This is my first visit to the Mooseman HIM. After swimming in water below 60 degrees during Epicman in 2006 I am wondering if it will be that cold or not.
Is it Neoprene cap cold? I used two regular swim caps at Epicman and noticed that my hands, face and feet were going numb but head felt fine.
If so, what is your transition to the bike like to warm-up again?
58 deg. F. last year. Water temp had been creeping upward nicely for the few weeks prior, but then there were a few cold rainy days in the week before. I brought my neoprene cap, but didn’t end up using it. If I remember correctly, I wore a silicone cap under the latex one. I don’t recall whether I wore earplugs, though - I’d done a few open water swims in the weeks before, and sometimes had issues with dizziness when I stood up getting out of the water. I don’t think I did end up wearing them.
A few people were wearing sleeveless wetsuits, and I think that they were suffering a little. I was a little chilly doing the swim warmup before the race (which was delayed because of thick fog), but was comfortable enough for the actual swim and for the transition.
This is my first visit to the Mooseman HIM. After swimming in water below 60 degrees during Epicman in 2006 I am wondering if it will be that cold or not.
Is it Neoprene cap cold? I used two regular swim caps at Epicman and noticed that my hands, face and feet were going numb but head felt fine.
If so, what is your transition to the bike like to warm-up again?
I wore a neoprene cap and ear plugs. 2 years ago I had vertigo problems from the cold water. The ear plugs did the trick. Once I got out of the water I had no effects from the cold.
Polly
The race date is right when the water is warming up . . . or right before it is warming up. I’ve always worn a neoprene cap but I don’t like cold water.
Alot depends on when we have that first heatwave. As those who raced last year, it was mid 90’s on race weekend…water by Monday after the race was 70!!! So, just hope for some warm weather leading up to the race. Last year, we had a really crappy spring…
Average water temp for the 7th of June is around 63.
We have a heating tent as you exit the water as well, if you want to use it:)
Last year I was officially FROZEN…I shivered for the first 4 miles on the bike…
From reading the replies thus far, I’d say it’s really a matter of how you handle cold water. I’ve done Mooseman Half each of the last three years (it really is a fantastic race, I’m sad to miss it this year) and have never had a problem with the water. Actually, I’ve always thought it was about the perfect temp. Full suit, no extra cap/ear plugs/booties/gloves/etc/etc.
Edit: I also once did Cali 70.3 in low 50s water. Too cold for me. Wearing a thermal cap I was fine in the water but couldn’t stop shivering once I got out of my wetsuit. I spent 10 mins in T1 before some kind volunteer helped me get my arm warmers on. 
So I gues my sweet spot is high 50s/low 60s.
Have a good race,
-C
That water felt just perfect AFTER the race last year. Cool water yummmmm
Precisely 7.83 degrees colder than the water at Rev3 on the same day. Sorry KJ, but after all your shenanigans on the threads pertaining to that race, I just couldn’t resist here 
Why don’t you go start your own thread…maybe something like “Should I be worried that the race I signed up for instead of Mooseman’s major sponsor still doesn’t even have a website 100 days before the race?” Have you considered how much the race they are proposing to put on (their first) will cost given that they have to raise $120K for prizes, front the $$ for a gps unit for each competitor, rent an amusement park, have live video from around the course, etc etc in addition to the normal costs of running a major race?
Do you have any idea how many people are signed up or what the field limit is? I would imagine the water temperature on race day is the least of your worries…but hey, they have a splashy website with images from other races (with the logos carefully airbrushed out), so I guess it will be fine.
It really does depend on how you handle cold water. Lots of folks wore neoprene caps. I HATE cold water, and did Lobsterman one year when the water was 54 degrees. I remember jumping off the dock and thinking, “there’s no way I can do this…” to, “well, I can be the only one who’s gonna wimp out.” I figured I was going to have to swim the entire swim with my head out of the water.
Once you get going, even if the water’s in the 50’s at a race, it’s not a big deal. I wasn’t affected, after the first 100 yards or so.
Let’s just hope we have a nicer spring than last year:) If it’s nice, the water could easily be 65.
I was one of those guys in a sleeveless. There was a guy in my wave that I was talking to before the gun that didn’t have a wetsuit at all.
To the OP:
I’ve swum it in a sleeveless for the past two years and haven’t had a problem. Felt cold, but never had any problems from it (actually, once I’m swimming at race pace, its a nice cool down). Although one thing I will point out, is the middle part, when you’ve turned and are swimming across the middle of the lake, is noticeably colder than the rest of the swim.
it’s a spring-fed lake, and the water source is out near the turn…that’s probably why it’s colder out there.
It’s cold but you get used to it. I remember thinking my feet, face and hands were going to be a big problem but as soon as you get going you forget about it.
Awesome,
Thanks for all the posts.
Why you worrying about how cold the water is going to be, you should be worrying about what wheels to use? There is a little hill within the first couple of miles of the bike.
The year I did it, it may have been the first year, 2005, the water was cold.
The day before the race before 9:00am we swam for 15 min just to see how cold it would be. I got out of the water shivering and did not stop shivering until about 4:00PM that afternoon, it was quite warm that day, it was around 25 celcius. during the race it was fine, you are racing.
Good luck.
Why you worrying about how cold the water is going to be, you should be worrying about what wheels to use? There is a little hill within the first couple of miles of the bike.
The year I did it, it may have been the first year, 2005, the water was cold.
The day before the race before 9:00am we swam for 15 min just to see how cold it would be. I got out of the water shivering and did not stop shivering until about 4:00PM that afternoon, it was quite warm that day, it was around 25 celcius. during the race it was fine, you are racing.
Good luck.
You’re right, there are bigger things to worry about than water temp. I’ve done it twice and the weather was a factor both times. One time it was the first hot day of the year in the North East, a bit of a shock to the system. The other time it was cold and rainy and transition was half swamp. Regardless of conditions it was a great race and a lot of fun.
Don’t forget, the water temperature mysteriously goes up a couple of degrees while all the triathletes are nervously standing around waist deep waiting for the start…
I think it might be overkill for me with a neoprene cap, but doesn’t Speedo or someone make a slightly thicker (sort of insulated) cap that you could wear under the race cap? Any idea what those are called?
Also, are booties legal and if so are their “swimming” ones? My feet always get cold and take forever to warm up, I am just worried about having numb feet for the rest of the race and if booties were legal and someone made some thin ones would consider picking them up.
yes, booties are legal. Quite a few people had those too…