx! AP
I should have clarified that the key and fob are integrated together. So I can’t separate the key from the fob which has the electronics. It’s all one piece
I can’t leave the van unlocked as we’ll have two $3,000 bikes inside.
Would the zip-lock be reliable enough to protect the electronics?
I did not have problems so far with the ziplock (i.e. I have an electronic car key).
However I am considering buying something like:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442618633&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302700553&bmUID=1182479295231
or even like:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524442621155&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302700553&bmUID=1182479295234
Fred.
I have a vision of the key shorting out and sparking right in that delicate area.
I should have had a low-tech key made just for this purpose - but since I’m leaving for the swim-bike at 6am tomorrow it’s too late. I guess I’ll just hide the key and swim fast.
Yeah, I know the type of key you’re talking about - but usually a car will also come with a “regular” valet key that has no electronics and only opens the driver door/starts the car (it doesn’t open the trunk, etc). With a van (or all cars having an internal trunk release) it’s kind of a moot feature, but most cars still come with them.
I’m guessing yours didn’t.
In that case, fred_h has linked to exactly what I’d recommend:
I have one of the Aquapac keymasters that Fred sent a MEC for. I have successfully put both my car key and mobile phone in it whilst sea swimming for the past year without incident. The lanyard goes around my waist or it could go around your neck under the wetsuit too.
I lock the car and stash the keys in the gas tank or on the inside of one of the tires. I put faith in the notion that thieves probably aren’t going to spend the time poking around for my keys. Actually I put faith in the notion that there really aren’t that many bike/car thieves around.