Trouble getting used to Tour Hu'mer

[sharks_34 0]

I recently bought some Tour Redmax (which have the all 80 Hu'mer shassis on them) and I still find them odd to skate on. Previously I have owned 2 pairs of Nike Quest s'2 and before that it was Easton Z-Air's.

Is anybody else finding it difficult to adjust?

[#96 0]

Some have claimed to get used to them within 1 game, perhaps only a few shifts. I personally found it longer that that.

Within my first skate I was adjusting, but by no means at the level I was at on my hi-lo setup. I've now skated about 6 games, and finally feel cofident in terms of speed and agility.

With hi-lo, you can kinda take off on the front wheel. That is, tip your foot forward, pivot, and push off with the first wheel. I find this to be difficult with the Hummer setup. I have adopted a more icehockey like stride to my pushoffs. I don't pivot on the front wheel anymore, and I pushoff and have more of an initial stride like with ice skating. I have found this has helped my start offs tremendously. Everyone develops their own skating styles, with hilo, I definately used the front wheel. Slight adjustments with the Hummer, but like I said, I feel pretty confident on them now.

One thing I have been noticing lately is that my legs, especially my shins and ankles, have been feeling very tired and worn by the end of games. I feel like I have to use so much more leg strength to skate than with my hi lo setup. Now this could be attributed to different things: not used to the Tour boot, only 9 eyelet system - low ankle cut, all 80 wheels may need more leg stride to get them going. I dunno. I have the Code1s which are really light, with the mini wheels too! But I know my legs get more work on these skates than others.

[sharks_34 0]

Thanks for the reply.

I've been skating on them for about a month and a half - and it still feels odd at the start of the session. Like #96 it's all around the toe / front of the skate, caused by being used to Hi-Lo's and skating on my toe's more than anything. When I skate it feels like I'm less stable (flatter shassis - so balance is further back) and that my front wheel gets in the way (80 as opposeed to a 72mm).

It's getting to the point where I am considering changing the chassis on the skate - I would want to keep the boot as I find it very comfy (the reason why I moved from the nikes is that after 9-12 month they deteriorated around the ankle and were giving me serious pain).

[gokings55 0]

Some have claimed to get used to them within 1 game, perhaps only a few shifts. I personally found it longer that that.

I have the Code1s which are really light, with the mini wheels too! But I know my legs get more work on these skates than others.

Are you going to switch back to HILO's?

[#96 0]

I'm not gonna switch back to hi lo anytime soon. I'm getting used to it. Perhaps when the new Mission line comes out I might hop into a pair of 9500's. But for now, I'm getting used to it. Had 5 goals tonight, so I guess they can't be too bad :lol:

[MIGHTYJOHN 0]

I've skated on them 1x & I as well am having problems TURNING....speed is not a problem...but I think a few skates from now I'll B adjusted

[shute 4]

i've never used the humer before but i would think it's the same as when we were using rollerblades in street hockey way back in the day.. i remember using a all 80mm setup back then as well and it was like wearing speed skates for a while but i soon got used to it. i think it just takes time but i can see the problem with having 4 large wheels on the floor at all times... i might get slammed for this but what about the humer and mission vibe put together... you'll get the 4 wheels on the floor and 4 80mm wheel for the speed when needed but 3 wheels when for turning. sounds like the best of both worlds to me... B) but then again i seem to be the ONLY one who liked the vibe design.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Do you think it would be a smooth transaction from an all 76 flat setup?

[shute 4]

no unless it's one of those rec or fitness rollerblades where it's flat for all 4 wheels. your all 76mm setup might be the old school rocker style so it's only 3 wheels on the floor. i still say someone should put together the vibe with humer... that would rock!

[kovalchuk71 212]

nope, its an all flat final factor..no rockered shit

[#96 0]

I would say it would be quite similar. My first pair of real roller blades were a pair of converted Bauer Supreme 5000 with a Sure Grip chassis. That was an all 76mm setup from what I remember. Might have had a slight rocker to it though. I never had any complaints.

I think the problem is that I've been on steady hi/los for at least 6 years (1st pair were the 99 VSI Carbons). I would probably have an adjustment period with any kind of chassis setup, be it rocker, sensor, or Hummer, after that kind of time on one style (hilo).

I guess it would be like in ice hockey, having your skates sharpenened one way, maybe deep, big rocker, and then going to less rocker and more moderate depth. Any transition would take time.

