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Swimming always makes me very thirsty. I get quite warm and obviously don't notice myself sweating.
Cardiff 'big' pool has a completely separate leisure side which is flippin warm; and a 50m competition pool which is icy and a joy even after getting too warm in the changing rooms!
Maybe it varies by pool but the one I used to go to was pretty friendly at lane times. If you were doing something against the unwritten rules someone would point it out pretty quickly. A bit like roadies, people on the outside like to bemoan how they'd hate all the "rules", but once you're in then it just makes it easier and more enjoyable all-round and you don't end up with threads like this.
Have a breather stuffed tight into one of the corners, leaving the middle free for the turn/tumble. Doesn’t really matter which one.
Convention is IIRC to pause on the incoming side, because people will swim across, turn and want to kick off straight, not at an angle (or just switch strokes, swim slower for a few lengths).
And as for turning early – b*l*x to that. Turning early for all the reasons above, you’d do 500m, not 1km 🙂 What a pain in the ass.
I dunno, turning and not getting the benefit of the kick feels exhausting to me 😂
Also why does everyone take a drinks bottle in with them nowadays? Fair enough if you’re in there doing 5k+ I guess but from what I see generally they do a couple of lengths with fins or paddles, stop swig chat. I usually do about an hour and can’t say I’ve ever desperately needed a drink.
I never used to and still don’t for swims under 2 km, but as pointed out to me on the 100 days thread by @scotroutes hydration may help with swimming cramps on long distance swims, something about im not rehydrating via osmosis and fair play it has helped.
Never worried about this when younger.
I used to swim in Newcastle. Back in my teens I was quite handy and swam very competitively so some of the speed has gone but I have good aerobic capacity and the technique is muscle memory.
Anyway, the rule in this particular pool was that there was a lane for front crawl and a lane for breast stroke. It turns out they did mean front crawl and definitely not freestyle. I got asked to leave because I was doing the wrong stroke. It mattered not that I was the fastest person in the lane because the rules are the rules. I know a few others who swam well - apparently they had also been told off.
Normally I was one of those annoying people. If I saw someone looking at "my" lane, I'd put a bit of effort in and speed up to try and make them think otherwise. Generally worked.
You can clear the people out gossipping at the ends with a well placed tumble turn.
If you aren't getting your head wet you probably shouldn't be in a lane swim - unless you are training for polo but that's a niche.
/rant //not entirely serious.
I miss swimming - most places near me now seem to be working hours for open swimming and then private sessions. It would be nice to mix up the training a bit, particularly in winter.
I know in club sessions as a teen if the person in front of you was slow, a quick pull of the ankle normally made them aware. I guess this isn't socially acceptable with strangers.
I had no idea swimming was so political.
Is there any exercise activity in the world that has more secret rules than swimming? And also at the same time, has people getting grumpy because someone's not playing swimming by the exact same set of secret rules that they are, while not actually wanting to share any of it or help people get on board with the secret cult, because that'd be ridiculous and would spoil all the fun of being grumpy. I just got back into swimming after a long break (basically since pre-internet days which possibly has something to do with it) and honestly it seems like everyone's gone mad. Like you're just supposed to hop in and instantly soak up a thousand page etiquette book via osmosis from the piss in the water, or something, and if you don't you're not merely an inexcusable moron, you are also a bomb-throwing anarchist. And you can go to a different pool, or even your normal pool but at a different time, and discover that there's a slightly different secret rulebook in force.
And you're supposed to figure all of this out at a point in your swimming career where it takes most of your energy just to not sink.
I do like the one thing it absolutely has in common with mountain biking though, that fast people don't worry about slow people, only ever-so-slightly faster slow people worry about slow people.
**** off down to lane 2 Northwind. 🙂
The only hard rule is go the same direction as everyone else, because its surprisingly sore hitting someone head on. Everything else is a compromise.
I stand by if there are 4 people being held up you just tap out a second, which on 25m laps provides you with plenty of opportunities for a minimal fuss natural point to do it I know this because it's exactly what I do when I am caught up. I would know exactly what to do with a foot tap but out with a training session I would be very surprised if a random just did it, and I am certainly not going to do it or any type intimidating of someone just having a swim. But some people on here seem to think 4 out of the 5 people should just swim in circles in the middle of the lane. I even said she was in the right lane.
