The official non tech dork thread

[gmcunni]

it is threads like this

--> http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php?t=106637

that make me realize i don't know much about the sport i love.

i think i need a lesson

 

[o3jeff]

it is threads like this

--> http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php?t=106637

that make me realize i don't know much about the sport i love.

i think i need a lesson

You better go back to biking!

 

[SkiFanE]

Love it! My current 2006/2007 SL skis are beat to crap, actually have duct tape on top sheet at the moment, still ski great, just that the sheet metal will just slice your hand lol. Bases are even worse, if I didn't have to deal with NE crust/ice, I'd never tune them, but sharp edges has been a life saving thing this winter.

I should be getting some custom skis soon (for woods/pow) but they won't be used as often as these skis. I bought these for $200 a year ago and they have about 70 days on them. I really don't care if others think my skis are shit lol...really don't. They'll probably make it through this year, then I'll be on the hunt for another cheap pair - old racer's skis are the best deal - tuned to perfection and used only a few runs/day on a course. I ski...I'm not trying to impress through my equipment, just my skill

 

[bobbutts]

at a grand a pop, new top end skis just aren't happening.. still on the steep and cheap public enemys
gotten a few new snowboards, but they are cheaper
p-tex is easy to apply
fresh wax and/or a coat of additive like zardoz is nice in the spring

 

[Edd]

at a grand a pop, new top end skis just aren't happening.. still on the steep and cheap public enemys
gotten a few new snowboards, but they are cheaper
p-tex is easy to apply
fresh wax and/or a coat of additive like zardoz is nice in the spring

I love my Public Enemies. I've bought 3 sets of different skis since but I can't go a year without rocking them a few times or more. I consider it a very good powder or slush ski. They are just so ugly I started covering them with stickers this summer and I can't believe I didn't think of that earlier.

 

[Cannonball]

I love my Public Enemies. I've bought 3 sets of different skis since but I can't go a year without rocking them a few times or more. I consider it a very good powder or slush ski. They are just so ugly I started covering them with stickers this summer and I can't believe I didn't think of that earlier.

I took a can of flat black spray pain to my PEs. Couldn't stand the military scene. ....

 

[Edd]

I took a can of flat black spray pain to my PEs. Couldn't stand the military scene. ....

Nice! What I like about the topsheets is that you can't possibly make them worse.

 

[Cheese]

I'm not going to fool anyone in this thread since I've already made plenty of new gear and new technique posts in my short membership. That said, I do look at people in the lift lines and think, "Oh, I remember that long straight ski. That was a blast to ski on!"

What bothers me is the person is still trusting their lower body to a binding that is 10, 20 or 30 years old. No ski shop will tech them as they don't want the liability yet every year they return to the slopes. I mean, don't these skiers owe it to their own health to at least upgrade the part that's going to release and save something as important as their legs? I'll see people leaving 4 stripes in the snow from their rusty edges and not think for a second that there's rust, corrosion and non functioning parts inside those old toe and heal pieces.

 

[Hawkshot99]

I'm not going to fool anyone in this thread since I've already made plenty of new gear and new technique posts in my short membership. That said, I do look at people in the lift lines and think, "Oh, I remember that long straight ski. That was a blast to ski on!"

What bothers me is the person is still trusting their lower body to a binding that is 10, 20 or 30 years old. No ski shop will tech them as they don't want the liability yet every year they return to the slopes. I mean, don't these skiers owe it to their own health to at least upgrade the part that's going to release and save something as important as their legs? I'll see people leaving 4 stripes in the snow from their rusty edges and not think for a second that there's rust, corrosion and non functioning parts inside those old toe and heal pieces.

The other day I was getting off the lift and there was a guy standing there yelling at his daughter because she had slammed her foot into the old binding and it shattered into pieces, not that fact that it was a look from the 80's.

Then the guy was saying how he had lots of those at home so he would just slap a ne set on there and call it good.

I have had a ACL done from a binding that didnt release. It sucks, and my copays cost way more than a pair of bindings do. If it is for yourself that is one thing, but dont screw up your kids future.

