Need advice for a race in freezing weather conditions (Page 2)

If you end up finding a long sleeve jersey or full length bibs, be aware that in cold weather, wicking material not-withstanding, your sweat will not just cool you down it will make you cold. So don't over do and put on layers - in that temp range I use a single layer - thicker if necessary but so that any moisture evaporates quickly. This is especially true of races of 2hrs plus, where your body is running out of sugars on a constant basis.

A 65 degree water temp is perfect for a wet suit. Anything warmer and it gets hot by the end.

Thank you for the local report and looking forward to seeing you at the finish line!

You need to toughen up a little bit sunshine! 60F (15C?) might be coldish standing around outside, but doing a triathlon you will soon warm up! If you find yourself struggling because of the "cold" during the race, just bitchslap yourself until you snap out of it. Good luck.

The urge to make some bitter, caustic remark is almost overwhelming. The highest temperature has been below - 20 C (- 5 F) here for four days and then I see a comment about "freezing" temperatures in the low 60's.

It's a matter of personal comfort zone. I really get warmed up biking and running so I would probably only wear a short or long sleeved biking shirt.

Edited by b2run 2014-01-23 8:56 PM

I'm not going to mock you! Yeah it's miserably cold here. But that is chilly for Key West.
I'm not particularly sensitive to cold, and I'm sure I'm much more acclimated to it than you are, but if I were going out cycling and the high was going to be low 60s, I would be wearing knickers and considering a long-sleeve base layer under my cycling jersey. (Running is a different story of course- shorts and a T would be fine unless you're very sensitive, but again, that would be if you were just running.) .
You have had lots of good suggestions. I have done a few tris in the NE summer, when I'm used to training in 70s/ 80s/ 90s and humidity and on tri day it's in the 60s. In both I put on a long-sleeve tech t in T1 and wasn't uncomfortably warm. It was drizzly though which made a big difference, and I had a long run from the swim to T1 so I dried off and the tee went on easier. It's also good advice to think about how much you value comfort vs. transition time. For me comfort won. .

Good news is that the forecast bumped up the temps a couple of degrees. It will be a beautiful sunny day and winds don't look like they will be much more than 10-15 mph, which is tame compared to last year's 20-25.

For all of those who think we are whimps down here in the Keys, I agree and I embrace that. There is a reason I live here and not the frozen tundra. You do acclimate to your environment and although we have lost our acclimation to cold weather, we are tough as nails in hot humid weather. So, when the frozen tundra folks are whining about how hot and muggy it is in the summer for their races, we will be ready and acclimated to that condition.

The whacky thing is that they are moving the date for the Bone Island Tri next year to July. I have to admit, that will be a true test of toughness based on our temps and humidity at that time of year.