tri gear

[tryingtri]

I have entered my first triathon ( a sprint) and i'm not sure what to wear. somone suggested I wear a pair of cycling shorts with minimal padding for the entire event including the swimbut then i have read that many people just wear a multisport swimsuit for the entire event. I know theres more then one option, but whats best? water temp is not a factor.

[rocknrollgirl]

You will gets lots of good advice from the tri vets here, but here is my 2 cents.

Last year in a 6 hour adventure race(no swimming, but paddling so think wet butt), I wore tri shorts and a full coverage bra top.

This year for my triathlons, I purchased a tri suit. I will do all three disciplines in the suit. I did not want to have to think about clothes at all during the race. I will wear it under my wetsuit, strip and go...like hell I hope!

[KnottedYet]

Gather up the various outfits and clothes combos and wear a different one for each of your bricks. That will give you an idea how things work as you switch legs and such.

I "practiced" with my various clothes until I found what was comfortable and what I liked. Now I'm quite happy with what I wear, and don't have to worry because I know how it feels and how it works in transitions and the different legs.

[tryingtri]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have until May to try some different combinations to find what will work best for me.

[tygab]

This year for my triathlons, I purchased a tri suit. I will do all three disciplines in the suit. I did not want to have to think about clothes at all during the race. I will wear it under my wetsuit, strip and go...like hell I hope!

I only did my first duathlon last fall but I agonized over what to wear when etc, and found myself changing probably unnecessarily so between items during the transitions. So I did the same, I found a trisuit that I liked on sale that I plan to wear for all three portions (or two for the du). I will add stuff to it as warranted, like wetsuit, arm/leg warmers, jacket/vest, or even a cycling shirt if necessary. I too will be doing some paddle, run, bike tris as well. My season will run from April to October so some cooler events are definitely possible; I'd expect mid-late summer it's all I will need.

As a last comment, I have found I quite like running in bike style shorts, and I didn't think I would at first.

[tryingtri]

I am going to check out Danskin's tri site for gear. This is such an expensive sport. I feel like I need a sponsor just to get all the necessary gear to get started. I ended up buying a road bike instead of a tri bike, partially because of the cost. What about a transition bag? Any specific suggestions or some qualities to look for in a good bag?

[KnottedYet]

Be sure to look at Danskin's clearance. They are selling last year's tri stuff very cheaply (under $20 for shorts or tops, $40 or so for the one piece trisuit) and those are nice pieces.

My transition bag is a huge garish purple and neon pink duffel-thing from Target for $15. It zips in a "U" shape, so you can see everything inside at once. (instead of a straight zipper) It has a zipped pocket at each end. It's about 13 years old, and is holding up well.

Bright crazy colors are good, because it makes it much easier to find your stuff during the mad crush at transitions.

It can be as expensive or cheap a sport as you like or need. Here's what I spent on my stuff:
CWX bra: $40 (already had it)
UnderArmor undershorts: $25 (already had it)
Commuter skort: $40 on sale (already had it)
Team tank top: free with tri registration
Socks: free (gift)
baseball hat: free with tri registration
Prescription sunglasses: I don't remember (already had 'em)
open water goggles: $25 (bought for tri)
Kayaking wetsuit: $110 (bought for tri)
700c bike: $400 (already had it)
Specialized bike shoes: $70 (already had them)
Chaco sandals: $50 (already had them)
water bottle: free from my bike shop
Timex watch: $19 on sale (already had it)
bike gloves: $15 (already had them)
helmet: $35 (already had it)

I think that's just about everything. The only stuff I really had to get specifically for the tri because I didn't already own them were the goggles (from Team Estrogen) and the wetsuit (from the kayak rental shop)

[Tri Girl]

I am going to check out Danskin's tri site for gear. This is such an expensive sport. I feel like I need a sponsor just to get all the necessary gear to get started.

