What should I pack for a bike trip

[email hidden] (Michael Emerald) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Hi folks.

I. If I'm doing a 40 mile non-competitive, relaxed bike
ride and want to stop en route for a swim, what should
I best pack for clothing, etc. I usually carry a mesh
lightweight backpack to throw an extra jacket in, etc.
Weighs very little. But I don't know what the best
attire is. I use ordinary shorts to ride, with padded
skins underneath, so if I should be wearing swim
trunks, that might work. What would you suggest?

Any of the tri shorts available from Desoto, Speedo, TYR,
and dozens of others would be great. There's still a pad,
but it's made of thinner and different materials that dry
out more quickly.

Quoted message said:

II. For a novice swimmer, me, good for 1/2 mile, if I go
swimming across lakes, what should I carry as a
flotation device, if any, in case I get into a bind
and possibly drown?

If you drown, you won't need a flotation device. You'll be
dead. The real answer is, don't swim alone unsupervised. At
IM Utah a fit swimmer died WHILE WEARING A WETSUIT. There
isn't much better flotation than that. Swim where lifeguards
can see you, and tell them what you'll be doing before you
get in the water.

Quoted message said:

Likely as not I'd want to carry it on the bike as well,
per (I) above.

Thanks, Justin Seven

From your description, it would be overkill to invest in a
pair of triathlon shorts for the odd leisurely swim. Throw
a swimsuit in the backpack and change when you get to the
lake. Alternatively, if you're not aversed to racing
suits, wear a Speedo (or similar) under your properly
padded bike shorts.

Regarding question #2, if you're so uncomfortable about your
swimming skills that you'd want a flotation device, I'd
encourage you to avoid 1/2 mile swims alone. I suppose a
kickboard or pullbuoy conceivably could be used without any
terrific sacrifice in terms of drag. Furthermore, they could
help you improve your swimming ability so you will become a
non-novice. "Michael Emerald"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi folks.

I. If I'm doing a 40 mile non-competitive, relaxed bike
ride and want to stop en route for a swim, what should
I best pack for clothing, etc. I usually carry a mesh
lightweight backpack to throw an extra jacket in, etc.
Weighs very little. But I don't know what the best
attire is. I use ordinary shorts to ride, with padded
skins underneath, so if I should be wearing swim
trunks, that might work. What would you suggest?

II. For a novice swimmer, me, good for 1/2 mile, if I go
swimming across lakes, what should I carry as a
flotation device, if any, in case I get into a bind
and possibly drown? Likely as not I'd want to carry it
on the bike as well, per (I) above.

Thanks, Justin Seven

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Michael Emerald) wrote
in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Hi folks.

I. If I'm doing a 40 mile non-competitive, relaxed bike
ride and want to stop en route for a swim, what
should I best pack for clothing,

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Any of the tri shorts available from Desoto, Speedo, TYR,
and dozens of others would be great. There's still a pad,
but it's made of thinner and different materials that dry
out more quickly.

[email hidden] (Michael Emerald) wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

II. For a novice swimmer, me, good for 1/2 mile, if I go
swimming across lakes, what should I carry as a
flotation device, if any, in case I get into a bind
and possibly drown?

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

If you drown, you won't need a flotation device. You'll be
dead. The real answer is, don't swim alone unsupervised.
At IM Utah a fit swimmer died WHILE WEARING A WETSUIT.
There isn't much better flotation than that. Swim where
lifeguards can see you, and tell them what you'll be doing
before you get in the water.

Quoted message said:

Likely as not I'd want to carry it on the bike as well,
per (I) above.

I have to agree with Tom's advice and add a couple of
things. Don't swim without a guard around.

When training in open water, always stay closer to the shore
than you need to. Instead of crossing the water or swimming
out and back, consider swimming the perimeter of the lake.
When you breathe, you'll want to "sight" yourself and make
sure you are still about an equal distance from the shore.

Make sure you pay attention to your core temperature and
hydration level as well. You will get colder before you
recognize it and more dehydrated than you know. Always stop
while still feeling good.

Really open water is not the place to develop your swimming
skills. Reroute past a pool and pay $5.00 - your life (and
the presence of guards nearby) is worth it.

If you feel fairly comfortable swimming, you might consider
a kayak jacket to keep yourself a float. They are not bad to
swim in (but make sure you wear it correctly).

But never swim alone without a guard or a friend around.

~becca

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Justin Seven

As Clemenza said in The Godfather, "Leave the gun, take
the cannoli."

"Michael Emerald" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi folks.

I. If I'm doing a 40 mile non-competitive, relaxed bike
ride and want to stop en route for a swim, what should
I best pack for clothing, etc. I usually carry a mesh
lightweight backpack to throw an extra jacket in, etc.
Weighs very little. But I don't know what the best
attire is. I use ordinary shorts to ride, with padded
skins underneath, so if I should be wearing swim
trunks, that might work. What would you suggest?

II. For a novice swimmer, me, good for 1/2 mile, if I go
swimming across lakes, what should I carry as a
flotation device, if any, in case I get into a bind
and possibly drown? Likely as not I'd want to carry it
on the bike as well, per (I) above.

Thanks, Justin Seven