Need help with girly questions :o

[kate86]

I'm a newbie training for my first tri. My dad has been doing them since college, and has been a really great help as far as training goes... but can't help with girly stuff (and I feel uncomfortable asking). I didn't realize until reading some of the posts that the groin pain I was feeling while biking was from using the wrong seat, not because I'm hadn't gotten used to it. That would've been awesome to know earlier :o. I'm ready to start doing bricks, so please help me learn before I make more dumb mistakes!

What do you wear under tri shorts?

What do women with bigger chests wear? I'm a 32/34D. Are there special sports bras that dry quickly? The tri bikini tops that I've seen don't offer enough support, and I don't want to buy a one piece suit.

What do you do with your hair? I'm not trying to be vain. I'd just like to keep my long, straight hair out of my face without having to fuss with it during transitions.

Is there anything you wish you'd known before your first race?

[kelownagirl]

1. You shouldn't wear anything under your tri or bike shorts. It will only increase the possibility of chafing, especially at the seams. Go commando!

2. There are other women here who can give you the names of the more supportive sports bras. I don't have that problem myself...

3. I wear my hair in a ponytail under my swim cap and in the bike/run. It's a bit of a pain but I wear a high ponytail for the swim because it's easier to tuck my hair under the cap, then I pull it down lower for the bike so it's not a big bump under my helmet. I pull it up higher again if I'm wearing a ball cap on the run. (I don't actually take it out during T1 or T2, just slide it up and down).

Keep asking questions, the ladies around here and more than happy to help you get started!

[zoom-zoom]

The most comfortable sports bra I have found is the Champion Double Dry Distance bra. It's not their most supportive (I'm also a 34D and it's not quite enough for running), but for cycling I think it would be good. I usually wear a different bra by them for running, but it's super compressive and not as comfy. If you're not running you probably don't need as much support.

I'm not sure how it would work for a tri. You could probably swim in it, though it is double-layered and I don't know how that would work for the swim portion. I am sure it wouldn't dry as fast as a tri top, but those aren't nearly as supportive, either.

[HillSlugger]

1. like Kelowna said, nothing under your tri shorts

2. I think there are some threads in the apparel forum that discuss sports bras with more support (I can get away with the shelf bra in the tri tops). If I remember properly, I think CW-X and Moving Comfort are two of the recommended brands

3. I put my hair into a ponytail and leave it for the whole race

[colby]

What do you wear under tri shorts?

What do women with bigger chests wear? I'm a 32/34D. Are there special sports bras that dry quickly? The tri bikini tops that I've seen don't offer enough support, and I don't want to buy a one piece suit.

What do you do with your hair? I'm not trying to be vain. I'd just like to keep my long, straight hair out of my face without having to fuss with it during transitions.

Is there anything you wish you'd known before your first race?

Hey Kate,

I think everyone's covered the tri shorts question - they are built to shed water with a thin chamois, wear them against the skin.

If you can't do a tri top with a shelf bra I would suggest getting a tri top (with or without a shelf) and wear an additional bra underneath - just nothing cotton, of course, and generally something that sheds water well. I can use the CW-X sport support (light support) bra under some things, but I've used the CW-X firm support under others (and by itself for running). Another option is to get a tri bra top (I know Zoot makes them because I have one) and wear that, it's basically the same thing but a little more "guaranteed" to shed water. I am a C cup, though when I started I am pretty sure I was a D.

I cut my hair before I did too many triathlons. In just a ponytail, sometimes it got caught on zippers or pockets in some tri tops and jerseys and that really hurt. What worked best was a french braid, honestly. Easy to put in the cap, easy to get the helmet on, out of my face. I would prefer that even now, but I live with all boys that suck at braiding hair. ;) Now my hair is about shoulder length (so, not short, but much easier). Otherwise, just did a ponytail and I moved it if I need to (up farther to put on the swim cap, pulled down to get on the bike helmet, put back in the middle for running).

No other girl-specific stuff comes to mind. Good luck and have fun, welcome to the forum. :)

[KnottedYet]

I wore a CW-X bra under my wetsuit, then put a tank top on over it during the bike and run. The CW-X is extraordinarily supportive and comfortable, plus since it is so thin and has the support webbing only where needed, it dries very quickly. (I'm a 34c, and there was no way I'd've survived in just a little shelf tri top) http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCW_165101.html

[Tri Girl]

I'm a little *gifted* (36D) up top, and I've found a couple bras that work well for me. Both have been Champion. I don't remember the name, but it's moisture wicking and dries quickly. I have to wear an underwire when running and they are very supportive for the high impact of running. Just look for something that's thin enough to dry fast and can handle the impact of running. The shelf bras in most tri tops will act as extra support on the run. I wish a shelf bra were enough on it's own...

Oh, and welcome to TE and the wonderful world of triathlon!!! :)

[Aggie_Ama]

I am a 36D and for fast drying in the Texas heat I like Under Armor bras. When my hair was middle of my back I liked to braid it for riding, I don't know about for tris but I hated ponytails for running or riding because of the tangles.

[tprevost]

Title 9 has quite a few choices of sports bras ... different brands and different levels of support... I've had good luck with the bras I've purchased through them...

8-)

[tribogota]

With kelowna on the hair, pulling up and down, helmet, ball cap, but in the last two races I actually did TWO pigtails, and that solved the helmet problem since the knot was way further down and was also fine for the run, and looked kind of retro swedish, but it was WAY comfortable! And also did one race with it braided, that looked cute and was fine.

[kate86]

Thanks so much for the awesome advice!