 

[KD7000]

What bothers me is the person is still trusting their lower body to a binding that is 10, 20 or 30 years old. No ski shop will tech them as they don't want the liability yet every year they return to the slopes.

Keep in mind, the shop techs won't work on them only because they don't want the legal liability, not because there is necessarily any mechanical issue.

I agree with what you're saying about really old bindings, but I wonder how many AZ'ers are riding ~2002 era bindings that are (probably) perfectly fine? Based on the "quiver" thread, I'd guess there are a whole bunch.


Sorry for putting tech dork stuff in the non tech thread.

 

[tomcat]

Downhill skiing is just one of many outdoor and mountain sports I pursue so I don't get too into the technical aspect. I do only have one active pair of downhill skis. I bought a pair of 2 yr old leftovers at 65% off new price and a pair of leftover boots at a similar price discount that both were at least in the category of ski I was looking. For where I live gas to get to slope almost costs as much as a ticket, and I always buy discounted tickets. If I lived closer to a good resort I'd buy a pass but its not cost effective right now for that. I get out up to a dozen times (typically more like 6- 8) a year and do hit just about all terrain types from an occasional glade and bump run but prefer steeps and tight trails that make me work. I don't tend to overanalyze the runs, I just do them. I guess 20 yrs of skiing my ability evolved and I actually feel I'm a far superior skier at 34 than when I was a teen ( I was just reckless then) I will get tuned every couple of years unless I get in a higher than normal number of ski days a year then I might do it more frequently. I love to downhill ski but I prefer XC skiing and do that more when we actually have usable snow.
My main outdoor activitity is hiking and backpacking which I tend to keep up on technical clothing so I can use much of that for skiing.

 

[tomcat]

thats six to eight, I cant get rid of that smiley

 

[bvibert]

thats six to eight, I cant get rid of that smiley

fixed it for you.

 

[Cheese]

I have had a ACL done from a binding that didnt release. It sucks, and my copays cost way more than a pair of bindings do. If it is for yourself that is one thing, but dont screw up your kids future.

I had a close call many years back. I don't know if the Tyrolia binding didn't release or the K2 ski just gave up but luckily for my leg the ski completely de-laminated from the toe piece almost to the tip and the heal piece almost to the tail. The destruction of the ski gave my leg enough give to survive the forward fall.

On the tech side, newer bindings definitely have more angles of release. Anyone who has ever had a diagonal toe release from a Rossi binding knows this first hand. The toe piece looks like it's busted as the side of the binding actually jams against the top sheet of the ski. It doesn't snap back into place either as the toe needs to be hit with a rubber mallet to reset.

 

[gmcunni]

You better go back to biking!

LOL, i can't figure out how to adjust my derailleur to stop the ghost shifting.

 

[bvibert]

LOL, i can't figure out how to adjust my derailleur to stop the ghost shifting.

You may have a bent hanger, you'll never get it right if that's the case.... err ah.. I mean stop being a pansy and ride it like it is!

 

[awf170]

Just pick a gear and stick with it. That's what I do. Doesn't matter if your hanger is bent if you don't shift. :wink:

And try bending the hanger back before buying a new one. They're way too expensive to just toss out if it's just a little bent.

The biggest PITA is when both the derailleur and hanger are just a little bent. If you have the patience both can be bent back correctly. I don't, so i just end up using one gear.

 

[gmcunni]

Just pick a gear and stick with it. That's what I do. Doesn't matter if your hanger is bent if you don't shift. :wink:

problem is it shifts when i don't, usually when i'm pedaling hard up a hill. it blows to lose the momentum.

And try bending the hanger back before buying a new one. They're way too expensive to just toss out if it's just a little bent.

The biggest PITA is when both the derailleur and hanger are just a little bent. If you have the patience both can be bent back correctly. I don't, so i just end up using one gear.

i don't think it is bent. its been like this since i had the original one replaced (it snapped).

 

[bvibert]

If the original derailleur snapped then the hanger is probably bent.

 

[gmcunni]

If the original derailleur snapped then the hanger is probably bent.

had the shop fix it the first time, i'd assume they did it correctly.