Tri kit opinions for IM

kevtes13

This question may already be posed somewhere else on this forum but I couldn't find it. I'm a first time IM in training and have varied success with different tri kits. What is the groups opinion on what works for them? Is it better to change into bicycle bottom for the 112 mile ride and then change again for the run or do you like sticking with a triathlon kit? If so so, what kind/brand? Thx. Kevin

Swanie

If your not shootings for a podium and require sub 2:00 T2, I would recommend changing from a good pair of bike shorts to running shorts in the tent. It takes about :30 to change and you'll be much more comfortable for the next 4- 6 hours. You can swim in your good bike shorts under your wetsuit. This is how I do it. I wear Desoto 400 mile shorts under my wetsuit and then in T2 change into matching tri shorts (small pad) for the run. You know so the pictures look good!

GMAN 19030

Bike shorts are terrible in the aero position for me and in no way would ever wear them. Pad is too thick and bunches up while in aero and causes a ton of problems. IMO, the less is more philosophy is at play with bike shorts. We "think" we need more padding than we do.

I use one of the short sleeved one piece tri suits. I rocked the Pearl Izumi Octane last year but this year I'm using the Fusion Sports Speed Suit because it's a little more user friendly than the Octane (zipper goes down far enough that us guys can go #1 without taking the suit off). I wear it all day.

Mike Roberts

Hey Kevin, for me, I like biking shorts if I'm on my road bike for my first, maybe second long ride, just to train the undercarriage. Once I'm on the tri bike, it's all tri shorts.  Way more comfortable in earo. So, if you're going to follow the plan and do 5, 6 or more 5-hour rides, you'll be fine in tri shorts on race day.  And, for me, the most comfortable shorts I could possibly wear during a 26.2 are a well-fitting pair of tri shorts. Nothing moves, nothing chafes, no diaper feel, and it allows me to focus on all the other things that hurt. I've had good luck with Zoot, DeSoto and Craft, but there other quality brands out there too.

Now, if you're going to undertrain the bike dramatically and spend most of race day out of the aero position, wear a good pair of bike shorts, bring lots of spare Chamois Butt'r and change into something better in T2.

Coach Rich

Please see the tri and cycling kit options we have in the Store. 

Personally, I train exclusively in full-on cycling kit on both tri and road bike:

• Cycling bibs: wayyy more comfortable than cycling shorts or tri shorts. There's a reason(s) why pro cyclists wear bibs. 
• Cycling jersey: more sun coverage, more pockets for carrying stuff, full zip, etc. 

I'm ride a few times in my tri kit, just to confirm that, yep, it still works for me, but beyond that cycling kit is just much more comfortable and practical. Important when you're riding 8-11hrs/wk. 

Our experience is that long course triathletes, the majority of this team, prefer to race in a longer, more compressive short, which is what we've aimed at with the LG shorts we stock. 

So method is, I train like a runner (run in running kit), ride like a cyclist in cycling kit, confirm via a handful of rides that my tri kit works for me, then I race like a long course triathlete, choosing shorts that are on the long side and compressive, similar to cycling shorts. 

And cycling bibs, please. Never understood why anyone would choose to ride in a cycling short vs bibs. Soooo much more comfortable. 

Al Truscott

I'm in the same camp with Bob and Mike … funny, cause I usually agree with Coach R about most everything. When leaning forward in the aero position on a tri bike, the pads in cycling shorts rub my inner thighs, and just feel way uncomfortable, to say nothing of how they get in the way while swimming if worn under a wetsuit.

A few other points:

• Like Coach R, I ride in bibs, not shorts, exclusively, sometimes using the one piece tri suit Bob describes instead of a bib on either warmer or colder days (with a shirt on top in that case).
• Dedicated attention to lubrication before each and every ride is a must for me, no matter what I'm wearing.
• For IM race day, I wear a DeSoto Forza tri-bib, with either a sleeveless EN tri top or short sleeve EN full zip cycling jersey, depending on the weather. For my next IM in a hot sunny clime, I intend (counter-intuitively) to wear the cycling jersey to protect my shoulders, then remove and replace with sleeveless for the run. In part thats because it is a non-wetsuit swim, so I have to put something on in T1 as a top, and the full zip sleeved shirt goes on easier than a tri-top.
• When training, I run in the same shorts I wear when swimming: Dolphin "jammer" style swim suit, Chloroban model. Nice little pouch to keep things in place, tight fit so no rubbing issues anywhere.
• If you do split time between cycling pads and tri pads when biking, pay attention to the height of your saddle. I routinely raise/drop my saddle 3-5 mm depending on what I'm wearing, i.e., saddle needs to be higher when wearing thinner tri chamois than thicker cycling pad.

Scott Alexander

I'm pretty simple, for all training and racing:
-swimming, I use tri shorts (Desoto)
-road bike, I use cycling bibs (Desoto)
-tri bike, tri shorts
-running, tri shorts
So, for a tri (of any length), I'll have my tri shorts on all day.

Luckily for me, I'm not one of those that has had lubrication or chafing issues. I've never needed lube or anything. Happy me!

Coach Rich

I should also say I swim like a swimmer, in a Speedo / banana hammock :-)

And Aquaphor on the undercarriage for any rides longer than 2hrs.

Race in full tri kit under the wetsuit, with Aquaphor applied.

Robert Sabo

I agree with what Rich said except No speedo (Jammer instead). Tri shorts and top for all day long course. The New EN stuff is really good. The De Soto tri shorts are great too with even more compression. The one thing no one mentioned was pockets. For long training rides a cylce top is best but in a race I need to use pockets in the top and or the shorts, for gels and other consumables. I sometimes use tri shorts with pockets on long runs to hold gels and money. For pure looks, the EN red tri kit rocks.

Paul Hough

Tri suit (one or two piece for me)...no change, and far more comfortable on the run with less likelihood of chafing than running shorts. After a couple of years in the sport, I didn't even like bike shorts any more. As they wore out I pitched them...don't own any now because I am perfectly comfortable with tri shorts. And the reason the pro cyclists wear bibs is because they are cyclists and not triathletes. Save the suspended diapers (I mean bibs ) for the road bike.

Keith Wick

I'm a DeSoto tri bib guy when I ride my tri bike. If they are dirty, I will wear cycling bibs, but they aren't as comfy on my tribike. Road bike is cycling bibs.

Top depends on what my goals are for the day. I can carry what I want with either a cycling jersey or tri top, but I try to mix it up so that my shoulders get some tanning before the race to reduce the burn factor.

If you aren't sure what your going to do, make sure that you test out on several long rides whatever tri shorts you maybe considering before committing to them. You don't want to think things are ok based on 1-2 rides only to have the chaffing of your life on race day. Read Liebs race report on that one if you can find it!!!!

kevtes13

Thx for all the responses. I've never raced in anything other than tri gear so that's likely what I'll go with. I'm just gonna try different set ups out on my training rides to see what works best. I was already looking at DeSoto brand. Heard good things on their stuff. Also might check out the EN store options. I have a good long course tri set by 2XU but I bought prior to training season and now it doesn't fit as I've lost weight. Guess that's good and bad.