Beginner tri suits anyone?

[p2000]

This year I will be doing my first tri's. Starting with a sprint and hopefully moving up from there. Since I already have most everything else (bike, hydration, running shoes, etc) but I don't have a wet suit (not sure if I want to invest yet) or a tri suit.

So my question is aimed more at tri suits. Worth it? One piece or two? Any suggestions on where to get either without breaking the bank? I don't mind moving up in quality/expense as I continue but would rather start out slower.

Lastly, how does these items differ from regular road wear? Is it really not feasible to wear road shorts in the water and run in them provided the chamois is thin enough to run in?

Thanks for any insight.

[cjbruin]

What distance are you planning to do? What's the water temperature going to be?

[joolied]

[quote=p2000;6097550]Lastly, how does these items differ from regular road wear? Is it really not feasible to wear road shorts in the water and run in them provided the chamois is thin enough to run in?[QUOTE]

I would definitely buy a pair of tri-shorts - way less chamois and fast-drying. You don't have to break the bank - the price range is wide so just aim for the lower end. They might not look as cool or wear as well, but you won't feel like you're running in a diaper when it's still wet after the bike. This is especially true of the sprint length tri because you're not on the bike long so you don't need a century-style protection and there's not a lot of drying time either. I got into tri-shorts and a top for under $80 by shopping the clearance rack.

As for the wet-suit - I got through my first year last year without one by choosing venues that didn't require a wetsuit (I'm in IL). I chose shallow water lakes so they'd be warmer. Check the race rules too - some won't allow use of a wetsuit if the water reaches a certain temp. Otherwise there are many vendors where you can rent one. The main differences in a tri wetsuit vs. others is they are thinner and built for ease of swimming movement and they are designed to get out of quickly at T1. They also tend to be bouyant so your swim time should improve.

-- Joolie

[qliedtke]

Is it really not feasible to wear road shorts in the water and run in them provided the chamois is thin enough to run in?

It is absolutely feasible. I have raced in a few tris with a pair of road shorts. The road shorts I use for tris has a thinner chamois as you suggest. The best thing to do is take a pair of your road shorts and go for a run and see how they feel. If it feels like your running bold legged or running with a **** in your shorts, then you should try a different pair :) It's probably also a good idea to take your bike shorts and go for a swim with them. A word of caution though, I wouldn't take your most expensive bike shorts in the pool, as the chlorine might not be that good for them.

[rb12]

Where you are going to compete is the biggest question. I see oyu are in MN and if you are going to compete there, it is most likely that you will be better off with a wet suit then a tri suit (if the question is one or the other). I compete primarily in Michigan and did not invest in a wet suit until i got to the olympic distance... although i still use it now in sprints and it is nice, but not necessary. If it is colder water, the wet suit will do you much better for insulation and buoyancy.

Personally, I would suggest buying as little as possible for teh first race to see if you enjoy it and then invest from there.... hell, I used a mountain bike for my first race ;) i would get a pair of tri shorts, though. even if you dont continue to race, they will still make a fine pair of biking shorts and they are not that expensive.

heed the others warnings though about the pool and the shorts. most shorts are not made to be exposed to chlorine. so train in a regular suit in the pool and use the tri shorts for teh race.

[ohsmily]

If it feels like your running bold legged or running with a **** in your shorts, then you should try a different pair :)

What the hell is running "bold-legged"??? Do you mean BOW-legged?

As for me, I purchased a 25 dollar pair of triathlon shorts. They have a thin chamois and were comfortable and dried quickly. That is pretty much the cheapest you can get but they worked for me in the Olympic/Int'l tri that I did.

[Psydotek]

I have tri shorts i got on sale (DeSoto 4 pocket shorts from trisports.com on a clearance sale). I wear those and just a baselayer shirt if it's warm enough.

[andygates]

A tri suit (and the basic ones are cheap) will get over one of the big problems of T1: pulling your ride/run top on over your wet, sticky body while in a funny mental state. I bought one after a race which had a fellow competitor say, "Dude, your head is in the arm hole". Never looked back.

For a sprint, anything will do - you're not in it long enough for a thin pad to really torture you. Grab a last-season sale bargain.

[kram]

Look at swimoutlet.com, under the Triathlon link
There are lots of bargins to be found there.
Recently bought TYR tri shorts for $30

I see they now have unisex shorts for $15 on clearance