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?
Bingo.
???
Sorry to chime in a bit late here...but what is this discussion about?
I see a lot of back and forth, what if's, by how much, on and on...about what?
In our sport (swimming) rules are in place that allow a certain type of swim suit(s)...you can choose to use them...or not. Whining because you choose not to and someone else does is a joke. Just as someone else pointed out in an earlier post about cycling, there may be some of the same crybabys out there longing for the days of steel bikes and no aerobars but who cares...the rules are the rules.
As for the who's the better athlete (regardless of the sport), the one using the approved gear or the one who isn't? In my opinion its highly unlikely that an average athlete is going to break any world records or win many races using a carbon bike or a B70...if however in a head to head race between 2 athletes who are at the exact same level of ability of course the one using technoloy will have an advantage...but nothing is a given.
Bingo.
???
Sorry to chime in a bit late here...but what is this discussion about?
I see a lot of back and forth, what if's, by how much, on and on...about what?
In our sport (swimming) rules are in place that allow a certain type of swim suit(s)...you can choose to use them...or not. Whining because you choose not to and someone else does is a joke. Just as someone else pointed out in an earlier post about cycling, there may be some of the same crybabys out there longing for the days of steel bikes and no aerobars but who cares...the rules are the rules.
As for the who's the better athlete (regardless of the sport), the one using the approved gear or the one who isn't? In my opinion its highly unlikely that an average athlete is going to break any world records or win many races using a carbon bike or a B70...if however in a head to head race between 2 athletes who are at the exact same level of ability of course the one using technoloy will have an advantage...but nothing is a given.
