dreamshark

You know that thing where you're biking next to a lake and it's really hot and there are people swimming in the cool water and you just want to jump off and run into the lake only you don't because you're wearing clothes? No? Well, it happens to me all the time. I've been trying to come up with something I could wear that would make this fantasy feasible. I thought of wearing a swimsuit under my biking clothes, but pedaling in a swimsuit would not be comfortable. Then it occurred to me that there is a goofy sport called Triathlon that involves jumping back and forth between a bike and a lake without stopping to change clothes. Sure enough, it is possible to purchase specialized clothing for the biker who might at any moment become a swimmer (or vice versa, which is the way Triathlons actually work).

Anyway, I found this splendiferous garment online and they even had it in XXL. Not cheap, but just what I wanted. Ordering online is always a crapshoot, but the measurements sounded right so I ordered it. It came and it turned out to fit perfectly. I usually don't have much luck with built-in bras, but this one fits as well as that crazy corset I got at Convergence (same general principle, only with heavy-duty spandex instead of boning). And the front zipper goes down to the waist, making it easy to get on and off. I tried it out on Saturday, undeterred by the 50-mph gusts that turned Lake Calhoun into surf city. Okay, it wasn't the best day for outdoor swimming and the south beach on Lake Calhoun is not the best beach, but the suit worked great!

I was so happy with the fit that I went back to the Danskin site and ordered the matching sports bra. If that works out I can wear it with my bike shorts (and probably a t-shirt on top) for a different approach to the same problem.