Years ago while shopping for my first triathlon wetsuit I stumbled across the Aquaman wetsuit.  I was naïve in how wetsuits were built, however one thing struck me as unique with the Aquaman.  The zipper.  Traditionally triathlon wetsuit zippers zip up starting at the bottom.  The Aquaman’s zipper zips up beginning at the top.   One thing that made sense to me without ever actually swimming in a wetsuit was that pulling a zipper down to the small of my back would be cumbersome.   I’m not the most limber person in the world, and getting the zipper down would prove to be a challenge.  Unfortunately, at the time Aquaman had very few models, all of which were out of my price range.

Fast forward 8 years later I’ve battled many a wetsuits heading into T1, trying to pull the zipper all the way down.  Aquaman still has the zipper you pull up to release.  And, to my surprise, the Aquaman wetsuits are now labeled as Profile Design.  Same great design.  Brand new name.

Profile Design has added five wetsuit models to its arsenal:  Gold Cell, Metal Cell 2, Bionik 2, Bionik Sleeveless, and Blitz.  The range of models gives triathletes of all levels (and budgets) an opportunity to race in a Profile Design wetsuit and experience its unique benefits.

I tested the Gold Cell and Bionik 2 wetsuits.

Gold Cell

This is the Ferrari of wetsuits.  I’ve often wondered if wetsuit brands within the same price range differ much.  With the Profile Design wetsuits, I can easily say “yes they do.”  The Gold Cell separates itself from the pack.

Typically, the inside of a triathlon wetsuit has a cloth-like texture over the rubber on the inside.  I’ve often wondered why this area isn’t the smooth, slick surface found on the outside of the wetsuit.  Gold Cell puts the concept into action.  The complete inside of the wetsuit is slick, just like the outside, minus the arms and calf panels.  Why is this good?  The neoprene gets even closer to your skin and doesn’t allow much water to pool in these areas.  This means you’re carrying less weight and you don’t lose buoyancy (sponge effect eliminated).  You will also find that you stay warmer in the frigid lake.  If you swim the early or late season events in our region, you’ll know this is a welcome bonus.  And if that is not enough, the slick material makes it much easier to pull off in T1.  I was amazed with the ease of removal when taking it off at the pool.  Clumsy would previously define my T1 experiences, mostly due to wetsuit wrestling.  No longer will I be the laughing stock of the transition area.

Bionik 2

A wetsuit similar in design as the Gold Cell, but without the high tech slick surface on the inside.  Swimming in the Bionik 2 was very similar to the Gold Cell.  It was easy to move my arms through the stroke.  I didn’t experience any chaffing around the neck or arm pits.  I didn’t feel the warmth that I did with the Gold Cell, however it was comparable to most other wetsuits.  Getting out of the suit was pretty standard, as wetsuits go, except that I had more flexibility to maneuver my legs. You may know what I’m talking about.  Do you ever fell like bending down or running IS NOT an option once you are zipped up?  These two suits (and the Metal Cell 2) offer more flexibility behind the knees allowing you to have more mobility.  If you don’t think this is a big deal, think about this while making your way to (and in) T1 during a race.

Utah based professional triathlete Heath Thurston swears by Profile Design (by Aquaman) wetsuits.  He bought his first one several years ago because he felt it was the best suit on the market.  The wetsuit helped him be the third swimmer out of the water at the 2007 Ford Ironman Florida.  We asked him what he thought about the suit.  His thoughts are listed below.

It is obvious that Profile Design wetsuits are built by triathletes looking to make the triathlon experience even better for other triathletes.  Wetsuits are a big investment.  If you are going to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of equipment that will likely last you many, many years you must give the Profile Design wetsuit a chance.

www.Profile-Design.com

I was introduced to Aquaman wetsuit brand about 4 years ago when managing a local tri shop.  Emmanuel Millet manages Aquaman’s U.S. distribution and is over www.AquamanTri.com.  He wanted us to carry the suits in the shop.  I never even actually tried the suit out or wore it.  I saw the Metall Cell material on the inside of the suit.  Up to that point I had used an Orca mainly and a Nineteen.  I had also tried on Zoot and a couple of other brands.
When I did finally get my Metal Cell wetsuit it was not from any sort of sponsorship from them.  I wasn’t quite pro yet and didn’t really have the race results to earn a sponsorship like that.  So I forked out just as much as everyone else has to.  When I was able to race in it for the first time, it was amazing.  The Metal Cell material on the inside of the suit makes the suit so unbelievably comfortable. It molds to your body for an amazing fit that I had never felt with any other wetsuit till then.  Most of the other suits were stiff and floated me up almost too much in the water. This put me in the water perfectly it almost made me feel like I wasn’t even wearing a suit, which I would prefer anyway.  But because everyone else wore them I also need to.  It helped keep up the pace and speed.
So, all I can say is that without being coherced through sponsorship obligations or any other kind of offers through Profile Design wetsuits by Aquaman, these suits are the best on the market today. And the new Gold Cell suit is unbelievable, which I was able to test out at Oceanside 70.3 last month.

