Wetsuit for Sprint Tri???
650
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1067 days
deepbluex posted 8 weeks ago.
If the water's cold, I prefer to wear one. The speed gains for a sprint is pretty negligible. You can gain or lose whatever edge by how fast you run through sand to get at T1. It's more of a comfort issue. I also prefer to wear a wetsuit because I can wear my jersey underneath. I wouldn't want to swim with just my jersey on and I wouldn't want to try to put my jersey on in T1 while wet.
It also provides (in my mind) a bit of skin protection from all the finger and toenails flailing around my body.
1125
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899 days
UFTriGator posted 8 weeks ago.
I always make my decisions on what is going to let me have a faster time at the end of the day. A wetsuit will usually make you about 3-5 seconds/100m faster. The faster you are, the smaller the difference will be. Compare the time savings to how long it will take you to take the wetsuit off.
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
80
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240 days
diluzio123 posted 8 weeks ago.
I do wear a wet suit for sprints and this is my reasoning. I need to pick up speed in T1 and my focus distance is the Olympic distance. A sprint race for me is a C race (maybe a B). So I'm not looking to place real high, but work on some of my limiters.
For this reason I wear my wetsuit in a Sprint to help me cut down my T1 time in my A races. If you're T1 times are higher then you would like, a sprint race may be a good time to see where/how you can pick up some time.
DD
"To some extent, we are all labeled by what we're able to achieve. But more importantly, we are defined by what we attempt." --Scott Tinley
http://ddtriathlon.blogspot.com/
12
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104 days
TriMyBest posted 8 weeks ago.
I'm a newbie (2 sprints and 1 Oly), but in PA the water is pretty cold in the spring (My spring training sessions started in 55 deg water, and my first sprint of the year was in the low 60's). I felt like using the wet suit at those temperatures helped keep my leg muscles warmer coming out of the water, and I was able to ride harder out of T1, so I think the water temp is a big consideration too.
523
Member
234 days
jsk85 posted 8 weeks ago.
I have only had my wetsuit 1 season, but wore it for a 500m leg of a sprint tri. Mostly same reasoning as diluzio above (focus is Oly, sprints for practice). However, I had raced the same course 2 years prior and my swim leg was significantly better (1.5min) and I haven't improved my form much if at all unfortunately. My T1 time was about the same as it had been. I would say it's worth it as long as you practice speed removal. You can have the suit more than 1/2 off by the time you get done with the run to your rack.
946
Member
1118 days
PJT posted 8 weeks ago.
Test for yourself whether it is worth it. It takes about 10 minutes. Go to the pool with a stopwatch, warm up, and swim a couple timed 100s with the wetsuit and a couple without. Try to go at a constant "race effort" for each rep. The average difference per 100 is your time savings from the wetsuit. Multiply that number by 6 because your race is 600m. Then have someone time you to see how long it takes to remove the wetsuit while wet (keeping in mind that you are usually running towards T1 for some of that time while you peel the top of the suit down, so in the real world that number will be slightly lower). Subtract that number from your 600m time savings. If the result is positive, then the wetsuit makes you faster overall. If it's negative, then the wetsuit is not worth it.
I've done the test above and, personally, it's a no-brainer for me. I wear mine every time it is legal.
108
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1153 days
JMA posted 8 weeks ago.
I wear mine every time it is legal.
+1
It's not just an issue of time savings for me. It's also an energy saver. With the wetsuit on I can concentrate all my energy on moving forward and none on staying "up" in the water. I feel a lower level of fatigue in T1.
374
Member
228 days
jhudalla posted 8 weeks ago.
UFTriGator wrote:
I always make my decisions on what is going to let me have a faster time at the end of the day. A wetsuit will usually make you about 3-5 seconds/100m faster. The faster you are, the smaller the difference will be. Compare the time savings to how long it will take you to take the wetsuit off.
+1
If you NEED to wear the wetsuit to be comfortable in the water, then by all means. If you're going for time and don't NEED to wear it... save that time in transition. Putting on a jersey = 5 seconds. Taking off a wetsuit = 1 minute.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
1125
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899 days
UFTriGator posted 8 weeks ago.
If it takes you a minute to take off a wetsuit, you're doing something very wrong. Since you should already have the wetsuit down to your waist, all you're doing is taking off the legs. This should take maybe 10 seconds. If you're good, you can pull the wetsuit off with your feet by standing on one part and yanking the opposite foot out. This can be done while putting on your helmet, making the total time added to your transition practically nothing. For me, I'd wear a wetsuit for anything over 400m if it's allowed.
______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.
946
Member
1118 days
PJT posted 8 weeks ago.
I would disagree that it takes 1 minute to take off most wetsuits if you practice. More like 15-20 seconds tops. De Soto has a great vid showing their owner getting out of a 2-piece wetsuit in under 15 seconds standing still. http://www.desotosport.com/wetsuits/video.asp
I also think that putting on a properly-fitting jersey over wet skin in T1 can take considerably longer than 5 seconds.
15
Member
62 days
sheracr posted 8 weeks ago.
Defintely compare your time for swim and getting out of T1 with and w/o wetsuitl; I am guessing this is not a water start, where you might have to tread water for a minute before you go, and get colder? FYI I have seen racers use body glide around ankles as well as the chafing places, not sure if it really helps but food for thought... I am always wet-suited since I get cold, but its helpful those times when my goggles get punched off my face, nice to have the extra bouyancy while I re-set .
217
Member
146 days
iamtb13 posted 8 weeks ago.
Matt has it right. (Maybe that's why he's a pro) With a little bit of practice, you can almost do it without hands which can be putting on glasses and helmet. Once you get it down below your knees - step on one side and pull your leg out then repeat with other side. The key is to take little side steps and don't let the wet suit stretch too much or it won't come off. It sounds harder than it is. Just a few practice tries and you'll wonder why you didn't always do it this way.
Question: Would you recommend wearing a wetsuit for a 600m swim in a sprint tri??? I wore one for my last two HIM, but I have never done a sprint and dont know if the added transition time would be worth the bouyancy and speed gains in the water. Any input?