How much do wetsuits help?

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2004-12-04 11:09 PM


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Subject: How much do wetsuits help?
I have raced two sprint tris in tri shorts/top. Now with olympic distance as my 2005 goal (and possibly 1/2IM in 2006), do I need wetsuits? Does that help a LOT to make you either faster or conserve energy? I am a midpacker overall but probably close to the last 1/3 in swimming leg. Considering it takes time to remove the wetsuits, I wasn't sure how much you gain.

Thanks,


2004-12-05 7:08 AM
in reply to: #89413

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Master
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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?
Yes a wetsuit will help. It will make you more buoyant in the water and you can go a little faster and conserve your legs. Where you may lose time with a wetsuit is getting it off. Make sure you practice that one before a race.

Mike
2004-12-05 8:56 AM
in reply to: #89413

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Expert
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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?

This question comes up a lot. Here is your answer.

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/wetsuit.shtml

2004-12-05 12:13 PM
in reply to: #89413

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Elite
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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?
AND you get to feel like a superhero!
2004-12-05 1:02 PM
in reply to: #89477

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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?
20 min saving on a wetsuit, what does it have a powermotor! ok i think for normal people its got to be more like a 5min saving at most, but i guess that was over IM distance i think for olympic u are looking at a 2-4min saving in time, but then u will be in the sea which is different from in a pool so its all relative i guess
2004-12-05 5:26 PM
in reply to: #89525

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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?
ginger ninja - 2004-12-05 12:02 PM

20 min saving on a wetsuit, what does it have a powermotor! ok i think for normal people its got to be more like a 5min saving at most, but i guess that was over IM distance i think for olympic u are looking at a 2-4min saving in time, but then u will be in the sea which is different from in a pool so its all relative i guess


yeah, this link (http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/wetsuit.shtml) is a little exaggerated/extreme as it's a biased test case.

I'd like to see an unbiased test protocol and see how that comes out though...


2004-12-05 6:19 PM
in reply to: #89413

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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?

The benifits of a wetsuit depends on your swim abilities.  If you're a weak swimmer and struggle with form, than a wetsuit will help greatly in giving you bouyancy, plus it makes you sleeker in the water...  The end result is you'll probably save many minutes by using a wesuit .  If your a strong swimmer than the bouyancy issue is more or less nuetralized.  You will however benifit from the sleekness...    So...  for a strong swimmer you'd drop less time .

I don't own a wetsuit but I emailed this question to the Michigan tri champion for both of our tri circuits this past year (he's also the Michigan rep for Triathalon Magazine) and he told me (I'm a strong swimmer) that I could probably drop 45 seconds for a 1/2 mile swim if I used a wetsuit. 



Edited by fromer 2004-12-05 6:20 PM
2004-12-05 6:22 PM
in reply to: #89413

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Subject: RE: How much do wetsuits help?
I bought a wetsuit for warmth not speed.  My first race of the season is in March, and the Lake was 55 degrees last year.
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