It can certainly feel that way when starting out. Take heart, tho, once you get the big purchases out of the way (bike, shoes, helmet, and basic cycling outfit), all the rest is just "wants" instead of "needs." And don't rule out e-bay for great low-price stuff. I purchased all but my bike, helmet and speedplay pedals off of there. I got my aero bars, bike shoes and MANY cycling/tri outfits off there and for FAR less than if I'd bought them new. Hey- I like to recycle so I try to reuse as many things as I can.

What about a transition bag? Any specific suggestions or some qualities to look for in a good bag?

To be honest, my "transition bag" is nothing more than a great backpack I bought at WalMart last summer. It's huge- has 3 large compartments (one for each discipline- the largest one can fit my wetsuit), a bunch of side pockets (some mesh for my wet stuff) and great padding on the back and shoulder straps. It even has a removeable mesh drawstring bag. It cost a whopping $15. I don't care about fashion at races, and since it's orange- it's always easy to see my spot in tranistion. You can spend tons of money or less and still wind up with good, practical, nice stuff.

[Grog]

I was in a tri today and observed the ladies' dress quite a bit.

Important to note that it's a pool swim, in March, in the Pacific NorthWest. So it was pouring rain (and quite windy). It's a very beginner-friendly event but most people are not first-timers. Here are my observations:

SWIM
85% of the women wore one-piece swimsuits
10% of the women wore two-piece swimsuits (or some form of top with a brief-style bottom)
5% of the women wore a one-piece tri suit.

I was one of the very few with tri-shorts and a bra top, although what's coming partly explains that...

BIKE
Today about 75% of the women seemed to be changing (change tent). That's exceptional and due to the weather. Some entirely took of their swimsuit and pulled on bike shorts + tights or bike shorts + leg warmers. Some seemed to pull down just the top of their swimsuit to put on another more supportive sports bra but I'm not sure, I wasn't paying much attention.

I hate to cycle with a seam in the crease of my leg so I was happy I had my tri shorts. I just pulled tights over them. (Not that it was easy, being wet and all.)

Most people pulled on a longsleeve shirt and about 50% added some form of vest or jacket on top of that. I did that and was happy I did.

Added long fingered bike gloves, socks, bike shoes (covered with toe warmers but that was not really necessary). Helmet, of course, and shades (especially important in the rain because there's lots of flying objects).

RUN
Most people didn't change at all, except shoes of course, and adding a hat for 50%. I wish I had left the jacket, but I removed the sleeves as I was running (it's a Gore jacket + vest) and put them in the back pocket.

TRANSITION AREA
I have a medium-sized duffel-style bag in very bright color that I used today for transition bag. My shoes were laid out outside of the bag, though, in plastic bags (because of the rain). I don't really see the point of a specific transition bag.

**

I don't think the sport HAS to be expensive. Of course if you don't already own a bike (+helmet, shoes, and bike gear) it's much worse. Get the basics, and add items as birthdays/Christmas/anniversaries come.

Enjoy!

[tryingtri]

Thanks for all of the great ideas! I thnk I am going to go with somthing I can wear for all 3 events, like tri shorts and a sports bra. I am starting to feel less stressed and really focusing on training, espically swimming.

[socalgal]

Hi, new to all of this..(husband blames it on mental illness...hehehe) add on question to this thread. On the one piece tri suits...how much more drag do you have in the water as to a competition swim suit?? Thanks

[Bron]

Hi, new to all of this..(husband blames it on mental illness...hehehe) add on question to this thread. On the one piece tri suits...how much more drag do you have in the water as to a competition swim suit?? Thanks

Welcome!

The way I swim, drag is the least of my worries!

Most tri-suits are very fitted and have a high neck, so you don´t scoop up water. The one I have doesn´t feel much different to a swim suit.

I did my first tri wearing bikini bottoms and a sports bra for the swim, then just put my cycling stuff over the top. Transition bag was a plain drawstring bag, so the total cost was nil. However a tri suit is more comfortable and saves the struggle of trying to drag tight cycling clothes onto a wet body (got mine as a birthday present).

Bron

[mcoleman]

I actually use a plastic dishpan from Wal-Mart as a transition tote. It holds everything and I can fill it with water use it to clean my feet off at T1. I can't stand grass, etc still stuck to my feet after I put socks on!