Hi Everyone. Seeking some advice please.
A friend has persauded me to enter the Hellvelyn Tri in September,although it looks a tough course I am looking forward to it.
I have done a couple of sprint tris last year and these were all pool based swims.I am thinking of hiring a FOOR suit from TRI UK website to get me through my first year in open water, does anyone know if these suits are suitable for this kind of event?.I am trying to get by on a tight budget.When the weather gets abit better I am planning to train in the harbour,will it make much difference swimming in the sea compared to the lake?I have an ancient Dawes racer which I dont think is suitable for the hills so am probably going to use my MTB with slick tyres and its got better gears for the struggle.
Any advice welcome
Comments
As far as I know a swimming wet suit will be just as good for what your doing as for a lake. Only real differance with swimming in the sea is you can get battered with waves and you have more of a currect to contend with. Only think to note about hiring a wetsuit is make sure you don't damage it because if you do the small print often say's you have to buy it. Might work out just as cheap to buy a second hand wettie from somewhere.
If it helps I have a ancient Dawes 500 which I regualerly use on the local hills (peak district) with not to much problems if you train for it it shouldn't be any hassle and will probably be better for you than a MTB. Depending on how old your bike it you could always change the gear set on the bike which would possibly cost just as much as buying slick types for your MTB?
Good luck matey
Thanks Cake
My racer is 24 years old and when i took in to a local bike shop they said it was to old to change the gears.After i get VLM out of the way i'll just have to get lots of hill training in,might even drive down to the lakes and attempt the route,just dont want to put myself off cause the profile for the ride looks horrible in bits.
I know what you mean about the small print,I will have to pay for the suit upfront and get refunded on return of suit or keep the suit and pluck up the courage or find the stupidity to progress onto a full IM.Its only a entry level suit will cost £100 inc postage.
Sponge. This year I got a ex hire suit for only £100 which is about £200 off what it should have cost me and was hadly used. Worth looking and sure someone will have a link for somewhere. I got mine from a local shop.
Dave come over here and sure I can find you a smaller hill?Just remembered I'm in Sheffield on Thursday night, But it will be dark and I shouldn't be spotted by the border controls getting back here
It's an evening meeting of our professional body at a place in Wentworth,,
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I will have a look about and see what i can find with suits,ive still got a couple of months or so before jumping in anything cold.
Dave Ive also driven up the struggle and thought exactly the same,Just hope my brake blocks hold out going down the other side.
I think this looks a great race - I WATCHED some of the early fliers last year go through Ambleside at the bottom of the Kirkstone Road... they actually looked as if they were looking forward to the climb!?!
Only nervously asking as I don't want to go to the website... are entries closed yet???
"One of the toughest yet most rewarding triathlons in the country. Set in the beautiful English Lake District, this race has a 1 mile swim in crystal clear Ullswater followed by a 38 mile very scenic cycle route taking in the infamous climb of "The Struggle" over the Kirkstone Pass, then a 9 mile fell run taking in the summit of Helvellyn.
I love it when race organisers talk dirty!This is a demanding race and one vital difference from other triathlons is that you must take a bag with you for the entire run section containing items of safety equipment. The race is run under British Triathlon rules.
The run section is 90% on rough track and goes onto the high fells. Fell running shoes are recommended. For reasons of safety you must take with you on the run some form of bag containing full body cover, foil survival blanket, whistle and suitable map of the route. There are no feed stations on the run so you must also take sufficient food and hydration with you. THIS IS FAR FROM AN ORDINARY TRIATHLON RUN ROUTE."
IM Regensburg looks great and looks like therell be a few pirates out there to keep you company.Fingers crossed everything goes to plan this time and you have a good race.the distances for the full IM are still looking pretty daunting to me but I'm sure with abit more brain washing i can fool myself into entering one next year.they seem bloody expensive though.