Swimming with fins

[mic]

Hi

The mission for fitness goes on. As well as going to the gym, I've started to swim for a bit after for a bit of cardio. Am enjoying it. Have seen them fins you can get and am tempted to try a pair. I'm not bothered about spending an hour plodding up and down nonstop. I've been doing a length or 2 as fast as I can between rests giving the heart a good 'ol pump. So thought I might go even faster and maybe give legs more of a workout using fins.

Anyone use em?
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zzr600

[delsol]

You will propel yourself faster, and with less effort than without them, you will in effect be exercising less.

You can develop good 'finning' technique and strengthen your legs, but you can only 'fin' harder up to a point, you can only 'push' so much water in a given time, the resistance becomes too great.

[mic]

fair point. but wont it make you use your arms faster to keep up the pace?
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zzr600

[Hetzer]

Are we talking swimming-pool useage? Forget it, H&S alert. I've tried to take goggles in on occasion, always been told I can't.

"Why not?"

"Danger of broken glass".

"But it's tempered glass...look, they're pro goggles and shit."

"But they could cut somebody's feet."

"If I gave you your best shot the only thing that'd be broken would be your fucking feet."

"You have to remove your necklace too."

"Why, in case I strangle myself?"

"Kittens."
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[mic]

not sure where you swim but it shouldnt be a problem for me. most lane swimmers wear goggles, the other half of the pool not in lanes is for kids and stuff and theres a range of beach balls, floating board things and other stuff. would be really suprised if they got arsey about using fins for lane swimming, specially if im the only person using the lane
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zzr600

[hellkat]

If I encountered someone using fins in the lanes, I'd interrupt myself specifically to dunk them thrice with extreme prejudice.

You have feet, you are a human, not a fish.
Fins (and I take it by that you mean FLIPPERS) are for exploratory diving, e.g., in the sea, for pearls, oysters, wrecked ships and kina

... not for doing fucking lengths
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[skatefreak]

I can see where you are coming from.
They will create extra resistance for your legs to push against, giving you a better lower body workout.
However as a direct result of their being more efficient at propelling you along, you'll be ploughing along at quiet a pace.
Not a problem if you have your own lane etc however if its a circuit then it could get annoying for others.

Sod it though, I'd say give it a punt!

-Jvr

[Lord Percy]

Is this what you're after?

https://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/194/2/d/Fish_Suit_1_by_Yukikoby.jpg

[hellkat]

*not sure if belongs in POF thread or Worst pix thread*
https://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/006/026/futuramafry.jpg
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Monkeypony]

If you want to work harder in the pool, get yourself a Pull Buoy.

Best £10 you'll ever spend

https://www.simplyswim.com/products/Maru/PullBuoy.aspx?gclid=CjkKEQjwh7ucBRD9yY_fyZe398gBEiQAAoy4JGfLgiXvOVj7poeax0dbWkQTc45sTO5wSQ5XrZVXHTPw_wcB
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Lord Percy]

[stinkwheel]

I'm not a swimmer but the Mrs is a competative swimmer and a member of our local masters club. So this advice comes from what I've picked up from her.

You want to work your legs, use a float for your arms and work your legs and vice-versa.

You want to work harder, get a drag-suit (the opposite of a skinsuit).

You want even more cardio, learn butterfly.

What you should be doing is interval cardio work. Swim normally and during that swim do three, 20 second bursts of the absolute maximum effort you can possibly do (you ought to be totally exhausted by this point) then warm down to your normal rate. It's basically one length of utterly flat-out 'fly or freestyle for most reasonably fit people with poor technique.

You want a proper, full workout, go open water swimming. Mrs stinkwheel does 4 miles twice a week in the pool but a mile in open water really takes it out of her.

You should try going along to your local masters swim club and try a couple of their training sessions. I garauntee they will give you a 2 hour swim session that will leave you utterly fucked. Then you'll realise there are guys in their 60's in the fast lane...
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Llama-Farmer]

Just swim using normal hands and normal feet. Like a normal person.


The most effective way of training in the water I found was to do one length sprint at all out intensity, then three recovery lengths at 5/10 intensity. Quick sip of drink. Repeat.

Leave a bottle of water at one end of the pool so you don't have to get out of the pool for a drink.


Done properly, 15-20 minutes of that will be a more effective workout than 1 hour of swimming at a consistent pace
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[Lord Percy]

[Llama-Farmer]

[Recluso]

My coach recommended me the British Gas SwimFit site (www.swimfit.com) - there is different work outs on there (depending on the area you want to focus on) and all of them are differing levels of difficulty.

The nice thing is you can print them off, laminate them and have them pool side (my pool does). Plus you can log your activity and progress as you go.

Some work outs require aids like a kick board or pool buoy but they're not very expensive to buy.

If you're only just getting back into swimming, make a good set of goggles your first investment!!
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900

[mic]

Will have a look thanks. Have bought some goggles, makes a big difference!

I'd love to learn butterfly but I can't find anyone local to help show me as I can't seem to get the dolphin kick
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zzr600

[Llama-Farmer]

[1cyl]

Make swimming easy and buy this:
https://mikeshouts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BLADEFISH-7000-Turbo-1-544x408.jpg
Bladefish 7000 "turbo"
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Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[hellkat]

[Recluso]

If you're REALLY out of practice then also consider a few lessons. I've not swum regularly in years and had never really learned to maximise the efficiency of my strokes (I was slow and clumsy next to other swimmers who clearly knew what they were doing). Swimming is my primary form of exercise (I can't do high impact exercise like jogging due to joint issues) so I wanted to get the absolute maximum from it.

It's made a LOT of difference so far - especially to my solo sessions, plus it's the added benefit of a dedicated coaching session.
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'Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.'
Honda PS125i > Yamaha YBR125 > Yamaha XJ6 Diversion > Yamaha Tracer 900