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?
Because you bought something you are now faster than me.
Hmmm, I don't think I'll ever agree with that statement.
By the way, I do not find that the suits are quite as "plug-in" as you seem to think. It has taken me quite a long time to get used to how they feel, and to alter my pre-race routine to accomodate them. In fact, people wear them during training or less-important meets largely so that they can get used to any alterations in their stroke mechanics.
I'm sure this is one big reason that Australian swimmer from the article -- I forget her name -- wasn't willing to go with an untried suit. It wasn't that she couldn't afford it.
An analogy from the cycling world might be aerobars. They improve speed instantly, but learning to ride well with them takes some practice.
For me, this is all much harder than learning to dive with goggles on. Others may differ, of course.
Because you bought something you are now faster than me.
Hmmm, I don't think I'll ever agree with that statement.
By the way, I do not find that the suits are quite as "plug-in" as you seem to think. It has taken me quite a long time to get used to how they feel, and to alter my pre-race routine to accomodate them. In fact, people wear them during training or less-important meets largely so that they can get used to any alterations in their stroke mechanics.
I'm sure this is one big reason that Australian swimmer from the article -- I forget her name -- wasn't willing to go with an untried suit. It wasn't that she couldn't afford it.
An analogy from the cycling world might be aerobars. They improve speed instantly, but learning to ride well with them takes some practice.
For me, this is all much harder than learning to dive with goggles on. Others may differ, of course.
