Cold weather Race tips

David Flint

 Hi folks - doing a HIM at the weekend as a RR - still a little chilly here in the UK, water temps in the sea (swim is in a river/estuary) still 50 degrees, air temps are getting better but at 0645 start I reckon air temp will be less than that unless something radically changes to the weather this week.

So, a a newb' looking for help trying to prevent getting too cold - my thoughts so far:

- swim: neoprene cap sandwiched between usual swim caps.

- arm-warmers on aerobars ready for T1.

- toe-warmers on bike shoes (already clipped on bike in T1)

- wearing skinsuit but wear undervest as well plus wear a bike jersey rolled down under wetsuit (roll up during 400m jog into T1).

 

Any other ideas? Hopefully, with the 400m jog uphill into T1 I'll have time to warm-up. 

If I wasn't worried about destroying my new wetsuit, i'd be using heat-cream on my legs/arms which I've used before when cycle racing.

On the bike, I know I'm gonna get chilly and will have to suck it up to an extent.

Thanks!

Dave

 

kurshing

If this HIM IS a RR...then I would just change in T1 so as not be be miserable on the bike.  2:30 on a bike, cold and wet isn't worth the 3-5 minutes that you could be in the tent and changed.  Also, a RR doesn't call for a swim anyway, so, who cares how long T1 ends up being.

Get comfortable and then nail the bike and the run like a true RR.

Those are my thoughts.  Good luck.

David Flint

@Stephen - thanks for the input all good advice - UK being UK, the chances are that my A-race 70.3 in 5 weeks may be chilly as well; overnight, any hot day temps just plummet and take ages to warm up, especially if cloudy and windy. Sure, it is an RR but still would like to lay down a good & smooth performance - but, agree with you, being cold on the bike is just not worth it, especially when I may be starting out cold & sure to be damp.

Al Truscott

David - I don't know if you've ever tried to deal with a getting a bike jersey (or arm warmers for that matter) into place over a wet body. I always get hung up and frustrated as the water seems to act like glue. Our weather here in WA state is just like the maritime chill/gloom of the Motherland, so I've done an number of races with the water at 60-65 and the air at 50F. If you're worried about wind-chill on the bike, maybe a thin zip up nylon jacket or top put on during T2? Having offered that idea, what I do is wear whatever I'm going to wear on the bike under my wetsuit, arm warmers included. I'm always surprised at how fast the watery chill disappears once I crank up the cycling engine. I don't have any adipose insulation on me, and I seem to do just fine with a one-piece sleeveless racing suit and arm warmers, unless it's actively raining and that cold. Of course, YMMV. (Or, given your sig. line, "WWCD?" But then, she seems to pick hot races only!)

michaelpd101

David- Take it for what it is worth as I am a noob as well. Last year the first race I did I woke up and it was 38 degrees F, foggy and drizzling rain. I decided tp pull on the extra clothes and still froze. Second race it was 28 degrees F and I decided to leave well enough alone and just biked and ran in my trisuit and was actually warmer since it dried out much quicker atht way . Water temp though was like 65.

David Flint

Thanks guys, good advice - its a joint RR / B-race so I'll just aim to get it done - thinking about it, when I've been really cold on the bike its always been the extremities (head,hands especially, and feet) and not the body.