Heath Thurston

Popularity: 27% [?]

I still can’t believe I’ve been writing about “wetsuit lubrication” products. For years, it seemed like we had all we needed—PAM cooking oil or a deodorant type stick that slicked us up before the swim. I have to admit that the PAM was my preference, however the buttery smell left me slightly hungry throughout the swim. TRISLIDE not only disarms the hunger senses, it takes wetsuit lubes to a new level.

TRISLIDE is a silicon spray in an aerosol can that leaves a very thin layer of liquid silicon on your skin. I appreciate its runny consistency, as a small spray can go a long way. My problem with PAM is that it leaves a heavy, oil feel on your body, leaving an uncontrollable mess of the cooking spray all over myself. Everything you touch turns into an orgy of PAM-your goggles, your sun glasses (if you’re still fiddling with your T1 setup), etc…TRISLIDE isn’t like this. Yes, it could leave leave fingerprints and lube all over, however it wipes down very easily and doesn’t linger on your body all day long.

TRISLIDE is basically void of any scent. I can smell a hint of something fruity, but it’s practically non existent. This is good, because a heavy fragrance is the last thing you want to think about will swimming across a lake.

TRISLIDE retails for $12.95
Visit www.TRI-SWIM.com for more information.

Popularity: 43% [?]

A new entry into the wetsuit lube market is Suit Juice. Suit Juice easily sprays on the body with an easy pump bottle. When rubbed on your body you’ll quickly notice its gel feel. The consistency is slightly thicker than some competitors, but it’s not an annoying oily feel like PAM.

The scent of Suit Juice is different. They say it’s odorless, but there is a mild scent that is slightly noticeable. Honestly, it didn’t do much for me but I don’t think it would make me sick or deter me from purchasing the product. I really had to put my nose close to an application point to notice anything.

Suit Juice touts that it “removes damaging body oils and acids from the inside of your suit, thus prolonging the usable life of neoprene, latex and rubber.” It’s not an issue that I’m too concerned with, but it’s a nice selling point if you plan on keeping your wetsuit for many years.

Suit Juice is a great option for triathletes looking for wetsuit lube alternatives.

Retail - $8.99

www.moosejuice.com

Popularity: 42% [?]

If you are like me, you dread leaving the pool smelling like chlorine for the rest of the day. When going to bed after a night time swim my wife will often comment about how I smell like the pool. I wish it were the smell of a Calvin Klein fragrance, however, swimmers are often stuck with the chemical smell for at least a few showers. This is not all! My skin is always dry as a bone after leaving the pool. I’m often itchy and irritable from head to toe because of the chlorine (and whatever else is going into the pool).

TriSwim products have solved these problems for me. Since July, I’ve used TriSwim’s body wash, shampoo, conditioner and lotion. These products are designed to relieve the swimmer’s body from the brutal chlorine and replace the chlorine smell with a mild citrus scent.

I highly recommend the products. The days of walking around smelling like chlorine are gone, and I feel like I’m proactively taking care of my body’s exterior. No longer do I smell like the pool and my hair doesn’t feel dead. And best of all, my skin isn’t irritable whenever I stretch, or turn to the side (i.e. any movement). This stuff does its job. I used the four products religiously, and my body has been much happier since.

The days of the public pool damaging my exterior are gone. If you face the same dilemmas I did, give TriSwim a shot. The shampoo, body wash and lotion retail for $10.99. The conditioner retails for 13.95. Visit TriSwim online at www.Tri-Swim.com for retailers.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Chariot CX2

An excellent and versatile jogger that supports the runner and biker. This jogger was easy to run with and had many extra features to add to the jogger, to hide the child from the sun, wind and rain. I think I liked this jogger mainly for biking because with running on a sidewalk it took up a lot of room and was harder to run with than a regular jogger. I liked the fact that you could have one or two children in this jogger which makes a big difference when you have two kids, but when you add another child it just makes it that much harder to push. It has very nice and durable tires which can help with bumpy terrain. Overall this was a great jogger if you are looking for one that can accomplish the run and the bike ride.

