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?
Never said that.
Two swimmers are physically equal in every way and each has the best race of their lives. One wears a brief and the other a LZR. Which one wins the race? Does anyone doubt the swimmer in the briefs loses?
How many world records have been set using the LZR? How many Gold medals?
I think I answered that...if your a 46 year old masters swimmer in the 500 free you can wear a LZR, fins and paddles and I will put money on a bet that says you won't beat Baker in the 500 free wearing a drag suit.
It's simply a mute point, just as many of us have pointed out here if your a top level athlete you don't show up to a major race not ready to race and not trying to make some purist statment by not using approved equipment...as Geek said I haven't seen to many steel TT bikes at the Tour de France with the riders complaining afterwards that they were cheated.
Never said that.
Two swimmers are physically equal in every way and each has the best race of their lives. One wears a brief and the other a LZR. Which one wins the race? Does anyone doubt the swimmer in the briefs loses?
How many world records have been set using the LZR? How many Gold medals?
I think I answered that...if your a 46 year old masters swimmer in the 500 free you can wear a LZR, fins and paddles and I will put money on a bet that says you won't beat Baker in the 500 free wearing a drag suit.
It's simply a mute point, just as many of us have pointed out here if your a top level athlete you don't show up to a major race not ready to race and not trying to make some purist statment by not using approved equipment...as Geek said I haven't seen to many steel TT bikes at the Tour de France with the riders complaining afterwards that they were cheated.
