why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster
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2008-08-20 8:36 AM |
Master 3546 Millersville, MD | Subject: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster The whole thread on how a dolphin kick is faster than freestyle because of the turbulance/drag created by being on top of the water, why does being more buoyant make one faster with a wetsuit? Seems like it would just push more of me out of the water, which I assume only increases the amount of turbulance (since I'm mostly underwater even when floating without a wetsuit). I understand that the rubber may be more slippery than my clothing or skin (so a speedsuit makes perfect sense). But all these neoprene panels to raise me up out of the water have me baffled. I trust that it's faster, but I want to know why. |
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2008-08-20 8:37 AM in reply to: #1615668 |
Master 1989 New Jersey | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster Because it helps you float so you're in a proper position (more level), especially your legs. |
2008-08-20 8:39 AM in reply to: #1615668 |
Master 1826 | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster Most triathlete swimmers drop there legs and don't have proper hip positioning.. the wetsuit lifts your leg and hips to the correct position |
2008-08-20 8:57 AM in reply to: #1615668 |
Veteran 218 Plano, Texas | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster |
2008-08-20 1:14 PM in reply to: #1615734 |
Member 1699 | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster I would guess the primary factor is the leg position to reduce drag. However, I don't have the data to back this up, but I would think once part of you is out of the water, the more of you out, the better. |
2008-08-20 1:32 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster If you can hold your breath for the length of your swim while dolphin kicking, then that would be faster than swimming with a wetsuit. But I'm guessing you can't... |
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2008-08-20 2:21 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Giver 18427 | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster Besides the bouyancy thing, and one reason fullsuits are faster than john suits, is that with sleeves, the surface area of your forearms is greater. So, if you have an efficient catch, you grab more water with your forearms than if you don't have sleeves. |
2008-08-20 2:52 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Member 52 Bettendorf, Iowa | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster I just have to say.....I couldn't find any benefit to me by wearing a wetsuit. I don't swim any faster and I don't float any better. I'm convinced that the only benefit is staying warm when the water temp is cold. Do you all really find a noticeable difference when wearing a wetsuit, especially as it relates to flotation. What am I missing???? |
2008-08-20 2:53 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Master 3546 Millersville, MD | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster If the PRIMARY benefit comes from floating my legs in a more streamlined position (recognizing that there are other benefits like the hydrodynamic surface on my torso and the point about my arms having more surface area above), would I likely get most of the benefit by just wearing a wetsuit bottom? I ask because if I swim in 65 degree water without a wetsuit I will be HOT when I get out... sweating big time immediately after. I have worn a wetsuit twice in races and both times despite relatively cool water temps I have felt very overheated by the time the swim finished. |
2008-08-20 3:00 PM in reply to: #1616923 |
Extreme Veteran 1030 West Windsor, NJ | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster jansenwins - 2008-08-20 3:52 PM Do you all really find a noticeable difference when wearing a wetsuit, especially as it relates to flotation. What am I missing???? Are you sure you are wearing a tri-wetsuit? I find the buoyancy extremely obvious. Like wearing a life vest. |
2008-08-20 3:02 PM in reply to: #1616923 |
Champion 6539 South Jersey | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster jansenwins - 2008-08-20 3:52 PM Do you all really find a noticeable difference when wearing a wetsuit, especially as it relates to flotation. What am I missing???? Yes. Especially if it's a deep/in-water start. You don't even have to tread, you just sort of float there before the gun goes off. I only move my arms to prevent from drifting away if there's any current. If you bend your legs up a bit, you can just sort of "sit" in the water. |
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2008-08-20 3:03 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Pro 4528 Norwalk, Connecticut | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster i have been looking into the Desoto Speed Tube, you can get Bottoms and Tops separate, long sleeve or tank top, mix and match kinda. I have a longer torso and shorter legs, so i think you can get the benefit of both worlds or use what you need for that day. |
2008-08-20 3:04 PM in reply to: #1616932 |
Master 1826 | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster For myself.. I have noticed a 12 second speed increase per 100m .. I swim about a 1:40/1:42 or so per hundred in races.. so not the greatest swimmer, but not terrible. In response to the heat question, I would say that doesn't completely jive with scientific research on the subject. I don't have the links with me, but it is discussed in the tri-talk podcast.. Tested in a controlled environment a 30 minute swim by the same athlete in water .5 degrees below wetsuit legal with and without wetsuit showed a 1.5 degree higher surface skin temperature with no higher internal body temperature. Within 15 minutes the increased surface temperature had completely dissipated. But the performance by the athlete substantially stronger with less fatigue on the swim, with no residual affects of the increased temperature on bike performance. (since less fatigue on swim, bike performance may have been better but don't completely remember the end of the podcast) |
2008-08-20 3:28 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Member 297 Ann Arbor | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster The reason why wetsuits make for more speed in the water is simple: Less drag. Movement in air causes less friction, and movement in water causes more. Since the body is more bouyant in a wetsuit, there is less of the body in the water; thus less drag. To top it off, it is easier to BALANCE in the water with a wetsuit since there are several centers of bouyancy with a wetsuit unlike very few without.
