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Tips and Tricks for race day gear(or sub-par training weather days)

BeckyHBeckyH
in Racing Forum 🏎

This might be coveredin the wiki somewhere- but I have not been able to find it so far. Reading a Race Report yesterday I came across something new (to me) - using a peice of Tyvek on your chest to stay warm after the swim. Simple- but I would have never thought of it. Do you put it on before the swim, or in transition?

What other tips (saw the socks as arm warmers as well) are out there to minimize the gear you have to carry for cold weather on race day? Just wondering what else I am missing!!

Comments

  • Jess WithrowJess Withrow
    Just read that same RR (Jeff Brandenburg's) and had the exact same thought! Was wishing I had known about that a couple weeks ago when I did the Patriot Half - I was freezing when I got of out of that lake last year, too (what can I say... I'm just a super slow swimmer and I spend too much time in the cold lake moving like a turtle on its back!).

    Great idea, though - any tips and tricks in general are always helpful! Just a random "for instance" - I tucked a spare tube under my saddle the other day and held it in place by wrapping some double sided velcro around the tube and through the saddle rails, and John goes, "that's a good idea." I was a little dumbfounded - I thought everyone knew that trick (especially John, who lives and breaths all things tri... )!
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    If only a coach had flown to CDA to deliver a pre-race talk and had discussed tricks to stay warm on the bike during an Ironman, to include socks as armwarmers, cheap gardening gloves, and the envelope down singlet tip...

     

  • BeckyHBeckyH

    If that was a dig Rich- I was not there!! Hope you guys put on a talk for IMC though.... I will be there for that one!! 

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Becky,

    Sorry!! I got you confused with another Becky...and a few CDA folks who were too cool for skool to show up to the 4k talk where I discussed exactly topics like this and some other issues that became big problems for them on race day.

    No, we won't be at IMCA. Too many races and camps on the calendar for us to be everywhere.

  • BeckyHBeckyH

    That's okay, there are lots of peeps on here. You can chime in here with any tips, I don't mind! What kind of envelope? I need to know this stuff!!



    Any chance you have a video or a blog post containing some of your pre race talk (besides the video, which I have:-). Always up for getting advice!

  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

    just having done cda....

    Take the time to put on layers in T1.            My T1 bag options included the throwaway gloves which I kept on almost the whole bike.   It was too cold though for just my toeless tube socks arm warmers.       I took 20 seconds and put on a long sleeve bike jersey and was comfy for the bike.     I do not understand why the majority of the fastish folks just do a tri top and nothing else.    They lose lots of energy to keeping warm.  

    T1 bag for cold days:   throwaway gloves.      tube socks with the toes cut off for arm warmers.   long sleeved shirt (we loose lots of heat from the arm pits).     head band to go under helmet.    longer smartwool socks if needed.    using my less ventilated aero helmet.    if you chill easily consider the neoprene shoe tip warmers.     throwaway plastic/velcro bike jacket for very bad weather.

  • Steve WestSteve West
    In a cold rain I wear my arm warmers on my shins - really makes a difference to keeping my calves and feet warm. I needed them at Mooseman a few weeks ago when it was a steady cold rain.
  • matthewbwardmatthewbward
    If its raining, drop a few PSI in the tires, stay off painted lines, and opt for glasses over the visor (unless you're confident in your rainx + fogx). Dry socks and shoes in a plastic bag helps.
  • coop6coop6
    I really hate to be cold, so I use a Thermacare heat wrap on my torso. It's easy enough to pitch if and when you warm up. I buy the hand and foot warmers by the case too.
  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    I had to resort to putting a newspaper down the front of my jersey during a cold, windy and rainy IM Switzerland. Got the tip from my dad - used to do it when he raced bikes in the 1960s.



  • Beth_SBeth_S
    Don't forget apres race -- My new, favorite piece of race gear is a pair of fleece-lined pants, to put on after the race.

    +1 on dry socks and chemical hand warmers.

  • BeckyHBeckyH
    How long do those hand warmer things last for? Never used one- suprising since I live in the cold North!!
  • Beth_SBeth_S
    Posted By Becky Heemeryck on 27 Jun 2012 11:50 AM

    How long do those hand warmer things last for? Never used one- suprising since I live in the cold North!!



    An hourish? Although that's my skiing answer and not my triathlon answer.

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