Popularity: 17% [?]

BOB Ironman EditionThe Bob Jogger is a great accessory to the runners of the world who have young children. Its overall performance is excellent. Either with running, jogging or walking this jogger makes bringing your toddler around easier. With its extra long canopy, I didn’t have a problem with the wind or sun bothering my child. It has a large basket underneath to store blankets or anything extra for a little trip. With the joggers great shocks it was easy to run over dirt mounds and easy to move on and off of sidewalks and other obstacles. It was also very convenient to have my three year old get in and out of the jogger on her own. I wish that it did have a place for a water bottle for me, for my longer runs, but it does have a place to hold bottles down by where the child sits. Overall, this jogger was easy to move, has great breaks, and wonderful shading for the child.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Blue Competition Cycles - T14

The flexibility to do an Ironman or your local sprint, a lightweight and aero Aluminum/Carbon frame, and the versatility to run the gamut of positions, the T14 is a bike that any triathlete would be happy riding. MSRP is $1599 for the frameset and built up with an Ultegra Aero kit the T14 runs $2750.

Popularity: 15% [?]

If you are using gels you should check out this program by GU. I like free stuff, so this is right up my alley. And better yet, I’m doing my part to help Al Gore save the earth!

Anywho, for every 50 empty gel packets you send in you will receive 5 new GU’s and/or you can opt to get some GU Schwag. I shipped away my 100 empty gel packets and have requested 10 gels. Yeeee hawww! Oh yeah, the empty gel packets do not need to be GU brand. I have a ton of different brands that I’ve sent in.

Check out www.GuSports.com for more information about the Stash Your Trash program.

Save Mother Earth!!!!

Popularity: 12% [?]

The biking industry has certainly changed over the years and I imagine it will continue to evolve for many years to come. Most of the changes have increased the enjoyment level or fulfillment from the sport. Thankfully there are a handful of companies that are refusing not to change when in comes to the art of handcrafting bicycles.

Guru is one such company (gurubikes.com). Not only do they handicraft every frame they make here in North America, each frame is fully customizable to the individual rider They can accommodate for all body proportions, body weight and your riding characteristics. And, as a finishing touch, the paint scheme is even open for input.

They can work with four different materials steel, aluminum, carbon, and titanium and purchase only the best grade of material in the marketplace. Their carbon bikes have more carbon and less resin than any production bike. This is a pivotal reason why the ride quality is unsurpassed. Their titanium bike may be the last bike you ever own.

Carbon bikes are getting a lot of exposure these days, and for good reasons. They are light, responsive and in many cases very sexy. The Guru Chrono is their flagship carbon bike and was ridden to a 2nd place finish in the Ironman World championships in 2006. While the bike is not exactly chump change, what it offers exceeds anything else in the market place. Certainly there are cheaper bikes, made in mass, in limited sizing, inferior carbon, low grade paint, and not customizable.

People have often said “you get what you pay for.” While that may be true, I’d like to think that the lasting effects of your purchase go well beyond the initial buying decision and I maintain that “you PAY for what you get.” You will pay for what you get, now or later. After the “first cost” has come and gone, the “lifecycle costs” begin to set in and beyond the obvious benefits many of us forget the intangibles associated with a well crafted machine. Time spent on your bike will reveal both its frailties and perfections.

Over the years, the life cycle cost of something that doesn’t fit right, handle precisely, smooth out the road, and manifest all the power you put into it, is not worth any amount of money. Well, almost any amount. Most folks realize this after their first bike purchase and are determined to remedy the problem on the second go around. Except, they forget the fact that the cost of the first bike plus the cost of the second bike is more than they would have spent initially. Not to mention the inflationary and opportunity costs that already been accrued!

Does this mean you have ride carbon? Certainly not, and for most people absolutely not!

Over the years steel, and most recently aluminum, has become the material best suited for most people. What has begun to happen, however, is that bikes are being sold at the cost of the components, specifically the drive train, on the bike.

At first look, this sounds great. The problem is that it leaves little or nothing to be spent on the frame itself. These manufactures, by cutting costs (and corners) on the frame and then the wheels, rob the end user of the “guts” of their machine all for the sake of “dura ace”. Give me a bike that will transfer the power I give it, and a set of wheels that will allow me to defy aerodynamics, and I give you a faster bike split.