Anyway my main point is the fact that she had a go at the lifeguard which suggests she knew exactly what she was doing.
The final topic was one of Edukators own fantasies where he rubs himself off whilst trying to sound like he knows what he is talking about. I'm not sure if the failure is part of the fettish or he genuinely thinks people are interested in his gobshite.
😂😂😂
Re "The Rules". My local pool has handy posters up in the changing rooms to guide you through such complexities as lane etiquette. But you can lead a horse to chlorinated water and all that...
It’s hardly rocket science to let faster swimmers overtake at the end, you’d have to be a complete moron to not notice being caught though everyone can make the odd mistake. So I conclude everyone who consistently gets in the way is just an arrogant selfish ****. Fortunately very few of them in my local pool.
The local swimmers must read this forum cos on the 06:45 session today was me on my own for the first 10 mins, then just 2 other guys - one slightly quicker than me, one a bit slower so it all worked really well. They lasted about half an hour so the last 10 minutes I was on my own again!
Best swim I've had there. 🙂
Wow, what did you do to assert such dominance?
Tech me wise man.
Also 6.45... lucky ours opens at 7
I miss swimming – most places near me now seem to be working hours for open swimming and then private sessions. It would be nice to mix up the training a bit, particularly in winter.
I'm also ex-competitive (district/national level but not outstanding) and it's only been through joining the local club as a master that I've started enjoying swimming again. Public sessions just don't cut it as an ex-swimmer and clubs are usually the only ones who'll get earlier access to the pool. And yes, it's been the variety especially at this time of year I've enjoyed most.
Suns out! I'll walk along to the pool when the sun is at it's high point which coincides with when the lunchtime swimmers leave and before the school groups arrive. I'll chat with anyone I know, choose a lane with a no equipment sign, swim carefully and courteously, turn early if I catch people and let them through if they catch me, change lanes if necessary. It'll be great cruising along with the sun on my back, I might even do a bit of back stroke if I get the lane to myself at some point. Not much chance of me stopping at the end of the line, I get cold as soon as I slow down let alone stop.
I've been facinated how my 'live and let live', 'turn early', 'enjoy your session and let other people get on with enjoying theirs', 'that's sexist' posts have been recieved. It's made me very happy to live where I do and share the lanes with the people I do. No way would a lifeguard in these parts criticise someone for swimming too slowly and holding people up, they'd tell the complainant to change lanes or live with it, or join a club, and any (sexist) aggression and you're out. It's been a few years since I've swum regularly in the UK but on visits I've had excellent no hassle swims in Hinkley, Sparkhill, Hathersage and Falmouth.
Still waiting to see this sexist aggression or infact any aggression.... Infact the only person who has raised any issues of gender is you.
My opinion of you remains unchanged.
False, Joshvegas. You raised gender and used a sexist expression "daft woman", "daft person would have been the obvious choice in 2024. Even with "person" there's absolutely nothing daft about slowly swimming backstroke with fins in a public swimming pool where fins are allowed.
because a daft woman was doing backstroke with fins
Another poster came up with this which the smilies don't make any less sexist, they highlight the sexism:
We have an outdoor pool that opens for the Summer it’s glorious 👍But there’s a group of women who half heartedly swim lengths but exercise their jaws more 🙄It’s a leisure pool so can’t really complain but they squat right in the middle 🙄I swear they tell their GPs how fit they keep with regular swimming 🤔
Gender has been cited in other posts but in positive non-offensive ways.
Eventually the lifeguard told her to let us past and off we shot. I thanked the lifeguard as I left, she said she got a right earful.
Somebody complained to the lifeguard (of whom you don't mention the gender). Lifeguards get involved when there's strop, something against the rules or something dangerous. Were you the one one who complained (agression dressed up as passive agression) to the lifeguard or started to get agitated ? It seems highly likely given that you state:
* I was extremely tempted to grab one of her fins as she was swimming and Hoy it into lane 1.
I've been swimming quite a bit this year (still slow, how do you swim faster!) and agree with almost every post on this thread.
