Profile Design Likes Bike Diva
I am pleased to have Profile Design on board as one of my sponsors for the 2011 race season. If you've been following my Bike Diva blog, you know that after 2 years racing duathlons, I have decided to start competing in triathlons in 2011. My tentative 2011 race schedule can be viewed on this blog: Bike Diva's Races.
Profile Design makes a fantastic line of products for cyclists and triathletes. They make a variety of aerobars, wheels, water bottles and clothing for the multisport athlete. I just received my first shipment of Profile Design gear last night including the women's sleeveless Wahoo wetsuit.
Above: Profile Design sleeveless women's Wahoo wetsuit.
Wetsuit Legal Races
Although I live in hot and humid south Florida, any triathlons held during the spring and fall are usually wetsuit legal. So as soon as I knew I was going to start racing triathlons, a wetsuit was high on my list of priorities for new gear to acquire in 2011. Profile Design makes many full sleeve wetsuits, but I decided since most of my racing will be taking place in Florida, at least for my first season of triathlon, that a sleeveless wetsuit made the most sense.
Above: the Bike Diva fondling her new Profile Design Wahoo wetsuit, while rocking her Profile Design tri top and shorts.
Shamu Imitation
Trying on my wetsuit for the first time was like doing an impersonation of Shamu. You know, that cute killer whale at Sea World. Only I didn't look quite as cute. I think the wetsuit made me look at least 10 pounds fatter, and the pictures of me in the wetsuit add another 10-20 pounds, so yes "that beyatch is HUGE" comes to mind when I uploaded the pictures of me modeling the wetsuit. Very attractive, NOT. I don't know what I thought I was going to look like in a wetsuit. Maybe because it fits "tight like sausage" I thought it would make me look skinny, like I was wearing a giant black, full body girdle? Who knows what strange thoughts go through my head at times.
I had a bit of a struggle getting into the wetsuit for the first time, I guess that's why you practice a few times getting it on/off before showing up for your first race. I can also see I will be making LOTS of new friends at my races: "Can ya'll give me a hand with my zipper?" Finally got it zipped up by myself but felt like a pretzel trying to twist my arms behind my back to get it zipped up. It came off a lot easier, just undid the velcro closure, zipped down the wetsuit and stepped out of it inside out. Pretty nifty.
Above: gansta' Bike Diva in da house - WOOT!
Glide Bike Diva Glide
We have a small in ground pool in our backyard, underneath our screened porch. It's not a big enough to do any kind of lap swimming, that's why we joined our local YMCA last month, to use their indoor lap pool. But it does make a good pool for working on improving your swim technique and testing out new equipment.
I kitted up with my new Profile Design elite crop top, elite tri tank and elite tri shorts. Why do I need both a crop top and tank top? I am NOT a petite athlete, I always double bag the girls (ta-tas) whenever running will be involved. I guess you skinny chicks could go around flaunting your six packs and get away with just wearing a crop top, but until I get at least another 20-30 pounds off this goddess body, that just ain't gonna happen.
So anyways, after kitting up with my Profile Design tri outfit, I put the wetsuit on. Then added a swim cap and goggles and went for a quick swim splash in our pool. The wetsuit is da bomb! Makes my legs really floaty, to the point where it was really awkward doing the breast stroke while wearing it. I am a brand new swimmer, just started swimming middle of December, so I am still getting used to being in the water. I'll breast stroke, side stroke, doggy paddle, whatever it takes to get through my first triathlon. But, the wetsuit made freestyle almost enjoyable. Since your legs are so much higher in the water while wearing the wetsuit, any stroke besides freestyle seemed a bit odd.
Above: Bike Diva modeling her full body girdle, errrr, wetsuit.
Final Wetsuit Conclusion
So I'm pretty stoked about getting my wetsuit. Can't wait to try it during an open water ocean swim or two. The ocean was 63? this past weekend. Couldn't get my husband interested in taking me for my first ocean swim, hopefully we'll go within the next week or two. I'll certainly be toasty when we finally go, I've got a wetsuit, YEAH BABY!
Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva
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