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?
Yeah, but remember the good old days when if you won a race you knew it was because you were the fastest swimmer rather than you spent the most on a suit?
I think we need some perspective. They really aren't that expensive, they are just expensive as compared to other swim gear. They pale in comparison to the gear required of most other sports that adults enjoy. A weekend hacker will not think twice about dropping $500 for a new driver or spending $25 every weekend for a sleeve of balls. It's just something else vying for our entertainment dollars and probably not worth 2% of the angst it is generating.
Fort beat me in the 100 back not because she was wearing a better suit but because she is a better swimmer. If you resort to blaming the gear, you are making a great misstep.
I think we need some perspective. They really aren't that expensive, they are just expensive as compared to other swim gear. They pale in comparison to the gear required of most other sports that adults enjoy. A weekend hacker will not think twice about dropping $500 for a new driver or spending $25 every weekend for a sleeve of balls. It's just something else vying for our entertainment dollars and probably not worth 2% of the angst it is generating.
Absolutely. If I think about my "swim equipment" spend in a year, it generally amounts to
1 or 2 new drag suits for workout (maybe $75)
2 to 3 pairs of goggles (maybe $50)
1 new competition suit ($375 with the B70 purchase)
1 new competition cap ($25 speed cap)
I don't train with a cap, but, even if I did, I've got a drawer full of caps from open water swims that came with the entry fee.
TOTAL ~ $525 for a year
Admittedly, I don't use "toys" in workouts, but those are multi-year investments.
would those who support a complete separate division for wetsuit wearers in open water also support a complete separate division for old school speedo wearers in pool competition?
thats the question i would like to know the answer to.
(guess how i voted)
Good question. I wouldn't mind at all. It's not really feasible of course. But, in theory, I would have no problem with tech suit division vs. practice speedo division.
Good question. I wouldn't mind at all. It's not really feasible of course. But, in theory, I would have no problem with tech suit division vs. practice speedo division.
All the fast swimmers wear tech suits. I would want to swim with the faster swimmers regardless of what I wear.
I think Jim Clemmons is swimming such a variety of events and doing so well. We run into each other one year per age-group and believe me he is the real deal. I think he is getting better and learning more about what works for him each year. One hell of a swimmer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Jim Clemmons is swimming such a variety of events and doing so well. We run into each other one year per age-group and believe me he is the real deal. I think he is getting better and learning more about what works for him each year. One hell of a swimmer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahh, gee. :blush: Thanks Bob.
All the fast swimmers wear tech suits. I would want to swim with the faster swimmers regardless of what I wear.
In 2007, I had the #2 time in the country in my LCM 800 and #1 in LCM 1500. Wearing a $15 grab bag speedo brief, $2.95 cap and $4.95 sweedes.
From what I can tell, virtually all my competitors are wearing B70s, so I'd say the playing field -- at least with respect to tech suits -- is even.
So the net result is the sport has gotten more expensive for everyone.
One other thing I've noticed. I know people have been wearing tech suits for quite a while now. One thing that has because much more common, I think, is people wearing them for every competition. It used to be you'd go to a smallish local meet and only see a couple people wearing body suits. Now they are commonplace at any meet you go to.
In 2007, I had the #2 time in the country in my LCM 800 and #1 in LCM 1500. Wearing a $15 grab bag speedo brief, $2.95 cap and $4.95 sweedes.
Braggart. OK, let me rephrase, 99.9% of fast swimmers these days wear the fast suits. I'm sure there are one offs here and there but as a general rule, you see the tech suits in the big meets in the fastest heats.
