RE: [Paddlewise] Paddle blade size

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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.

Fernando Lopez Arbarello
***  KAYAK ARGENTINA  ***
http://home.earthlink.net/~kayakargentina


-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Broze
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddle blade size

Paul Grant paragrant_at_webtv.net wrote:
<SNIP>>>>>>>  I paddled 1 mile course using two different paddles
              Lindyl                            Whetstone

cadence  70 spm                           80 spm
avg sp       4.6 mph                          5.3 mph
max sp      5.9                                  6.1<<<<<<<<<<<<

I think the reason for the difference in speed is pretty clear 7/8=.875,
4.6/5.3=.868. It looks like each stroke was moving the kayak just about the
same distance (which would be expected for paddles of about the same length.
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