Thursday, April 10, 2008

They Did IT . .. . GRRR

The local high school pool was closed last night when I got there. Sign said "Closed Until Further Notice". They could have told me this last week. It messed me up on working out at all. I have been swimming while the two older ones are at art class. I only had swim stuff, so I was hanging out waiting for Art Class to end.

My best option is the river. Of course the best water temp I could find was the Ohio river, it is 53 degrees F. I assume the Mon River is cooler, lets say 49 degrees. A couple more degrees needed to jump in, with or without a wetsuit.

I need to find something by next week. I will update you.

8 comments:

CSquared said...

WV DNR fish report has the Mon River at 46 F as of March 27. So my 49 guess is probably close. It has been warming up around here.

CSquared said...

Lake Winnipesaukee is still frozen. So I assume Newfound Lake is somewhat frigid still. Maybe a Drysuit should be my April training attire.

SJV said...

I used to jump in the Cheat River every morning with a wetsuit on in February. There was ice on the edges. Yes, it wakes you up, but once the suit fills up, it isn't long before it's tolerable. If you are swimming for less than an hour, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Heck, last time I was up in NH with Matt, we swam in 46 degree water with no wetsuits on.

I say buy the wetsuit and get to swimming. We don't have much time to get this figured out.

I should do the same, but I don't have the cash flow right now. Winter home heating oil prices killed me. I need you to come up and help me dig some geothermal wells, Craig.

The Xterra sale ends soon. 50% off. That makes a very nice suit available for $200 before April 14th, I think. If you need more info, call me.

catmarlson said...

That is bummin about your pool. Our pool is also closed for emergency repair. I've missed 2 swim classes so far.

We are planning on riding the Mooseman bike course this weekend. 40 degrees and rain predicted. I'll try to remember to take a thermometer to the lake.

I ordered a black pearl Desoto Wetsuit today. I asked for 20% off because of that sale on the other site and they gave it to me.
I will have it by Wednesday of next week. Depending on fit, I may need to go back to SBR to do the side by side test.

CSquared said...

Can you strap a digital camera to your head while doing the bike and send us the video? You can strap it to Genine's head if you think it will bother you.

Seriously, no video, but a couple snap shots of the beach or hill on the bike would be great. Inspirational stuff for us stuck outside of New England.

DeSoto, good choice. I still oscillate about what to get. I may need to make a trip to Pittsburgh to try something on. I have looked locally for someone who sells tri wetsuits, nothing. Of course with my new swim situation I will need something near the first of May to hit Open water. Good for you!

catmarlson said...

I'll do my best to get some shots of the course. I've always wanted a picture of the lake frozen over.

As for the wetsuit, if I would have bought the Zoot. I'm sure it would have been fine. It fit me well.
I just would have been left wondering about the DeSoto option. So it was best that I ordered one up and tried it out.
What would have been even more ideal is if they had a First Wave available as well. I would have ordered a Black Pearl and a First Wave and let them know one was going to be returned. A side by side comparison of the two materials would have been nice.

I would recommend making the road trip to try on different brands of wetsuits. Wear your tri suit underneath. Take a towel, even if you aren't swimming, you are going to get hot and sweaty trying these things on.

It is really too bad that there isn't a post out there showing the different body types and which brands match each type.
That guy at SBR saved me from having to try on 2 of the 4 brands because he could look at body shape and knew the cut of each brand.

If you go and do this remember the first thing that needs to fit is the crotch to shoulder.
Second, shoulder width.
Also remember that many of these suits are designed for the shoulders to feel the best when your arms are in the catch position, not while hanging to your sides as when you are standing.

SJV said...

Well, Matt, once again you have found a piece of information that needs to be on the internet, and it seems we are the only ones who can solve this problem, fill this void.

The "crotch to shoulder" measurement should be in the fit guides, because people are not all shaped the same, as you well know, Mr. Torso.

I am hoping that I am a reasonably normal shape, but my size does worry me. I do not qualify as the "European Athlete" for which your fit guys suggest some suits are designed. I might qualify as an eastern European weightlifter who's past his prime. Does that qualify? Vasily Alexeyev was a European Athlete! I need a wetsuit that fits that guy.

Looks like I have no way of buying until May no matter what, and there is only one store here that sells them, and they have to order my size, which makes the whole process rather cumbersome. I may just call a couple companies and order what I want one at a time until I am happy. Luckily, I am easily made happy. If I float like a cork, I won't complain. I just don't want the suit to split down the seams as I swim my first race.

catmarlson said...

"Mr. Torso" is much too formal. "Torso Man" will suffice.
Thank you.