I normally prefer the 6" cut on the legs, but most of the shorts I’ve seen are like 7" and bigger. (except for LG tri shorts – which is what I’ve been using)
Mine are finally wearing out (well, the one pair was falling apart when I bought it, but… that’s another story).
Do any of you guys out there go long @ the IM Distance with briefs and tri-top? Is this a bad idea?
Thanks in advance.
Trae
PS. I know I’d probably enjoy doing laps in the pool in the old banana hammock(sorry ladies) but I don’t know about being on a bike for 112 miles with them.
Swimming and bike would be fine…the run would do me in. I get major chafing it I don’t have something covering my inner thighs. I’ve always had a problem with them rubbing together though, not anything new so I can plan around it. If your looking for something shorter then the 6", check out the DeSoto Low-Cut Tri Short…my personal favorite.
No problems with the swim, of course, but here’s some tips to get through the bike and run.
Buy a tri-brief with a thin pad and make sure it fits you well. If you can manage to not read any perversion into this, put a thick coat of vaseline on the nose of the saddle to prevent chafing on the bike. You may want to re-coat it halfway through. Give your inner thighs a good coat of vaseline in T2 and you should be fine on the run…assuming you shave your legs. I wouldn’t try it if you’ve got the added friction of hair.
Racing in a brief is the most comfortable to me no matter the distance…be ready for some smirks from the local non-tri crowd, though.
“Do any of you guys out there go long @ the IM Distance with briefs and tri-top? Is this a bad idea?”
I haven’t, and probably wouldn’t for a long course event BUT pretty much every IM Hawaii winner from 1984 to 1994 did the Speedo/tri-top look. It’s “retro” but you can’t argue with the results from Speedo-wearing guys like the Big 4, Welchy, and Luc VanLierde.
Whatever you do Occy…train in how you plan on racing. You know you can get changed in T2 if you are afraid of hardcore shaffing. After being in the salt, no matter how much you wash off I can’t imagine how that would feel between the legs with little coverage. The sand sometimes kicks up on the run loop, I wouldn’t want my skin exposed (and chills sometimes follow–remember I mentioned to take the chicken soup if they are offering it on the run-- DO NOT PASS THIS UP!!)
You will do beautifully in whatever you have on, just make sure you lube yourself up
Great advice gang. I’m all for the lubing up thing! I always have to remember to put body glide on my neck as my tri-tops and suit seem to chaff me on one side. I am guessing this may be due to my swimming form.
Anyway, I might get one pair and experienment in training and see how things go.
