SwimCap Suggestions?

Jim_Is_Curious said:

Hi All,

I am going to be swimming in an open water swim in 2 months. I've never
done one before. As part of the race, you have to wear a swim cap, for
safety reasons. Yesterday I swam at the race location and wore a latex
cap from Speedo. I found it REALLY uncomfortable. At one point it gave
me a headache. 2 or 3 times it nearly popped off. I had to stop and
adjust it. (Which I don't especially want to do during the race). Does
anyone have any suggestions for wearing these? I have relatively short
hair (little less than an inch).

You can try a Speedo Silicone cap, which I find to be a little more
comfortable. Otherwise, you pretty much just have to get used to it.

I have heard silicone is more comfortable. Unfortunately, the caps for
the race are handed out when you check in and I don't think you get a
choice. It's one of those one size fits all latex.

Jim_Is_Curious said:

I have heard silicone is more comfortable. Unfortunately, the caps for
the race are handed out when you check in and I don't think you get a
choice. It's one of those one size fits all latex.

Unless they are color coded, you can usually wear your own, but if your
race isn't using electronic timing, you might have to mark your number
on your cap.

"Wolf J. Flywheel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Jim_Is_Curious said:

Hi All,

I am going to be swimming in an open water swim in 2 months. I've never
done one before. As part of the race, you have to wear a swim cap, for
safety reasons.

I'd be interested to see why the orgainsers think a swim cap has any
"safety" benefit; sounds like they are making up a reason.

Quoted message said:

You can try a Speedo Silicone cap, which I find to be a little more
comfortable. Otherwise, you pretty much just have to get used to it.

Well, no.

I had a distance swimmer with a similar problem; she hadn't made the fastest
heat, and so had to swim her 800 two-per-lane. The meet management required
that the swimmers wear colour-coded caps; the reason given was that it would
aid the timers in telling the two swimmers apart.

My swimmer _really_ didn't want to wear a cap - she was a good worker and
would get hot anyway, and a cap would make this worse. What we told her to
do was go into the shower just before the race, and load her hair up with a
good-sized dollop of conditioner, then put the cap on, goggle straps
underneath.

That cap came off on the second turn.

Are they going to disqualify you if your cap comes off during the swim?

It sounds like you're talking about a swimming pool, in which case, I
agree; it isn't so much a safety concern. However, what I'll be in is
open water. And in some parts, open Deep water. Being able to see a
swimmer is vital for the escorts/guards watching the course. Besides,
most USMS races for open water require a "fluorescent or brightly
colored swim cap".

As for disqualifying, I'm not sure.

Jim

Hi All,
Your answer to the cap coming off is simple: do not wash your hair before
doing the swim. Get to a point af washing your hair once a week, with all
the swimming you do it should remain clean for that period of time, your
only concer should be a dry scalp because ot the clorine, which is easily
remedied with a bit of olive oil.
On the nite before your rest day (off swimming) you massage the olive oil
into your scalp and leave it for the night, wash your hair the next morning.
Wash your pillowcase aswell, it wont be looking to good.
Do not do this before race day, your cap will be of before you put it on.
"Jim_Is_Curious" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

It sounds like you're talking about a swimming pool, in which case, I
agree; it isn't so much a safety concern. However, what I'll be in is
open water. And in some parts, open Deep water. Being able to see a
swimmer is vital for the escorts/guards watching the course. Besides,
most USMS races for open water require a "fluorescent or brightly
colored swim cap".

As for disqualifying, I'm not sure.