[hockeyhair91 0]

What I've found is that, although the tour skates have the recessed wheel well to allow for a forward leaning type feel (similar to why mission brought out the high/low system) if you've always skated on a forward leaning skate you feel very flat footed and almost pushed backward and upright on the tours. As much as its a weird adjustment, it IS in fact better for a more efficient stride. As far as the Vibe/hum'er idea goes, gettin rid of the vibe system was the best idea mission ever had, the only change in feel it made to the skates was that it made them heavier.

[shute 4]

i would have to disagree with ya on the vibe... yes they were heavy but i could tell the difference the first time i put on the skates... my turns were so much better and more stopping power as well. i remember the first time i got my rpm's i almost fell backwards a few times because it did lift the skates up in order to take the front wheel off the ground. the shocks themselves couldn’t of been that heavy and with the new boots these days and the fact that we now have magnesium chassis i'm sure it wouldn't be bad at all. put the vibe shocks on a magnesium chassis and use the code1 boot and i'm sure it'll weigh the same as what a normal code1 would be. in return you get your front wheel lifted when making turns but still keep the 4 wheels on the ground when your skating forward or backwards. i don't see how that could be a bad thing at all?

[CSW1618 5]

I personally didnt love or hate the vibe. I bought RT's and at first i thought the vibe did something but then i didnt really feel the effect it had on my turns so i just tightend the vibe so it was like a regular chassi.. besides i dont think mission would ever go back to the vibes

[malcb33 99]

The Vibe system on a Mag hummer frame would be awesome, IMO!! I loved the vibe system on the mission skates, it just took a while to get used to it! It was alittle heavy bit I am sure it could be made lighter these days. The hummers grip and speed are great, but with the turning of a vibe, that would be a total package. Now if they could just figure out how to make it light enough and how to combine all the different patents!

[shute 4]

finally someone who agrees with me B) Vibe shocks on a humer chassis made out of magnesium... BEST setup EVER... now all we need is for mission to buy out labeda and we're set! :lol:

[DaveTheWave 0]

Too bad the Hi-lo setup is patented. I find it hard to believe that Labeda would be making the all 80mm setup at all if it weren't for legal issues. I give the company a lot of respect for their chassis, so its unfortunate that they can't make the hi-lo setups anymore.

[malcb33 99]

I believe Labeda can still make HiLo frames just that they would have to pay royalties!

[shute 4]

even if they could make the highlow chassis without paying mission why would they? it's not like they have their own skates to put them on and if anyone did need to have a highlow chassis they will make it themselves if they didn't have to pay mission... unless labeda can make unique stuff there is no point.

[teamlabeda 1]

While there is some adjustment to the Hum'er, quick for some, longer for others, we do believe it is far superior to the other frames available on the market. Remember Labeda stopped marketing the Hi/Lo and backed the Sensor echnology far before any patent issues ever surfaced. Once you have tried and adjusted to the Hum'er go back and try your Hi/Lo's you will realize the loss of power you were losing in every stride!

[Justin 1933 134]

What about all the weight of a Hummer Chassis (wheels) vs. a HiLo Magnessium/Aluminum chassis? That extra weight will cause you lose alot of power...

But hey, I still think Sensor is as good as HiLo, if not better...

[Neo5370 132]

But wouldn't the higher rpm's from the all 80mm setup help out while gliding? I dunno how much heavier a hummer set up is, but I'm willing to bet the extra weight eventually becomes a non-issue while the added speed from the bigger wheels is always a factor.

I've never tried an all 80mm setup so I can't speak from anything more than conjecture.

[DaveTheWave 0]

Speed is great but its not everything... turning and control are important too, but I don't think they come from the chassis more so than the wheels, which Labeda rule at making.

[Neo5370 132]

Speed is great but its not everything... turning and control are important too, but I don't think they come from the chassis more so than the wheels, which Labeda rule at making.

Totally agreed. On the other hand, weight (as most members will agree) is not an important factor but for some reason is one of the "sexiest" features and rules in marketing and R&D.

[bc80 0]

just played my 1st game with my code 1s WOW i need to practice haha. I had a hard time skating 2nite. seemed liek my skates got real loose real quick tho so that prob has a lot to do with it considering i usually lace my skates up super tight.

anyway it feels real smooth and quick, just had a hard time stopping fast and changing direction. im sure after a few games ill b fine.