My biggest irk with my local pool is the poorly updated timetable. Lane swimming always okay, but when its mixed use time and advertised as half free for all and half with 3 lanes to arrive and see one lane as they've not updated a water polo session or training session is very annoying, sometimes I go home, sometimes I've rage quit out or others have been able to get some lengths done.
False, Joshvegas. You raised gender and used a sexist expression “daft woman”, “
Ah, so you are talking shite. In no way does that imply that she is daft because she is a woman. Thanks for confirming you lack of comprehension.
turn early if I catch people and let them through if they catch me,
Pick one approach and stick to it?
All this from someone who calls their partner madame at every opportunity:-D
Somebody complained to the lifeguard (of whom you don’t mention the gender)
Yes I do. First post.
If you actually read things you might not make such a fool of yourself so often?
Monsieur, Madame,
"Madame" is a very common way of referring to ones female partner in France and I make no secret of the fact that's where I am. It's not offensive, I can say "bonjour Madame" to any woman I meet. However "daft woman" is definitely offensive and totally inappropriate for a woman minding her own business swimming along.
Yes, towpathman, I have double standards, I'm happy to let people overtake me at turns even if others don't let me past at turns. Just as I let people out of junctions when driving even if some people don't let me out. Some do, some don't, it ain't worth getting angry or going to the police about.
Treat people as you'd hope to be treated yourself, but don't expect it because you'll no doubt get disappointed.
Yes, towpathman, I have double standards,
Finally something I can agree with.
“Madame” is a very common way of referring to ones female partner in France and I make no secret of the fact that’s where I am
What's your partners gender got to do with anything?
I’ve been facinated how my ‘live and let live’ ….. posts have been recieved
I’d say as quite preachy and definitely not “live and let live”
You know what. I'll accept this.
It seems highly likely given that you state:
* I was extremely tempted to grab one of her fins as she was swimming and Hoy it into lane 1.
I rather thought that was quite obviously meant in jest. I think however if you read my other posts and the fact that I just sat patiently for so long that I clearly didn't have any particular anger at it. I didn't account for a certain type of person.
I stand by daft woman, it could have been a daft man or a daft person the daftness is arguing with someone just doing their job the application of gender was merely a specific of the case.
No worries, i think you are a massive opinionated judgemental patronising dickhead so your opinion of me means diddley squat.
Not entirely true............you missed out "virtue signalling".
What’s your partners gender got to do with anything?
Well you did slag me off for refering to her as Madame on other threads three posts previously. Don't ever eat out posh with a woman, Josh, you'll be offended when they adresse her as Madame or Ma'am.
I realised some of it was in jest, it's just that you clearly haven't realised that other people might have found the jokes offensive and spent far too much time with hot-head-testosterone-pumping-alpha-males in swimming pools to not see what was going on and take it very, very, very, seriously not.
The lifeguard gender I could have taken two ways: female lifeguard intimidated by above or complicit male. I hadn't understood what your she, she bit was about.
Years of observation tell me women get a bad deal in swimming pools. Whatever they do will be slagged off as per this thread. Some pools suffer lechery, shaming or discrinatory behaviour to the extent that they offer women only sessions (much in the way this forum has a women only forum). It's an unusual setting the pool, people lose their armour and feel vulnerable.
Observation tells me that 90% of the problems in pools are caused by male aggression. So the next time you're in a lane with a pregnant woman move to the next one, I know you'd never intentionally kick anyone but play safe, same for blind and handicapped swimmers. Next time there are people bobbing or wallowing around remember that they paid to get in too.
Be the better person
Anyhow, I'm off for a swim in the sun. Bon aprèm'
the expense did it for me
It was the wetness that put me off. Just far too damp.
Well you did slag me off for refering to her as Madame on other threads three posts previously
Actually I pointed out your hypocrisy.
The slagging was earlier in a response to a direct questing of my character.
Thanks for guidance on posh eating though, if you think it's acceptable ina restaurant then you clearly have alot more to learn yourself and you should maybe look in word rather than firing off at others. It wasn't patronising in the least 🤭
Edukator - For someone advocating a live and let live or take the moral high ground type approach you really do end up in a lot squabbles on here by not applying the same to your written arguments . I quite often find i tend to agree with the central point you are trying to make, but the wrap around of daft pretension (perceived) and almost wilful misrepresentation of what people are saying (perceived) is highly confrontational.
