Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:23:31 GMT

There was a race in English Bay this weekend, the water was 51 degrees. Is that the race? and how did you do?

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:38:16 GMT

I saw little kids swimming in English Bay today on television. It seemed like the water was warm and they were having fun.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

cantwait4bike — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:14:31 GMT

International Triathlon Union is running the race. They don't care if someone dies in the cold water or going down the steep, baghdad bombed out roads in park. They may have doctors there to euthanize athletes on the spot like the Kentucky Derby.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:12:13 GMT

I just talked to Roxanne Fast she told me her husband has been swimming in English Bat for the last week. He comes home with all the problems that I mentioned about cold water. He said he could barely feel his feet. The water is very cold. 1. Cold water first place it effects is the head which seems to knock the wind out of you. 2. Then the hands go rigid. 3. Then the feet start to have no feeling.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:20:14 GMT

Abou covered his body from head to toe with Lanolin, he was quite dark and lanolin is white. He used to use it in any water under 65 degrees. No I never swam the English Channel my brother Tom did it twice. He just used a little vaseline any where he rubbed. In coldwater I tried vaseline on my body and a coating of capsicum grease, it it kept the body quite warm. It kept the blood near the surface of the skin and felt very warm but I do not suggest it in case the blood cools off and causes the inner core temperature to drop. I was never to effected by cold water. This is something I posted on a tri site - Make sure you keep your head warm and covered, major heat loss from the top of your head. Are you allowed to wear the wet suit in the race. Soak the wet suit in hot water before you put it on, or let the body heat up the wet suit before the race. I was never allowed to wear a wet suit in a race and the water I raced in was nearly always in the low 60s sometimes in the 50s. Just relax and you should be fine. Some of the swimmers have worn a wool hat under the bathing cap. George Did you swim the Channel? I seem to remember (waaaaaaay back when Abou heif and Co were doing it) that they used to coat their bodies with grease as a means to fight the cold. Do you recall? Did you do it?

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:47:18 GMT

cantwait4bike Cold water first place it effects is the head which seems to knock the wind out of you. Then the hands go rigid. Then the feet start to have no feeling. George Did you swim the Channel? I seem to remember (waaaaaaay back when Abou heif and Co were doing it) that they used to coat their bodies with grease as a means to fight the cold. Do you recall? Did you do it?

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:29 GMT

That is soon. English Bay is very cold at the moment. We have had very cold weather. We have really felt the cold and we are heading back to Mexico. Who is running the race?

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

cantwait4bike — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:26:39 GMT

george the race is in 3 weeks.:sad:

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:46:55 GMT

I don't think you are going to find the water in English bay that cold in July and August. I will find out for you. If you contact Dr Fast's wife she is listed as one of the organizers I am sure she can teel you about safety concerns. There is a safety link on the web site. http://www.vowsa.bc.ca/

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

cantwait4bike — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:15:40 GMT

george, no i have to swim in english bay. everything you described is happening. do you know if there is a safety agency in vancouver, who would try to talk some sense into race management about dangers of swimming in this cold of water......

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:41:55 GMT

cantwait4bike English Bay, do you live in Vancouver? Do you swim here www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/.../index.cfm Cold water first place it effects is the head which seems to knock the wind out of you. Then the hands go rigid. Then the feet start to have no feeling.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

cantwait4bike — Mon, 05 May 2008 02:31:35 GMT

I appreciate all your help. Sounds like vasoline doesn't help from a warmth standpoint, so I'll try swimming with it. A couple of notes, the vasoline and Pam doesnt dissolve the wetsuit, it just takes the manufactures screened name off it. that why they don't recommend it. :) I tried swimming in English Bay recently and my feet and hands went completely numb and hurt alot after about 25 meters. Very Frustrating.:confused:

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:36:36 GMT

I have tried everything, even camphorated oil and baby oil mixed together, this was a very good mixture. But don't get it on the arms. The camphorated oil breaks tension in the water and causes slippage. A friend tried graphite grease it went solid in the cold water and he had great trouble swimming. He said he felt like he was drowding. All the marathon swimmers used lanolin it was the protection that sheeps wool has.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:05:05 GMT

Thow out the theory of exposer to water? Move and you die from the cold? How far are your swims in cold water and are they done without a wet suit?? I have swam in the 48 to 50F water and vasoline, lanoin or such have not proved to be any help. Two caps, earplugs and moving as fast as possible is the best way to keep warm or less cold.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:00:18 GMT

I think cantwait4bike is talking about when wearing a wet suit. We never used wet suits when I raced. I used a little vaseline to stop rubbing in certain spots that is all to stop friction burns, the colder the water the friction burns become worse. 48 to 50 degrees for a short period say 2 hrs should not be a problem. It is the 48 to 50 for say 10 hours would be a problem. I wore one cap and I did get too hot and had to let the cold water into the hat to cool down.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Animal — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:33:51 GMT

I have swam in the 48 to 50F water and vasoline, lanoin or such have not proved to be any help. Two caps, earplugs and moving as fast as possible is the best way to keep warm or less cold.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:19:38 GMT

Yeah, I don't see how it could have any insulating value. Maybe just serves as a way to protect your skin from wrinkling or drying out. Does anyone know? I have a DVD where 2 well known triathletes are talking wetsuits. One has a can of cooking spray (Pam) in her hand and says it works great. I think the wetsuit manufacturers say stay away from that stuff too.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:42:25 GMT

Vaseline is to prevent chaffing and friction burns, it doesn't have any value for warmth. You definitely don't want to touch your goggles after applying it! Best to get someone else to do it, or put it on using some kind of long-handled swab.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:29:27 GMT

I'm no wetsuit expert but I believe most manufacturers recommend NOT using any petroleum products on the suit. Try Suitjuice or just make your own soap and water mixture. Plus, when you remove your suit, your skin will be silky smooth and you'll feel clean and fresh as a daisy. :agree: Jeffy is right. Vaseline with dissolve you wetsuit. I use BodyGlide for long OW swims.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

fatboy — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:52:54 GMT

Body glide helps with caffing from the wetsuit. I tried vaseline once in 56 degree water with no wetsuit and I didn't think it helped. It was not easy to remove after the swim either. George (Geochuck) probably has the most experience. I'd be interested to hear his take.

RE: Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

Former Member — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:16:43 GMT