OK, I am in a major dilemma. I have an Oly dist. race in July and I want to give myself every chance at finishing (It is the Boulder Peak and I am from Michigan). I know that I can make it through the bike slow and I can walk a lot of the run if need be, but I wonder how big an advantage having a wet suit would be for the swim. I am a descent swimmer, but like I said, I am worried the altitude may effect me most in the water.
I know that wet suits help, but how much? This is my first season and I have already broken the bank on other gear. Do companies rent or loan suits?
i am guessing out your way you can fiind some place to rent. alot of big races have expos where you can rent as well. it will make a pretty significant difference, especially if you are a hip dragger. i would guess at least 1 minute, but besides time it will “float” your legs. if you do not have an efficient kick that will help you alot.
I have some friends in the tri wetsuit industry and from what they tell me you can expect a 1-2 second per 100 meter advantage. above all else it will make swimming easier as it offers more buoyancy. your race is in fresh water which has less salinity then salt water so the wetsuit is even more important. all around it’s just a good idea. PRACTICE LOTS IN IT THOUGH!!! hope this helps!
Wetsuits do help a lot. I don’t consider myself a bad swimmer. I do a triathlete kick (2-beats) instead of a swimmer’s kick (6-beats). Sometimes, I will forget to kick at all and the wetsuit keeps my legs afloat. Swimming with a wetsuit is very nice.
I say rent one now, but start saving up for one. They are about $200-500 and they are nice to have.
Boulder res. can be a bit chilly, even in July. Apart from the speed, the wetsuit is good just to keep from getting cold. I’ve done Boulder a couple of times without a wetsuit (cramped badly once) but usually was the only one in the wave without a wetsuit. I’d recommend it…
You might not be able to rent a tri wetsuit, but should be able to rent a tight-fitting shorty dive suit, and that will work pretty well. I borrowed one once, it was faster and warmer than skin.
Otherwise Pro-motion suits are a good price ($129 for a shorty sleeveless, $169 for full-leg sleeveless), and I like mine a lot, http://www.wetsuit.com
In my experience a wetsuit makes an average swimmer a good one and a good swimmer pretty much the same. the bouyancy corrects a lot of the technique issues that weaker swimmers have. Personally if I had my way I’d make us all swim non suited in 8ft of swell… Nonetheless, anecdotely I normally hear that it saves you about a minute by going suited although the fit and comfort of the suit is critical.