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?
Is that why most people buy tech suits though? Because they can't do X time? I bought mine because it was just the newest suit technology (apart from the LZR, which I won't buy).
I have to side with Fort (and thus break my resolution) in that the Peg statement is absurd. You buy the legal gear for your sport that maximizes your training.
Jim, the phenomenon you allude to here is EXACTLY why I think these suits are harmful. A person can't swim a certain time on their own, so they go out and buy a suit and suddenly they're a stud. I think that is just plain wrong.
Is that why most people buy tech suits though? Because they can't do X time? I bought mine because it was just the newest suit technology (apart from the LZR, which I won't buy).
I have purchased my first tech suit and can't wait to wear it in 3 weeks at a meet. It will give me added motivation knowing that non swimming and lie-about-wearing-one Dolphin 2 will be annoyed by that.
However with a tech suit, all you have to show for your money after a year of use is just an expensive mop.
And with its waterproof characteristics, it may not be any good for that either.
A statement like this totally discounts the emotional enjoyment derived from wear the suit. Not to mention the physical affects, euphoria, endorphins, etc..
Who says that return on investment is only measured by monetary value? Again, stop using YOUR value system to
Sorry I stepped on your emotional toes. Is it possible to derive the physical effects, euphoria, endorphins, etc.. sans expensive mop suit?
I, ruler of none, decree that you may spend your money as you wish. You now have my blessing. Go forth and race before the ban.
this old article makes some interesting points:
www.sportsscientists.com/.../speedos-lzr-swimsuit.html
Tech suits are faster because they:
1) create a better surface than skin,
2) improve the swimmers body shape, and
3) increase bouyancy
However with a tech suit, all you have to show for your money after a year of use is just an expensive mop.
And with its waterproof characteristics, it may not be any good for that either.
Pretty funny, and true.
Yup that $500 swimsuit makes a big dent in demand for $1000/sq.ft real estate in San Francisco. Keep dreaming.
Hey Hofffman
The mortgage payment on my condo here in S.F. was $3000 per month or 1/6 the cost of a tech suit.
As the old saying goes "$500 here, $500 there -and pretty soon it all adds up to a pretty big chunk of change".
Also, with mortgage payments, I've got a long term investment. However with a tech suit, all you have to show for your money after a year of use is just an expensive mop.
And with its waterproof characteristics, it may not be any good for that either.
Dolphin 2
Hey Aquageek
Actually, I won't be annoyed by that at all.
In fact I'm quite glad that someone is blowing their money and I have less competition for people bidding up real estate!!! :bump:
Dolphin 2
Yup that $500 swimsuit makes a big dent in demand for $1000/sq.ft real estate in San Francisco. Keep dreaming.
The complaint seems to be that the costly tech suits favor those with money. Top swimmers, however, get their biggest advantages not from their suits, but after they pay to swim year-around and more than once a day, and to swim under the best coaches and with the best teams. If Phelps had been a summer-league swimmer with a LZR, would you know his first name?
Here’s a change I can believe in: in the spirit of fairness, let’s persuade the breaststrokers who have been beating me in my backstroke events to clock fewer yards in their workouts and maybe take a few months off, too.
