I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long.
Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop?
Well, yes, I've been known to wear a set of legs every now and again... but given the price and technology of a fastskin/fs pro vs lzr & b70, can you really call the fastskins (and pro) a "tech suit" anymore? Legs are a far cry from the full body suits too.
I've proved as recently as this summer that you can swim fast and drop time unshaved and in a speedo - see my results from the IGLA meet: 5 swims, 5 PBs. Could I have done better by putting my legs on? Maybe. But nothing can substitute determination and sheer hard work. I was pleased with my times from that meet and aside from the 400, didn't come close to my times last weekend while wearing the Pro - and just as rested.
For the record, I do not like the Pro - I prefer the FSII (black with red stripes). I dont think the fabric provides the same compression as the FSII, nor am I convinced it is any more friction-friendly than a FSII. I don't like the fit (I get an air bubble every event except backstroke) either. But I have worn for some fast swims. I think if it as my "rest" suit - and have used it at meets where I've rested a bit, but not shaved or tapered, and for events high on my priority list.
Oh, I was just giving you grief. Of course you can swim fast without the gear. I swam at zones last year in briefs and also did a couple PBs, one of which was a national record (which has since been demolished by Mr. Ross).
I've never used the Pro. At one point in the summer the U of R coach liked it as much as the LZR though he may have changed his tune by now. For me, the FSII is no better than shaved skin.
As far as the discussion about wearing tech suits in unrested meets, I can see two reasons:
-- getting used to the suits. I'm simply not going to wear them in practice but I can see getting some race experience in them. Especially if you have a new suit, probably better to give it a trial run before using it "for real."
-- swimming fast when unrested. I think the suit can give your times a little oomph when you are tired from training. I'll probably do this at VA Sr Champs in the spring b/c if I don't, I doubt I'll even make it back at night. I'll probably do it at zones too since I'll probably swim some events there that I won't swim at nationals.
Well, yes, I've been known to wear a set of legs every now and again... but given the price and technology of a fastskin/fs pro vs lzr & b70, can you really call the fastskins (and pro) a "tech suit" anymore? Legs are a far cry from the full body suits too.
I've proved as recently as this summer that you can swim fast and drop time unshaved and in a speedo - see my results from the IGLA meet: 5 swims, 5 PBs. Could I have done better by putting my legs on? Maybe. But nothing can substitute determination and sheer hard work. I was pleased with my times from that meet and aside from the 400, didn't come close to my times last weekend while wearing the Pro - and just as rested.
For the record, I do not like the Pro - I prefer the FSII (black with red stripes). I dont think the fabric provides the same compression as the FSII, nor am I convinced it is any more friction-friendly than a FSII. I don't like the fit (I get an air bubble every event except backstroke) either. But I have worn for some fast swims. I think if it as my "rest" suit - and have used it at meets where I've rested a bit, but not shaved or tapered, and for events high on my priority list.
Oh, I was just giving you grief. Of course you can swim fast without the gear. I swam at zones last year in briefs and also did a couple PBs, one of which was a national record (which has since been demolished by Mr. Ross).
I've never used the Pro. At one point in the summer the U of R coach liked it as much as the LZR though he may have changed his tune by now. For me, the FSII is no better than shaved skin.
As far as the discussion about wearing tech suits in unrested meets, I can see two reasons:
-- getting used to the suits. I'm simply not going to wear them in practice but I can see getting some race experience in them. Especially if you have a new suit, probably better to give it a trial run before using it "for real."
-- swimming fast when unrested. I think the suit can give your times a little oomph when you are tired from training. I'll probably do this at VA Sr Champs in the spring b/c if I don't, I doubt I'll even make it back at night. I'll probably do it at zones too since I'll probably swim some events there that I won't swim at nationals.
