Bike gloves or not? Century or not? - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

Hi guys.
GLOVES OR NOT?
I've been doing my bike rides this season without gloves, but am
doing a fast century this Sunday. I can't decide whether to wear
gloves or not. On the one hand (no pun intended!), it's just one more
complication, but on the other hand, it helps with handling,
particularly if my hands get sweaty. What do you think? they'll be a
lot of people, so I won't be using aerobars.

CENTURY OR METRIC?
While I'm here, I'll ask you advice on another question. I'm new
to tri this year, and will be doing Olympic distance by year end. I
like to do bike events with my friends though. Should I be doing
centuries? Or should I stick to metrics (62 miles)? On the one hand
(there I go again) I can easily handle the endurance required, but on
the other hand, it detracts from my swimming and running training
while I'm building to century distance. What do you think? I've been
cycling for years.

Justin seven

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

> "Michael Emerald" wrote: [snipped]
GLOVES OR NOT?...I've been doing my bike rides this season without gloves,
but am doing a fast century this Sunday.<

If you haven't been training with gloves, then don't wear them in the race.

> CENTURY OR METRIC?...I'm new to tri this year, and will be doing Olympic
distance by year end.<

IMO, velocity at lactate threshold is the primary determinant for success in
Olympic (and sprint) distance races. 62 miles is plenty for your long ride.
You can work it a little harder, and recover much faster. It will help you
to make you're threshold rides, swims, and tempo runs will be much more
productive. Same strategy with your long runs...1 1/2 - 1 3/4 hour max.

Good luck!

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

Okay,
I'm doing the Chicago Triathlon on August 29. I have no idea what I'm
doing, so my question is: do I need a wetsuit...or will a swimsuit be fine
for this time of year?

Thanks!
Mary

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote: [snipped]
....I'm doing the Chicago Triathlon on August 29...do I need a wetsuit...or
will a swimsuit be fine?
Thanks!
Mary <

Sorry Mary,
I don't know anything about the Chicago Triathlon. But wetsuits are
permitted in all USAT events when the water temperature is 78 degrees or
colder. If the water temp is in the mid 70's, and you can complete the swim
within 30-40 minutes, then you should be comfortable with just a swimsuit.
You'll be able to swim much faster, however, with a wetsuit. Just be sure
to practice changing out of it or you'll end up with a really slow
transition time! Sleeveless wetsuits are comfortable when the water is
warmer than the upper 60's. If its colder than that, use a full wetsuit.
Good Luck!

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote: [snipped]
....I'm doing the Chicago Triathlon on August 29...do I need a wetsuit...or
will a swimsuit be fine?
Thanks!
Mary <

Sorry Mary,
I don't know anything about the Chicago Triathlon. But wetsuits are
permitted in all USAT events when the water temperature is 78 degrees or
colder. If the water temp is in the mid 70's, and you can complete the swim
within 30-40 minutes, then you should be comfortable with just a swimsuit.
You'll be able to swim much faster, however, with a wetsuit. Just be sure
to practice changing out of it or you'll end up with a really slow
transition time! Sleeveless wetsuits are comfortable when the water is
warmer than the upper 60's. If its colder than that, use a full wetsuit.
Good Luck!

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

On Thu, 13 May 2004 15:33:03 -0500, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>Okay,
>I'm doing the Chicago Triathlon on August 29. I have no idea what I'm
>doing, so my question is: do I need a wetsuit...or will a swimsuit be fine
>for this time of year?
>
>Thanks!
>Mary
When I lived in Chicago, I used to swim in Lake Michigan regularly
without a wetsuit. In August, the water will still be cooler than your
local pool, but definitely swimmable. However, a wetsuit should
shorten your swim time enough that I'd still recommend wearing one.

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

you will neeed a wetsuit.

Last yr almost every person I saw had one.

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

Gloves are a good idea.