Jim

Jim. and others with similar questions
#1. Yes swim caps are required for open water swims . They do add
visibility to the swimmer and its a valid reason for insurance reasons
of the sponser. In San Francisco Bay Ca. the pilots association is
asking for all swimmers to wear yellow caps so that ship drivers dont
run them down..visibility is a real safety issue.
2. In open water a cap will keep you warmer, depending on your race
that may or may not be needed SF Bay is 50's year round.
3. The event will issue caps to all swimmers at the event. (most of the
time) In a way this is not good as swimmers will have to use the
"official cap" issued with logos printed on them to advertise the
event. Its more important to advertise then let you use what you need.
Until swimmers complain about this. As such even if you brought your
own cap it would have to be in the same color as the wave you swim
in..yellow,blue,green,pink,white ect
4. The silicon caps are even smaller then the latex and more prone to
pop offs
5. There is a place in Canada Allstar sales that sells bubble crepe
caps in head sizes in colors, you could get a size large in the color
of the race cap and write your bib number on it with a magic marker at
the race. The race people will probably let you wear it if its the same
color and you explain it fits you. In any case practise with any caps
you will wear on race day so there are no surprises to foul you up and
see what the color is going to be.
6. The bubble strap caps are legal for the English Channel swim and
have been worn by both male and female swimmers for record swims there.
They are also being worn with yes the strap by SF bay swimmers as well
as they work , fit better , dont pull hair and are fairly inexpensive
in price. 5 to 9 dollars, See the page

http://www.waterworldswim.com

to see photos of SF Bay swimmers and their swimwear/caps for this
area.. goofy ..yea but there not going to the supermarket..there going
to swim in 50-55F open water from Alcatraz to SF!.

See the swim cap guides page Cold water Swim Caps for more details on
caps or check the full guide..links are there

http://www.geocities.com/lapswimr/coldwatercaps.html

I wear a lycra cap because I don't ike latex or silicone. They are
confy. Anything against wearing one of theses?

Andres

lapswimr said:

4. The silicon caps are even smaller then the latex and more prone to
pop offs

I haven't experienced the same problems. The speedo silicone cap I'm
using seems to be about the same size as the speedo latex cap I bought
at the same time. But the silivone cap is more stretchy and smoother,
so it is easier to put on and more comfortable than the latex cap. On
the other hand, I haven't had it pop off at all, although I haven't
worn it in rough water. The only problem I ever had with Popov
(heeheehee) was when I tried to wear latex caps only halfway on to
avoid the discomfort. When I pull them all the way on, they don't come
off, but then my head is in a vice.

We seemed to have gotten really off the track here.

1) I don't disagree with the reason why you wear the caps. I agree with
it.

2) I don't want the cap to come off. I want it to stay on. When I wore
it, it was coming off by itself. I Want It To Stay On. That was why I
started this thread. To get suggestions on keeping the cap on and
keeping it comfortable.

JIM

In article <[email hidden]>,

Jim_Is_Curious said:

We seemed to have gotten really off the track here.

1) I don't disagree with the reason why you wear the caps. I agree with
it.

2) I don't want the cap to come off. I want it to stay on. When I wore
it, it was coming off by itself. I Want It To Stay On. That was why I
started this thread. To get suggestions on keeping the cap on and
keeping it comfortable.

JIM

Why is it coming off? Is it too big? Are you pulling it all the way on?
Does it cover your ears?

I'm not totally sure why it's coming off. It just seems to slip looser
the more I swim.
Is the cap too big? I don't think so. Besides, don't caps (especially
ones used in open water races) only come in one size??
Like I said, after I had it on for a while, I started to get a small
headache because it felt too tight. I don't think my head is that big.
As I said, the length of my hair is less than an inch long.
I am pulling it on all the way. And it does cover my ears initially.
But as it slips, it comes off my ears to just above them.
The cap seems to slip more when I look up to sight.

It doesn't sound like anyone else has had this problem. I'll just have
to deal with it on race day, along with all the other variables you
have to take into account.

JIM

Jim. Lots of people feel the same ..caps too tight and slip off, your
not alone.. and your right the latex caps issued by races are all the
same size..theres only a couple places in the world there made. You
dont wear one normally so it feels strange. The best thing is to get a
cap like the race issues and use it, train. You can also take a sissors
and cut just a bit off the top of the cap, puts a hole in it and it
will pull down better, Experiment as they are cheap. Your concern is
not being wet, Then put the goggles over the cap and it should stay in
place. Dont laugh too hard but some tri-a's have used duct tape over
the sides to keep them on!

That's what I thought. I had a feeling it was just going to be one of
those "just get used to it" things. I've tried to do alot of new and
different things to ready for this race. I guess this will have to just
be another check on the list of things to be done. Thanks!

JIM