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?
Geek,
You must have only read the inflamatory portions of my posts on this subject. See my post on December 10th to show that I have been consistent that I think the tech suits are good for the sport. I think I mentioned it a few other times as well.
You and Ande just ticked me off with the "idiot" comments regarding non-tech suit wearers. I understand that you were probably trying to combat the lack of logic and swimming experience/expertise of the some of the posters. There is room for everyone in the sport and I really don't see that not wearing the suits is a substantial disadvantage for most masters swimmers, except at the highest levels of the sport. If you are out to compete once in while, not break records, and your training is not optimized, you hardly need a tech suit. I am a decent swimmer, but that is the category I belong in and most masters swimmers probably fall into this category. Everyone likes dropping time so I am sure there is an addictive quality to the suits for even average swimmers. Addiction to the sport is good and progress is good. Records are made to be broken.
I am done with this subject. Back to work. Yes, I do have a job and passed the substance abuse testing.
Preach
Geek,
You must have only read the inflamatory portions of my posts on this subject. See my post on December 10th to show that I have been consistent that I think the tech suits are good for the sport. I think I mentioned it a few other times as well.
You and Ande just ticked me off with the "idiot" comments regarding non-tech suit wearers. I understand that you were probably trying to combat the lack of logic and swimming experience/expertise of the some of the posters. There is room for everyone in the sport and I really don't see that not wearing the suits is a substantial disadvantage for most masters swimmers, except at the highest levels of the sport. If you are out to compete once in while, not break records, and your training is not optimized, you hardly need a tech suit. I am a decent swimmer, but that is the category I belong in and most masters swimmers probably fall into this category. Everyone likes dropping time so I am sure there is an addictive quality to the suits for even average swimmers. Addiction to the sport is good and progress is good. Records are made to be broken.
I am done with this subject. Back to work. Yes, I do have a job and passed the substance abuse testing.
Preach
