Marwe Question

On May 20, 2:47 pm, wrote:
Yes, rollerskiing is harder on boots, tho I haven't destroyed any like
some others have reported. I use my old bumblebee pilot boots from 1999.
I'd probably benefit from a less worn-in pair with more stiffness left
in the forefoot, but the one time I tried the newer RS skate, they hurt
after an hour and the carbon soles seemed to take trail vibration
harder. The disadvantage with the older Salomon skate boots is that
ankle flex is more limited, so I keep the strap pretty loose. BTW, I've
recently found that the light Bridgstone socks with sole padding are
more resistant to vibration than the light Craft's.

rm

Camilo wrote:
Oh, another question!!

Is roller skiing hard on boots? I have an old, but perfectly
functional pair of skate boots, but just this spring bought some brand
spankin' new Solomon S-Lab boots on sale. I'm thinking I don't want
those nice new boots coming anywhere near pavement?

Excellent on all counts. My old boots are yellow and black (as
opposed to black and yellow) Pilots from that same era, maybe a year
or so later. I also only wear light Bridgesdale socks.

Hi Steve,
Speed reducers for Marwes would be a great idea in my opinion. Mostly
because of the Jenex speed reducers, I almost always use my V2 Aero 150s to
roller ski these days. Plus the 150s roll over the road crap better than the
Marwes. Seldom do I use the Marwes anymore, even though they feel much
lighter.
The Marwes are scary to use on downhills. Even after coming to a
complete stop at the top of the hill, you have no control over the speed
once they get rolling. They keep increasing in speed till a sort of
'terminal velocity' is reached, where air drag and friction, matches rolling
resistance. This can feel quite fast and I've had the feeling of the Marwes
wandering from side to side. Hit a rock or pothole at speed and it is going
to hurt.
With the Jenex speed reducers on the 150s, I can just reach down and
slow the 150s to whatever I feel is safe. I only use the speed reducers on
downhills, never as a form of resistance training as some others do.
$50 seems a fair price for the design time, liability, manufacturing
cost and probably low sales volume.

By the way, is your designer friend Steve H from Minnesota?

--

Paul Haltvick
Bay Design and Build - LLC
Engineering, Construction and Information Technology Services
FSx Midwest - Fischer / Swix Racing

wrote in message
...
On May 15, 2:47 pm, Camilo wrote:
Hi: I think I know the answer to this question since I looked at the
Finn Sisu website and searched this forum and other sources.

Has anyone come up with any sort of speed reducer for a Marwe skate
roller ski? I was just given (yes, given) a set and haven't used
them yet. In fact, I've never roller skied preferring to ski on snow
about 100 times per year and bicycle and hike in the summer for
exercise. I'm not interested in dedicating summer "training" towards
any goal other than having fun and staying fitter than the average
American FatA$$. That's why I've never roller skied - no reason to
unless it's actually fun. In fact I bristle when the stuff I do is
called "training" because for me it's just recreation, sport, fun, not
goal directed other than the above.

So now I have these things which I understand are actually top quality
roller skis. And, I am interested in trying it to see if it's fun -
especially if I can get some upper body work.

However, it seems that everyone I know around here who roller skis
uses the Jenex V2 with speed reducer. I'm concerned about speed
having no skills at slowing, stopping or avoiding hazards. My plan
right now is to do some easy double poling and skiing on dead flat
roads in an industrial area (light to no traffic), but would like to
go out and do some uphill work - but would have to get down somehow.
Maybe I'll end up staging a bike at the top or something.

Thanks for any advice.

I have a friend who has designed some of the earo equipment and aux
brakes that were used on Lance's TT bikes at the Tour. I've been
talking to him about designing speed reducers for Marwe's. We haven't
persued it that much. The big question is "Is there a demand" for
something you could engage at the top of a hill and go down at a
slower speed. And how much would you be willing to pay for such a
thing? I think they would be very much the same as the V2 approach.
We're talking reducers not brakes. The V2 brakes are way too clunky
and heavy in my opinion. Is $50 too much?

On May 15, 2:47*pm, Camilo wrote:
Hi: I think I know the answer to this question since I looked at the
Finn Sisu website and searched this forum and other sources.

Has anyone come up with any sort of speed reducer for a Marwe skate
roller ski? *I was just given (yes, given) *a set and haven't used
them yet. In fact, I've never roller skied preferring to ski on snow
about 100 times per year and bicycle and hike in the summer for
exercise. *I'm not interested in dedicating summer "training" towards
any goal other than having fun and staying fitter than the average
American FatA$$. *That's why I've never roller skied - no reason to
unless it's actually fun. *In fact I bristle when the stuff I do is
called "training" because for me it's just recreation, sport, fun, not
goal directed other than the above.

So now I have these things which I understand are actually top quality
roller skis. *And, I am interested in trying it to see if it's fun -
especially if I can get some upper body work.

However, it seems that everyone I know around here who roller skis
uses the Jenex V2 with speed reducer. *I'm concerned about speed
having no skills at slowing, stopping or avoiding hazards. *My plan
right now is to do some easy double poling and skiing on dead flat
roads in an industrial area (light to no traffic), but would like to
go out and do some uphill work - but would have to get down somehow.
Maybe I'll end up staging a bike at the top or something.

