I was curious if anyone tried the new wider wheel v2 classic skis? At 4.4 pounds per ski, they seem godawful heavy, but the big wheels might be nice for crummy roads
FasterSkier Forums » Gear
those new v2 all terrain classics--anyone use them?
(8 posts)-
Posted 6 months ago #
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I still use the predecessor to the V2-XL9848, the Terra rollerski. I had an extra set of wheels, and Jenex built me a new pair last year. The Terras are even heavier than the V2-XL9848's, and I find them incredibly useful. I have a packed dirt bike path near my house, and they are the perfect ski for classic skiing on a less-than-perfect surface. In fact, I even like them on smooth asphalt, as they are naturally slow. Weight is not terribly relevant for classic skiing, I think. You get used to it, and training with heavy skis won't hurt your technique (I believe). I have been told that the new ski has livelier wheels, however, so with aluminum shafts they may not be great vibration-wise. They should be better when they get composite shafts. Personally, I'd love a pair. The Terras are my default classic skis, though I use Aero 150's for really rough roads.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Lawrence:
Interesting that the Terra's are your default ski (you always have a good word for the 150's, so I assumed they were your first choice.)
I paid a visit to Jenex and they were pushing the 150's on me as a solution to issues I have with wheel vibration. Just curious--how do the 2 skis compare on paved roads? With the 150's, can you get a decent amount of resistance on pavement by using the speed reducers? How unnatural feeling is that?
My sense is that Jenex will go ahead with composite version of the Terra's, and they also pushed the idea that weight is actually a positive from the perspective of training effect (having spent the summer swinging a weighted tennis racket, I'm starting to come around to that idea)...
Sorry for all the questions, but finding rollerski's to demo isn't so easy.
Jon
Posted 5 months ago # -
@Jon44. Honestly, I don't much use the 150's for classic on good asphalt or smooth dirt for two reasons. The first is because I don't really like the speed reducers -- I prefer using the skis for classic on slower dirt, where I don't need to use the speed reducers so much. I also feel much more stable with the 150's on dirt -- it is as thought the tires sit in the dirt and balance seems less precarious; does that make sense? But, on a good downhill, the 150's will never freak you out on a washboard section of road. The Terras will chatter. That's where a composite shaft would help out.
In short, I almost never rollerski on asphalt. I like the Terras on really good dirt, prefer the 150's on rockier terrain and for steep stuff. I like the speed reducers for downhill double-poling or skating, though they are weird when you skate, because the wheels stop turning when you lift the ski, so that the beginning of your glide is sluggish. Though it is a little bit the same with classic, whereas, with double-poling you keep the wheels rolling, so you don't have to overcome the inertia of the speed reduced wheel on every stride.
What we are left with is the fact that no one rollerski covers all bases. If I had to have only one pair, it would be the 150's, because you can do pretty much everything on them. Not much help, am I?
Posted 5 months ago # -
I forgot to mention one thing. The learning curve on the 150's is a little longer than that for most skis, because of the size of the wheels. The axle to ground distance take time to get used to, especially for classic skiing. And they are heavy, although you forget about the weight pretty quickly. I bought the Aeros when they first came out (1998?), and I didn't know about outrigger wheels, so I just stuck it out and got used to them. It took a couple of weeks, but I am glad I stayed with it. Unfortunately, a demo on Aeros is not likely to be much fun. Better to rent or borrow a pair for a few days.
Posted 5 months ago # -
I agree that classic kicking on the 150s is difficult at first. Even now after years on them, I have left the outriggers on, and I still feel them touch once in a while. You can certainly learn to kick them without the outriggers, but you (I) have to concentrate on each kick.
I don't think it's the axle-to-pavement distance that makes them unstable, though, since the shaft height is pretty much the same as other skis. I think it's the relative narrow profile of the tire compared to other classic skis, including the Terra and new ski. (Terra Nova?) Jenex had a ski called the 9000 with a narrow front wheel and conventional wider rear wheel, and cautioned customers that a lot of people found it more difficult to kick than a similar ski with a wider front wheel.
It's been interesting to watch the evolution of roller skis over the years, as it's been realized that while wider wheels are needed for classic roller skiing, narrow wheels can be used, and in fact are probably better for skating. Unfortunately they can still be stopped by a rock, which I demonstrated with a hard face plant last week. Back to the Aeros for a while. I need a helmet that protects my face. Hmm, maybe a hockey helmet?
Lawrence, I'd love to ski with you on the trails you describe, to see them for myself. When I've tried off-road on the 150s, roots and sticks have made it less than enjoyable. I did go to a race in Illinois last month on fairly soft crushed limestone trails, though, where you had to have 150s. In fact, it was like spring skiing, because the track was softer in the sun as the day warmed up. That made the results quite fair, unlike pavement races where the equipment used determines the finish to a very large extent. (Google Limestone Loppet)
Thanks to Topher for putting a swift end to the spam plague that threatened the Forums.
Randy
Posted 5 months ago # -
Randy, I am sure that you are right about my "axle to pavement" comment. It makes no sense. Skinny wheels must be the issue.
As for the trails on which I ski, they are dirt roads, with no twigs or sticks that aren't easily avoidable. Some sections have larger than ideal gravel, which is not fun, and some areas are sandy, also not fun. And after rains, there are saturated clay areas that are dangerous. Still, I much prefer skiing on dirt roads to skiing on asphalt. One gets a great pole plant, while keeping the effort to speed ratio reasonable.
I feel very fortunate to have nearby the road that climbs Mt. Royal here in Montreal. It is about an 11k loop that climbs about 250 meters, and there are bathrooms at the summit. There are too many walkers and bikers in the afternoons, but early mornings are brilliant. Then, right at the end of my block, there is a dirt bike path that follows train tracks through the city. This is my flat Terra Ski territory. Amazing to live in a big city and have good dirt roads!
Lawrence
Posted 5 months ago # -
Actually, check this out on Google Maps:
Parc du Mont-Royal
1260 Chemin Remembrance, Montréal, QC H3H 1A2You can see the road of which I write winding through the trees.
Then, check this out! Le voie maritime, a 14K dirt road on a dike that creates the locks next to the St. Lawrence River. You can see it in this map, as it snakes along the river near its south shore:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parc-de-la-voie-maritime/165924530116466
Posted 5 months ago #
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