Why swimming machines/ergometers aren't a thing?

Triathlon Forum
61

Every year I look at a swim erg and every year I decide that it’s not in the budget. For the right price, I’d definitely own one.

What is the right price for you?

500$ for a “smart” one (with electronics, computer, connectivity etc.) and 250$ for a “dumb” one (no electronics); that is 20% more expensive than average rowers (you get a smart one for 400$ or even less), but yet reasonable

I got a Vasa trainer when this all started and I love it, but I agree it was a bit expensive. From what I’ve seen though the “Total Gym” machine looks really similar and falls within your price range. I can’t speak from experience on it though.

How much do people spend on smart trainers and C2 machines? That would be your real answer to this question.

62

I can end the suspense for you. Vasa is not a replacement for swimming in the pool. You won’t have gotten faster. More than likely you’ll be slower than when you left the pool. It doesn’t even mimic the stroke since you can’t rotate along the long axis of your body. The most important thing to develop for faster more efficient swimming is feel for the water. And if you aren’t in the water you are losing “feel.”

I could teach you how to meditate where you would feel better and swim faster than if you did the VASA.

Tim

63

Will do!

64

One thing you could add for someone like you (or at a higher caliber, Sam Gyde), is that once you have basic body position down and timing for breathing, then the Erg will help the propulsion phase and most so in wetsuit legal races.

I would use this approach for years, XC skiing like crazy in the winter and having very competitive swims 4-6 weeks later at spring races down south. I had many years where I did not swim at all. Just skied and started swimming only 4-6 weeks out.

The wetsuit is a great equalizer if you have basic body position, good cardio, timing of breathing and stong pull. The Vasa erg will take care of that strong pull and make you competitive enough in a time limited way in wetsuit legal events.

Thanks Dev. My year was supposed to be a Sprint and an Oly, looking to make the jump to full distance in 2021. I’ll have to keep in mind the role of the wetsuit in selecting the race. Maybe with some luck and some consistent effort I won’t need it(as much).

Guess I’ll just keep Vasa-ing until I can do otherwise.

65

I can end the suspense for you. Vasa is not a replacement for swimming in the pool. You won’t have gotten faster. More than likely you’ll be slower than when you left the pool. It doesn’t even mimic the stroke since you can’t rotate along the long axis of your body. The most important thing to develop for faster more efficient swimming is feel for the water. And if you aren’t in the water you are losing “feel.”

I could teach you how to meditate where you would feel better and swim faster than if you did the VASA.

Tim

I appreciate the straight talk, helps set expectations. Here’s hoping the pools can open(safely) soon…

66

As others said, dry land training alone isn’t going to make you any faster, but at least will allow to catch up a lot earlier with your pre-lockdown swimming fitness. Possibly the right mix of pool time and vasa training could actually boost your swimming

67

I can end the suspense for you. Vasa is not a replacement for swimming in the pool. You won’t have gotten faster. More than likely you’ll be slower than when you left the pool. It doesn’t even mimic the stroke since you can’t rotate along the long axis of your body. The most important thing to develop for faster more efficient swimming is feel for the water. And if you aren’t in the water you are losing “feel.”

I could teach you how to meditate where you would feel better and swim faster than if you did the VASA.

Tim

“I can end the suspense for you” made me ROFL!!! Somehow I missed the last part of this thread back in May. While dry-land workouts can help build swim-specific strength, dry-land training is simply a supplement. Actual, real world, in the water swimming, on the pace clock, is absolutely the only way to get faster. If it were otherwise, Phelps et al would be doing 4 hr/day of dry-land and 1 hr of actual swimming, vs they actually do the reverse. As a former Oly Trials lane mate of mine said during the COVID pool closures, “there’s just no substitute for putting in the yards.”