Wheel drop/ski direction problem - UPDATE

Guys,

Thanks to all for your comments. I've acted upon some of them (the
rubber band part) could sure use more advice.

Since I couldn't bring myself to take a drill to my boots, I tried to
achieve the same result by putting small wire hooks through the
plastic loops of the heel adjustment strap and threading pieces of
rubber cut out of a wide rubber band that you would use for physical
therapy when you spring your ankle. Not sure if the bands were as wide/
long/strong as necessary, but here are my observations from a brief
pole-less outing this morning:

1.Rubber doesn't really prevent the ski from getting away from the
boot, but it brings it back WAY faster and more forcefully, so much so
that I had a pretty annoying clap which actually felt a little jarring
to the foot.

2. Because there wasn't any wheel hang by the time I was ready to put
the ski on the ground, I figured out that my weather-vaning problem
was only partly due to the wheel hang, and indeed it only affects my
left foot for some reason. Need to work on that.

3. When I removed the band for my last lap, the going became much
easier and somewhat faster. This was an unpleasant surprise because I
thought that fixing the hang problem would actually help with
efficiency. I also felt that without the rubber bands, I'm using more
of my toe for push-off, as should be expected.

For the rest of the weekend, I'm not putting the rubber back on -
really hated those claps. I guess the folks who use it do it because
it works, so I must have done something wrong and need some good
advice. I also kind of like the hot glue idea. I'm indeed using the
stiffest skate NNN flexors that I could find (I don't think there are
any just for rollerskis) and, compared to Profil, there's not much
material sticking up against the boot. I have to wonder how NNN
performs with real snow skis (don't have them and never tried a NNN-
equipped set).

Larry

Sounds like your rubber band is too heavy duty?
You may want to try a household (thinner postal type) band, and mount it
loosely. This way it will only engage at greater heel lifts. A second even
thinner band could even take care of some anti-hang for less extended heels.
Not an expert, but I would think that just getting the heel off the binding
should take much force, as with a ski and boot you're holding in your hands.
Just the hang that comes from weight to be moved by the binding spring, need
to be overcome. Tension that increases progressively might be the trick, the
heel lands softer as tension goes down quicker during the recovery.

"Larry" schreef in bericht
ps.com...
Guys,

Thanks to all for your comments. I've acted upon some of them (the
rubber band part) could sure use more advice.

Since I couldn't bring myself to take a drill to my boots, I tried to
achieve the same result by putting small wire hooks through the
plastic loops of the heel adjustment strap and threading pieces of
rubber cut out of a wide rubber band that you would use for physical
therapy when you spring your ankle. Not sure if the bands were as wide/
long/strong as necessary, but here are my observations from a brief
pole-less outing this morning:

1.Rubber doesn't really prevent the ski from getting away from the
boot, but it brings it back WAY faster and more forcefully, so much so
that I had a pretty annoying clap which actually felt a little jarring
to the foot.

2. Because there wasn't any wheel hang by the time I was ready to put
the ski on the ground, I figured out that my weather-vaning problem
was only partly due to the wheel hang, and indeed it only affects my
left foot for some reason. Need to work on that.

3. When I removed the band for my last lap, the going became much
easier and somewhat faster. This was an unpleasant surprise because I
thought that fixing the hang problem would actually help with
efficiency. I also felt that without the rubber bands, I'm using more
of my toe for push-off, as should be expected.

For the rest of the weekend, I'm not putting the rubber back on -
really hated those claps. I guess the folks who use it do it because
it works, so I must have done something wrong and need some good
advice. I also kind of like the hot glue idea. I'm indeed using the
stiffest skate NNN flexors that I could find (I don't think there are
any just for rollerskis) and, compared to Profil, there's not much
material sticking up against the boot. I have to wonder how NNN
performs with real snow skis (don't have them and never tried a NNN-
equipped set).

Larry

On Apr 28, 3:21 pm, Larry wrote:
Guys,

Thanks to all for your comments. I've acted upon some of them (the
rubber band part) could sure use more advice.

Since I couldn't bring myself to take a drill to my boots, I tried to
achieve the same result by putting small wire hooks through the
plastic loops of the heel adjustment strap and threading pieces of
rubber cut out of a wide rubber band that you would use for physical
therapy when you spring your ankle. Not sure if the bands were as wide/
long/strong as necessary, but here are my observations from a brief
pole-less outing this morning:

1.Rubber doesn't really prevent the ski from getting away from the
boot, but it brings it back WAY faster and more forcefully, so much so
that I had a pretty annoying clap which actually felt a little jarring
to the foot.

2. Because there wasn't any wheel hang by the time I was ready to put
the ski on the ground, I figured out that my weather-vaning problem
was only partly due to the wheel hang, and indeed it only affects my
left foot for some reason. Need to work on that.

3. When I removed the band for my last lap, the going became much
easier and somewhat faster. This was an unpleasant surprise because I
thought that fixing the hang problem would actually help with
efficiency. I also felt that without the rubber bands, I'm using more
of my toe for push-off, as should be expected.

For the rest of the weekend, I'm not putting the rubber back on -
really hated those claps. I guess the folks who use it do it because
it works, so I must have done something wrong and need some good
advice. I also kind of like the hot glue idea. I'm indeed using the
stiffest skate NNN flexors that I could find (I don't think there are
any just for rollerskis) and, compared to Profil, there's not much
material sticking up against the boot. I have to wonder how NNN
performs with real snow skis (don't have them and never tried a NNN-
equipped set).

Larry

Dear Larry:

I agree, sounds like the rubber you're using is too strong and tight.
I use about the lightest bungee cord I can get, (try Murray's Marine),
and tie it loosely, so the "hang" on my ski with the brake matches the
ski without the brake.

By the way, I looked at the hang on my skis while skiing today (Aeros
with 150 wheel on front and 125 on rear, no brake currently, no
rubber.), and it looks to be an inch or less of daylight under the
boot heel. Sure doesn't seem to be a problem without the brake. I'm
using old yellow and red 9.1RS Salomon boots on Profil bindings with
hard 125 durometer bumpers. If I ever get ambitous I should measure
the "hang" in a controlled way with different wheel, brake, and bumper
combinations.

Randy