Heavy (muscular) legs? Weak core? Stocky build? (how tall are you?)
Likely the weak core bit. Definitely could use work there, compared to say my gf who does a lot of pilates, yoga, etc.
I wouldn’t say I have muscular legs, but I definitely have sinky legs. I have never been able to just float on my back. The only way it would be possible would be effectively reverse plank, and that comes back to the above. But that’s very different to people who can just lie on the surface of the water as relaxed as anything.
I know H says he does simple floating with his group. But if you can’t just naturally float, what are you trying to do to achieve it? I’ve tried for years, and never been able to figure anything out.
I completely sympathise @stenard
I can’t float at all. I sink like a stone, and I too have done band drills with my toes on the bottom in the shallow end.
FWIW, I do S&C work at least twice a week, and have a decent core…but that doesn’t stop my legs having significant negative bouyancy.
Think simple physics. Picture yourself floating from a side-on view and think of the two forces acting on you; buoyancy (up) and weight (down).
The upwards force acts through the center of buoyancy, the downwards one through the centre of mass.
If those two forces are acting at the same spot (say your hips) then there’s no rotational force (again we’re looking side on) causing your legs to rotate down and your head to rotate up and ‘sink’.
If your center of mass is further down your body (i.e. your legs are long or heavy relative to your hips and upper body) and center of buoyancy further up your body (lungs full of air, less body fat on legs and hips) then those two forces are causing a rotation around the centre of your body.
The reason some people ‘sink’ and some ‘float’ easily is mainly body composition. Depending on how far apart those forces are acting, some core strength to force the legs up might do the trick, but I have a strong suspicion that for some it’s just impossible (happy to be told otherwise!) and a little kicking (not much) is therefore necessary.
Serious question. Can anyone on here actually float on their backs? I have tried with no success whereas my wife has no problem. I actually do almost all of my swimming with a float between my legs (yes I know that that is not ideal) . If I was to try and just kick I am sure that I would make almost no forward motion!! 
My body is long for my height, that helps.
is it just the legs? I coached a guy last year he actually sunk like a stone. whole body, nothing he could do but he was a crossfit very low BF guy and i just think he had too much muscle mass, but it was whole body so we got around it by speeding up turnover and improving his kick. Its a known phenomenon. Just sinky legs , just try stuff, lift the legs up(I know 
), tense the abs, basically suck your belly to your back, try to engage the glutes. imagine you have a fiver in your bum cheeks that you don’t want to lose. Its not easy but by minimising it you will improve.
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This is all utter tripe.
I’ve just been on IMJ with @Hammerer.
You only need yoga, Pilates and determination.
That’s it.
Just run and cycle more.
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“Dont be so negative” 
You forgot the weight training, got to do strength work every week. These people all moan they don’t have time to swim, then waste time on things that wont make them faster. I’m trying to remember who’s coach, think it was Lochte who said when we have no where further to go, then we hit the weights room. S&C has its place but its after you have maxed out elsewhere not instead of.
Is she f’ing kidding?
This guy says he’s doing 9-10 hours per week as:
2 swims, 4 bikes and 3 runs.
Then says he can’t swim more than 300m non-stop without needing to “reset”
And he’s fully paid up for Bolton.
“Do some Yoga and pilates, just use determination”
NO!
F’ing do some swimming.
(To be fair, a few of them are also saying the same thing)
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Just read it
I honestly don’t know why these guys don’t just do duathlons
Look, it was a part time job, don’t know why you have to keep mentioning it? You really have to grip those polymer notes 
My legs sink first and then the rest of follows to pool floor.
I doubt @stenard has a weak core but maybe just not ‘using’ it effectively.
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Working on catch today. Alternating 100s with and without pull bouy. Feel like I’m managing to engage Lats rather than front/side shoulder which is good. Comfortably 15seconds/100 faster with the float, but progressing non the less!
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HOW?!?!
There’s a guy I swim with that’s at least 5s per 100m faster with.
I’m about 5-8 seconds slower per 100 WITH
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Must indicate poor body position on my part?
I’m using it so I can concentrate on the catch without being distracted. I have previous for relying on a pull bouy so I’m only using it sparingly.
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I’m the same. Not sure it’s 15s per 100 for me but definitely easier with than without. I don’t get much from my kick and the float lets me concentrate more on stroke at the front
A - Duathlon is not ‘cool’
B - Duathlon is actually hard; especially if your running is (also) poor
C - not many Duathlons
D - Duathlon is Triathlon’s illegitimate child (see A)
I know come July when I (hopefully) have a good Fan Dance, the MAMIL ‘walts’ in camo gear will ask themselves how I can run the thing carrying 35lbs…BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TRAINING WITH WEIGHT ON MY BACK IN ALL WEATHERS FOR THE LAST 5 MONTHS MATEY.
It’s always the same.
Yep. Agree on all points. It’s just not sexy is it.
Getting off topic but;
Are there any other examples where someone will willingly spend the best part of 500 pounds knowing full well they can’t complete one more parts of an event?