WHY NOT RACE WARM COURSES WITH COOLING CAPABILITY LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS?

Juan Vergara

I'm sure there is a reason but not that I know of. Surely haus wisdom has the answer but I wonder if we use arm coolers, mission towels, sunscreen, etc to protect ourselves and maintain body temperature as low as possible, why not race with desoto long sleeve cooling shirt?
One might say it takes to long to put on (non applicable to wetsuit races) .... and there must be zillions of reasons .... but I could not find an answer ....
Please share your wisdom and opinion.
Thanks

tgarson

Really I think you don't see that many of them simply because they look kind of dorky and people just haven't tried them.

I can't think of many objective reasons why you wouldn't use one, other than maybe that they require a little more admin time in your race to keep wet so they work most effectively. But I think the vast majority of people are just probably used to racing in tri tops and the idea of wearing a long-sleeve in a hot race seems counter-intuitive enough that they've never actually tried it. 

That and yes, I think they look pretty unflattering. But if I was racing a super hot race, I'd definitely give one a try in training and see if it worked for me. 

astokes30

I am currently training for Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Vegas in Sept. HOT!!! I am practicing all of my rides so far in the De Soto Skin Cooler Wings...sort of like a short jacket. They really do have a tremendous cooling effect when you dump water on them. It has been in the mid 80s and humid here in Minnesota, so I am going to wear them whenever possible...may even try the run in them. Once you get used to the feeling of something on your arms when it is hot as opposed to just bare skin or arm sleeves, these really do create a cooling effect, not just a wet feeling, plus they have a high SPF rating and really do block out the sun. Read about them on line. With that said, I was going to put them on in T1 in Kansas 70.3 but after exiting the water and getting in a complete fight with them trying to get them on wet skin, I bailed on that idea. So, need to practice how to best get them on when wet and hot. It would not hurt to buy some, use them and see how they work for you...it may open up more races due to the cooling effect.

Robert Sabo

Arm coolers are on sale at trisport till 6/25/13

John Withrow

Hey Juan- I do ALL of my races in the DeSoto Coolwings under my tri top. At IMLou in 2011,I put them on in T1 and put my kit over top of them, which took me about a minute. At IMNYC and IMFL in 2012, I simply wore them under my tri kit under my wetsuit from the start. I wear the cool wings instead of just arm coolers mostly because in the past I got a really bad sunburn on my shoulders and the wings protect from that. I don't wear the full shirt simply because I race to raise money for my charity and want to represent in our kit. We had a big 240lb dude who raced with us last yr and wore the DeSoto leg coolers as well. These products really work, but he looked even more ridiculous than I do with just the cool wings...

Paul Hough

I have DeSoto Arm Coolers and Cool Wings which I use frequently for my long training rides. My evaluation from several years of experience is that they are highly effective at blocking sunrays but don't do jack to cool you...except for about 10 seconds after you splash water on them. I find it so refreshing on the rides where I don't have the things on, but I need them because I get too much sun anyway living in Tampa. I did wear the arm sleeves under my wetsuit at IMAZ in 2010 because it was a cool day and the arm "coolers" feel like thin arm warmers to me. Did I mention that they don't do jack for cooling effect? At IM Coz last year, I raced in my EN top and just used spray on sun lotion that I put on before the swim. I went through the entire heat of the day with that one application and no sunburn. But then again, I have a year-round tan from training outdoors. Anyway, the Desoto long sleeve shirt is not on my purchase list. It may work for some but I do not want that extra layer on me in hot weather.

[Deleted User]

I have the DeSoto Coolwings and love them. I notice a cooling effect and I seem to be much more comfortable than those I am riding/running with. My only complaint is the stains I am getting from the markings on my arm bleeding onto the white during a race.

