tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19951443.post4165599410067629474..comments2023-10-10T16:53:48.915+02:00Comments on Kajaksport op groot water: Testing touring paddlesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19951443.post-26696410630921642812008-01-08T01:01:00.000+01:002008-01-08T01:01:00.000+01:00Hi Wenley and René!Thanks for your valuable additi...Hi Wenley and René!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your valuable additions! I think Wenley has got the point on the cranked shaft design. His analysis matches with my experiences, as I found the Lendal crank more efficient, but the Werner more "ergonomic". Alas I haven't been able yet to compare both designs visual side to side. I am not ready, the story continues...<BR/><BR/>About the final decission -> I prefer to tell you personal above publishing it on the web,<BR/><BR/>greetings,<BR/>HansHans Heupinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18303713251268545759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19951443.post-12041319055637395042008-01-05T18:28:00.000+01:002008-01-05T18:28:00.000+01:00René wrote:"For the cranked shaft this means that ...René wrote:<BR/><BR/>"For the cranked shaft this means that if the geometry of a particular cranked shaft puts the centreline of the blade forward of your hands, gripping the shaft, you will be able to start your strokes automatically more forward (maybe up to 10 cm) and thus gaining in efficiency..."<BR/><BR/>Very interesting. That is actually the point of the cranked shaft, and not ergonomy. But to achieve this the crank should be both double and negative as the Lendals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19951443.post-87842789871655721022008-01-04T10:41:00.000+01:002008-01-04T10:41:00.000+01:00Hi Hans,You wrote a real interesting post here!!!I...Hi Hans,<BR/><BR/>You wrote a real interesting post here!!!<BR/><BR/>In evaluating all those paddles you did create a valuable checklist of issues for selecting a (sea)paddle.<BR/><BR/>I must say that I fully agree with your thoughts and experiences.<BR/><BR/>Although I did not have the opportunity yet to try a cranked shaft paddle, I would like to mention that the forward part of each stroke adds most to the driving force you create with a paddle. The more forward you start your stroke the more driving force; and thus a better efficiency. This is of course part of the paddle-technique that a paddles did master. For the cranked shaft this means that if the geometry of a particular cranked shaft puts the centreline of the blade forward of your hands, gripping the shaft, you will be able to start your strokes automatically more forward (maybe up to 10 cm) and thus gaining in efficiency. May be you can examine the different cranks you evaluated, on this issue to look if the Lendal paddle for instance matches this theory with your feeling of higher efficiency.<BR/><BR/>Another thing is that I think that the link you make between "a 2,20m-shaft-length and a high angle paddle stroke" is too generalising! Following my competition background I am still paddling longer shafts and am still being able to paddle high angled in a seakayak. (meaning that the pushing hand is only slightly higher than the shoulder; higher is a loss of energy)<BR/>For me the trigger to a lower stroke will be somewhere at shafts of 2,30-2,40m. Anyhow when I paddle a shorter shaft of 2,15m on longer trips (requiring a higher paddling frequency) , this feels to nervous for me; not relaxed enough. On the contrary, when paddling surf I like the 2,15m shaft for fast accelerations.<BR/>All this meaning that shaft lengths are a personal issue as well!<BR/><BR/>PS<BR/> Your comment on the "chef's good day" made me grin. Yeah, you are right; but is a pity indeed.<BR/><BR/>Can you tell which paddle you bought or will buy in the end???<BR/><BR/>RenéAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19951443.post-80945030358811885892007-12-31T17:33:00.000+01:002007-12-31T17:33:00.000+01:00Hi eric!The paddlers in your club are realy lucky!...Hi eric!<BR/>The paddlers in your club are realy lucky! A lot of paddles and a great place to paddle on the doorstep!<BR/>I like your blog, when you don't mind i'll add it to the bloglist.<BR/>greetings,<BR/>HansHans Heupinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18303713251268545759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19951443.post-31927281730632356582007-12-31T00:57:00.000+01:002007-12-31T00:57:00.000+01:00I guess the paddlers in my local club are pretty f...I guess the paddlers in my local club are pretty fortunate that they get plenty of opportunities to try different paddles!! People are always willing to swap if asked. Most people rarely ask (except when they see a stick and then they give it back in horror after a few strokes).<BR/>A wise coach once told me that the single most important piece of gear in kayaking was a good paddle. It is your interface with the water - the piece of gear you use the most.<BR/>Finding the right one is trickier than finding the right kayak, yet most paddlers spend very little time trying out paddles. One of the most poignant lessons for me was feeling the subtle differences between each stick. When I was a stick neophyte I used several sticks -ones I had made, ones friends made, ones professionally made- and it took awhile before I found the combinations of wood and size that worked best for me.<BR/>In a class I took last summer the instructors (Cherri Peri and Turner Wilson) made us switch paddles several times during the afternoon. It was a great way to get a sense of how minor variations change the "feel" of a paddle.Eric J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03283004292694451559noreply@blogger.com