Here’s situation:
1/2 IM championships in Kansas City on 25SEP, if water temp is wetsuit legal it’s only going to be by a degree of two.
I did an hour swim in smithville lake over the long weekend. not totally sure of water temp but it was close to the legal limit.
swam in my full T1 and was how shall I say… rather warm, not smokin hot but pretty toasty.
I’m thinking of picking up a Tres sleeveless top.
Any opinions on the sleeveless compared to the full T1 top?
thanks
Jim
Leave the top back @ the hotel/transition and just swim in the bibs. I do it all the time for lake swims.
That T1 suit is a steamer! I don’t think the arms make the difference. It’s my chest and stomach that overheat. I haven’t tried just the bibs, but I heard it works.
I’d like to see an option with the bib straps made out of mesh, from the high waist up. I wonder how that would work. Not as much flotation, but it’s just as important, if not more to not overheat… in the swim (???)
Jim,
I only wear my T1 top when cold water deems it necessary, otherwise I just swim in the bibjohn. You still get the benefits of bouyancy in the legs and proper body position without any overheating issues. Give it a try, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Thanks all
but is just using the bibjohn USAT rulebook legal?
Yes, as far as I know it’s UAST legal. I think since the bibjohns have shoulder straps attached to the legs it’s considered to be a really sleeveless wetsuit.
Bibs-only if you are really worried about heat (and I would be, too). But, I’ve TT’d it in the pool, and I think the top saves more than 5 seconds a hundred. It adds a whole lot of bouyancy.
Another thing – as soon as the gun goes off, ditch your swim cap. You’ll shed a bunch of excess body heat that way, too. I will never, ever complete another 1/2 or full IM swim with a swim cap unless it is bona fide cold water (low 60s max). Just get in the water with the cap on to make the sponsors happy, and then “accidently” lose it in the starting melee.
Bibs-only if you are really worried about heat (and I would be, too). But, I’ve TT’d it in the pool, and I think the top saves more than 5 seconds a hundred. It adds a whole lot of bouyancy.
Another thing – as soon as the gun goes off, ditch your swim cap. You’ll shed a bunch of excess body heat that way, too. I will never, ever complete another 1/2 or full IM swim with a swim cap unless it is bona fide cold water (low 60s max). Just get in the water with the cap on to make the sponsors happy, and then “accidently” lose it in the starting melee.
I was never a swim cap fan, but I was told once that the main reason is so that rescuers can see you better in the water, in case you get in trouble. While I wouldn’t think that would be a problem for most of us, you never know (kick in the head, etc.)…
I am doing the full Iron distance that weekend and I am hoping for a wetsuit swim. Do you really think the temp will be that close to the cutoff? If you go to the race site and click on venue and then go to the smithville lake homepage, it has a link that will give you current conditions. The surface water temp has been consistently around 69 degrees since I have been checking. Just curious to see if this is accurate. Any thoughts?
69 you say? that sounds like data more accurate that what I was getting which was probably word of mouth
The guys I were swimming were saying temp was to high. granted they are all very newbies.
But when I peeled off my swim cap I could feel and taste some pretty salty water flow down my face.
I’m also hoping for a wetsuit swim, and a cool day. running across that dam can get hot.
have you been out the the race site yet? I’ve swam out there a few times ,ran the course twice, and biked the loop once. That left turn out of the transition area during the run is on a firebreak. losts of loose rocks and debis. I think I’m going to leave the flats at home.
Jim
I have just been checking the lake conditions on their site. I am not sure where the water temp is measured though. If its close to the dam or further away it might make a difference, but I am not a hydrodynamics expert. However, I am sure that the rd will take the temp in a legal location that is most likely to allow wet suits. I hope…
No, I live in Austin, TX, so I have not been on the course, but I have compared the elevation charts to other races that I have competed in and it seems flat to me. I plan to ride one loop on Wednesday and run a few miles on the run portion too just to get a feel for it before the race.
Good luck at the race, and maybe we’ll see each other on the course.
Patrick
This is from a couple of workouts on site, it’s another look at elevation other than what RD provided. I think the return trip on the bike is faster especially the portion on 33. It’s mostly downhill. The two mid ride stops was due to the loose pebbles from the whole chip and seal resurfacing they did to the road. little rocks literally got wedged between the top of my tire and bottom of fork crown. granted these were my 23mm training wheels.
Run
Bike:
Jim