Drafting while Swimming
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brittda posted 1 year ago.
Yup, works like a charm and you can save about %25 in energy (or more from what I have read). Just don't be hitting the other swimmers feet in front of you. I don't know that I would worry about it in a sprint but for an IM it's a great idea.
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
Drafting can be a mixed blessing, depending on who you are following. Some folks don't exactly swim straight, and you can find yourself well off-course or zig-zagging badly if you're not paying attention. I almost followed the lead swimmer turning toward the finish line when there was one buoy left. Fortunately, I figured it out in a couple of yards and headed back for the last buoy. The lead swimmer didn't and ended up having to come all the way back out. I could've had an extra 1,000 yards to swim if I was just drafting along and not paying attention.
That being said, if you can tuck in behind an experienced triathlete who is swimming relatively straight of the same or faster speed, you can save yourself a lot of energy for the bike and run.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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CadenceGuy posted 1 year ago.
Ironmom hit it on the head. Drafting behind experienced 'straight' swimmers can save so much for the rest of the race. If they are swimming at your pace then your going to be golden heading into T1. When I find myself in a good drafting spot I still make sure to sight but I dont need to do it as much. I wouldnt try going say 125% to get in with the lead pack if thats not your pace just to try to save effort onn drafting, math doesnt work that way, at least not for my anyways.
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jonovision_man posted 1 year ago.
I'm in a triathlon swim class... it's one of the drills we do, going around the outside of the pool drafting.
First time we did I was a bit doubtful, but WOW, what a difference. The closer you can get to the person's feet the better, but as long as your lead arm is in their moving bubbles it seems to work.
How do I know it's working? Because sometimes you lose the person in front of you in the turns... :) You have to work WAY harder just to get back up to their feet! :)
jono
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orangedog posted 1 year ago.
TriSooner wrote:
Just don't draft off of me: I'll get you off-course.
I also like to stop frequently. :)
www.theorangedog.net
skills>> spirits>> speed>>
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Socket posted 1 year ago.
I tried at the last Tri I did this year and it did seem to help; I felt the bubbles and thought "cool lemme draft off this guy for a bit" but didn't alter my effort any and almost got a foot sandwich.
I wouldn't recommend anyone draft off me 'cuz you'll turn your 500 meter swim into a 1000 meter as I swing waaaaaaay off course constantly.
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
One good reason to find a Master's swim group is that you can practice drafting a lot. After awhile, you can draft just from the feel of the bubbles. My favorite lane-mate is a guy we call "The Barge". He's fast, big, and has a terrific draft. Just get behind him and coast...
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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beads1985 posted 1 year ago.
I am no expert but I have done this on many occasions.
The key is following someone that is about you speed or slightly faster.
Follow the bubbles and sight carefully.
'Nothing to it, but to do it!'
I was reading through an issue of Men's Health (Sept.) and came across this:
"It's not worth jumping out front during a triathlon's swim: You can save energy in the water by sticking close to the pack. After a series of lab tests, Portuguese scientists concluded that a swimmer who stays 2 feet behind another athlete's foot kicks experiences 44 percent less drag through the water. What's more, you can draft off another triathlete from as far back as 19 feet and still reduce your drag by 16 percent. 'You'll maintain an overall higher race pace, since you'll be sparing energy,' says Antonio Silva, Ph.D., the study's lead author."
I've only done one tri, and I stayed behind the pack. Either I'm ahead in methodology or I'm just slow.
In any event, I hadn't heard of this before, and thought I'd post it in case other newbies found it interesting.
www.theorangedog.net
skills>> spirits>> speed>>