Bear Hunting

Goldilocks set at swimming this morning. For who haven't read about this set before, a Goldilocks set is:

4 x 100
200m - Baby Bear
4 x 100m
300m - Mama Bear
4 x 100m
400m - Papa Bear

Everything is done at the same pace, which is close to threshold. It is a tough set and always a bit of a killer. Well today I found a solution to the Goldilocks problem. It is called a wetsuit.

Using  the wetsuit, the normal turn around times we do were just so easy. Cruising. It was a lot of fun. Even though I have been swimming in wetsuits for a few years now, it always amazes me just how much difference it makes. Particularly this wetsuit. I have just started using a new wetsuit. It is a Huub Archimedes. I have spoken about these wetsuits before because I used one for Challenge Gold Coast. However, that wetsuit was a bit of a loaner, wereas the one I was in this morning is all mine. It is also brand spanking new, so this morning was the first time it got wet in anger. Actually that is one of the reasons that I swam in it this morning. I think nearly every athlete has had the piece of advice about never using new equipment for the first time on race day. I am a big believer in that. It is especially true for wetsuits which tend to be a bit tight and stiff when they are brand new. Always good to get a few swims done in them to get them to loosen up a little bit.

Previously when I have spoken about the Huub Archimedes I have been fairly impressed and that impression hasn't changed. It is a bit of a guided missle of a wetsuit. I don't just mean that as a reference to its speed, which is certainly good, but more in reference to its approach. Flexibility where you need it, but not where you don't. Buoyancy where you need it, but not where you don't. It is a scapel as opposed to some wetsuits that use buoyance more like a club. To give you an example, this Huub is easily the tightest wetsuit I have owned, since it is new it is really, really snug. However, whilst new, it comes of the easiest of any of the wetsuits I have owned. This is due to areas of flexibilty built into the ankles and arms which mean it doesn't get caught up when you try and take it off fast. Clever hey? That is farily typical of the wetsuit.

Not all rose scented glasses though. They are a bit on the fragile side. All race wetsuits are, but Huub's seem to be particuarly so. I think this is partly due to the amount of high flexibility, but fragile, neoprene they use. The fragility has a purpose, that being flexibility, but it also demands a bit of care. Other than that though, I am very happy with the suit.

In other training, I had a great ride last night. I was right in my expectations from yesterday afternoon, it was really windy last night, even by Perth standards. But once I got myself over that I managed to have a very fun session which hit all the targets.

Back on the bike again tomorrow for a another long(ish) ride. Last one before Mandurah. I then have a brick session on Sunday which will be a bit of a dress reherasal for Mandurah, race wheels, the lot. Race time is here.