Open water swim season starting

[jeffb]

I think salt water aids the buoyancy? Eg the Red Sea

[Chriswim]

Buoyancy, but I completely underestimated just how much difference salt water would make; it seems a lot more than the wetsuit.

@d.t

the shoulders feel really restrictive and tiring

That’s probably the bigger reason you’re slower in the suit, unless your turns are particularly fast compared to swim speed.

[toby_Hole_in_the_leg]

Yeah after me and a mate did Alpe D’Huez triathlon, we stopped off at Chaminox. Next day ourselves and a few of his pals went swimming in might have been that lake. Was amazing, under the view of Mont Blanc.

[toby_Hole_in_the_leg]

Almost tempted to try Loch Lomond yesterday- out for a stroll and a few OW swimmers just out. Should have asked what the temp was? I’d love to get in and get going again soon. Water was so still yesterday. Love that when you wade in and water’s pan flat and you make the only ripples. Feels ace. Wish I was more poetic in my description lol

[GRamsay]

My dog says the water is fine to start swimming.

[Symes]

With no obvious ball shrivelling

[gingerbongo]

Inspired by @fruit_thief yesterday and this thread I got in for my first ow ‘swim’. I was in for just over 5 mins, but the little one was struggling so we had to get out. Whimp!

Pretty choppy today.

[toby_Hole_in_the_leg]

Wow - cool tat

[gingerbongo]

Which one

[toby_Hole_in_the_leg]

The Eagle … is it an eagle?

[gingerbongo]

Ah yes indeed. Thank you.

Its sort of a ‘geometric Eagle’

[GRamsay]

What about the Northings and Eastings on the other tit? Be there treasure there?

I always wanted a cool tat. But im not cool enough to pull one off.

[gingerbongo]

@GRamsay

But im not cool enough to pull one off.

Neither am I!

Coordinates are where we got married.

I think my back one is the fave though. That’s one I had designed around my girls’ names (not creepy pics of their faces! ).

I’ve actually started wanting some new ones. But I have ten other things winning rhe fight for my cash at the mo.

[Doonhamer]

1200mtrs OW this evening in that wetsuit that’s held together with floss & glue .

I’d bought some neoprene gloves at the end of last season but never got around to using them…absolute game changer .

When I get in OW I get ice-cream head but know that that will pass. My feet get cold & can become useless but not painful. The problem I have had is a debilitating coldness spreading up my arms from my hands that makes my stroke pretty useless,

Got to see a lovely

Also worth showing a picture of the mere i swam in because…well, just look

[jeffb]

That’s what happens to me in the cold, arms etc get cold and just can’t hold any form. Assuming it’s not entirely fitness

[Doonhamer]

I’ve got the Lomo pair & although the cuff looks shorter than some I found them excellent. This evening.

Swimming and Triathlon Gloves

[jeffb]

The mesh forearm on my helix probably doesn’t help, no neoprene insulation and I think once that part of my arm gets cold the hands soon follow.

I have very visible veins, great for giving blood but possibly less so for insulation

[gingerbongo]

Any recommendations on tow floats?

Are they all much of a muchness, as there’s a fair bit of variability in price.

I don’t need a bladder, but a pouch for car keys would be handy.

Something like this? dhb Safety Buoy and Bag | Buoys | Wiggle

[jeffb]

Check it is a tow float and not a backpack type, and there’s plenty of cord or you’ll be kicking it.

[gingerbongo]

Yeah that one deffo is, with a long leash.