Anyone has any information regarding water temperature in the Hudson river during the NYC Tri in July? Based on the videos I see some people wear wet suits, and some don’t. Any info. would be appreciated…
Thanks.
The state right in the athlete guide that it’s been wetsuit legal every year of its existence.
Someone posted here that one year a long time back it actually was not wetsuit legal, and that the athlete guide is wrong.
But either way, it’s almost always wetsuit legal. It was crazy hot last summer leading up to the event and the water temp was under the threshold by 2 (or was it 3 or 4?) degrees.
Thanks for the info. but I am not asking about wet suit legal. I am more interested in how cold are the water really. I hate wet suits in general and am a good swimmer so don’t really need the added buoyancy…
Thanks!
I hate wet suits in general and am a good swimmer so don’t really need the added buoyancy…
I suspect it will be plenty warm to be comfortable without a wet suit.
It’s not about “needing” one though. You’ll be faster with it than without it. If you don’t care about your time, then yeah do whatever’s the most fun.
Yeah, that water coming down from upper state NY, MA, and VT will always be wetsuit legal (as would most lakes in the Northeast). By time the lakes start bumping near the cut-off its mid-September and the air temps are already cooling for Fall.
The reason you see many people in that race without wetsuits is probably because they don’t own wetsuits.
Don’t forget. Swimming is not required for that triathlon. Just jump into the river with your pool noodle and let the river bring you to the finish line in a blistering 1:20/100 yard pace.
If you aren’t able to get near the front of the waves, the race is a joke. Very difficult to race your own race if in the middle of the pack.
If you aren’t able to get near the front of the waves, the race is a joke. Very difficult to race your own race if in the middle of the pack.
I wouldn’t go quite that far. With the new rolling start the swim is manageable. Yeah, lots of people to swim around, but it’s not worse than other tri’s I’ve done.
The bike was absurd, but as long as I kept screaming “ON YOUR LEFT” nonstop, I was mostly OK. I only had to brake once or twice.
Stressful and somewhat dangerous? Yes. Complete joke? Not quite fair.
EDIT: But to your point, yeah I probably won’t do the race again if I’m not in the Elite wave, which goes right behind the pros.
Meaning unless you are Pro, Men 55 and over or “PT Championship Qualifiers” you are screwed? I’m M35-39, after the 20 minute break, then starts PT, men 45-49, first responders and all the clydes, then 5 waves of M35-39. I really do not understand the starting order… I suppose there will be a very crowded course in front of me. Is passing on the bike difficult on the course?
Any info. on the bike course that we should be aware of?
Any info. on the bike course that we should be aware of?
Watch out for the other 3000 riders?
Have fun going through the toll booths?
It’s a simple course. The main issue is crowding.
It’s sometimes windy along the water also.
I’m M35-39, after the 20 minute break, then starts PT, men 45-49, first responders and all the clydes, then 5 waves of M35-39. I really do not understand the starting order… I suppose there will be a very crowded course in front of me. Is passing on the bike difficult on the course?
You’ll likely have some crowding, then see some reasonably clear areas, then start hitting people from the first group.
As I wrote above, for me there were no major issues. But I was screaming “on your left” almost the entire ride. It was tiring and stressful. Rest your voice well, and don’t expect to be riding with your head down like Dave Zabriskie.
Last year the swim temp was hot…I am a warm water guy and love the water in the swimming pool to be warm but the Hudson last year was even uncomfortable for me in a wetsuit. The race last year was 4 weeks or so later, however, there was basically no winter here in the North East (relative to a ‘normal’ year) so would expect the Hudson to be starting off at a warmer temp to begin with. Either way, the last 3 years I have done it you could easily not wear a wetsuit and be comfortable.
Historical average (to 2009) for July is 24.6C (76.28F) - Hastings (just north of NYC)
For July of last year at Piermont average July temp was 26.63C (80F) and August was 25.92C (79F) - hot (No data for Hastings as funding cut but Piermont is just a bit more up stream (~10 or so miles north of Manhattan).
The data for this location for last years race date (7 August 2011) is Max = 28.4C (83F), Min = 25.5C (78F), Mean = 26.7C (80F)
<< Is passing on the bike difficult on the course?>>
If you start in one of the later waves,the bike course does tend to get a little crowded.
Other problem is there are also a number of competitors out there that aren’t familiar with the rules.
I’ve seen cyclist pass others on the right.I’ve also seen others riding on the left when there not passing anyone.
As the above poster said,you’ll be yelling “On your left” quite a bit.
If you are comfortable on your bike, handling wise, the course is not that bad. There are a few largish potholes every now and then, the toll boths have exactly no relevance to this conversation, and the crowds on course can be bad. However, if you don’t mind getting close to people and maybe occasionally crossing the line to overtake (don’t get caught) then it won’t affect your time too much. I had a top 20 overall bike split (elite and AGs) last year starting in one of the latest waves. The worst areas are the uphills where people bunch and spread but then it is also the safest place to rub elbows as you go by on the outside. I find dodging the people helps to take my mind off the pain as well. It’s quite a nice course in terms of difficulty as well (rolling).
Now DC (Nations Tris) is a proper shit show for the bike if last year was anything to go by. Not only are there a lot of people but there are also a whole load of cheating mofos. Never seen drafting like it anywhere else (and I have never had a problem or seen it at NYC amongst the faster people…at DC you have peletons (no exaggeration) going 25+mph).
One year the jellyfish were so bad i came oit of the water with stings all over. Felt like i came out of the dentist and slept on my hands and legs the wrong way, tingley all over for the first 30 minutes of bike. Brutal. Do yourself a favor and be ready with a wetsuit.
One year the jellyfish were so bad i came oit of the water with stings all over. Felt like i came out of the dentist and slept on my hands and legs the wrong way, tingley all over for the first 30 minutes of bike. Brutal. Do yourself a favor and be ready with a wetsuit.
Oh man you did it that year? Doh!
it wasn’t wetsuit legal in 2002 and the swim had a head current (iirc, nobody was under 20). there was a heat wave that week so the water was warm but certainly not a bathtub. if the athlete guide says that it has been wetsuit legal every year, then it is wrong. are the wave start times up already?
Thanks for the info. but I am not asking about wet suit legal. I am more interested in how cold are the water really. I hate wet suits in general and am a good swimmer so don’t really need the added buoyancy…
Thanks!
You won’t need a wetsuit. Trust me, I’ve done it eight times (or more), can’t remember anymore.
I’ll give you one very good advice… but you’ll have to PM me for that.
.
On top ofthat i was in the 35-39 AG. The famous tide that takes you down river turned and was against us :0(
I raced NYC tri 5 times and water was never cold - you may even get a bit overheated wearing a wetsuit. However, I would very recommend to wear one. You never know what crap you may touch when swimming in Hudson - dead rats & cats, condoms, etc. One year during NYC tri Hudson had a bunch of jelly fishes. Just few thoughts…
I raced NYC tri 5 times and water was never cold - you may even get a bit overheated wearing a wetsuit. However, I would very recommend to wear one. You never know what crap you may touch when swimming in Hudson - dead rats & cats, condoms, etc. One year during NYC tri Hudson had a bunch of jelly fishes. Just few thoughts…
I have a coworker whose boyfriend is a cop somewhere in Westchester County. She says he once told her that it is standard NYPD protocol that whenever they pull someone out of the Hudson River, they automatically give the person a tetanus shot.