The cost of power is high, so high in fact that you can’t ever afford to give it away. The Guru Chrono ‘Alu or Guru Trilite are two such bikes. Starting at $2495 the Cron ‘Alu is 100% customizable at no additional charge and gives you the best grade of aluminum money can buy. It can also be built with tri geometry and road bars that can be converted to aero bars later. At $3295 the Trilite, the bike that won a gold medal in 2000, offers a blend of aluminum and carbon to maximize the stiffness and forgiveness. I like the sound of that.

One final word. Bike. Fit. Matters. Too many people sacrifice their power for an eye pleasing aero position. Money spent on a proper bike fit saves money down the road. There are as many opinions on bike fits as there are bike fitters. Bottom line is finding the position that allows you to produce maximum sustainable power while at the same time lowering frontal resistance. Notice I said at the “same time.” Do not trade power for aero. Once you have found that position, ride in that position.

Therein lies the beauty of a indoor trainer. No matter the time of day/ year. No matter the weather. No matter if the light turns red or young teenager just learning to drive saw you when he pulled out. The trainer allows you to control, eliminate, and stack the variables in your favor. It allows for quality time on your bike, in your position. Perfect practice does indeed make perfect. I recommend the same trainer endorsed by the USA Cycling, Kurt Kinetic. And then if the universe aligns for a 3 hour ride with your friends through the rolling countryside on your bicycle of choice, BONUS!

Guy Perry

Salt Lake Running & Multisport

www.saltlakerunningco.com

Popularity: 12% [?]

Zenith Wetsuit

The new Zenith wetsuit from Zoot seems to be all it is built up to be–A high-performance wetsuit that feels great, performs great and looks great. It has two thicknesses of neoprene; the thinner 2mm outer shell providing greater flexibility and the thicker 3mm areas bonded to the interior adding warmth and buoyancy, resulting in the flexibility of a 2mm suit and the buoyancy of a 5mm. The seams mate only the thinner neoprene making for a stronger bond. The BIOwrap body-responsive construction allows for maximum lung expansion and range of motion with the added perk of looking like a superhero. The low-rise collar keeps out water and allows full head rotation. Stretch cuffs and sculpted split calf design make for a quick exit from the suit. And textured forearm panel increases efficiency per stroke. The medium seems to run a bit small on my 142 lb. 5’11.5″ frame. With a race suit underneath it would have been too small, so the M/L should be a perfect fit.

$575 Zenith

Z2 Wetsuit

The Z2 is Zoot’s entry level suit, similar to the Orca Evo or its predecessor the S1. The Zoot Z2 is available in a full sleeve & a sleeveless version. While I found the neckline in the Z2 to be the most comfortable that I’ve ever worn, the inverted cuff at the wrist was tighter than I would have liked. Getting my arms and hands out of the suit in transition seemed to go much faster and easier once I had decided to fold back the inverted cuff about three inches. For those of you who have been spinning on your trainer for most of the winter, I would recommend a stint in the dressing room with both the sizing charts recommendation and the suit that is one size larger. I found that my thighs were a little much for the Z2 that was recommended on the Zoot sizing chart.

All in all, I loved the Zoot Z2. The buoyancy was terrific. One size larger and the cuffs folded back, I’ll be racing fast and easy in it all season!

$280 Z2 Full Sleeve

$220 Z2 Sleeveless

Zoot Bags

Zoot Sports makes two bags, the Z-Pack Training Bag and the Zoot Sports Tri Bag. Either bag can be used on race day, however if you are traveling any distance for your big day, I would recommend the Tri Bag over the Training Bag. The Tri Bag has a separate, snap-in, snap-out “heat sealed PVC backed compartment” large enough to store your wetsuit and any other wet gear. The Training Bag has a smaller version of this compartment built into the bag which could house my jammers and a damp towel, perfect for a training session at the gym. Both bags have interior padded compartments for sunglasses, goggles or nutrition, a cell phone pocket on the shoulder strap and adjustable sternum, waist and lumbar straps.

If forced to choose, go with the Tri Bag for race day. Ok, I own the larger Tri Bag and the Z-Pack Training Bag is soon to follow, one for race day and one for training days. Save those shoulders for the pool, carry a lighter bag to the gym!

$115 Tri Bag

$75 Training Bag

WASATCH RUNNING CENTER/WASATCH TRI SPORT

8946 South State Street, Sandy Utah 84070

801-566-8786 (U-RUN)

WasatchRunningCenter.com

Popularity: 12% [?]