RE: [Paddlewise] Paddle blade size

From: Matt Broze <mkayaks_at_oz.net>
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 2002 18:36:26 -0700
Fernando Lopez Arbarello [mailto:kayakargentina_at_earthlink.net] wrote:

>>>>>>>I find the biggest difference between the paddles (despite the shape)
is in
the with of the blades rather than the total lenght. Consedering that we
supply the same amount of power, the shorter paddle (Lindyl) is espected to
give a higher cadence than the longer (Whetstone), but in this case, the
thinner blade of the Whetstone will slide easyer through the water that the
wider Lindyl, creating the oposite effect. In other words, shorter lenght =
more spm, but narrower blade = less drag which gives more extra power to
increment the spm.
Weight and shape and flexion should also be considered, anyway.<<<<<,,

Oops! I read the 17 and 20.5 as blade lengths (in inches) when they were
really blade widths in cm. Please ignore the last part of my previous post
about depth of blade in the water. Still, I don't see how the narrower blade
can be both slipping more (to give a higher cadence) and still be moving the
kayak just as far through the water with each stroke (which from the ratios
seems to be the case). Slipping more and extra distance shouldn't go
together). I'd guess the paddler was paddling harder when using the higher
stroke rate. Was anything done (like heart rate or oxygen uptake
measurements) to control for the possibility the paddler was using more
energy with one paddle than the other. This now seems the most likely
possibility for such a large speed difference (unless the paddler was in
full race mode and  was putting all he had into the stroke with both paddles
for the total distance). Paddling all out would serve to even out the effort
expended on each run (it would control this possible variable by using all
that was available with each run. At least if the paddler was rested between
runs going all out should equalize the energy expenditure. More details
please, Paul. If the Lendahl was heavier or had a more flexible shaft that
may account for some of the difference.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com



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Received on Sat Jul 20 2002 - 18:35:31 PDT

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