1) They reduce the shock leading into the hand and reduce the risk of hand
numbness
2) They protect your hands in case of a crash

"Michael Emerald" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] m...
> Hi guys.
> GLOVES OR NOT?
> I've been doing my bike rides this season without gloves, but am
> doing a fast century this Sunday. I can't decide whether to wear
> gloves or not. On the one hand (no pun intended!), it's just one more
> complication, but on the other hand, it helps with handling,
> particularly if my hands get sweaty. What do you think? they'll be a
> lot of people, so I won't be using aerobars.
>
> CENTURY OR METRIC?
> While I'm here, I'll ask you advice on another question. I'm new
> to tri this year, and will be doing Olympic distance by year end. I
> like to do bike events with my friends though. Should I be doing
> centuries? Or should I stick to metrics (62 miles)? On the one hand
> (there I go again) I can easily handle the endurance required, but on
> the other hand, it detracts from my swimming and running training
> while I'm building to century distance. What do you think? I've been
> cycling for years.
>
> Justin seven

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

The water is warm enough not to wear one, but cold enough so that they
will be allowed. It's up to you what you prefer. 90% of the people
in the race wear one.

Brandon

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote in message news:<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] eighton.edu>...
> Okay,
> I'm doing the Chicago Triathlon on August 29. I have no idea what I'm
> doing, so my question is: do I need a wetsuit...or will a swimsuit be fine
> for this time of year?
>
> Thanks!
> Mary

Hi Mary
I am registered for the Chicago triathlon myself. This is my first
year doing triathlons but when August comes I will have completed 2. I
am going to wear a wetsuit. I hear lake Michigan is cold. What event
did you sign up for Sprint, Olympic?

Nicole

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

LOL, back in 1985, none of us wore wet suits ...... surface water
temp in Chicago that day in August was in the 70s.

Tell ya what, here is what I've learned over the years from swimming
in Lake Michigan, on the west side of the lake. If the wind is from
the east, the water will be warm, the wind forces the warm surface
water to the shoreline. If the wind is from the west, it will be
COLD, the wind forces the warm surface water away from the shoreline.
Because of the unpredictability of the surface water temp, I'd have a
wet suit hady.

The first tri I did, the half mile swim in Lake Michigan, was cut from
a half mile to a quarter mile because the surface water temp was 57
degrees! This was back in the good old days, wet suits were for scuba
divers and surfers. I didn't thaw out until 10 miles into the 18 mile
bike.

Mark

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote in message news:<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] eighton.edu>...
> Okay,
> I'm doing the Chicago Triathlon on August 29. I have no idea what I'm
> doing, so my question is: do I need a wetsuit...or will a swimsuit be fine
> for this time of year?
>
> Thanks!
> Mary

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (M Kochanski) wrote:

> Tell ya what, here is what I've learned over the years from swimming
> in Lake Michigan, on the west side of the lake. If the wind is from
> the east, the water will be warm, the wind forces the warm surface
> water to the shoreline. If the wind is from the west, it will be
> COLD, the wind forces the warm surface water away from the shoreline. . .

and the cold water upwells from the depths. The same thing happens in
the Atlantic, where I've seen a 10-15 degree F drop in temp in 24 hours
with a strong west wind (from about 72 down to the high 50s). It can
warm up just as fast when that east wind blows in the gulf stream.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

08-23-2004, 07:09 PM

> GLOVES OR NOT?

The best reason to wear gloves is in the event you hit the pavement you will
put your hand out to protect yourself and the gloves protect your hand. A
good reason I think to wear gloves.

tom
> I've been doing my bike rides this season without gloves, but am
> doing a fast century this Sunday. I can't decide whether to wear
> gloves or not. On the one hand (no pun intended!), it's just one more
> complication, but on the other hand, it helps with handling,
> particularly if my hands get sweaty. What do you think? they'll be a
> lot of people, so I won't be using aerobars.
>
> CENTURY OR METRIC?
> While I'm here, I'll ask you advice on another question. I'm new
> to tri this year, and will be doing Olympic distance by year end. I
> like to do bike events with my friends though. Should I be doing
> centuries? Or should I stick to metrics (62 miles)? On the one hand
> (there I go again) I can easily handle the endurance required, but on
> the other hand, it detracts from my swimming and running training
> while I'm building to century distance. What do you think? I've been
> cycling for years.
>
> Justin seven