Anybody know what the water temperature is in the Rideayu Canal-Mooney’s Bay to be specific? I’m doing the Canadian Iron distance tri next weekend and am trying to decide between full sleeve or sleeveless wetsuit.
At this time of year it is usually pretty comfortable – mid-70s, likely. I do virtually all of my open water swims in the beaches of the St. Lawrence River along the Long Sault Parkway, and this year has been warmer than most; I figure the Rideau is similar.
I’ll be in a fullsuit next weekend, as that’s all I have. I would guess, though, that you’ll be fine in a sleeveless. I’ll be there tomorrow to run along the Canal (no tricks with it, just haven’t done it since May), and I’ll maybe add on a swim and try to give you a better idea. By the way, I’m doing the whole deal as well, and it would be good to meet up with you at some point. When are you arriving, where are you staying? And just think – in another 168 hours we’ll be about a quarter of the way through the bike. Hot damn!
The water temperature at Parry Sound this past Tuesday was 74F/23.3C, according to multisportcanada.com. Surely the Rideau at Mooney’s Bay has to be warmer than that, yes?
I have been open water swimming in the Ottawa river all summer in a sleeveless wetsuit. On mornings when the air temp is around 13 degrees, despite the water likely being up at 24-26 range, I do get a chill and when I hop on the bike, it feels cold for around 20 min. I’ll make my decision the nite before the race based on air temp. The water is certainly warm enough for sleeveless, but I hate being cold, especially starting the bike if I don’t need to be. I suspect that Mooney’s bay will be a touch warmer than the Ottaw River for the Canadian Half and Full.
I have my own sleeveless and a borrowed full suit that doesn’t isn’t quite as buoyant as the sleeveless in the torso and I’m all about being buoyant. I’m leaving the GTA early Friday morning and hope to be there by early afternoon. The last thing I want to do is rush around getting registered etc. This is my first and I’m a bit nervous. We’ll see if the training pays off. I jsut wish there were more doing the full. Only around 150 from what I hear are doing the iron. I’m was hoping for the “we’re all in the same boat” boost that comes with lots of similarly shuffling competitors in the sufferfest that is the last half of the run. I do have to say I’m pretty stoked as well. It’s going to be an adventure. Since it’s my first the only goal I have is to cross the finish line.( Actually, it’s to cross the finish line without shitting my pants if you want to be specific).
Bah, you’ll be fine!
I’ll see you at the Race Kit pick up or around - I’m hanging with B&J for the weekend.
I’ll be out there cheering you guys on!
I was going to do the Half w/ Beth but lazyness and lack of time meant very little running.
I’ll see you there. I’m staying at a motel not far from the race but I plan to hook up with B&J at somepoint. I’m really hoping to hook up with energizer bunny John during the tail end of the marathon to help pull me home like he did in Peterborough.
Scott -
I swam at the race site today (well, actually, across the river from it, on the west side), with no wetsuit at all. Quite simply, the water was superb, and I dearly wish I had a sleeveless. I’m not much of a guesstimator, but I’d say it was in the mid-70s. Really, it was just about pefect. You’ll be fine sans sleeves.
Scott, all the best. With 150 racing on that course, with another 300 or so in the half Ironman, there will be bags of company.
After I am done the half Ironman, I hope to be in a sufficiently coherent state to fulfill my volunteer duties at the finish line, so I hope to usher you across. All the best. I am sure you will rock.
The long term temperature trend is looking good to great for race day:
**10-Day Forecast for**
Ottawa, Canada Forecast Conditions High/Low ° F Precip.
Chance High TemperaturesLow TemperaturesPrecipitation ** Tonight**
Aug 28 
Mostly Clear ** N/A**/ 64° 20% 
** **
High not valid after 2pm ** Mon**
Aug 29 
Isolated T-Storms ** 83°**/ 65° 30% ** 83°F**
Get Tips for Driving in the Rain ** Tue**
Aug 30 
Few Showers ** 80°**/ 64° 30% ** 80°F**
** Wed**
Aug 31 T-Showers ** 75°**/ 62° 30% ** 75°F**
** Thu**
Sep 1 T-Showers ** 71°**/ 58° 30% ** 71°F**
Get Tips for Driving in the Rain ** Fri**
Sep 2 
Cloudy ** 75°**/ 56° 20% ** 75°F**
** Sat**
Sep 3 
Scattered Showers ** 76°**/ 55° 30% ** 76°F**
** Sun**
Sep 4 
Partly Cloudy ** 78°**/ 57° 20%
Steve,
Thanks for the scouting report. I think I’ll have to go sleeveless.
Dev,
Thanks man. I appreciate the words of support. It’s been a year since my first tri after a 9 year layoff has got me back into the sport. I can honestly say that training for an ironman has got me firmly back into the triathlon lifestyle and I am definitely healthier for it. Now after months of training as best I could I am really looking forward to the experience of the race. I am also getting kind of sick of the six-hour rides and three-hour runs to be honest and am looking forward to putting it all on the line.Judging from your frequent posts you are no slouch in this sport and for you to take the time to encourage a rookie does not go unappreciated. I hope you smoke the half course.
Man, I’d say go sleeveless. Usually warm and not much polluted. I also will be there. I do the Half and my girlfriend will do the sprint.
Nice race, great organization. Terry (race director) used to pick me up aside the road as I had two flats and no more tubes and was walking my way back to transition. He even gave me a discount for the next year (last year). It’ll be my fourth time there and I hope you’ll enjoy too. If you see a black BP2 Bp stealth with 4 spoke wheels cruisin’ around, that’ll be me…
SJ