To Wetsuit or Not to Wetsuit?

The word on the street (you know, the street where all the triathletes hang out... yeah, that street) is that if you your race is wetsuit legal you ABSOLUTELY should wear one. Apparently they provide more buoancy. In our part of Texas in May water temps average 71-74 degrees. Making it legal for wetsuitting but not necessary for warmth by any means. Last year when we did a tri in May we were definitely in the minority without wetsuits.

As many people know. I am what you call a "gear whore."* I think the reason I love triathloning is because it requires so much of it. You should see my race-day checklist! However, I think going for the wetsuit may be getting me in a little above my head. First, they are pricey. And though I have loved the tris I have done so far I, don't know if my knees are going to let me make this a lifestyle. I found a solution to the problem. http://www.wetsuitrental.com/ Here you can rent a wetsuit for $40 plus return shipping. If you really like the suit, you can buy it!

Even with the cost factor taken care of, I still don't know. It seems like just "something else to worry about" and believe me with a tri there is plenty. The suits seem like a whole lotta trouble to get off (I refuse to writhe on the ground as someone strips me of my suit) and the water temp will definitely not be too cold to handle, espcially once I get cranking.

The competitive part of me doesn't want to lose that "edge" that the other racers may have. OK, let's face it....

I just don't want to look like an uncool amateur.

* I thought this picture of Samantha and Smith's wetsuit romp was a literal representation of the figurative term "gear whore."