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2008-08-20 3:50 PM in reply to: #1617107 |
Member 1699 | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster I swim as much as 20% faster with less effort in a wetsuit. The other day I noticed I barely needed to move to tread water. It is definitely warmer too. I love my wetsuit. |
2008-08-20 3:53 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Expert 1073 scottsdale, az | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster I'm about the same pace in my wetsuit swimming laps HOWEVER I think that's because I stop every length to turn around, rather than try to do a flip turn. In open water races I'm about 10-15 seconds faster per 100. |
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2008-08-20 4:07 PM in reply to: #1617177 |
Expert 1231 B'ham | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster gymgirlx - 2008-08-20 1:53 PM I'm about the same pace in my wetsuit swimming laps HOWEVER I think that's because I stop every length to turn around, rather than try to do a flip turn. In open water races I'm about 10-15 seconds faster per 100. The pool at our gym is short (6 lengths = 100 yds) so there are a lot of turns involved in a workout. Swimming in my wetsuit in the OW, I'm about 20sec/100 faster. I know swimming in the wetsuit is easier, but how much of that speed is gained from not having to turnaround is unknown. The added buoyancy is nice and I know I feel like I glide much better with my wetsuit on. I love my wetsuit and have starting viewing the pool like the treadmill - ok if you have to, but outdoors is soooooo much better. |
2008-08-20 5:04 PM in reply to: #1616978 |
Veteran 118 Skokie, IL | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster Rudedog55 - 2008-08-20 3:03 PM i have been looking into the Desoto Speed Tube, you can get Bottoms and Tops separate, long sleeve or tank top, mix and match kinda. I have a longer torso and shorter legs, so i think you can get the benefit of both worlds or use what you need for that day. I just did a race in the bottoms only. The water temperature was 77 if even that and I knew I would overheat in even in the vest. I imagine I would have been faster in the vest or even the full top, but the trade off well worth it if you can stand people looking at you a little strange. Te De Soto rocks and lets me swim in Lake Michigan when very cold and still gain some speed/bouyancy when its very warm |
2008-08-20 6:10 PM in reply to: #1616957 |
Member 52 Bettendorf, Iowa | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster JohnAgs3 - 2008-08-20 3:00 PM jansenwins - 2008-08-20 3:52 PM Are you sure you are wearing a tri-wetsuit? I find the buoyancy extremely obvious. Like wearing a life vest.
Do you all really find a noticeable difference when wearing a wetsuit, especially as it relates to flotation. What am I missing???? Gosh, I bought it used at my LBS and I sure hope it is a wet-suit for tris...is there a difference? Something is wrong here though if you are telling me it should literally feel like I am wearing a life vest. I truly feel no flotation help at all....weird. My suit is sleeveless and covers my legs to just above my knees. The brand is "Trimax" and it is 90% neoprene and 10% nylon. Anyone able to help me make sense of this "nonfloating" wetsuit of mine?
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2008-08-20 8:43 PM in reply to: #1615668 |
Extreme Veteran 1030 West Windsor, NJ | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster Never heard of trimax, personally, but that doesnt mean much. But, it would really be odd for you to not feel buoyant in a tri-wetsuit. I literally feel myself pop to the surface once I turn in the pool, and as LaurenSU02 said..in a deep water start you basically sit there like someone is holding you (again, it reminds me of water-skiing days and a good life vest that holds you vertical). Check into it. Something doesnt seem right. |
2008-08-21 10:56 AM in reply to: #1617685 |
Member 1699 | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster It seems an odd shape for a tri-suit to be above the knees. Maybe there is just not enough material there for the bouyancy to show enough. If you dunk it in the water, does it come to the surface? |
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2008-08-21 11:23 AM in reply to: #1615668 |
Member 118 West Simsbury, CT | Subject: RE: why does wetsuit buoyancy make me faster All swimming (above the water/breaking the water line) is burdened with 2 forces that need to be overcome, staying buoyant and moving forward. Wetsuits are faster because they significantly reduce the amount of energy expended in staying buoyant. Yes, they also have less drag than human skin/clothing, but the biggest value comes from the buoyancy profile.It has been proven that the use of a full suit wetsuit improves your average 100m time by 4-8 seconds vs. the same effort with out one. As for hip position, head position, etc., all are rooted in the buoyancy offered by a wetsuit. Lastly, if they weren't significantly faster and if full body wetsuits weren't better than 'johnnys' you wouldn't see every elite pro in the world using them.So, net/net if you want to take this kind of time out of your next race, definately use a full body wetsuit. Zoot, Blue Seventy and Orca are all very good brands. |