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?
I do not have a problem with well designed pools because everyone who swims in them get the the same advantage. Same thing with lane lines.
I'd like to see them get rid of swim caps for men.
I don't care about shaving.Some people have little to no hair and somw people are like wookies. I don't see the problem allowing people to shave.
Goggles allow swimmers to up their mileage and train harder.
The only thing tech suits do is set up an unfair playing field. They cost more than some colleges can afford. They cost more than many people including me can afford. They cost more than many age group parents can afford. They have been unavailble for some swimmers in the past and continue to be unavailable for some now. They malfunction and have caused delays in races. Any moderately decent swimmer can drop time by simply purchasing one.
The reason I like briefs is because they are relatively inexpensive. They are easily available. With so little of the body covered and so little fabric used I believe that it would not matter what material they are made of hence less cheating.
In summary I like fairness and tech suits as they are right now are not fair. Since I'm not in charge go ahead and buy your time you seem to be able to justify it in your own mind.
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.
Now...that is funny! Geek, the next time I see you, remind me to rip your arms out of your sockets and beat you senseless with them. That was so good that I coughed up a hairball from laughing too hard.
In summary I like fairness and tech suits as they are right now are not fair. Since I'm not in charge go ahead and buy your time you seem to be able to justify it in your own mind.
Life(sports included) isn't fair. You pay membership dues to a pool...you buy your time. You pay someone to coach you, you are buying your time. You pay for goggles, you are buying your time. You pay a membership fee to a health club to lift weights, use cardio machines, take pilates classes, you are buying your time. So, everything that involves swimming is buying your time...not just the suits.
In summary, Geek is right you are a cheap.
... and that lazy swimmers would have to train harder to drop their times 2% instead of buying a time.
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?
...drop their times 2% ...
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'm surprised that you techies can't see the difference between a $5 pair of goggles and a $500 wetsuit.
I am surprised that you don't admit that they make your times faster.
I am not surprised at the name calling; braggart, moral superiorty, preachy, sniveling, controling, elitist, idiot, two-faced, cheap, or troll.
Statements like, "Are you off the meds?", "Are you really that stupid?", or "You are a moron", are emotional responses that have nothing to do with the issue. Perhaps they make you feel good.
I'm thinking that the best reason for allowing the suits is "They are fun".
For me, that doesn't outweigh the downsides. It's close though.