Unless of course you are a most excellent troll in which case.. chapeau
This has all been pointed to him countless times, he's not going to change.
He's just an obnoxious attention seeker. And annoyingly, I bit this time. It's fairly amusing though so not all bad.
a peaceful and pleasant 2k in the outdoor pool mid morning today, light drizzle, pretty quiet - there were 2 folk in when I arrived, i took the empty lane and had it to myself throughout.
I think a 4th person got into the free swim area at some stage, and they eventually were all away by time I was at about length 60, and I had the pool to myself thereafter. I'm not a fast swimmer - front crawl throughout, I don't tumble turn and 2k in the 25m pool takes me between 43 and 46 mins.
I don't troll, I say what I think, Blackflag. The way that I say it is variable. That's the way most people work. When they're cool and in a relaxed environment their language reflects it; check out my contributions to this year's ski and snowboard thread or the guitar thread. Petrol head threads on a bike forum,well that's not the same is it. This thread is just like a petrol head rant thread but about swimming lanes. On the Brexit threads justifiably exasperated and pissed off. On the EV thread I'm ernest, on insulation threads helpful and on travel threads torn - because travelling is great but most people choose the plane over alternatives. I don't often venture into politics threads these days, Ernie can have those. 😉
This place is a forum, an exchange of opinions and ideas. Edukator is a persona born of my experiences pre hack, a character that borrows from the different people I've had to be to: sometimes I put on my Welsh Water suit and start writing stuff for a public enquiry, sometimes I start writing school reports, sometimes I'm the business owner, sometimes the MTBer... I've had to be many different things in my life and can be any of them here.
STW has evolved and Edukator has evolved to suit. On many subjects I used to feel like a lone voice but now find myself in the majority on many issues. I spent years countering climatic sceptics, not many of those left. I spent time countering the anti-EV propaganda, now other STWers do it as well if not better than me. I'm pro European, so are the majority here since Brexit. But now and then there's a thread where the original Edukator idea works best for me.
Is anyone 100% ernest all the time on the Net? I've been told that Drac is a really nice bloke in real life. 🙂
The swim was great, didn't have to turn early at all.
It’s fairly amusing though so not all bad
Thank you 🙂
It’s not very easy speaking to someone while they’re swimming, so you could have asked an attendant to get her to move to a slower lane.
Ok fair enough. Not a troll. In which case its really a question about whether you want people to focus on the content of what you are saying or the manner in which you said it. One may just change minds the other just creates noise and friction.
He’s just an obnoxious attention seeker.
He's neurodivergent, give him some slack 🙂
“Madame” is a very common way of referring to ones female partner in France and I make no secret of the fact that’s where I am. It’s not offensive,
Referring to someone as "a madam" in the UK suggests you think they are stuck up, it's a bit pejorative.
As a former competitive swimmer where lane etiquette is in built I will typically be faster than everyone at any give stroke.
I have never been in a pool where other people have a good understanding of training.
On the down side it is impossible for me to enjoy being in a pool or water of any sort as my mind just turns to training mode, even after 40 odd years
That's why I put an 'e' on the end, Molgrips. It can also mean the owner of a brothel. People on STW have ways of refering to their spouses which happily seem to be getting more polite and sympathetic over the years, the most common is for example Mrs Molgrips. Madame is a term of endearment I use for Madame in some situations in real life but I usually just use her name. Here it doesn't mean stuck up but does imply she's the boss.
Sounds like my swim speed now I'm 63, iainc, I spent just over 40 mins in the water swimming front and back crawl to start (even up the tan) then just crawl for 1500 or a bit more (like I said I lose count).
Madame is a term of endearment I use for Madame in some situations
Right but that's not widely understood in the UK. I know more French and more about France than most Brits, I knew that as a term for one's spouse but I didn't recognise it on the forum first time I saw it from you. Especially as you don't write in a French accent.
Iyam macking a tinny ows in zee garden so latterz !
And thanks for your input, Madame will henceforth be Madame Edukator. 🙂
Edited in response to Molgrips before you posted, Josh, but having seen your post below I hope you find "Madame Edukator" suitable.
