XS,

Nice vid.
that looks like a fantastic spot you've found.
So many possibilities, with all those different steps, slopes and rails.
What is it actually? Is there any security guard hassle or can you bock till you drop??

I don't think that is the case??

If i do a "checking for gum" style trick, the spring mount will be forced into the back of my hamstring.

If i put foam on the spring mount, and do the same trick, the foam will contact my leg sooner than the metal would have in the first place, and it will push deeper into the skin, from the momentum of the backwards leg flick. I think this will cause a deeper bruising?

The ideal place for the spring to be positioned (when the knee is bent at 90 degrees), would seem to be behind the knee, as there is more room there, and less chance of contact.

It seems that there are ergonomic issues that the manufacturer has not considered.

Could they not have provided more positions to locate the top spring mount.?
4 more holes drilled through the vertical support, two 2cm lower than the existing, and another two, 2cm below that?

BBBB,
I don't see how a spring mount can contact the calf, unless you are using junior bocks, which i dont think t-rex's are?
measurements of you r leg and bocks could prove useful.

BBBB,
Surely you mean hamstring, not calf?
And for it to contact you whilst just bouncing is very strange i think?

I only get hit, when bending my legs up in a jump, or standing up from the ground.

I am really not understanding this padding it with foam lark.
Surely this will make the problem worse, as it decreases the distance between the back of the leg and the spring mount, increasing the chance of impact??

Interesting to hear of another brand user getting bruises on the hamstring.

Any more of you getting bruised here?

You don't suppose it is anything to do with the new calf cuff design do you??

Is this model the only one to feature this?

After yesterdays 6hr usage, and some progression in my bocking, this is how my hamstrings look this morning.
They are very tender, i can tell you.



This can't be right, there must be some sort of adjustment they can design to avoid this?
From an ergonomic point of view, i have always classed myself as "Mr average", it would seem that PoweriSers are designed for the tall and lankey?

Anyone using 7's have this bruising problem?
Is it only PoweriSer users that suffer, or do different brands users suffer as well?

I am wondering if all bocks are created equal?
Is there anyone else that could measure their bocks from the footplate to the top of the upper spring mount please?

I was looking online for an "average limb measurement" table, but so far i have come up empty.
My heal to hamstring measurement is 43cm, (when at 90 degrees) so probably closer to 44-45cm with trainers on.



With my bocks measuring 41cm, that gives me a range of 3-4cm, movement which is obviously not enough.

I would be interested if others could supply measurements of bock and legs, to see if any pattern emerges.
Maybe something like this:

Type of bock=                   2008 PoweriSer
footplate to spring top=   41cm
your height=                     5'11" or 180.5cm
your heal to hamstring=   43cm

I can try and graph/chart the info and then maybe the info could be passed on the the manufactures for future development?

I find it a shame that the enjoyment i get from using the bocks, is marred by unnecessary pain. 


 

Well this is day 4 using the Risers, and what a great day.
Went down the park with the kids, and worked on balance and confidence.
Sorry about the pix, they are video freeze frames which don't have the same quality as photos. The camera person (aged eight , is not professional either.









And a short vid of us messing around on some park benches:

Click here to watch park-bench-and-nipper

The new GoodYear hooves are holding up real well and are providing adequate grip. I think these will be loads better than the last effort.
Got bruises on both hamstrings due to todays 6hr usage.

Still no word on the bearing issue. SkateHut have passed me on the J&R distributer's who supply their risers, and they said they would look into it and call me back today......Which they have not.

I am beginning to think i should have gone for the 7's??

Really enjoyed watching that BBBB. Thanx for sharing.
That guy has got some serious moves.
Someone like that could really progress the bocking trick list.

Hey Pieforce,

take a look at the bottom 2 pics in post#30.
Are your bearing washers skewed like that? They should be flat flush against the metal all the way around, not just at the bottom.

Looks like you were bang on the money Bill.
The rubber matting i was using was far too soft.
Pic below shows 6hrs usage.



Had to take the car to the garage for a service today, and scrounged an old GoodYear tyre from them.
Cut some new hooves with an angle grinder. Very messy. Goggles, mask and long sleeves/trousers are essential.



The old hooves came off without much trouble.
Below you can see the new rubber glued and clamped in position by tie wraps. I made 4 little recesses for the front and rear tie wraps to remain, out of the way.
I hope these new ones will last a bit longer.