Thanks for any advice.

I hope you find roller skiing more enjoyable than I do. I am probably
in the minority, but I just don't seem to enjoy as much as I thought I
would. I suppose I know I'd rather be on snow - it is a substitute
activity after all. Also, I am a classic skier, I suppose that skate
roller skiing might be more fun. If you like roller blading, you'll
probably like roller skiing. I have V2 Aero's which were supposed to
be usable "off-road", but it has to be a really hard-packed dirt road,
otherwise they really don't work very well. So I personally stay on
bike paths. Where I live, there are some nice tracks that are totally
flat so I am safe there (and there are no cars to worry about). And
the bike paths are paved so the skis work well. My cottage is in a
very hilly area. My roller skis have a "brake" that you can ratchet-
down to different settings. SO I ski uphill, and then for downhill I
set this "brake" to whatever setting allows me to move without flying
down the hill and getting hurt (one of the things I don't appreciate
about roller skiing is that pavement is much harder than snow! - I
strongly recommend knee pads). I don't like using the brake too much
as it is basically putting pressure on the tire (these are pneumatic),
and I figure that is basically wearing the tire out, so I try to
mininmize use of the brake for that reason. Roller skiing is a great
workout and yesterday was an example where my knee was bothering me
when I ran, so I roller skied instead, and the knee was fine. And the
upper body effect is of course a plus over running or biking. GOOD
LUCK!

I can understand where it's not much fun having to worry about speed
reduction and the consequences of falling on pavement much of the time.
And based on my experience, Aeros would be among the last r-skis I'd
want for that, at least for classical (the 900 series would be
better). I suspect the bulk of citizen skiers who rollerski don't hit
the constancy of rolling terrain you do.

rm

Jim Whalen NULL wrote:

I hope you find roller skiing more enjoyable than I do. I am probably
in the minority, but I just don't seem to enjoy as much as I thought I
would. I suppose I know I'd rather be on snow - it is a substitute
activity after all. Also, I am a classic skier, I suppose that skate
roller skiing might be more fun. If you like roller blading, you'll
probably like roller skiing. I have V2 Aero's which were supposed to
be usable "off-road", but it has to be a really hard-packed dirt road,
otherwise they really don't work very well. So I personally stay on
bike paths. Where I live, there are some nice tracks that are totally
flat so I am safe there (and there are no cars to worry about). And
the bike paths are paved so the skis work well. My cottage is in a
very hilly area. My roller skis have a "brake" that you can ratchet-
down to different settings. SO I ski uphill, and then for downhill I
set this "brake" to whatever setting allows me to move without flying
down the hill and getting hurt (one of the things I don't appreciate
about roller skiing is that pavement is much harder than snow! - I
strongly recommend knee pads). I don't like using the brake too much
as it is basically putting pressure on the tire (these are pneumatic),
and I figure that is basically wearing the tire out, so I try to
mininmize use of the brake for that reason. Roller skiing is a great
workout and yesterday was an example where my knee was bothering me
when I ran, so I roller skied instead, and the knee was fine. And the
upper body effect is of course a plus over running or biking. GOOD
LUCK!

On May 20, 12:01*pm, Camilo wrote:
Thanks for the words of wisdom and video clip links everyone. *One of
these days I'm going to get some carbide tips put on some old skating
poles and give these suckers a try. *I have hockey elbow pads, but no
knee pads. *Maybe I should just wear my hockey breezers and shin pads,
helmet with full face mask and shoulder pads? *I think with that gear,
I'd feel nekkid without the cup though.... 8-)

Anyway, I'm going to give them a go in a newly paved, flat industrial
area in the evening, and at the very least get some upper body work
in.

Thanks again.

If you live in the twin cities or near you are welcome to try my
kickbike:

www.kickbikeamerica.com

Not the same as roller skiing but a good workout of some of the same
muscles and mighty pleasant.

All the best,
Ed V.

On inline skates, I snowplow down hills.

"Camilo" wrote in message
...
Hi: I think I know the answer to this question since I looked at the
Finn Sisu website and searched this forum and other sources.

Has anyone come up with any sort of speed reducer for a Marwe skate
roller ski? I was just given (yes, given) a set and haven't used
them yet. In fact, I've never roller skied preferring to ski on snow
about 100 times per year and bicycle and hike in the summer for
exercise. I'm not interested in dedicating summer "training" towards
any goal other than having fun and staying fitter than the average
American FatA$$. That's why I've never roller skied - no reason to
unless it's actually fun. In fact I bristle when the stuff I do is
called "training" because for me it's just recreation, sport, fun, not
goal directed other than the above.

So now I have these things which I understand are actually top quality
roller skis. And, I am interested in trying it to see if it's fun -
especially if I can get some upper body work.

However, it seems that everyone I know around here who roller skis
uses the Jenex V2 with speed reducer. I'm concerned about speed
having no skills at slowing, stopping or avoiding hazards. My plan
right now is to do some easy double poling and skiing on dead flat
roads in an industrial area (light to no traffic), but would like to
go out and do some uphill work - but would have to get down somehow.
Maybe I'll end up staging a bike at the top or something.

Thanks for any advice.