Newbie help please

[Ratty]

Hi

 

After many years of not being able to swim due to a shoulder injury, I can now finally swim again. Building up slowly (so far max distance is 600m), but I am loving being in the water again.

 

I am very keen to get into things like Xterra and want to start with the Grabouw Xterra lite in Feb.

 

My questions are around what is the minimal equipment you can get away with. Tri-suits are rather expensive and I don't particularly want to spend loads of money before I know if I really want to do it.

 

Can you get away with just having a costume? How do you then transition to the cycling?

 

Any advice / tips welcome especially from the women.

[Slapsock]

Hi

 

I did the full 2 years ago and thinking of doing it again next year.

 

I bought a pair of tri shorts from atlantic triathlon club, good price. Then you would just need a top that you can swim in.

[Swim.Bike.Run]

If you are going to swim in a costume, put bike shorts on on T1 and take them of in T2, running in the costume again, it can work, and pulling your bike shorts on and off will take you a couple of seconds. Also a good way to see if tri really is your thing, without spending too much bucks.

 

If you're looking for into a suit, tri shorts and top will be cheaper and better for bathroom breaks.

New Balance has a great tri short that's half the price of the others and quality is the same.

[SwissVan]

 

 

My questions are around what is the minimal equipment you can get away with. Tri-suits are rather expensive and I don't particularly want to spend loads of money before I know if I really want to do it.

 

Can you get away with just having a costume? How do you then transition to the cycling?

 

Any advice / tips welcome especially from the women.

 

Try minimize the amount of clothing you need to change after the swim or cycle. Taking off and putting on clothes after the swim is easier said than done....

 

Swim, cycle and run with your cycling shorts, either over your costume or just the shorts with a top that is suitable for swimming and running in.

[Bubblez]

New Balance has a great tri short that's half the price of the others and quality is the same.

 

I second the new balance tri shorts, really are great. Have 2 pairs. Much cheaper than the triathlon branded shorts.

[JGR]

New Balance had Tri shorts for R300 at their access park store as of Saturday.

 

The swim is quite short and not worth using a wetsuit imo

[Ratty]

New Balance had Tri shorts for R300 at their access park store as of Saturday.

 

The swim is quite short and not worth using a wetsuit imo

 

Sounds good, I might just go take a look. Do you know if they had female ones?

 

I'm not at all worried about time so if it takes a bit longer to change, so be it. I just don't want to look like an idiot :-)

Not sure if I'd be comfortable enough to run in just a costume, would rather keep the shorts on.

 

Swim is short, it will be mid-Feb and in a dam so I'm not too worried about the temperature. Will make a nice chance from the Virgin Active baths.

 

Have entered already, now I just need to do some more swimming and add in some trail running (normally only run short distances on the road). Love having a goal to train for.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice, much appreciated.

[Jewbacca]

Be sure to check with the race rules too... Some races (like iron man in Wales/UK) force you to wear a wetsuit. I think SA Iron Man has a 14 or 13 degree temperature limit before they enforce it.

 

You dont need one. Train in the sea on the Atlantic side without a cap and you will be fine for anything thrown at you.

 

Cycle shorts are awesome and quick as mentioned above.

 

Minimize.... too many people complicate things by concentrating on the non essential stuff like kit and heart rate and what USN product to use when.

 

The less you have, the less you need.

[Slowbee]

HOw far is the run ratty ?

[JGR]

Sounds good, I might just go take a look. Do you know if they had female ones?

 

I'm not at all worried about time so if it takes a bit longer to change, so be it. I just don't want to look like an idiot :-)

Not sure if I'd be comfortable enough to run in just a costume, would rather keep the shorts on.

 

Swim is short, it will be mid-Feb and in a dam so I'm not too worried about the temperature. Will make a nice chance from the Virgin Active baths.

 

Have entered already, now I just need to do some more swimming and add in some trail running (normally only run short distances on the road). Love having a goal to train for.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice, much appreciated.

They are unisex as far as I know - they have a chamy so you can cycle in them and then do the run as well.

[JGR]

Be sure to check with the race rules too... Some races (like iron man in Wales/UK) force you to wear a wetsuit. I think SA Iron Man has a 14 or 13 degree temperature limit before they enforce it.

 

You dont need one. Train in the sea on the Atlantic side without a cap and you will be fine for anything thrown at you.

 

Cycle shorts are awesome and quick as mentioned above.

 

Minimize.... too many people complicate things by concentrating on the non essential stuff like kit and heart rate and what USN product to use when.

 

The less you have, the less you need.

Only if they water is colder than 14 degs

[Jewbacca]

Only if they water is colder than 14 degs

 

I was right with one of my educated suggested guesses then!

 

Sweeeet

[JGR]

I was right with one of my educated suggested guesses then!

 

Sweeeet

and no wetsuits if over 24 degs

[Ratty]

HOw far is the run ratty ?

 

400m Swim

12km MTB

6km Run/Walk :-)

[Ratty]

You dont need one. Train in the sea on the Atlantic side without a cap and you will be fine for anything thrown at you.

 

 

Only way I'll go in the Atlantic is on my surfboard and no further than the back line. I am not too fond of them sharks.

[reteid]

we had a swim at clifton's 4th beach last saturday.chilly.tri shorts is the way to go at x terra though.