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Triathlon apparel, or clothes or whatever

Warrior's picture
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started by Warrior on September 15, 2009

I am getting a bit confused between tri suits, bibs, johns, shorts, singlets, vests etc;.
What I would like to know is there one piece of clothing that you wear both on the bike and the run?
Can this be used on the longer distances ?
I get that a tri suit could be used for all 3 legs for a sprint, but I am not sure about the longer distances.
I would like to invest but I am not sure what to invest in if I get a suit, will it do for the bike and can you run with a pad?

Dreams are the stars which charter the course of our lives. Happy the one who follows their dreams

gfd's picture
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gfd posted 9 weeks ago.

You can wear a trisuit, a separate top and shorts (that is what I wear), or even bike shorts, if you can run comfortably in them (I cannot). As the distance increase and the idea of maybe taking a bathroom break also increase, the trisuit idea becomes less appealing. Some will wear them for the HIM and IM. Body type also dictates what is a better choice. You can go with a L tri short and an XL top for example. You can't do that with a suit. Finally, you can absolutely run with a pad. I don't realize they are there.

Bibs usually are referring to bike shorts that have the suspenders to prevent the shorts from sliding down as you ride. I love them.

Johns could be referring to the bottom piece of a two piece wetsuit. Check out DeSoto's site.

If you can find a shop to try on some clothes you will be set. If not, be prepared to return some stuff through the mail. Good luck.

"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
http://baldhungariantriproject.blogspot.com/

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 9 weeks ago.

Warrior wrote:
I would like to invest but I am not sure what to invest in if I get a suit, will it do for the bike and can you run with a pad?

A trisuit is a one-piece (not to be confused with wetsuit or skinsuit). Keeping in mind this is a question of personal preference, I'm not sure what the advantages are, but 1) going to the bathroom - either function - means you have to nearly disrobe, and 2) the chamois is nearly non-existent. If you like your cycling shorts with a real chamois, you may miss it with the 'quick dry' trisuit chamois. IMHO, I don't even notice the road short's chamois while running a half or full marathon.

jwillia852's picture
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jwillia852 posted 9 weeks ago.

GFD nailed the differences but the decision of what to wear is a matter of taste and comfort... I personally think that tri suits (singlets) look silly on guys so I opt for tri shorts and tri jersey. As for distance, I often ride 50-60 miles in my Desoto tri shorts with minimal discomfort, but pain sets in after that so go with bike shorts for longer rides.

Jeff

dbos2002's picture
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dbos2002 posted 9 weeks ago.

Your best bet is to get a pair of tri shorts. They are like a combination of bike shorts and swimming "jammers". Made of a material that wont slow you down in the water with a small pad for the bike leg that doesnt interfere with running or swimming. This also allows a lot of flexibility with your top. For sprints and olympics I prefer no shirt, while HIM and IM I usually wear a sleeveless tri-top for sun protection and the back pockets. You will also see people in t-shirts, bike jerseys, or running singlets. Getting a one piece tri-suit singlet style is a) more expensive and b) less flexible to the conditions and personal preference.

- Doran

"Ironman is not just a race, not just a title, its a lifestyle"

dkhartung's picture
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dkhartung posted 9 weeks ago.

I'm with dbos2002... love my tri shorts, never feel them on runs, and they provide much more flexibility in selecting tops based on weather and race conditions. Singlets always look awfully serious to me, meaning if you're all geared up I expect you to be WAY ahead of me ;-) but that's just one opinion.

zagfan's picture
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zagfan posted 9 weeks ago.

I raced my IM in the DeSoto Riviera tri shorts. The pad is just a thinner version of their 400-Mile pad used in their cycling shorts (which by the way is the most comfortable thing I've ever felt on a bike) but is thick enough that I didn't even notice I was wearing tri shorts for the bike. It is also a "floating" pad so its suppose to help for non-wetsuit swims, but I've only worn them under a wetsuit so I can't comment on that feature.

I would highly recommend looking at DeSoto. They carry a wide variety of cycling and triathlon clothing and a lot of things are usually on sale. My wife has actually banned me from their website b/c I couldn't stop ordering stuff. Their sizing charts actually work unlike some other brands. Plus they probably have the best customer service you'll run across in the tri apparel market.

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong

gfd's picture
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gfd posted 9 weeks ago.

DeSoto and 2XU have been my two favorite tri brands. Not to say the other companies are subpar. Just personal preference.

"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
http://baldhungariantriproject.blogspot.com/

Warrior's picture
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Warrior posted 8 weeks ago.

Well that is a complete response and thanks all for the input... I feel the suit looks a bit dodgy too, think the shorts will be option...... Thanks again guys, I am always amazed by the openess and willingness to help here.

Dreams are the stars which charter the course of our lives. Happy the one who follows their dreams