Potential Newb Needs Advice!

[Big Bad Bounce Boy]

although u dont need to go by my advice i woundnt recomend these stilts they are not great if i were u have a look around ALSO why has the guy in to right of your link have skips?

[Ladon]

Ah, so the ones I linked to aren't exactly very good for the price? It seems like the most legit site in the country, I may have to import then...

[Mr Frank]

OK, you will go through hooves or tire socks very quickly and spring efficiency is a big issue when running.  I'd suggest 7leagueboots or Powerskips if you can afford them and you can find a place that sells them.  Otherwise, the Flying Locust stilts you found are not bad and perhaps better than Powerisers for your purposes, since I've heard that the new springs have a better character, but maybe not.  Flying Locust hooves and springs are said to wear out very quickly.

Running is hell on springs and hooves.

The weight categories listed on that site are incorrect.  The number in the spring name is the maximum weight, not medium recommended.  For example, M80 should be 70-80kg, not 75-85.  Too much weight on a spring can make it break prematurely.  Or really, too much abuse regardless of weight, as I have destroyed slightly overpowered Powerskip springs in two days due to my (I would guess) unusual strength.  Since you're a biker, I'd suggest slightly overpowered springs for you.  Biking muscles are by no means all you use, but they make a difference.  Stiff springs are tough to learn on, but they will serve you well in the end.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and hooves get no traction on ice or snow.  Just thought it was worth mentioning.

[flybaby]

Tire socks?

Yeah, doing the route when I don't have to work is definitely something I'll do, to see how sweaty I get. I don't sweat much, and I usually take a change of clothes with me to work if it's too hot out.

On some shifts I can actually just take a bus halfway and walk it, and then run home at night when I can take a shower afterwards. It's all just in logistics, I'll figure it out when I get to it.

So there's a chance I'll trash them by doing too much jogging/running on them... I'll keep that in mind

If I find they're difficult to get to work on, I'll use them to get around the city on instead. As fun as it is to weave in and out of crowds on a bike, it gets a bit hecktic sometimes. With these I could jump over children! (no, I have no intention of jumping over children... or midgets...)

Thanks guys for all your help I'm going to give it another day to make sure I don't buy them on impulse, and then I'll grab some!

just a tyre that you have cut and wrapped around the hoof to stop the hoof wearing away umm there is a guide in the knoledge section somewhere i think 1 sec...   http://www.PoweriserPages.com/forum/tyre_socks-t95.0.html; i dont know whats that like umm there is another one somewhere hold on.   http://www.geocities.com/powerisertiresocks/ pretty sure thats the one i used just save you a lot of money on hoovs if you can be bothered.. to start with they are a pain the the butt to get right but if your doing them every few weeks they should become second nature..

as for your "ill cross that bridge when i come to it" approch to the logistics ... i like your style haha!

P.S i now realise that this is not a instant messaging thing and it dont matter how long i take lmao my bad

[Ladon]

Cool cool... So with the springs, I weigh about 68. It's a terrible place to be! Should I just go for the 80s and assume I'll need the extra stiffness? Or should I risk the 70s breaking on me because I pushed them too hard...

[Mr Frank]

Get M80s, definitely.  M70s may or may not break, but either way they will be pretty soft.

[Chocl8]

biker, therefore strong legs, therefore 90's

* a man of few words*

[flybaby]

the bigger the better i say i mean im 71 on m80 i hate it i want s rex type x far too easy to bottom

[Ladon]

I've never weighed more than 70, so I doubt I'll be able to bottom out a pair of 80's, judging by what I've seen. Could be wrong though, thoughts?

Also, the stilts on this page: http://powerjumperz-au.com/  Will they be good enough? Not the Pro model, just the regular adult ones. Although if I need to, I'll grab the Pros if there is a better chance of them not snapping in half within a few weeks. (I once bought a 100$ bicycle, and I tore it apart riding up a hill within two weeks of purchase... I still have no idea how)

I'd like to place an order next week, so if I have to import a decent pair I'd like to be prepared for the extra cost!

[Mr Frank]

Flying Locust springs are relatively soft.  You really don't want M70s.  I'm 70-72kg and I'm quite happy with Poweriser 7090s, which are made for 70-90kg and Poweriser springs are generally stiffer.  The M70s will be too soft.  It is common bocking lore that if you're near the top of one category, you should go up to the next.  My suggestion about the proposal of M90s is that they will probably be a good choice once you've worn out your first pair.  I've never used Flying Locust springs, but the suggestions of very overpowered springs often come from people who have forgotten what it's like to suck at bocking.  It takes skill to bottom out overpowered springs.

As for the pro vs normal model choice, just go with the normal ones, I don't think one is sturdier than the other.  Plus, I have heard very little in praise of the pivoting footplate on the FL Pro model.

[Athoul]

I've never weighed more than 70, so I doubt I'll be able to bottom out a pair of 80's, judging by what I've seen. Could be wrong though, thoughts?

With practise you will easily be able to bottom out 80's, if i was you i'd go for M90s 

[Ladon]

Alright thanks
I think I'll get a pair of 80's to start with, and when they break I'll order up some 90's to increase the skill level... should work

[Lukey]

15km each way is a small hike on stilts, make sure you wear thick socks and some padding for the knees else you'll get rubbed raw!

[ricky35]

I've never weighed more than 70, so I doubt I'll be able to bottom out a pair of 80's, judging by what I've seen. Could be wrong though, thoughts?

With practise you will easily be able to bottom out 80's, if i was you i'd go for M90s 

totally agree, it doesnt really matter how much you way in my oppinion, some people are no way near the weight class they're springs are and some of them can bottom them out