April Tri's - Do I need a wetsuit?

Never done TG#1, but I have done TG#2 when it was wetsuit legal, and only one competitor chose to wear his. It's a short race, and you may spend more time getting out of the suit than what it saves you.

TG#1 is a month sooner, can't how much cooler the temps will be... Some of the previous race reports indicate that a wetsuit was welcome.

I second what Bear said.  I've done T-Gator #2 a couple of times, and I think both times it was wetsuit legal, but I didn't wear one.  I think TG #1 has like a 400m swim or so. . . I think I would tough it out for the little while it would take.  But, of course if it's unreasonably cold to do so, then hey, go for it.  If you're looking to stick around in triathlons for a while, a wetsuit is not a bad investment thing to own. 

I sure that didn't help at all.  

Thanks guys, that helped.  I am planning on getting a wetsuit but waiting a little while to make sure that I don't spend my money for nothing.

Since I have your attention do either of you  (or anyone else reading) know where folks practice open water swimming in the Baton rouge area?  I was thinking LSU lakes, any other ideas?

Thanks again!

You don't want to be in the LSU lakes at all.  I rowed at LSU and know all too well about: 1. the nastiness of the lake water and more importantly 2.  the underwater hazards.  There is so much stuff (logs, pipes, random cement chunks) under the water in those lakes that you really don't want to risk it.

You don't need to swim open water all the time, just once in a while.  For me, when I want to get some open water swimming in, I have a friend whose family has a camp at False River.  I go out there and do some swimming early in the morning before all the boaters get out there.  

Thanks, that's what I thought (about the LSU lakes).   I will have to start checking out areas.  I just want to do a couple of open water swims before my first Tri.  I am probably a couple of months away from being ready to do an open water swim so I have time.  My first Tri may be pool swim but I want to be ready if I switch to a different Tri.

Thanks again all!

Holy Sh*t, whatever you do, do not swim in the LSU lakes.  You won't make your triathlon in April!  I lived in a fraternity house on the lakes in college.  I can't tell you the crap that is in that lake.  We made a pledge swim the lake one time and he came back with half a foot almost after cutting it on something in the lake.  It was nasty

Gary RM, I'm dealing with the same problem. I don't want to buy a wetsuit just yet.  I'm looking at the Louisiana Triathlon in New Roads on April 19th.  The website says that the water temperatures could reach as low as 65 degrees.  Do you guys think that this could be true, in Louisiana!? 

 Around what water temp would you guys say that you don't need a wetsuit?

I saw a couple of race reports from guys who did the March/April Tri's in LA and was going to ping them.  I am also considering the Pressman Rookie Tri which is short but it is a pool swim and would not require a wetsuit.  All depends upon how my attempt to learn to swim goes.  After 3.5 weeks I can swim the 32-33 yard lengths but stop for a quick breather.  400 yards seems a bit daunting at this point.

I saw the rookie tri in sulphur but it's about 3-4 hours away from where I am.  I would drive that far to get there, but I think i would be way too tired to get back.  Let me know when you get a reply from the guys who did the March/April tris.  I really want to get into triathlons, but I'm not willing to shell out the bucks for the first time.

Yeah sulphur is 2.5 hrs and New Roads is only an hour  from me but I am worried about making the 437 yd swim for Sulphur vs. the 874 yd for New Roads.  If I hear anything about wetsuits I will let you know.

Yeah, I used the "Races" tab at the top of this website to find the New Roads Louisiana Triathlon.  I clicked on some of the users race reports from previous years.  Many of them documented the water temperature.  There were reports for 2006, 2007, and 2008.  Of these, one year was warm enough to be wetsuit optional.  So, it looks like wetsuits will most likely be used.  

 I found a website that will rent you a wetsuit for $40 + $10 shipping.  If you decide to keep the wetsuit, they will deduct the forty dollars from the price of your new wetsuit.  It seems kind of pricy but worth it if you seriously think you will buy the wetsuit.  Heres the website:

 http://www.wetsuitrental.com/jms/index.php

Thanks, did a quick check of their site. For an extra $22 you can get it for a couple weeks longer which I would need to try it out in an OWS.  But now you are up to $72.  I am going to start checking out False river just in case.  I have Three options for a first Tri

1. T-Gator - 437 Yd swim, need suit, 2.5hr drive (March 29th, BT Races says April 12th but I checked with the RD and it is March 29th).
2. New Roads - 1 hr away but 800+ on the swim. Need wetsuit.  April 18th
3. Sulphur - 2.5 hrs away but pool swim 200m. No suit - April 25th.

March 1st will be decision time.  Hopefully the races will still be open by then.

I have done the LA tri a few times and one year I didn't wear my wetsuit that I can remember.... Odds are it will be chilly.

The Tgator tri's , even though it is short, if the temp is 60's I'm wearing a wet suit.  It is always COLD to me while waiting for a tri to start.... It only takes about 20 seconds total for me to get my suit off so I'm willing to sacrifice the time

I never win anyway

That varies with each person. For me I almost always wear a suit if offered the chance.  I could probably tolerate 72 but that is cold .... an 800 meter swim  at 72 ..... I would wear a suit.

Look for Promotion suits, sleeveless.  They are relatively cheap and I believe you get a discount from Begginer Tri.

I bought one and they were very helpful over the phone.  They even send it to you then will tailor it to fit you ....

 Where can I find these "promotion suits"?  And if the temperature was warm enough not to use a wetsuit? What do guys swim in? Speedos?

My mindset was a Tri suit.  I pool then just the shorts and pull the top on in transition.  If suit then I might wear the top also but not sure how this would go with the suit.  Experts?

For what it's worth I am lined up for the New Roads Tri.  I am hitting the pool 3-4 times a week working with a swim coach with the hopes I will be up to it (800m).  If not I am going to do the Rookie Tri the following weekend.  The run is not problem and the biking may be slow with my MTB but the distance doesn't worry me.

Since the Tri's later in the year probably won't need a suit, I am going to rent the first time.  $72 but I can use if for a few weeks.  I am going to head up to False river around April 1 to do some OWS practice if anyone wants to meet (and needs a swim partner).

Whether you wear a wet suit or not underneath we all wear tri-shorts. They have a pad but is is small and won't absorb water.  Cycling shorts are extra thick padding. You don't want to wear those to swim in.  I would rather wear speedo jammers and cycle in that that wet bike shorts....but I don't recommend speedos at all either.

Usually I will swim in tri shorts and put on a loose top intransition. But i have done it without a shirt.

It is a sprint so I don't eat and only drink a little on the bike. I don't need any pockets for anything.