Thanks, an update and more questions...

[Veronica]

Thanks for all the advice ladies!

I've now signed up for a Tri for Fun on 6/21, and an Olympic Distance Tri for Real on 7/13. The half IM is 8/2.

I've picked a tri suit. I'm going to go with a two piece. It seems more practical.

I guess I have to take my leather saddle off my bike. I'm going to try the saddle on my mountain bike and see how it feels on my road bike. I'm a little bummed. It amused me to think I'd be doing a tri on a lugged steel bike with a leather saddle.

What about the timing chip ankle thingie... is that a necessity? What do you do with the chip if you don't have the special holder?

Have you ever noticed that every sport has it's own special thingamabobs?

V.

[KnottedYet]

I did a tri on my Kona with my black Brooks B67, lovely springs and all!

(tri shorts dried so quickly, no problem)

I'll be doing this years tri on my lugged steel Waterford with a honey Brooks B67.

Chip: I use my RoadID ankle strap for the chip. Works great.

[Veronica]

I was wondering if you had done your tri on your Brooks. That's good to know, because I really didn't want to mess with anything after just having a bike fit done.

V.

[HillSlugger]

With some races they give you the timing chip with a velcro anklet, for others they use something like what they use in a hospital. I got cut/chafed from one of these in my first tri and bought my own velcro chip strap. For the $4-5 it's worth it.

[Wahine]

V - I have a leather saddle and have no problems with it. I would second getting a neoprene strap for your ankle chip. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have an extra one that I'd be happy to send you if your interested. PM me.

And WOW!! You're starting out with a big schedule, good on ya!! You don't fool around.

[Veronica]

Well, the two shorter tris are to sort of work out the bugs. Thanks for the offer of the chip holder thingie, Wahine. I think I'll be putting in a big order to TE soon and that's just one more thing I'll include.

Next question - socks? For my first run of 2.2 miles I wore cycling socks and that was fine. On the longer races do you change your socks between the bike and the run? I can't imagine not wearing socks.

I am so thrilled that I don't have to change the saddle.

V.

[Wahine]

I would recommend that you change socks between the ride and run on any race where you get your socks wet. Otherwise I don't bother. I wear socks for anything longer than a sprint. One other thing I've learned about socks. If your cycling socks have little stickies on the bottom to keep you from sliding in your shoes (PI used to make socks like these) don't wear them on the run, they'll give you blisters from hell!! I made that mistake on a HIM and paid for it for weeks afterward.

[Veronica]

I figure I'll have to note what socks as I start doing longer runs. I don't want to get blisters on race day.

I think I'm going to get this top
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=31930

and these shorts
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=32118

Trisports has the top in a bluish green that I like a little better than the white. I like that TE shows what the bra looks like. It seems like it will keep things in place. I'm getting old and gravity is already wreaking havoc on my body, I don't need running to add anymore to the downward slide.

I think I'll like having a longer short. There aren't many 8 inch in seam shorts out there.

V.

[Wahine]

Those look like great choices and it's good to have a 2 piece for the HIM distance. Because, if you handle your hydration right, you will need to pee at some point during the race.

[KSH]

Hey Veronica... stay away from a white top! It might be see through when it gets wet (and you may move from being wet from the swim to being wet from sweat)... and it will get DIRTY out there racing.

I was completely covered in dirt after my race. I had worn a light purple top and it was my favorite one. I didn't think the dirt up the back from the bike would come out. Luckily my boyfriends Mom worked on it for me and got all the dirt out.

In my HIM I didn't wear socks on the bike and in T2 I put body glide on my feet and my good running socks on.

As you start running longer distances, you will learn what does and does not work for you. I have to wear good running socks and body glide my feet and under my arms to present blisters and chafing. I use to laught at people buying $10 socks. Now I only buy those kind to run in.