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?
Former Member
This type of stupid statement illustrates swimming ignorance.
As you have been told by every fast swimmer on this forum the suits compliment the training and don't substitute for training. Why are you so opposed to maximizing your training? Why should I wear a water absorbing, old swimsuit to compete in?
If a swimmer(who has maximized his training) swims a 50.00 100 yd free in a brief then decides he'd like to swim a sub 50.00 100 yd free goes out and buys a tech suit and swims a 49.50 then that is buying a time.
If a swimmer(who hasn't maximized his training) swims a 50.00 100 yd free in a brief then decides he'd like to swim a sub 50.00 100 yd free goes out and buys a tech suit and swims a 49.50 then that is buying a time and substituting for training.
I could accept tech briefs, but these whole body tech suits are over the top.
Chris - it's worse than that. If wookie shaves it's the equivalent of wearing seven B70s at the same time and strapping a boat motor to his feet. That man sweater he is sporting is illegal in 3 countries and 4 municipalities.
Hey Thewookiee
Have you tried one of these?
www.bicworld.com/.../SLP_1_shaver1.jpg
They are a lot cheaper than using an expensive suit to cover up the hair on your chest.
I'm glad someone brought up razorblades and shaving, b/c I think they are a total crock. They are a way to "buy" time that has nothing to do with training at all; you just shave off your body hair and PRESTO: instant time improvement.
There oughta be a rule against it. It isn't natural, and it ruins our sport because (a) it makes the men look like sissies and (b) it encourages women swimmers to let their leg hair grow during the season (I have vivid memories of this from my college days).
(All this makes just about as much sense as anything else I've heard from the purists.)
My calcs show .5-1% - for me - with the B70. I must be doing something wrong or others are reading way too much into this suit deal. I'm curious where the 2% figure is derived from.
I got about a 1% drop just by losing some weight (4%) last summer.
I think 2% came from a Mark Schubert guesstimate made last spring. It has since been accepted as gospel instead of something that he pulled out of thin air.
Like you, I think the time drops are significant but not as great as many believe, closer to 1% than 2%
I will ask this again. Why should men be limited only wearing briefs? What is wrong with wanting to have suits that cover the chest and legs? I esp. like the suits that cover the upper body, esp. since I am somewhat on the hairy side
Because apparently in order to swim fast and be legit you have to wear the worst gear possible to claim legitimacy. Only in swimming is it not ok to develop gear that works with your hard work.
What about them? If they don't want to wear them, they don't have to.
Rocket Skin
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Amen to the first part!
Fort...is the Rocket Skin the one designed by the guy in Austin? Does that suit cover the arms? If it is one the one I am thinking of and does cover the arms, it may have to be altered to remain legal.
Chris...Paul....the problem Charged is having with tech advancement, is that some parts of our state(TN) are just now coming into the modern age. He probably lives in an area that still uses outdoor plumbing. He is also probably upset that others around him have spent their money on automobiles, while he chooses to use a horse and buggy complains when a car goes around him kicking up mud. But not all of the state is still living in the 1800's...thank goodness. :) :) :)
That explains me, but what about everyone else who thinks tech suits shouldn't be part of the sport?
As many have pointed out, advances in pool technology (blocks, lane-lines, gutters, pool design), the advent of goggles, various pre-tech suits, etc have had at least that great an effect. Time marches on.
Chris...Paul....the problem Charged is having with tech advancement, is that some parts of our state(TN) are just now coming into the modern age. He probably lives in an area that still uses outdoor plumbing. He is also probably upset that others around him have spent their money on automobiles, while he chooses to use a horse and buggy complains when a car goes around him kicking up mud. But not all of the state is still living in the 1800's...thank goodness. :) :) :)