Not heard from SkateHut yet regarding the bearing assemblies. I am gonna chase them up now.

Fitted some small side spacers to the spring to minimize the side to side movement down there.
They are just plastic from a cd-rom case. 8cm x 1cm x 1mm glued in place.



Right, on the phone.

Your on my wavelength Athoul, just been out to measure mine as well.....41cm



So the 2cm difference would make all the difference. That explains why you are so comfortable, even when "checking for gum".
Looks like the 7's have better ergonomics.

Sounds like Frank is out in high heels.

Cheers for that pic Athoul.

Looks to have about the same dimensions, even though it is sheathed.

The only thing i can think of, is that the measurement from the footplate, up the vertical support, to the tip of the upper spring mount, must be shorter on the 7's, and longer on the RiSers??

Friis,
I have the basics of PS.

XS,
Not sure about hacking it off myself, for the safety reasons mentioned by both Bill and Short Steve.

I don't agree with short Steve about just adding padding though. This will make the problem worse as i mentioned earlier. It won't matter if the spring mount is hard or soft, the point is that it is in the way of tight knee bending, and the contact point on the hamstring will bruise whether hard or soft.
It needs moving out of the equation altogether.

I don't want to have to compromise, as the "checking for gum" style tricks are the most stylish IMO.

Athoul,
Are the tops of 7's a different design to RiSers. In fact are they ergonomically the same size at all.
Could do with a piccy of a 7's next to a RiSer for comparison. It may be that the 7's have a shorter vertical support??

Furry Nips,

Maybe you're just not as flexible as us. We must be cooooool.

I have 2 lovely bruises on the back of my hamstrings.

These are from doing tricks where you bend your bocks up behind you, and from standing up on the bocks from the ground.

At 5'11" i do not class myself as small, and putting foam or anything else over the top of the upper spring mount, will only make the problem worse.

Raising the footplate with something seems to be the way to go, to prevent the contact. I just tried loose fitting a 1" piece of timber on the footplate, and with that in place, i could bend my legs much further back before contact was made. I think i would only need half an inch, to make it more comfortable for myself.

Looking at the design of the top spring mount, i would say there is scope to redesign it, to minimize unwanted contact with the hamstring.
This may be enough to eliminate contact in normal use for some folks.
What do you reckon??

Hey guys,
Thanx for the kind words and good wishes.

I was wearing all my pads and helmet at the time, as i always do. I have to set an example to my young un's, and it make me feel better.

I only posted as i thought this may be a common injury (due to lack of protection), and to highlight that a relaxed fist may be the safer way to go down?? Any thoughts or experience on this?

I get what you are saying Mr Frank, but i gotta try and progress at some point. I am quite comfortable on the bocks at the mo, and happy to try new things.
It was a nothing fall really, not from any great height, and not from doing anything spectacular, but the consequences were more than expected.   

1. What keeps you guys doing what some consider a dangerous activity?
I have only just started bocking, but it is the same reason as any other sport. Your personal progression in the sport, and the feeling you get from pushing yourself to learn, and the rush you get when you land or learn a new trick or move. Once competent and confident at a particular trick, the looks and comments of from joe public, are a different kinda buzz.

2. What is the strangest/funniest comment that a bystander has said?
What's wrong with your legs?

3. Do you have any other activities/extreme sports that you do?
I don't do anything regually except MTB. I used to Skateboard for 12yrs, and we Snowboard/Ski every couple of years. i have tried most EX activitys, Carting, Scuba diving, Water skiing, Surfing, Body boarding, any theme park ride, Bungee Jumping, Tandom Skydive. The senses that each of the activitys stimulate, let you know that you are alive....

4. What was the most frightening thing that you have done/ happened to you on bocks?
Losing control, and falling are both sketchy on bocks. It is very difficult to counterbalance the weight and length of the bocks when falling. You can't control the fall in the usual way, the bocks tend to dictate how it will happen.

5. What is the worst injury that you have endured? from bocks or other extreme sports?
Bocks= Dislocated finger
MTB= gravel rash (nasty and sore)
Sk8= sprained ankles/wrists, 24hr concussion. many more that have been long forgoten.

Good luck with the school project foppert. It is always good when you can combine your interests with your studies.