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?
Here is something I hadn't considered until this weekend,these suits are like the fountain of youth.At Fresno Nats I swam times I hadn't done in 5-11 yr.It's like I'm getting younger,it makes me feel younger and want to workout more.(Also the compression factor makes me look younger.)
Allen, I agree with you. The first time I tried any kind of speed suit was when the Aquablade came out. I concluded then that it didn't just take seconds off your times. It took years off your age.
When I did a USA Swimming meet last weekend, you didn't see one Blue Seventy or LZR. The kids were wearing older versions of the Jammers or Legskins. Most of the girls weren't even wearing kneeskins. Plus, some of the coaches have a rule that they can only wear the new tech suits at their taper meet.
Here is something I hadn't considered until this weekend,these suits are like the fountain of youth.At Fresno Nats I swam times I hadn't done in 5-11 yr.It's like I'm getting younger,it makes me feel younger and want to workout more.(Also the compression factor makes me look younger.)
I saw so many people wearing them laughing and having a great time. I was very tempted to get one.
