Speed Suit or Not?

Hey Everyone

We were wondering if speed suits be banned in non wetsuit races?? Give us your reasons why.

Kia Kaha

Bevan

Comments

[Ross (from Slough & France)]

Should definitely be banned. It's crazy that FINA has also ratified them, opening up the possibility of inferior swimmers breaking world records (a few went already last week.) Bring back the Speedo !

[Jubby]

If you can qualify for Kona in a wetsuit event, it doesn't make sense that when you get there you can't have the extra 'help'.
You wouldn't ban tribars from the bike leg or racing flats from the run would you? It's just a case of technology moving the event forward.

[Greg, Hudson Ohio USA]

Ban skin suits? No way. It would be a step backwards like banning aero helmets or disk wheels.

Similar questions are asked about pro golf, where golf ball technology allows a hacker to hit it 300 yards. The genie is out of the bottle, and there is no putting him back in.

Besides, new gear and technology each year is part of triathlon.

[Dan Trepod]

If you really want the fastest overall triathlete to win then they should be disallowed.

But I have no problem with them. The race organizer should announce well in advance if they will be legal or not .

I do wish they hadn't been invented though because it's one more thing to buy and I doubt I'll ever get one.

[Towel]

With the money that people spend on tri stuff anyway, if they want more speed they can now buy it, like you can on a bike.

If they are legal, other companies will get off their arses and start making some competitive alternatives...which is always going to be better for us.

If you can buy it and anyone can buy it then fine.

[ed hawkins]

allow them i say.

running spikes werent allowed when they first came out many year ago, because they were thought to be ungentlemanly!

now you wouldn't turn to a track meeting without them would you?

its just the evolution of our young sport, thats all.

[HOT STUFF]

There is no way that they will be banned and thats final!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just cause it makes people faster doesnt mean that it should be banned.People who dont technologic advances in triathlon should just curl up and die in a rest home.If we banned everything, we wouldnt be albe to use disc wheels, aero bars,wesuits and even elastic laces.

ohh and a BIG thanks to the guys at art of tri :) loving the shirt. Its a great fit and i look so hot in it.

[Ben Falconer]

Hi Guys love ya show got lot of great info and interviews in it I am currently in Canada training for Biathlon for the New Zealand Cross country ski Team

Was trying to down load episode 44 but it seems to only have 6 min worth is that all or was there a problem with that one

keep up all the good work and one day i would love to Meets ya's and may be i will do a iron man but first i am on a mission to make it to the Winter Olympics

[Russell]

Either it's a wetsuit, in which case you shouldn't be able to use it in non wetsuit races. Or it isn't a wetsuit, in which case you should keep it on for the bike and run.
Paddles and fins have been around for a long time but you can't use them.....

[TriPlod]

It does make wetsuit and non-wetsuit races more comparable, but personally I'm a bit saddened whenever a new toy is added to the sport. It should be about what you can achieve, not how much money you spend.

Love the show by the way!

[Oli]

hi guys

I think that speed suits are a good idea prehaps at camp kia kaha we should have a test race between speed suit, wetsuit and tri pants.

Oli

[Towel]

Anything that gets grown men out of speedos for a traithlon is a good thing right.

Imagine what it looks like to regular people who go to watch IM racing to be presented with semi naked men sporting a big pant moustache.

[Roger]

If there is to be a criticism of speed suits - or any other technological aid - it is that they provide an "unfair" advantage to more affluent athletes. Such athletes can, quite literally, purchase speed that is otherwise unavailble to those with limited resources. Obviously, it would be unreasonbly idealistic to think these disparities could ever be removed from the sport of triathlon; triathletes will always have different equipment, either by choice or circumstance - such as economic limitations. Like it or not, ours is a sport where being "the best" is not determined by athletic proficiency alone. Technology - and the money to buy it - are key factors.

[Towel]

Not sure i agree with Roger.

You can spend £200 on a disc wheel or £2000 on one, but the performance is very similar.

You can spend £1000 on tri bars or buy some off ebay for £10...the performance will be similar.

Buy dura ace or 105, the performance similar.

You can buy speed, but you can spend a lot more having bling.

How much more is a point zero than a good tri suit? at £99 Not much. People can choose to use one or not, its available for all so should be allowed.

[wonderboy]

Similar things have happened in golf where technology is making the game easier. So course designers are making it tougher. Lets make the swim tougher by introducing sharks and obstacle courses!

[Fegan]

Haven't listened to the show yet as I'm trapped in London.

But to be honest, I think although slightly quicker its not going to stop a good swimmer beating a poor swimmer in a speed suit. I'm sure 1/2 the people wearing them will lose just as much time taking the damn thing off.

I hardly think records are going to tumble due to 30 seconds being knocked off the swim.

Onwards and upwards....

[gumps]

No at Hawaii - it's a race for the elite. Yes at any other race, not for the benefit of the god swimmers, but people like me who had not swum over 800m without a wetsuit before an IM and then had the ability to use one pulled 2 days before. It's my fault, but the weaker swimmers would be aided, especially those of us with heavy legs and gut flotation.

[Andy]

Hi Guys
No wetsuit is no wetsuit, a speedsuit is not a wetsuit so its no problem. If the race said no wetsuits or speedsuits it would be clear. As for people buying speed this happens already and we all stand around looking at the lovely bikes we wish we had, in a few years we will do this with speedsuits as well.All i can say is i may not be able to afford a speedsuit but i can get on the feet of someone who can and grab the free speed for free.

[Stevo]

Not sure you'll get as far as this post when doing your P's guys but here goes anyway...

Plus points:
- Triathlon is a great sport for innovation and embracing new technology. It would be a shame to get stuck in the previous century like some cycle based events (e.g. The Hour record).

Negatives:
- Most of the reasons for having a non-wetsuit swim apply to speedsuits?
- Introduces a 'grey area' into the rules.

My opinion:
No-neoprene or any other floatation material in a non-wetsuit swim sounds like a better rule to me.

[Seano the Porno]

Gear is part of the sport - as long its consistent with the disciplines (e.g. FINA allow it) then its all good. Same for cycling and running. Everything is evolving and if it all gets a bit much, then we can always roll back to the budgie smuggler...the old school way. And while you're at it single speed bikes with shifters on the tube, and New Balance running shoes...and fluoro gear!

[Towel]

Seano..Question for you.

Why would single speed bikes need shifters?

[Roger]

Towel misses the point. It is not whether someone can afford the most expensive speedsuit, it is whether they can afford a speedsuit in the first place. Speedsuits are luxury items. You do not need a speedsuit to participate in triathlon. The same is true of disc wheels and aerobars; neither is required to participate in the sport. The benefits these technological aides provide may be nominal (and, no, greater cost does not mean greater benefit), but they are benefits nonetheless. Given the choice, would you rather have the aids or not? Some don't have the choice. Again, it is not whether you can afford gear with the greatest "bling-factor," it is whether you can afford luxuries - like speedsuits - in the first place.

[Fegan]

Happy 100th episode.

A big thank you for many an hour of thought provoking "infotainment"

Oh and on speedsuits, it'll be just like passing someone on a bling bike or seeing them parked in T1 as you ride off on something 1/3rd of the price. It'll be fun watching people wade out the water in 1:20+ in a pointzero3.

[Packer]

Speedsuits need to be banned! Then it'll give us hairy guys a real excuse for shaving our chest, back, arms etc!