swimsuit question

[lph]

Hi all you swimmers out there :)

I've been swimming a lot more this winter than before, and my swimsuit while still snug is getting a little sloppy and needs replacing. I also recently noticed I had these strange marks below my armpits/above my ribs on both sides, small skin irritations. Today one suddenly turned into a full skin burn an inch wide and 3 inches long (OW! :eek:) and I realized it was my swimsuit causing them. Is this maybe typical for a swimsuit getting sloppy? I'm getting a new one anyway, but I was wondering if I should be looking for one with a different cut or if I'll be fine once I get a new one.

[pinkychique]

Is your swimsuit polyester or lycra? I usually get some of the rub marks from polyester swimsuits. If it's lycra, my bet would be that it needs to be a bit smaller. As the suit wears out and looses it's elasticity, it will move a lot more. Usually swimmers will tell you to wear 1-2 sizes smaller than you measure, but if it's a polyester suit, then the tightness can actually make sores worse since they don't stretch much at all. I stick to a polyester suit though because they last so so so much longer than the lycra ones.

Hope this helps :D

[Irulan]

Lycra is the fiber that makes a suit stretchy. It's neither polyester or nylon, it's spandex. Lycra gets blended with other fibers (nylon, polyesters, cotton, wool, rayon etc) to create stretchy fabrics.
I think what she is trying to say is that you might have an allergy to either nylon, polyester or spandex. Elimination may be the only way to figure it out, and it will very difficult to find something that doesn't have spandex in it.

[Zen]

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/woolswimsuit.jpg
No Spandex here

[smurfalicious]

Lycra is the fiber that makes a suit stretchy. It's neither polyester or nylon, it's spandex. Lycra gets blended with other fibers (nylon, polyesters, cotton, wool, rayon etc) to create stretchy fabrics.
I think what she is trying to say is that you might have an allergy to either nylon, polyester or spandex. Elimination may be the only way to figure it out, and it will very difficult to find something that doesn't have spandex in it.

W00t! Lay it down goddess of the multiple sewing machines! I have to explain stuff like this to people at work all the time. I hate proofing apparel, I might as well do it all myself.

Anyway, it might not be an allergy to the fiber, it's most likely a combo of the poor fit and chemical evils. If you're swimming in a chlorinated pool, while you may not be allergic to chlorine, the chafed/broken skin is going to be much more sensitive and thus the likely cause of your rash.

Obviously you want to rinse your suit after swimming but make sure you don't wring it out because that puts a lot of wear and tear on the fibers. Gentle squeezes are good, wringing bad.

There are some brands that offer different lengths. I tried on a Speedo once and thought it was going to cut my crotchel area open. Then I tried the longer one and it was perfect. So if that's an issue for you look for that because that could be a source of the wear and tear on your suit.

TYR has a super cute new suit called the Lucky and it has flowers and playing card. Love it. Swim crooked as a dog's hind leg, but I love it.

[lph]

Hmm. Not sure of the fabric, will look it up, but it's a Speedo suit in their Endurance fabric. I really hate to dump it because I love the design (dark blue seguing up to medium blue in a kind of Matrix-pattern), but this rash is gonna kill me. I'd think it was the suit being too small, because I've had to struggle to get into it ever since I bought it, but I've used it without problems for over a year and it's fit beautifully once on. I have big shoulders from climbing, but surely that's common among swimmers too. So I think the size is right and it's just the material getting saggy some places and starting to shift a little.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Irulan]

60% Polyester/40% PBT Polyester. Import.

PBT is probably some proprietary polyester. I couldn't find the % of lycra.

[lph]

oooooh.
I went to the TYR website.
I want them all :p
I guess some of the prints are vaguely reminiscent of 80s rock bands in lycra, but it looks a lot cooler on a swimsuit.

I think I like this one best
http://www.tyr.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=30_31_32_33&products_id=878

[ASammy1]

IMHO, I like TYR much better than Speedo. Just my $0.02 worth.

REally like the black and gold, lph!!!

[Serendipity]

No Spandex here

Zen, too funny!:D :D

[lph]

There are some brands that offer different lengths. I tried on a Speedo once and thought it was going to cut my crotchel area open. Then I tried the longer one and it was perfect. So if that's an issue for you look for that because that could be a source of the wear and tear on your suit.

This is interesting, cause in the name of science ;) I tried on a friends swimsuit today. She has a Speedo suit in the same Endurance material that I have, in what the label said is the exact same size, just newer. But it was far too long for me! She's a bit taller so it fits her fine, but it wouldn't have fit me. Anyone know if the length is on the label too? I couldn't see any difference.

