Open Water Swimming

135 watchers

BexleyKev Aug 2018 2:32pm, 13 Aug 2018 250 posts	0 BexleyKev Not sure if this will work ( not great at links ) but always admire the enthusiasm of those out on the Serpentine when I run past in the morning [img] fetcheveryone.com/gallery-image.php?id=97775 [/img]
Oranj Aug 2018 2:40pm, 13 Aug 2018 1,003 posts	0 Oranj @BexleyKev you can link to an image by putting "[IMAGE" and "]" around the image number (with a space in the middle between IMAGE and 88004):
Oranj Aug 2018 2:41pm, 13 Aug 2018 1,004 posts	0 Oranj Except, of course, that was the wrong image, d'oh
BexleyKev Aug 2018 4:33pm, 13 Aug 2018 251 posts	0 BexleyKev thanks
beebop Aug 2018 9:38pm, 16 Aug 2018 1,151 posts	0 beebop I finally got round to going to my nearest open water swimming place - I’ve known it was there for about five years, but I never bothered until now (inspired by a holiday by a lake which was gorgeous to swim in). This artificial lake is slightly less gorgeous, but shallow and therefore unlikely to get too cold for a while. In any case, it shuts in late September or early October - I was hoping people could give me some advice on whether I should be wetsuit hunting or not? If yes, might I also need wetsuit socks? Gloves? Or should I just keep turning up until I get too cold? An hour on Wednesday evening was fine, but I was starting to feel a bit chilled towards the end - was breezy, with a couple of heavy showers, but it’s still August, so I’m obviously a wuss. My friend didn’t seem to feel it...
beebop Aug 2018 9:40pm, 16 Aug 2018 1,152 posts	0 beebop We were the only ones without wetsuits, mind, but most peeps seemed to be properly training rather than just swimming.
Oranj Aug 2018 10:20pm, 16 Aug 2018 1,018 posts	0 Oranj Wetsuit yes, but gloves and whatnot you'll only need in the winter (and by then most of us are back in the pool)
LindsD Aug 2018 10:34pm, 16 Aug 2018 24,153 posts	0 LindsD I've only used boots and gloves in April.
LindsD Aug 2018 10:35pm, 16 Aug 2018 24,154 posts	0 LindsD I wd just hire if you can and buy either end of season or at the start of the next one. You shouldn't need one for a few weeks, depending on where you are.
beebop Aug 2018 7:21am, 17 Aug 2018 1,154 posts	0 beebop Thanks, both, that’s very helpful. You can hire wetsuits there, but they’re general purpose rather than swimming specific, which sounds constricting!