Assuming IM Louisville is a nonwetsuit event what would be the most efficient thing to wear. Skinsuit is an option but with the heat would be brutal on bike & run. Is it allowed to just wear shorts and put on tritop in T1? I usually go tri shorts and seperate top but assume that any tri top would have a ton of drag. Any thoughts or recommendations.
Wear a speedsuit over what you are going to wear on the bike. Once out of the water strip off the speedsuit and ride like the wind!
I’m worried about this too for Woodlands 101. The speedsuit on top is a good idea. The only one I have I got for free for entering a certain race. It’s lilac and lime green and I’ve never worn it. I wonder if I can dye it black!! 
This is what I’ll be doing. May be really not be necessary in the long run but I’ll be wearing a skin suit over my tri suit if wetsuits are not allowed. I rode this past Saturday with an ending temp over 100 and when I would slide back on my seat I could feel the warmth from the sun heating it up. Could also tell a major difference between my black bib bottoms and my light colored top. There’s no way I’d wear a black skinsuit throughout this race (that’s what I have). With the pockets on most tri jerseys and trisuits they have to slow you down a tad. If a “tad” is important throw a skin suit on over your trisuit.
Unless this race is different that IMFlorida (I know it’s a different organization putting it on), there should be nothing wrong with just wearing shorts and putting on a top in transition. As a matter of fact, I plan on wearing just a swimsuit (jammer) and putting on tri shorts and top in T1 as I don’t mind giving up a few seconds to put on dry shorts for a very long day. Assuming that the transitions are like other IMs, there is a mens and womens separate transition area and a little nudity is ok. Anyone out there with more experience think this is totally wrong?
Here’ what I would do.
Wear trishorts for the swim. Then in T1 put on what ever top you want to wear on the bike. Usually this is a problem when you are wet, but there will be volunteers( hopefully) there to help you pull the back down. Then off you go. That would be the fastest least hassle approach.
If you are contending in your AG you may want to think about some of these new funky skin/speed suits made just for swimming. However, this would have to be pulled off in TI as most of these suits are not the best for hot weather use on land and then put on whatever else you need for the bike and again off you go.
I’m going with a speedsuit
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What is the best speedsuit to wear over a tri suit?
Gandalf:
I used the Desoto Liftfoil speedsuit over my trishorts at Florida 70.3. It worked great.
Plus when I saw Emilio’s comments from a previous post on the topic (pasted below) I couldn’t resist trying it. Can’t wait to throw it on for the swim at the Singapore 70.3 in September.
Thanks for another great product Desoto.
7 seconds per 100 seams like a lot to me too. You are welcome to buy the De Soto Liftfoil and test it for yourself. If you do not like it, you can return it for a complete refund.
See if the owners of those other companies steps up and offers you the same guarantee!
Emilio De Soto II
I’m doing it the simple way . DeSoto suit on the entire race (the old Power Skinsuit with only a small back mesh pocked.
A speedsuit might be 10 seconds faster in the water, but I gain these seconds in T1.
7 seconds per 100 seams like a lot to me too.
seams too good to be true.
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I read on another thread that you shouldn’t wear the liftfoil over a complete tri suit
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sometimes putting on a tight tri top for the bike is difficult in T1, they do cause drag and those little mesh pockets have noticable drag. what i’ve seen people do is put the top on, take their arms out and roll it down into their tri/bike pants. swim like (that with the top rolled down and below the waist of the pants) then in T1 roll the top up and stick your arms in as you roll it up.
practice it first!!
sometimes putting on a tight tri top for the bike is difficult in T1, they do cause drag and those little mesh pockets have noticable drag. what i’ve seen people do is put the top on, take their arms out and roll it down into their tri/bike pants. swim like (that with the top rolled down and below the waist of the pants) then in T1 roll the top up and stick your arms in as you roll it up.
practice it first!!
Actually I’ve done that on a few tris with a regular wetsuit. First time I went with tri suit and wet suit I felt very restricted round the chest, so I did a few with the top of the tri suit rolled down. This seemed to work and but the last few I’ve simply had the zip to the tri suit undone and that haas worked just as well.
I was wondering why De Soto recommend that you don’t wear the liftfoil over a tri suit. And if rolling down the tri suit is OK. would that cause extra drag?
I’m wearing a pointzero3. However, most report better results w/out wearing a trisuit under it. Just tri shorts.
I’m wearing a pointzero3. However, most report better results w/out wearing a trisuit under it. Just tri shorts
OK give me your best guess. Which overall is faster Swim + T1
pointzero3 with trisuit underneath (rolled down to the waist if necessary)
pointzero3 only and change to tri suit in T1
sometimes putting on a tight tri top for the bike is difficult in T1, they do cause drag and those little mesh pockets have noticable drag. what i’ve seen people do is put the top on, take their arms out and roll it down into their tri/bike pants. swim like (that with the top rolled down and below the waist of the pants) then in T1 roll the top up and stick your arms in as you roll it up.
practice it first!!
I have the Craft tri top and it has a full zipper. Easy to put on, or take off, even when wet.
I’d say it’s a wash, + or - 10 seconds either way.
like Burt said- probably a wash. I plan on just a tri short under my pointzero. In T1 i’ll put on a top. I did try out my pointzero this AM for the first time and it definitely is faster.
I second Squid, tried my point zero for the first time this morning, felt like i was haulin ass. Tri shorts would be faster underneath especially if they’re dimpled