bike shorts for the swim??

I think that it would work, but your butt part of the bike shorts will probably not dry and may cause some disconfort. In a tri shorts, the padding is smaller so it dries faster.

If you haven't done so already, try doing a brick swimming in the bike shorts in a pool or something, then riding for a while.

Are you trying to not purchase clothes specifically for the race?  What you really want are tri shorts.  The extra padding in bike shorts will hold more water and also be unccomfortably bulky on the run.  For the top you can get by with a sports bra I guess but a racer-back bikini would be better.

Agreeing with the previous reply, Triathlon shorts are the way to go. Although similar to bike shorts in that they have padding, they have much less padding, making them better for the run stage.

Okie dokie! I was going out ot buy a singlet top tonight...I will also look for tri shorts. I hope I like this sport. Between the entry fee and the clothes, I had better do at least a few of them!!



Sarah

You will like it...

By the cost is just starting.

Roy

If it is a sprint distance, do you really need  padding?  

Ah don't worry about it.  I did all three of my triathlons last season in cycling shorts and I had no problem whatsoever.   

I have never worn bike shorts before, but I do have some that were given to me. I just assumed I should wear them. Maybe I can just pull on some shorts and a top over my suit for the bike and run. I was trying to avoid changing. I am a bit modest....I don't care about the time lost....I just don't want to get naked in front of people!

Sarah

I don't have tri shorts but I should probably get some. Up until now, I usually just slip my bike shorts over my wet bathing suit (jammers). One trick I found when slipping the bike shorts on is to roll up the bottoms a couple of times. There is an elastic hem on the inside of many bike shorts that helps them not slip on the leg. Problem is, when you're in a hurry to get them on, you want them to slip. Rolling the bottoms up helps. I've only done Sprint distances up to this point and running in bike shorts for that distance hasn't been a problem for me.

In my last (Sprint) triathlon a couple weeks ago, I forgot to set out my bike shorts and subsequently forgot to put them on in T1. I rode 15 miles in just my bathing suit. I was a little sore at the end but not bad -- and I haven't ridden enough to "toughen up" so it can't be that bad for this distance.

You might also consider foregoing the singlet. Unless you need it for warmth or sun protection, why bother? It's too easy for tops to get all rolled up trying to put them on when you're wet. Many of the women wear just a sports bra/top. You might need to get a race belt, though, to put your race number on.

You won't have to change. Just think out exactly what you'll wear and the layers you'll need. Swim suit then bike shorts on the bottom, sports bra/top then singlet(?) on the top, and so on. The only thing I change in transition are my shoes in T2. The rest is just putting things on (oh, except for taking off my goggles and swim cap).

Mike

It's illegal to get naked in transition........Although some of us might be adding to our times staring!

Tri Shorts are the way to go, especially for a sprint tri. Any longer distance, 1/2 IM or so I would take the hit tin T1 and change. I think your butt will thank you later. One more thing.....BODY GLIDE is your friend!



"Yo Lance on your left"