Another "What to Wear" Question for a Newbie

So I'm thinking of trying a triathlon in October and the swim portion is in a lake. The website says that wetsuits will probably be allowed, given the time of year.

So here are my questions (as I have no idea what you wear for an event like this) -
1) How does one go about choosing a wetsuit? Can you order online or is it something you really need to try on?
2) How do you transition clothes between stages? Do I wear a swim suit for the swim and pull on bike shorts for the bike section? And I'm really wondering what to do about a sports bra - my boobs are a 36D and there is no way I can do the run portion in a bathing suit. I need a serious sports bra to run without feeling like I'm bouncing all over the place.

Any advice would be much appreciated!!!

Oh yeah - and what kind of goggles do you use in a lake??? Can I use the ones I use for the pool?

I'm no expert (first tri coming up in 2 weeks) but based on what I've read, I think I'd wear a quick dry sports bra and some tri shorts under my wetsuit, then add a jersey for the bike and run. Or you could wear a one-piece tri suit under your wetsuit. (Be forewarned, though, it's a pain in the butt to go to the bathroom in a one piece tri suit. I'm learning that the hard way as I'm practicing in my tri suit.)

I don't know what to look for in a wetsuit for triathlons, but I've ordered one online for diving and it worked out just fine.

Good luck to you!

Hi, and welcome to the wonderful world of triathlon!
Depending on the length of the race, there are a number of things you can wear. If you need to wear a wetsuit because of water temp, then I would see first if you can borrow one from someone you know, or rent one from a local shop. If all else fails, I ordered both of my wetsuits on e-bay and they've luckily fit (I checked out the manufacturs sites for sizing first) and they were VERY cheap- one for $20 the other for $40.
Diving biker hit the nail on the head. You could wear your sports bra and some tri specific bike shorts for the swim (the chamois is thinner and dries out quickly- regular bike shorts will get soaked like a diaper and be very uncomfortable). In T1, you can put on a shirt and wear that for the bike and run portion.
There are lots of options, and if you want to wear your swimsuit, you could always wear your sports bra under your swimsuit, then put your shorts on to bike in and run in the same outfit. The less you change clothes the better you'll do. You'll spend less time in transition and your body won't be starting and stopping so much in between legs.
And, yes, the goggles you wear in the pool will be good for the swim. The only thing that might be good is if the swim is into the sun, tinted goggles really help reduce the glare on the water as you look up to sight.
Which event are you thinking about doing?
Good luck to you!!

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking about one here in GA - Emerald Pointe. It's a sprint. Glad to hear I don't have to wear a swim suit for the swim part - I was really worried about how I was going to look trying to put on a sports bra for the run part. LOL....slightly embarassing. I'll look around for all these things and see what I come up with. Thanks again!

Lawyergirl--it's uncanny--your post could've been from me 4 years ago, except that I didn't know about this forum! I, too, am a 36D. I don't run without serious support. And I don't bike in a swim suit if I can help it.

I wear a bra--one that won't chafe when wet, trishorts (described above), and a sleeveless, shortlegged wet suit. Take off wetsuit in T1, pull on jersey or t-shirt, and go. I've done some sprints where the swim is in a pool and they don't allow wet suits. Then I wear a bra, a tri suit, and a t-shirt over that to hide the pudge on the bike and run. Well, really, to stay warm, because that tri is in May, and it's cooold in Chicago on a gloomy May morning! I did one sprint/pool swim in July last year, and didn't pull a t-shirt on cuz it was too hot. I'm not that pudgy, really, I just have the habit of hiding my body. `:rolleyes: `````````````````` (inserted by Isaac the cat)

Welcome to TE, and I hope you find the info and support you need here!

I'm also a 36D so for what its worth this is what I do

I wear a good sports bra under my swimsuit (black bra and black swimsuit) under my wetsuit. I have some shorts with a very thin chamois which I also wear under my wetsuit. The in T1 I just slip off my wetsuit and put on my shirt (and bike shoes and helmet of course). I haven't been able to find a sports bra in my size that looks enough like a crop top than I want to strip down to it

Ok well I feel much better now about the clothes part. Thanks everyone for your input!!

I'm doing my first tri this weekend.

For the swim I'm wearing my Wacoal CWX bra (black) and my UnderArmor compression shorts (black) under my kayaking wetsuit. (cheap, sleeveless, and black)

When I change to biking clothes I'm gonna throw on my biking skort (crazy hawaiian print) and a t-shirt over the bra and shorts.

For the walk I'm just changing out of bike shoes into Chaco sandals and putting on a hat.

I'm not going for speed, here.;)