--Larry

GMAN 19030

Posted By Paul Hough on 24 Jun 2013 01:56 PM


I have DeSoto Arm Coolers and Cool Wings which I use frequently for my long training rides. My evaluation from several years of experience is that they are highly effective at blocking sunrays but don't do jack to cool you...except for about 10 seconds after you splash water on them. I find it so refreshing on the rides where I don't have the things on, but I need them because I get too much sun anyway living in Tampa. I did wear the arm sleeves under my wetsuit at IMAZ in 2010 because it was a cool day and the arm "coolers" feel like thin arm warmers to me. Did I mention that they don't do jack for cooling effect? At IM Coz last year, I raced in my EN top and just used spray on sun lotion that I put on before the swim. I went through the entire heat of the day with that one application and no sunburn. But then again, I have a year-round tan from training outdoors. Anyway, the Desoto long sleeve shirt is not on my purchase list. It may work for some but I do not want that extra layer on me in hot weather.

I'm with Paul on the cooling effect and the issue is humidity (he in FL and me in TX).  The whole point of the arm coolers is the evaporative cooling effect - which is nowhere near as prominent in very humid environments since the evaporation part of that equation doesn't really happen.  I wear them a lot but only for the sun protection.  I'm definitely cooler without them.  Things would be different in a drier environment.

John Withrow

I sort of disagree with Paul and Bob. While on my bike at hot (and humid) races, I soak them at every aid station and they evaporate and dry within 10-15 mins. At which point, I take a big gulp of water and squirt it onto my arms wetting them again and then soaking them again at the next aid station. They definitely evaporate quicker on the bike because you're moving so much faster, but I think this process pulls heat away from your body. On the run, they don't evaporate as quickly, but I dump a cup of ice into each arm at the aid stations. This ice sits right in the crook of my elbow where there is a ton of blood flow and melts over the next 5-7 minutes or so. I really believe they help to keep me cool. This effect would be MUCH less dramatic in a training environment, because at races, there is practically a limitless supply of water on the bike and tons of water and ice on the run. Logistically, you couldn't afford to dump cups of water on your arms every mile while training, but in a race, no problem.

Paul Hough

@ John - you obviously have no idea what it is like to train here in the summer!! Wet your arm coolers? If you were in a truly humid environment, they aren't going to dryin 10-15 minutes. In fact, they won't dry at all. Mine are wet (with sweat) within 15 minutes of bike start until I finish the ride. You don't have to put water on them. Bob is spot on. They only work if you are in an environment where water actually evaporates. I would definitely be cooler without them, but like Bob, use them only for sun protection. When I go back to Cozumel this year, the arm coolers will remain at home like last year.

robin sarner

texas iron this year.   doesn't get more humid than that.       desoto wings worked great, in a cooling way, for me.

GMAN 19030

Posted By robin sarner on 26 Jun 2013 12:46 PM


texas iron this year.   doesn't get more humid than that.       desoto wings worked great, in a cooling way, for me.

Did you also wear them on the run?  They work better on the bike due to the wind but they don't cool worth a damn on the run in humid environments.

I've got hundreds of bike rides and runs wearing them in the Houston, TX area so my n=500 beats your n=1. 

robin sarner

I only wear them on the run.              

On the bike would be good.     But time to put on.     and aeroness ?

tim cronk

I have raced 2010 IMLOU and 2012 Boston Marathon in the Desoto skin cooler shirt with good success , both very hot humid days.

Often use the Craft long sleeve version for my long summer rides. Its tight, white, aero and keeps the sun off.

And I race 2013 IMTX with Desoto cool wings for the run only... This was a key move IMO.

I understand that on a humid day the water does not evaporate but dont underestimate how much heat is generated by direct sunlight on your skin.

Don't particularly feel the need for them on the bike (exept training for sunscreen) as I usually dont get too hot on the bike and they are a pain to put on it T1.... But feel covering shoulders and arms for the run very helpful on a hot day (specially sunny) and the Desoto cool wings can be carried with you out of T2 and put on while on the move.... Not that easy but better than a full shirt.