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
Hmmm, to play the devil's advocate:
-- some say that the latest suits provide some buoyancy, giving a mechanical advantage
-- how does anything you say in support of tech suits, not also apply to wetsuits? It seems inconsistent to me to say that tech suits are okay but wetsuits are not.
Good points, however....
1) In a fairly distant past post, I advocated that all suits be no more than neutrally buoyant. I still believe that is the correct way to go. So, to amend what I said before and make it more explicit, I have no issue with passive advantages (e.g. reduced drag) of tech suits; I do have issues with anything that provides a true mechanical advantage such as positive buoyancy.
2) My take on wetsuits is actually a bit tongue-in-cheek, so sorry if my arid sense of humor got lost. Again, as I've said in the past, my belief on wetsuits for open water is that they are fine if it gets more people to participate, especially if the event raises money for charity. Like I said, I really don't care too much about getting another medal. Ideally, they wouldn't be positively buoyant, but to be realistic, I think that horse has already left the barn. However, people who wear wetsuits are moral lepers and I can allow myself to feel righteous and superior since I probably can't beat them anyway - when you are as slow as I am, you grasp at anything to salvage what little self-esteem you can.
-LBJ
I'm sorry, and this isn't directed at anyone in particular, but what is up with a modesty layer?QUOTE]
I wouldn't want to embarrass my fellow competitors.
Since you mentioned your girls, I guess it's my duty to mention the boys. Like yours, ours might hang a little lower when we age! I think wearing briefs under a full body suit can help keep the boys in place. The full body suits are sort of like a cheap hotel: no ball room. :banana:
I find a brief under the tech suit does make wearing it easier and requires less"adjustment" for comfort.It also means I can take the suit off for warm down without going back to the locker room.
Unsuspecting Swimmer (male) who saw the carnage unfold while waiting for his later heat continues to post annoying cryptic garbage on usms.org
Us smug jerks enjoy the cryptic things in life, especially when it bores some folks.
So maybe my question has been answered previously, but is it legal in USMS meets to wear briefs or jammers under a full body tech suit or are we at a one suit rule?
I'm only asking because my B70 will be hitting the supposed 25 "swim" rule about the time I jump on the blocks at nationals for my 400 IM. My 6year old daughter will be cheering behind my blocks and she just doesn't need to see Dad pull a Tall Paul:)
P.S. I went to the store in town that sells a lot of B70s and they said that everything is on back order and that the company was having a hard time filling demand. They claimed no one's really got them in stock. Anyone else heard this? I've got time, but am going to have a backup suit with me at Clovis, so I guess I need to pre-order now.
For convenience: so I don't need to go to the locker room to take it off after the race.
For emergencies: in case the B70 rips badly just before the race, so I can strip it off quickly and still swim.
But don't sell modesty short, I'm sure the timers in Paul Smith's lane wished that he was wearing briefs when the seat of his B70 ripped at LCM nationals. :)
Using this reasoning, women should wear them too.
But don't sell modesty short, I'm sure the timers in Paul Smith's lane wished that he was wearing briefs when the seat of his B70 ripped at LCM nationals. :)
Chris, for the sake of accuracy:
Timer #1 (male) had a heart attack and has since moved into a monestary
Timer #2 (female) missed it and thinks the other timers were lying
Timer #3 (female) is still trying to get me to go on a date
So the jury is still out.
Chris, for the sake of accuracy:
Timer #1 (male) had a heart attack and has since moved into a monestary
Timer #2 (female) missed it and thinks the other timers were lying
Timer #3 (female) is still trying to get me to go on a date
So the jury is still out.
Unsuspecting Swimmer (male) who saw the carnage unfold while waiting for his later heat continues to post annoying cryptic garbage on usms.org
Brundage- You can't get them anywhere except Australia, that I've seen. With shipping it's well over $500! Roque said we'll be able to order them in March and hopefully get them by Pac Champs (in April).
