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?
Aquageek,
I have been to well attended national/international masters meets (Austin and Worlds in Standford). I admit I don't attend every national meet. I wore a tech suit at Stanford and didn't wear one at Austin. Results were similar (actually better in Austin and my training was largely the same). Tech suits have improved since Stanford, but they are still uncomfortable and from the sounds of it more expensive on a per use basis. Give me a break on the group think. Are you a tech suit lemming? It isn't like 100% of the national meet swimmers wear tech suits. It isn't like you can't make the top ten without a tech suit.
You missed the point on the hassle of the tech equipment. Yes, cycling and golf have lots of equipment and that can be a pain, but when you decide to buy something specific in golf, skiing, or cycling that is a technical improvement to standard equipment that technical equipment usually increases enjoyment of the sport as well as providing you with improvement in your score or times than a tech suit. In many ways tech suits are inferior technology in relation to other sports technology. Do you not agree that something like aero bars in cycling increases comfort as well as providing a performance enhancement? Are the latest drivers in golf any harder to use than a driver 10, 20, 30, 50 years ago? Now, is a tech suit harder to put on than a brief? Yes. Does a tech suit restrict breathing, bind your shoulders and reduce range of motion? Yes. Do you worry about zippers, rear end blow-outs, durability, and other similar issues in a tech suit? Yes. For me those things are a hassle which are not found in golf clubs, skis, and aero bars and most technical advances in other sports and that influences my buying decision and probably many others.
I like competing and training just as much as you. I just don't think people should be called idiots for not wearing tech suits. Do you think Phelps is an idiot because he didn't wear a full tech suit in the 200IM/400 IM/100 fly/200 fly at the Olympics? Why don't you and Ande write into Swimming World magazine to the editor and call out Michael Phelps for not being a serious enough competitor for the USA and general "idiot" and see what that gets you? Maybe Park could have beaten the world record in the 400 Free if he wore a full tech suit. I only wish Park was more serious about competing, like you. Perhaps, Park hadn't been to any national or international meets prior to the Olympics and didn't understand he couldn't compete or be taken seriously without a full tech suit.
Tim
Aquageek,
I have been to well attended national/international masters meets (Austin and Worlds in Standford). I admit I don't attend every national meet. I wore a tech suit at Stanford and didn't wear one at Austin. Results were similar (actually better in Austin and my training was largely the same). Tech suits have improved since Stanford, but they are still uncomfortable and from the sounds of it more expensive on a per use basis. Give me a break on the group think. Are you a tech suit lemming? It isn't like 100% of the national meet swimmers wear tech suits. It isn't like you can't make the top ten without a tech suit.
You missed the point on the hassle of the tech equipment. Yes, cycling and golf have lots of equipment and that can be a pain, but when you decide to buy something specific in golf, skiing, or cycling that is a technical improvement to standard equipment that technical equipment usually increases enjoyment of the sport as well as providing you with improvement in your score or times than a tech suit. In many ways tech suits are inferior technology in relation to other sports technology. Do you not agree that something like aero bars in cycling increases comfort as well as providing a performance enhancement? Are the latest drivers in golf any harder to use than a driver 10, 20, 30, 50 years ago? Now, is a tech suit harder to put on than a brief? Yes. Does a tech suit restrict breathing, bind your shoulders and reduce range of motion? Yes. Do you worry about zippers, rear end blow-outs, durability, and other similar issues in a tech suit? Yes. For me those things are a hassle which are not found in golf clubs, skis, and aero bars and most technical advances in other sports and that influences my buying decision and probably many others.
I like competing and training just as much as you. I just don't think people should be called idiots for not wearing tech suits. Do you think Phelps is an idiot because he didn't wear a full tech suit in the 200IM/400 IM/100 fly/200 fly at the Olympics? Why don't you and Ande write into Swimming World magazine to the editor and call out Michael Phelps for not being a serious enough competitor for the USA and general "idiot" and see what that gets you? Maybe Park could have beaten the world record in the 400 Free if he wore a full tech suit. I only wish Park was more serious about competing, like you. Perhaps, Park hadn't been to any national or international meets prior to the Olympics and didn't understand he couldn't compete or be taken seriously without a full tech suit.
Tim
