If you are not wearing a wetsuit, what do you wear during the swim?
I wore tri-shorts for my first two races, and it seems that the slowest part of T1 is getting a bike jersey on. Plus, it is incredibly annoying to get it on. I am probably thinking about getting a tri specific shirt instead of a full tri-suit (at least this year), but am concerned about how much it would affect my swimming, which is the best part of my race. After all, it makes no sense to pick up a little time in T1 if the swim is harder because of the top or the top slows me down in the water.
what’s the distance? I wear a tri top. It’s mostly lycra, with mesh pockets (DeSoto - plug). I don’t think there’s any noticeable drag. Last year, I went without a shirt and then wrestled on a shirt at T1, it took way too long. So, I bought the top.
Get yourself a Hid designed TSR top (another plug)! Guaranteed to improve your bishop polishing time!
If you are in decent shape, don’t wear a shirt at for the swim, bike or run (some races require them on the bike and/or run). If you are flabby or hairy, please put on a shirt.
Tri shorts are great and if you don’t need to wear a top, don’t. There aren’t a whole lot of tri tops on the market you can swim in. Desoto makes their Aero top, Zoot has one you can kind of swim in. If you get a tank style top with front zipp you can put in on, unzip it and roll it down into your tri shorts for the swim. I leave a little bit of one of the arm holes sticking out of my waistband and once on land reach down and pull the top up.
My vote goes for one piece suits though. Find one that fits and all your problems are solved. Believe me you guys have it easy in many ways with wearing a wetsuit every swim. Here in Hawaii it’s no wetsuits so the top problem is more relavent. I guess it balances out with our non-stop sunshine, tropical waters and sun bathing beach babes. God I can go riding whenever I want, and arm warmers, what the hell are those? Okay, reevaluating, maybe we’re not the screwed ones…