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
to the 45 who have voted "best thing since sliced bread" i have two words for you:
FOCCACIA
CIABATTA
'nuff said
For those who voted "YES, they are an abomination, burn them all" or "Yes, there is too much potential unfairness", I say AGING, like life in general, is not fair.:D
B70...the GREAT AGING EQUALIZER:bliss:
to the 45 who have voted "best thing since sliced bread" i have two words for you:
FOCCACIA
CIABATTA
'nuff said
especially at mid-season meets.
Not to get too far off-topic, but what is a, "mid-season meet?"
Here in AZ, we have basically 3 meets a year, SCY/LCM/SCM. Once in a while there will be 2 meets of the same course (maybe one in Tucson/Flagstaff and one in the Phoenix area).
In the Pittsburgh area, which is very big in YMCA masters, and almost nonexistent in USMS swimming, we have Y league masters meets every 2-3 weeks from September to March. These are what I would call "mid season" meets. I always try to swim my best at these things, but cramming four events plus a relay or two into a 3-4 hour meet doesn't always give you optimum rest between events. In a way, they are almost a cross between swimming meets and sprint practices.
As far as body suits go, I recommend you check out swimoutlet.com (one of USMS sponsors, so I am not sure if it is against the rules to recommend them). Anyhow, they often have discontinued speed suits at pretty hefty discounts. They may not be the absolute fastest suits, but they can work really well compared to normal suits. I just got a Tyr kneeskin for $56 and used it, I am hoping, to make the Top 10 (fingers crossed) in a few events for SCM.
The reason I almost always wear some sort of speed suit in meets is because you never know when the stars will align just so to allow you to swim a really good race, especially in the short events. This brings up a slightly different topic, but I will throw it out anyhow. Which is swimming "mid season" meets half-heartedly. I usually really try in every meet I swim in, although maybe in the 500 is at the end, and I am truly exhausted, "really trying" becomes sort of relative. Anyhow, I see guys all the time come to such meets and essentially loaf, swimming slower than they do in practice.
What's up with that?
Not to get too far off-topic, but what is a, "mid-season meet?"
A meet for which you are untapered/unrested.
I often do not wear a tech suit at such meets, unless it is particularly important in some way (eg if I rest slightly and plan to swim an event that I won't swim later at my tapered meet). Or if I want to test out a new tech suit (better to find any problems before the big meet).
As an aside: current polling is 49-37 in favor of keeping the suits.
Do any guys still show up at a meet (any USMS meet) with just a plain old brief?
I'm thinking of doing a meet in 2009, but I haven't done a meet since USMS Nationals was here in AZ (a few years, maybe 2003 or 2004). I don't own any swimsuits other than briefs and drag suits (or board shorts). Will I look out of place?
While I understand that a tech suit will get me faster, I just can't rationalize spending the money on one....I'd rather use that for my travel budget.
Yes, maybe half of the males still swim in briefs at Pacific meets, including championships. In fact, I swam a 500 in one (just to get used to the walls) at a meet in Monterey last year then changed into a tech suit for a 1000 that took place about an hour later.
Jim T. described precisely what I meant by "mid-season meet."
Yes, Jim T and Chris S seemed to describe it pretty well. Basically it sounds like I'd keep doing my normal routine, except maybe take a few days off from weights/running before the meet (if not totally off, scale back a bit). I just want some fairly solid times (more solid than workouts) so I know where I stand.
I'm nowhere near any records/top 10, etc, and to me spending even $50 on a swimsuit seems like a waste of money, unless maybe I'm going to be doing some serious beach stuff in Hawaii or some other exotic location. As long as I don't look out of place, I'll do the meet in whatever suit I'm rotating through at the time, or maybe splurge for a new one (I usually spend $15-20 max on a suit). From what I read on here, it sounds like so many people wear these tech suits that it almost puts me off from doing a meet to begin with. I have money I could spend, but I'd rather save it for a nice vacation.
Do any guys still show up at a meet (any USMS meet) with just a plain old brief?
I'm thinking of doing a meet in 2009, but I haven't done a meet since USMS Nationals was here in AZ (a few years, maybe 2003 or 2004). I don't own any swimsuits other than briefs and drag suits (or board shorts). Will I look out of place?
While I understand that a tech suit will get me faster, I just can't rationalize spending the money on one....I'd rather use that for my travel budget.
