[Paddlewise] paddle analysis data

From:             "Gerald Foodman" <klagjf_at_worldnet.att.net>
To:               <skimmer_at_enter.net>
Subject:          Re: [Paddlewise] paddle analysis expectations
--------------------------------------

Today I went out for a small time trial. Went 2.5 miles out, then a 
7 minute rest, and 2.5 miles back. Using Mariner Sprite and 9 ft 
Sidewinder paddle. Blade about the same as the old Werner paddles.

Time going out was 32:45, upwind, and back was 29:12, downwind. 
That calculates out to 4.0 knots going out and 4.6 knots coming back.
Average heart rate going out was 137 bpm and 134 bpm returning.
Conclusion today was that driving upwind is more work than traveling 
down wind. My stroke rate was 40 strokes per minute.

Now, some questions about your experiment:

What was the venue? (lake, marine, river, etc)
Did you do all three trials in the same direction over your 4 nautical mile
course? All on the same day? Conditions of wind or current constant 
over the three trials?

You have noticed a strong "impression" about the relative 
capabilities of your paddles in your hands. I think that if you had 
recorded average heart rate data and had constant speed for each 
paddle, your heart rate data would provide real numbers to go with 
the performance of each paddle.

Testing under such conditions would also allow you to use a shorter 
course, which would allow for several runs with each paddle used in random 
order. 

As I mentioned some time back, with no response, I have been doing 
such tests for several years. Just the other day, I learned that 
anyone using a paddle over 7ft 6in. long is just plain nuts. My heart 
just sank when I read that (totally unsupported) information. Where 
have I been the past 25 years?

Thanks,
Chuck Sutherland


 
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