Swimming | Evolving Consumer

Computer Differentiates Swim Strokes, Laps

Finis Swimsense — Not sure what stroke you're swimming? The Swimsense will confirm.

This little computer likes to get wet. Some swimmers already wear a heart rate monitor in the pool to track exertion and calories burned, but that’s only part of the picture. Swimsense from Finis records the number of laps swum, total distance, calories burned, lap time, pace, and stroke count. It can even differentiate between backstroke, breastroke, butterfly and freestyle as you’re putting in those laps. Go home and sync the Swimsense with your computer to log how many laps you swim in a week, and your training progress.

If there’s anything disappointing about this watersport watch, it’s that there’s not an optional heart rate monitor for those who don’t mind wearing a strap on their chest in the pool. It makes the calories burned measure more accurate, and helps swimmers better pace themselves.

The Swimsense Performance Monitor will be available for the holidays, and just in time for swimmers making New Year’s resolutions to up their number of laps and keep at it. The monitor is expected to retail for about $199.

Finis Swimsense product page

New Performance Fabrics Processed with Plasma

It’s the gas in your TV. And now it’s the gas that created the surface of your clothes. Plasma is a gas created by applying electrical fields to pure gas or gas mixtures in a vacuum chamber. A Swiss company called Eschler is using plasma to cause systematic surface modifications to fabrics. Translation: A process that creates water-resistant, water-absorbing and dirt-repellent fabrics through the use of electricity and an ionic gas rather than the use of chemicals or excessive water. Plasma changes the surface of the fabric to grant these properties through particular textures whether they’re smooth or mottled. The process has traditionally been achieved through the use of wet processing with chemicals and lots and lots of water. The chemical process often makes the fabric too stiff, and wears away with repeated washing.

Continue reading New Performance Fabrics Processed with Plasma

Wet Suits To Change for 2013

Thin is in, especially for many tri-athletes. After all that swimming, cycling and running you’re sure to burn some calories. But come 2013 another type of thin will be in, as in the rules. Beginning in 2013 the thickness of wet suits will be the name of the game. The USA Triathlon announced that beginning on “January 1, 2013 swimmers wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than five millimeters shall be disqualified.”

Thus those greater than the thickness will not be permitted at USAT-sanctioned events. According to the press release:

“Our board has been considering this issue and the impact it might have with our athletes for some time,” said USA Triathlon CEO Skip Gilbert. “The overall feeling is that it makes perfect sense to align with the guidelines set by our international federation and multisport enthusiasts around the world. This is a standard that is good for the athlete community and our sport overall.”

So what does this mean? Well, nothing more than the USAT will be in line with the international standard of five millimeters, which is already recognized by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and other National Governing Bodies. Fortunately as many suits are currently greater in thickness, there will be a grace period as these suits are phased out.

[Via Competitor.com: USA Triathlon Adopts New Wetsuit Regulation Starting In 2013]

Poseidon in the Pool

The Greek God Poseidon ruled over the water, and now technology bearing his name is being used in some YMCA pools to help monitor swimmers. CBS42.com is reporting that this technology utilizes three cameras in each corner of the pool, along with software to detect when there is no motion. This is used in conjunction with actual lifeguards.

The computer-aided drowning detection system is being called a lifeguard’s third eye that never blinks. It can analyze activity in the pool, and in water that is less than nine feet deep can work simply with overhead cameras. It can also aid lifeguards to a simmer in trouble. It uses a network of small, digital cameras that can quickly identify situations that could be life-threatening, such as when a person is motionless underwater.

Poseidon Official Site
[Via CBS42.com: Poseidon of the Pool]

Tap Your Way Through Your Next Ironman

Whether you’re going the distance in an Ironman or just want to use the various logs while working out, the Timex Ironman Sleek 150-lap watch will allow you to see the results – and get through the various screens by just taping.

This TapScreen technology allows athletes to tap the face while swimming, cycling or running instead of having to locate and push buttons. This means you can spend more time looking at the results and less time trying to get there. This watch is also water resistant up to 100 meters – not that you’ll likely need to go to those depths, but as they say, “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” Or in this case it takes a licking and stills gives you the key facts in a digital readout, which includes large digits that offer information for 24-hour time, month, day and date display, and two time zones.

It offers a night-light with night-mode, target time pacer, dated training log with best lap, average lap and total time, 100-hour chronograph with lap and split times, 150-lap memory recall, 199-lap counter and on-the-fly lap or split recall. There are also alarms for hydration and nutrition so you don’t let those important details slip your mind. So next time you go for a training run, or are in a competition you can get all you need to know just by tapping away.

Timex Ironman Sleek 150-lap Watch

TYR These Goggles on for Size

Seeing isn’t merely believing, seeing is what allows you go from competitor to winner – at least when it comes to swimming.

And whether you’re hitting the pool, or getting wet and wild in a triathlon, the TYR Sports Nest Pro Nano will let you see clearly.

These performance goggles are inspired by the unique bird nest architectural design of Beijing’s main stadium that was used in the 2008 Olympics, and this nest design provides intertwined support to give a more open field of vision. That can be good in a pool or in open water. The Nano also features a nice and compact frame, along with smaller gaskets so it is ideal for smaller faces and children. And at $24 these goggles are affordable enough as well, allowing you to see your way to victory.

TYR Sports Online Store: Nest Pro Nano