You are close on the differences between air and water densities. Air resistance is dependent on velocity and the size of the object facing the resistance. The difference isn't 1000x, but closer to 2x. Sorry Q. I realized my mistake afterward and whilst walking back from tonight's session, I was anxious to post an edit. Sorry again.
I am still unsure about how you end up with 2x though. Could you explain?
But for these folks, getting more aero is achieved by improving the position, and the equipment. Technique has relatively little to do about it.
That said, for a few years now, we have seen pro riders on Grand Tours that break out from the pack, thus exposing themselves to the wind, using a special technique. They just pose their wrists on top of the handle bar for achieving a position similar to that obtained with time trial bike equipment.
I tried it. I even got my handle bar tapes modified for better grip (if we can call that a grip). It's a kph toll free. And a full kilo per hour is Huge when time trialing, or escaping. So you would think it's a technique, that most should learn? I'd answer that most cycling coaches will discourage you doing this. They consider that these pro riders should not be copied. Too dangerous. The techie that modified my tapes, a former cycling coach, old Italian fart thought I was crazy, didn't want to do it at first.
So we swim coach see opportunities for technical improvement more easily than our cycling counterparts it seems. Except maybe at a high level, but I am not sure that the directive to hold their handle bar this way comes from their coach.
You are close on the differences between air and water densities. Air resistance is dependent on velocity and the size of the object facing the resistance. The difference isn't 1000x, but closer to 2x. Sorry Q. I realized my mistake afterward and whilst walking back from tonight's session, I was anxious to post an edit. Sorry again.
I am still unsure about how you end up with 2x though. Could you explain?
But for these folks, getting more aero is achieved by improving the position, and the equipment. Technique has relatively little to do about it.
That said, for a few years now, we have seen pro riders on Grand Tours that break out from the pack, thus exposing themselves to the wind, using a special technique. They just pose their wrists on top of the handle bar for achieving a position similar to that obtained with time trial bike equipment.
I tried it. I even got my handle bar tapes modified for better grip (if we can call that a grip). It's a kph toll free. And a full kilo per hour is Huge when time trialing, or escaping. So you would think it's a technique, that most should learn? I'd answer that most cycling coaches will discourage you doing this. They consider that these pro riders should not be copied. Too dangerous. The techie that modified my tapes, a former cycling coach, old Italian fart thought I was crazy, didn't want to do it at first.
So we swim coach see opportunities for technical improvement more easily than our cycling counterparts it seems. Except maybe at a high level, but I am not sure that the directive to hold their handle bar this way comes from their coach.
