Triathlon Recommended Gear on a budget
Yes! You can, indeed, wear polyester in the pool. In fact, swim apparel made from a polyester blend is one of the best options to wear in the pool. A polyester blend will resist the chlorine (i.e., maintain its color longer/won’t fade as quickly; colorfast), hold its shape, resist abrasion and pilling (i.e., the fuzzball look), and have a soft and comfortable fit/feel.
Your bike chain should ideally last you anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 miles As the exact amount is difficult to pin down the range could be as great as 1,000 to 8,000 miles depending on the style of riding of the rider and how well the chain is maintained through the duration of its life.
Supplementing with creatine is usually common with weight lifters and athletes in sports that specifically benefit from pure strength but not triathletes. However, for triathletes, when creatine is used properly it can help drop a few seconds from the finishing time, which could make the difference in a close race for professional triathletes. The same applies to cyclists, runners, and swimmers.
Household hacks and dropping money on waterproof shoes can only get you so far when it comes to rainy days. Do what you can to make your run as comfortable as possible, but also learn to embrace the particular discomfort that comes from running in the elements. It’ll only make you a stronger (albeit less dry) runner in the end.
A tri suit, not to be confused with a triathlon wetsuit (made of thin or thick neoprene/rubber), is thin and made of fabric similar to that of a regular swimsuit- typically lycra/spandex. Therefore, a tri suit is not very thick at all. It’s about as thick as a regular women’s swimsuit/men’s swim briefs or jammers.
Furthermore, USAT, IT, & WTC (Ironman) have rules about the thickness of wetsuits. Their rules state that wetsuits can be no more than 5mm thick (at any point on the wetsuit). Thus, one’s wetsuit for their triathlon(s)/triathlon event(s) will need to be 5mm or less in thickness at any given point on the wetsuit.