My health club gave me a $50 gift certificate so I bought my first pair of tri shorts. I have always done tris in my speedo since the 80s.
I ran in them down to Ohio Street Beach this afternoon to go swimming and here is what I’ve concluded about tri shorts versus speedos:
Looks: I have to give the nod to the tri shorts (based on self-perception since at my age I don’t get a lot of looks from the opposite sex).
Biking and swimming - It’s a toss-up.
Running: Clearly it’s easier to run in a speedo. (If you don’t believe me, ask the elite women marathoners). I found myself pushing against an elastic band with every stride in the tri shorts. The run is hard enough without this extra tension on the thighs.
Conclusion: Until my race look is more important to me than my race performance, I’ll be one of the old guys in a speedo with no shirt on.
Oh, I forgot to mention that, if you are over 55 and race in the Midwest, go with the tri shorts because your legs need that extra support once you reach a certain age.
I guess I’ve jsut gotten used to it, but I’ve never even noticed that “tension” you’re talking about. I used to race in a speedo back in the late 80’s - early 90’s. Now, tri shorts, for all my runs and races.
Denner I don’t EVER want to see your hairy ass in a speedo!
Dude, altho my arse has some follicles on it, you wouldn’t be able to see it. I am thinking I will break those at MB in late SEP along w/ my secret bike weapon!
my first year of tris i went with thru shorts. the last 2 years i have gone speedo. speedo is the way to go. tyr has one with a nice pad. at first i felt a little weird but now its all good. i actually raced IMAZ in in the speedo. the bike segment wrecked my crotch but the run gave it a second chance at life. the only drawback is having tan lower legs and white thighs. after 2 years they are starting to even out.
For the last few years, there has been a guy at the Sentinel Oly in Santa Cruz who wears a **white **Speedo and no top for the entire race. I believe he goes sans wetsuit for the ocean swim. Talk about confirming the shrinkage factor. He is in the top 20 age groupers so it is pretty hard to talk any smack about him, but I don’t plan on riding behind him.
I already did. I posted my disgusting, shirtless, speedoed pic on that thread. That thread and the fact that one of my long time tri buds retired his speedo (his wife made him) prompted me to try the tri shorts. I’d rather run easier/faster than look good.
I’ve been racing tris for 22 years, always in a speedo. For a 1/2 or xterra, I’ll wear unpadded and pull on bike shorts for the bike segment only. Padded for anything else since I got my first pair about 10 years ago.
My first xterra I did in unpadded speedo with a rigid hardtail on a very bumpy course. Boy was that a mistake, I rubbed skin off my cheeks so bad I was bleeding.
Ok
My question is this, and I serious here (as you can be on slowtwitch)
How do you ride the bike without chaffing to death in the first mile.
How do you run without chaffing to death?
Perhaps it is my football and wieghtlifting background, but I cannot walk without my legs rubbing together.
Please advise as I am considering breaking out the MANKINI ala Faris (Macca is going to kick his and Norman’s A$$ in hawaii by the way) for an end of season sprint for a good laugh.
