Shock Poles for Roller Skiing

Just went out for a seasonal goodbye rollerski. Amazingly like the real
thing except my aging arthritic elbow and seperated shoulder don't like the
shock from my aluminum poles. Does anyone have experience with the shock
poles or modifying existing poles with shock absorbers. I have 5 months to
think about a solution (including converting some old carbon fiber poles I
own).

Trek/Kneissel had an "energy return" pole many years back that did a great
job of absorbing shock. Don't know if they made it out of prototype stage.
Idea was to store and return energy at a more advantageous time in pole
cycle. Hmmm..

The current hiking poles with springs in them are too heavy for roller
skiing.
In fact, weight may be more a factor than shock absorption when it comes to
tendenitis and shoulder problems and roller skiing.

I know I usually do better with a stiff light carbon fiber pole than a
springy, heavier aluminum pole that "absorbs" shock.

That said, I wish I hadn't lost (or were they stolen) a pair of Swiss
"Kangaroo poles" that were arc shaped. They really did absorb shock. Whether
they helped avoid joint problems, I'm not so sure.

Gary Jacobson
Rosendale, NY (Getting amped up to roller ski for next season.)


"Comcast" wrote in message
...
Just went out for a seasonal goodbye rollerski. Amazingly like the real
thing except my aging arthritic elbow and seperated shoulder don't like
the
shock from my aluminum poles. Does anyone have experience with the shock
poles or modifying existing poles with shock absorbers. I have 5 months to
think about a solution (including converting some old carbon fiber poles I
own).