Wetsuit & OW swimming

kingQuez

Hi Folks,

I went for a quick swim over the weekend in a lake. I used my old battered wetsuit which I bought for caving/canyoning a few years ago. Since MCOS is stirring up the triathlon related talk I've a couple of questions...

1) Do people go OW swimming at this time of year? Where the neoprene covered I was fine, but my face would have frozen if I kept it in the water for any amount of time... Are lakes significantly colder at the moment than they are during the tri season?

2) Are there specific wetsuits for triathlons? Mine is a bit too inflexible for any sort of a significant swim, and almost sanded the skin off my legs behind the knees

Cheers!

klh

Good on ya getting in OW at this time of year. The water would be a lot colder than in the summer. On the wetsuits, I bought a Zoot Fusion. Good suit for beginners and to be honest will probably do me for a while. They should cost you about 240 euros or so. I have done a couple of triathlons and found the suit very flexible, and loads of extra bouyancy. I'd stick to the pool for swimming. Good luck

hunnymonster

yes, there are triathlon specific wetsuits made for swimming. Fit is the most important factor when choosing a suit. After ensuring the fit is snug you can start to look for all the fancy panels and materials.

Many people swim all year around in Ireland - many without wetsuits. It's partly a case of habituation (we don't say acclimatisation any more) and partly because they are mad. The sea is generally warmer than rivers and lakes this time of year.

911sc

hunnymonster wrote: »

Fit is the most important factor when choosing a suit. After ensuring the fit is snug

On the Zoot chart, I (173cm, 74kg, 102cm) seem to be either size S (61-70kg, 167-180cm, 96-99cm) based on weight or size M (70-79kg, 177-190cm, 101-104cm) based on height & chest.
I tried a S size few weeks ago (dry try, no swim test) and guy in the shop told me it was the right size for me (he actually did not have the S size in stock, so i am let to believe he was as honest)
As i have never worn a tri wetsuit, i don't have a clue about how snug shall the fit be.
Any hints?
Is it better to get a size a bit too small rather than a bit to big as to minimize water intake?

Long'n'slow

When trying on a wetsuit you want one that seems a little too tight out of the water. I have owned three suits (all Orca) and each of them was tight enough that it compressed my chest a little, but after a couple of swims the suit moulded to me and was extremely free in movement in the water. Once you get in the water, a little water will enter the suit, plus the bouancy of the suit will help the suit expand a little for a good snug fit. Also when trying the suit on rotate your arms, the suit should pull a little just below your armpit. Make sure that the neck is snug, you do not want a lot of water entering there. Try to keep clear of a slightly larger suit for comforts sake, as it wil stretch and let in too much water, forcing you to lug around a few extra kilos and negating the warming effect. Before using the suit apply a non-petroleum lubricant (body glide is great) to your neck, wrists and ankles, this will stop chafing and make the suit much easier to remove. Finally a tip for trying on wetsuits, cut your fingernails, apply a little talcum powder before going to the shop, and get a couple of plastic shopping bags to put on your feet, as this helps slide your feet down the legs. All the best

damianmckeever

911sc

We (Amphibianking) are holding a wetsuit test night in the National Aquatic Centre. It means you get to try on and swim in the suit before you buy it. The two brands we stock are Orca and 2XU both very good triathlon brands.
If you want to test them out drop us an email the address is on the website and give me your height and weight so that we can make sure we have the sizes for you. It's at 6pm National Aquatic Centre. Cheers

Damian.