That's it, all you ancient swim romantics have convinced me. We need to ban the new suits and require everyone to wear the same type (not brand). We just have to decide which is the 'right' model.
I submit that you revisionist dogs who think that briefs are it don't know much about swimming history. I'm attaching a photo of Duke Kahanamoku with this message to show you what the competition swimwear was like in the first part of the 20th century.
Clearly men were men here and could be one with the water. The suit certainly never helped or hindered and one could feel every molecule of water swirling by during the swim. Ah, those were the days.
Who do we have to thank for the loss of such elegant swimwear used by the Duke? Was it Adolph Kiefer? Who introduced the horrible brief innovation into the sport? Whoever it was, they should be removed from the Hall of Fame, stricken from all records, and never spoken of again!
Former Member
If I beat my 1986 times, it wouldn't matter if it was in a LZR, baggy pants, or birthday suit...
I'd be celebrating:party2:...I'd have NO problem believing it was me and not the suit.:2cents:
I had some time drops at the NW zone meet this weekend, and I had a speedo FS2 legskin, the first time I've worn a racing-type suit. I'm sort of wondering how much of the improvement was due to training, taper, faster pool, and finally the suit. There is a temptation to go buy the fastest racing suit available, but I also want to see what I'm capable of without the benefit of a racing suit, so I'll probably just keep the FS2 and only wear it for big meets, and just use a normal suit at other meets.
In my case I'm not competing against anyone for the most part, I just want to reach and beat my old times. If I were to beat my 500 free time from 1986 using an LZR suit for example, I'd have some nagging doubts about if I really beat it or what I would have gotten in 1986 if the LZR had been around then.
If I beat my 1986 times, it wouldn't matter if it was in a LZR, baggy pants, or birthday suit...
I'd be celebrating:party2:...I'd have NO problem believing it was me and not the suit.:2cents:
I agree!!
I still also think it makes more of a difference for women than men. Not that much difference between a brief and a kneeskin ...
And if you wear a regular suit in a non-taper meet, how can you compare that to a taper meet? The time differential most likely would be disproportionately due to the taper and/or fast pool, not the suit. Those make a huge difference. Suit makes a minor difference. Besides, an old bodyskin goes on and off speedy quick. You all go back to the "old ways." I will go on record as saying I won't be competing in a masters meet without some sort of old or new bodyskin. I can always pee in the shower after the race ...
Yeah, let's go really old school a la 1900 Olympics in Paris:
img260.imageshack.us/.../gal1900sl08zu5.jpg
1. Swim in a festering backwater of the filthy, polluted Seine
2. Screw blocks, jump off a floating platform
3. Just to keep things interesting: have tons of boats wander into the competition space
4. Training: raw eggs, lots of steak, back-snapping "limbering exercises", cigarettes, electric linement shock treatments.
I had some time drops at the NW zone meet this weekend, and I had a speedo FS2 legskin, the first time I've worn a racing-type suit. I'm sort of wondering how much of the improvement was due to training, taper, faster pool, and finally the suit. There is a temptation to go buy the fastest racing suit available, but I also want to see what I'm capable of without the benefit of a racing suit, so I'll probably just keep the FS2 and only wear it for big meets, and just use a normal suit at other meets.
In my case I'm not competing against anyone for the most part, I just want to reach and beat my old times. If I were to beat my 500 free time from 1986 using an LZR suit for example, I'd have some nagging doubts about if I really beat it or what I would have gotten in 1986 if the LZR had been around then.
Hmmm...Maybe this post should be included the Womens Locker Room thread:eek::bolt:
I agree!!
I still also think it makes more of a difference for women than men. Not that much difference between a brief and a kneeskin ...
And if you wear a regular suit in a non-taper meet, how can you compare that to a taper meet? The time differential most likely would be disproportionately due to the taper and/or fast pool, not the suit. Those make a huge difference. Suit makes a minor difference. Besides, an old bodyskin goes on and off speedy quick. You all go back to the "old ways." I will go on record as saying I won't be competing in a masters meet without some sort of old or new bodyskin. I can always pee in the shower after the race ...
I agree!!
And if you wear a regular suit in a non-taper meet, how can you compare that to a taper meet? The time differential most likely would be disproportionately due to the taper and/or fast pool, not the suit.
Good question, a lot of variables at work here. Maybe I should wear the fs2 in some non-taper meets to get a better idea.
The current winner of the LGBTTOW Award is SS for pretending to do a bike ride on a 40 pound bike. Did you have to walk that baby up those tough 1% grades? Man, a 30 mile ride on that thing would expend more calories than I use up in an entire bike season.
I'm going to see who swims in two pairs of shredded training briefs at Nationals to look for a better performance than that, Rich!
Okay, so maybe this belongs in the "Attaboy or attagirl: SR NH everyone welcome" thread, but...it kinda works here, too.
I wrapped up my SCY season today. It was my second consecutive season swimming masters after a 20-year layoff (previous to this my last masters meet was the Green Wave Masters Invitational on 10/31/1987.)
Comparing times:
Year.....Age......50 BR.......100 BR......200 BR......100 IM
1987......28.......29.55......1:07.43.....2:36.41.....1:00.39
2007......48.......29.59......1:05.94.....2:30.25.....1:01.55
2008......49.......28.60......1:05.20.....2:25.81........59.81
I'm pretty sure it wasn't the suit (FSII jammers.) But I can't help thinking their was some devine intervention...:bow:
I'm off to celebrate:drink:Good luck to those going to Nats.
If I beat my 1986 times, it wouldn't matter if it was in a LZR, baggy pants, or birthday suit...
I'd be celebrating:party2:...I'd have NO problem believing it was me and not the suit.:2cents:
I had some time drops at the NW zone meet this weekend, and I had a speedo FS2 legskin, the first time I've worn a racing-type suit. I'm sort of wondering how much of the improvement was due to training, taper, faster pool, and finally the suit. There is a temptation to go buy the fastest racing suit available, but I also want to see what I'm capable of without the benefit of a racing suit, so I'll probably just keep the FS2 and only wear it for big meets, and just use a normal suit at other meets.
In my case I'm not competing against anyone for the most part, I just want to reach and beat my old times. If I were to beat my 500 free time from 1986 using an LZR suit for example, I'd have some nagging doubts about if I really beat it or what I would have gotten in 1986 if the LZR had been around then.
I dunno...the 100 and 200 times are pretty beatable, with your track record.
Swim fast at nats:wave:
Nice swims, Mark. It's gonna be tough to win best 2 out of 3 in our *** gridge going up against those times. We'll know in a week!
