Cold CDA Swim?
Christie asked this too, in the Sign-in thread, so maybe I'm not alone. 
No worries about distance, but have also heard CDA is REALLY COLD. What tips do you guys all have? (May be doing Tahoe in September, so could use any tips twice.
Thanks in advance!!
Greg
0
Comments
It's impossible to make assumptions about the weather or the water for this race. I did the first nine races there, and the race day temps varied from 50F to 98F. Once there was a thunderstorm (on the hottest day), and once there was a drizzle (the coldest day), otherwise dry. The water temps varied from 58F to 67. I've seen the water temp rise 3-4F and the air temp rise 20F in the space of a week once the sun came out and it got hot.
So you have to prepare for everything, no matter what the 10 day forecast says. For cold water, you should be buying a neoprene cap, and use it if needed. I found the neoprene booties were of little help, and filled with water, slowing me down significantly. Wearning bike arm warmers under the wetsuit also helped. Getting your hands and face wet before full immersion is also a good idea, as is a mandatory warm-up before racing. If they don't allow it in the starting area, the lake side is huge, and you can go down the shore to get a dip in while somebody holds your place in line.
Al is the master of CDA... When I did it 3 years ago, it was 58-60 and I was fine with a neoprene cap. I've tried the booties and they were more of a pain than they were worth. But the neoprene cap is a must.
Tahoe will be similar. I grew up swimming in the lake and cda and Tahoe will be fairly similar in terms of temp. Although Tahoe had very little snow this year, so that will help with the temp. Not sure how it is in CDA.
I personally like the booties. I have a pair from blue seventy. They fit quite tight. I put them under the wetsuit and have had no problems with them filling up ( noticeably anyway). I also like to run to T1 in them. Great protection against all the little pebbles and twigs along the way.
I haven't been in the lake yet (probably won't swim in CDA until Memorial Day weekend), but the chatter up here has been a few people out in the water already. So fingers crossed we keep this nice weather!!
Got a note from the guy I am renting my house from...he does quite a bit of volunteering on the bike course - said weather has been better than normal, and he is speculating warmer water temps...what that means, who knows - I prepared to be cold. Don't plan to wear booties or neoprene cap though. Will double the swim caps and go go go...