Tri / Triathlon / Triathlons - do they float your boat?

Good luck! 24 degree lake is crazy.

I post my blog up when I've finished writing it, be prepared for a loooong read!

yes please... although I've barely had time to spy on the strava files yet.

http://ednunn.blogspot.com/2016/07/ironman-uk.html

A very very long blog!

^ nice one. Horizontal dropouts though?

Yeah they have grub screws in to push the wheel back, so not sure what went wrong, seems end fine for the rest of the bike not had a chance to look at the bike yet..

Good read!

Nice one.

Making me nervous for Sunday! :D

Good work Ed! Inspirational stuff...

Wetsuit has arrived so I can give that a try out this evening down at Shepperton Lake (water temp 25C!). Will try and do 3 or 4 of the big (750m) loops.

In other fascinating news, the HRM-Tri doesn't pair with my Edge 705 and I doubt my 920xt will last the entire IM (probably 14-15 hours compared to Ed's 11) and I must have ALL THE DATA! Don't want to risk the 920xt dying part way during the run. Guess I'll be donning a HRM-1 chest strap for the cycle.

I take it that you don't get to access to your T1 stuff in T2 at IM Wales? (That'd be handy to take the HRM-Tri off at T1 and put it back on at T2). Hmm, I could use my HRM-Swim for the swim and T1 (not worried about lack of running dynamics data for T1 but obviously want it for the run), then switch to HRM-1 chest strap for the cycle, then put the HRM-Tri on for the run. What could possibly go wrong with that?

Also, one more (IM nudity rules) question: Given the length of T1 at IM Wales I plan on removing the wetsuit completely and sticking it in a bag that I'll stash with my T1 trainers. Question is, are you allowed to do that run topless or do I need to wear a tri top under the wetsuit?

no you have to be decent for the run, personally, id run with wetsuit stripped to my waist, carrying a soaking wetsuit for a mile is bloody difficult, and the bag they give you for the beach wont fit one in..

you might be bale to get access to your t1 stuff in t2 but youll have to find out at the briefing, its technically possible but I don't know if there is a specific rule against it.

the 920 was down to about 20% battery by the time I finished, so if you want it to last the whole thing i'd not have it reading power data and on smart recording, I really doubt it would last 17 hours doing everything....

no you have to be decent for the run, personally, id run with wetsuit stripped to my waist,

That's my point though. What's the difference (in nudity terms) between running with wetsuit stripped to the waist and running in the jammers I was wearing under the wetsuit (apart from the unholy sight of me running in jammers)?

In order of preference:-

1) Jammers and tri-top under wetsuit, finish swim and strip off wetsuit to waist for run to beach bag, strip wetsuit off completely, trainers on, stick wetsuit in a bigger bag concealed in trainers, run to bike in jammers and tri-top carrying wetsuit in a bag.
2) Same as #1 but with no tri-top (possibly falls foul of a no-nipple rule).
3) Run entire way to bike with wetsuit stripped to waist
4) Run entire way to bike with wetsuit still done up
5) Do the cycle and run in the wetsuit too

carrying a soaking wetsuit for a mile is bloody difficult, and the bag they give you for the beach wont fit one in..

Indeed, it was your suggestion elsewhere to take the wetsuit off completely and stick a bag big enough for the wetsuit in the beach shoes bag...

1) Jammers and tri-top under wetsuit, finish swim and strip off wetsuit to waist for run to beach bag, strip wetsuit off completely, trainers on, stick wetsuit in a bigger bag concealed in trainers, run to bike in jammers and tri-top carrying wetsuit in a bag.
this isn't a bad idea, if you are going for a sleeved tri top it'll help reduce chaffing from your wetsuits (in salt water anything can chafe!!)
2) Same as #1 but with no tri-top (possibly falls foul of a no-nipple rule).
think you're right - not worth risking.
3) Run entire way to bike with wetsuit stripped to waist
probably most time efficient
4) Run entire way to bike with wetsuit still done up
youd get very hot
5) Do the cycle and run in the wetsuit too
if the weather is like last year this may not be a bad idea.

The no-nipple rule is female only, no?

Indecent Exposure: The willful uncovering of either or both buttocks, or of the pubic area or of the genital area. In addition, in the case of a female competitor, the willful complete uncovering of one or both nipples.

There's a rule for no running / cycling with a bare torso though - but transition isn't running...

Also a rule for having no bare torso for the entire race, except for the swim. So does the swim cover T1?

This is more fun that actually doing triathlons, I reckon

What do you guys reckon? Aero road helmet or full on pointy hat?

It's going to be 26+C so I wonder if it's better to sacrifice aero for some ventilation!

What helmets do you have?

Good write-up Ed, thanks. Not sure I would have bothered with Velotoze for the bike though, they take me approx 5mins to put on when I'm dry and relaxed in my car before a TT - I dread to think how long it'd take me to put them on in a T1!

This is more fun that actually doing triathlons, I reckon

Armchair IM rule laywering, I'd do more of it if it wasn't for the pesky triathlon training...

Got to wonder why various people get DQ'd during IMs (apart from twunts that litter). I don't want to be DQ'd just because I ran to T1 in jammers whilst people with wetsuits stripped to the waist were fine...

2100m swim this evening, with 22km each way cycle to the lake. New wetsuit worked a treat, very happy with purchase.

Trouble with 3) is if it's a long run the suit can dry a bit and stick to legs, making it a time costing fight to remove it after.

I'd go option 1) although 1a) replace jammers with tri shorts was my racing choice.

Cc @Greenbank

Spesh Evade or Catlike Chrono WT

I'm going to do a complete change at each transition anyway. I'd rather trade an extra few minutes for comfort and lack of stress for the first one.

I had velotoze on under my wetsuit so in t1 put on socks and shoes and only had to pull them over, only took a couple of seconds...

so i'm, about 75% doing Wales now ;S

have you got accomodation @Greenbank

Absolutely ruined! Really happy with my time considering I estimated a 12h race. Might have gone sub-11h if I didn't get lost on the swim (lol) was quicker in transition or peed myself on the bike instead of stopping (I tried but my bladder wouldn't release). Nevermind, can't complain for my first Ironman!

I might do a small report later this week.

Great read! I think you inspired me as I finally got round to entering another race. In something silly like 4 weeks. Have only swun twice this year...