I'm a bit chary of buying a (gorgeous, smashing, cool) swimsuit from TYR over the net if sizes can vary that much. Don't know where I'd find that brand here otherwise.

[Wahine]

The rash you're getting is likely chaffing from the suit no longer fitting you well and not likely an allergy. I base this on the description of where the rash is. I get these all the time whe a suit doesn't fit me properly or wears out and it's just a matter of getting a better fit.

As for sizing issues. Every once in a while I've come across a suit that is supposed to be the right size and is way too long. I had this happen with a TYR suit, I bought it without trying it on because I've bought the same model many times and I know my size. The suit was too long and when I held it up to another suit, the body was a good 3 cm longer than my other worn out suit!! So I would encourage you to go someplace where you can try them on or make sure you find out if you can return it in a sizing issue situation. That's maybe a long shot.

[Miranda]

Hi lph:) I have a TYR maxback poly suit I bought off TE at year end clearance. Plus, I have a couple lycra non-poly stretchy Speedos.

I don't quite follow all of this techy swim suit talk our ladies posted about fabric:o. But, I get the jist that: it's how and what is blended together to give the material it's qualities. My best non-techy description lol. So... here is my wearer of both suits ops for you...

TYR does not offer a "long" last I checked. I thought I saw it on a website. Then I asked them directly. By that I mean, torso length. I have a long torso. One piece suits have been an issue for me. But, I feel more "secure" and worry free swimming in one, vs some of the two piece training suits.

Speedo on the other hand does offer a "long". My torso is just a wee bit shy of needing a Speedo long. Do you have any local sporting goods or lbs that do tri also you could try the suits on? Or have one of their pro peeps measure you properly? Sorta like your bike fit for swimwear. Maybe even a fellow swimmer at the pool could help?

I used the on-line illustration of how to measure. I found TYR to run true to size. The Speedo too--with exception of the inbetween long or not. The "cut" of the suit can really make a diff in the same size on actual body fit. I like the skinnier version of TYR straps, but I'm a 34D. I had this fear of my bewb going commando mid roll on a lap:eek:. Thus, the Maxback for me.

The "poly" versions of these suits DO indeed feel stiffer--and rougher on the skin at first. They are not uber soft. But have durability. It's about the diff between a Fox ripstock blend jersey for mtb in briars, vs a ultra-smooth-silky lightweight road jersey (not so great w/briars).

I thought I would get the chaffing right away too where my maxback curled around. I bought BodyGlide to try (for friction comfort). Unfortunately got resp infection and haven't been back to try it out. But, I would think some type of h2o proof skin protectant would help too. Plus, the pool chemicals (and/or salt H2O) are VERY drying and hard on your skin--breeding ground for getting rubbed raw easily.

The yellow suit is cute, but if it, or another, doesn't fit... then ouch just like an ill fit bike or saddle:(. I think too just as our road shorts get stretched out and can chaff/catch a seam to being loose... the swim wear is alike--besides the other stuff.

Lastly, as first I thought I wasted my $ on the TYR poly cuz it cut into my shoulders as a wee short for the long torso. But, a couple swims it was stretched a tiny bit to be perfect. I would buy it again.

Good Luck!:)

EDIT: Btw, my vote is that you are not allergic to the fabric. I am to wool. If you were, the suit would have made you crazy enough it would have never made it to the pool (got ripped off whilst changing in the locker room)--versus wearing it a while, long enough to stretch out... then getting the sores. It is a diff factor.

[lph]

Thank you so much everyone! I don't think I am allergic, but I will be looking for a new suit that doesn't hit those exact same spots. I think I'll have to go to a real life store and buy a swimsuit I can try on, I have a sort of oddly proportioned upper body and don't trust online measurements too much. My dh once tried to order me a nice suit based on all my measurements, but it turned out they didn't ask for a height or torso length measurement and the suit ended up too long. :mad: I might try ordering a second one over the net once I have a suit to use, though, cause the TYR ones are way way nicer than the stuff you can get in stores here.

Wow, I know all this stuff about swimsuits now. Cool :)

Now - anyone care to teach me the crawl stroke? :D

[crazycanuck]

Lph-It's called "Freestyle" now..

Someone & I can't remember who( Possibly Yoda :) :cool:) posted a question about it in the tri section here..I think fairly recently.