Right but that’s not widely understood in the UK. I know more French and more about France than most Brits, I knew that as a term for one’s spouse but I didn’t recognise it on the forum first time I saw it from you. Especially as you don’t write in a French accent.
I understood it, my point stands. I wouldn't refer to my partner as my missus on a forum and not expect people think I was a bit of a sexist knob. The same applies whether his french affection or not. If he is going to bandy about accusations of sexism and misogyny he better be clean as a whistle himself.
Edited in response to Molgrips before you posted, Josh, but having seen your post below I hope you find “Madame Edukator” suitable.
Missed this or was mid ranting.
Oui.
The same applies whether his french affection or not
I don't think it does - you can't take offence at the literal translation of a word, you need to understand its original context.
I had no idea swimming was so political.
my wife swims LOTS. i though MTB was cliquey but, bloody hell, compared to swimming its small fry!
As an occasional lane swimmer i`ve found most bloke lane swimmers are, on the whole, fairly inconsiderate to others.
i quite enjoy it and can get to be fairly decent but swimming in a pool is just so dull, a 25m pool is pointless (as you can do half a length from kicking off) and the sea is so full of turds you get dysentry, so it really puts me off.
Getting things slightly more on topic. Just had a pleasant drama free 3k plod. Was chatting to a chap who's in training for a Channel attempt. I was curious what his weekly training entails. Last week he did 30km. I did 10km last week and was fairly pleased with myself. He certainly popped my balloon 😂
Assuming he's a solo not a relay swimmer, he'll have a 6 hour qualifier swim (open water, in less than 16 degrees water temperature) coming up. It's a different league! A friend did the there and back double - that's a lot harder than twice as hard as you don't get to start leg two at the best state of tide. It's a strange strange world within an already slightly nuts swimming world.
I don’t think it does – you can’t take offence at the literal translation of a word, you need to understand its original context.
If he is smart enough to really stretch how my phrasing could be interpreted. He is smart enough to understand how his phrasing could be interpreted. He is also smart enough to know hiding behind tradition or custom is pathetic.
He's a bully, he never apologises and I have no issues calling him out on it.
I’m so glad that I’m not interested in swimming, never have been since I was at school and we used to get dragged along to the town pool once a week. It was an open air pool, and it always seemed to be overcast, windy and drizzling, and I hated every second I stood there shivering violently until it was time to get dressed and go back to school.
Reading about the politics involved, almost a clan or tribalism sort of situation, combined with an overblown sense of entitlement with some people, it would drive me nuts!
There are clearly defined rules in my chosen sport, but there’s no ignoring them if you feel you know better, you follow them or risk being pulled up pretty sharply, the consequences could be not merely social ostracism, but serious injury or possibly worse, either to myself or another club member. Truly FAAFO!
Reading about the politics involved, almost a clan or tribalism sort of situation, combined with an overblown sense of entitlement with some people, it would drive me nuts!
As always, this stuff is what people make it. I swim, I've seen none of this nonsense whatsoever. The only time I've ever spoken to anyone was when a newly qualified coach gave me free tips that were genuinely useful.
Fast lane always. If I'm not fast enough for who ever is in it I get out of it. If some dude eyes it up and decides they can breastroke or thrash up it and gets in everyone's way swim through them politely at the turn. Foot tap, then let them know for sure when you tumble through!
But please ... if you don't tumble, don't get in the fast lane! If you are wearing boardshorts don't get in the fast lane. If you do get in, and realise that today you are a bit slow ... get out of it! Simples!
And don't stand at the end in the middle of the lane in the way of swimmers' turns. The spalsh and contact might indicate you are in the wrong lane!
Not sure what happens in the rest of the pool!
He’s a bully
As much as I've argued with him in the past I really don't think he is. But we're way off topic now 🙂
Reading about the politics involved, almost a clan or tribalism sort of situation, combined with an overblown sense of entitlement with some people, it would drive me nuts!
Yep, very occasional leisure swimmer here, mostly when on holiday. I do wish I was a bit better at it sometimes and did entertain the idea of improver lessons a while back, then using my local pool more regularly. This thread has put me right off! I can only go by what everyone above has written, but it all sounds thoroughly unpleasant. I had no idea!
