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Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 221
Location: London
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 Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:54 pm Subject: Breaking in my new speedos |
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Hello all,
I bought Andy's other pair of Bont Jets off him, and well... let's just say that trying them on for the first time properly today was something of a shock to the system, having been skating in a pair of Seba FR1s for just about my entire skating life thus far. Rather than breaking them in, they almost broke me, and I had to literally sit down for 5 minutes after every length of Serp rd as they felt so alien to what I'm used to.
I have a few questions which hopefully some kind souls can help me out with:
1. I understand that they are heat-mouldable. Question is, do I need to do this when they are still new, or can they be done at any time during the life of the boot?
2. What's the correct way to heat-mould them? Stick them in the oven for 25 minutes? What temperature? Will a hairdryer/heatgun work? The feel very tight around the upper part of the foot, as I have quite wide feet.
3. I assume I need to strip everything off the boot before attempting any heat-moulding...
4. I tend to supinate ever so slightly, and as my ankles are not sufficiently strengthened yet. what's the best way to compensate for this by moving the frame?
Thanks in advance.... |
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Barrie
Joined: 21 May 2006
Posts: 1338
Location: Putney
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:04 pm Subject: |
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http://www.bont.com/items/faq/faq.htm
| BONT FAQ wrote: |
Q: How do I Heat Mould my Bont Boots?
A: Your boots have been constructed using a special 'heat moldable' material. If necessary, the heal and ankle area of the boot can be heated, using a hair drier on the inside and outside of the boot, to make the fit more comfortable. When the boot has been heated sufficiently, so that it feels quite hot (do NOT scorch the leather, keep the drier moving in a circular motion), place the boots immediately onto the feet and lace firmly. You should NEVER wear boots with bolts only in the base, as it can damage the boots. Leave on until cool. The heating process takes a few minutes to do properly, so don't rush it. Be patient and do a good job. CAUTION: bolts used to attach frames should, for safety, be turned a minimum of 3 times into the nut. DO NOT PUT YOUR BOOTS IN THE MICROWAVE.
Q: How do I heat mould my boots in the oven?
A: Pre heat oven to 60-70C or 140-160F. Remove all bolts, frames, wheels etc from the boot. Place the boots in the oven for 20-30 minutes. Higher temperatures will damage the boot. Caution: Do not place feet in hot boots, let them cool a little first. Test the boot temperature with your hand before placing foot inside. Mount the frame to the boot and stand on it without wheels. Tighten the boot with the laces and wait until the boot cools. If there is a certain area giving you problems, push that area out using the handle of a screwdriver until the boot cools. You can heat mould the boots as many times as you like. |
I did the oven thing, you can heat mould them at any stage - I did mine 3 times before they felt right to me. i.e. I heat moulded them then skated for a day or so, then tried again... ( first time I had the laces too loose while they cooled, 2nd time too tight... 3rd time about right ).
Similarly I played around with my frames for a few weeks before they felt right, what felt right on the street, wasn't right at Tatem, and then what felt right at Tatem wasn't right on the street... Seems OK for both now though.
[edit] LOL, I only just noticed the "DO NOT PUT YOUR BOOTS IN THE MICROWAVE." bit  [/edit] |
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ed!
Committee Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 4168
Location: E R, London
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:23 pm Subject: Re: Breaking in my new speedos |
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| Van wrote: |
| 2. What's the correct way to heat-mould them? Stick them in the oven for 25 minutes? What temperature? Will a hairdryer/heatgun work? The feel very tight around the upper part of the foot, as I have quite wide feet. |
| My review that Mike has posted on his website, wrote: |
As mentioned before, the skates are heat-mouldable. This basically means that parts of the interior when heated, can be moulded to shape around your foot ensuring a better fit. The enclosed booklet provides you with all the necessary instructions to do this (involves an oven, some heat, and about 30 minutes). Even though the boots fitted reasonably well without the heat moulding, I thought I may as well do it, just to be sure.
Unfortunately, even after a couple goes of heat moulding, I still found a bit of pinching on the wider parts of my foot, but as mentioned before, I had a plan. Before I share this with you, I must say that I would not recommend doing the following, unless you're either really sure you know what you're doing, or you are willing to accept the potential adverse consequences...
I've heard about people using heat guns (imagine paint stripper) to make modifications to their skates (mainly those of a plastic or carbon fibre kind), so I went about purchasing one from my local hardware store. Having taken a few deep breaths, I then began the process of heating the outer part of the skate in the areas that were causing the pinching. The enclosed booklet does give some high-level instructions for using a heat gun, but perhaps not enough for those of a nervous disposition when it comes to making amateur modifications to brand new skates. So I went the gently, gently approach of applying medium heat (read "notch 2 of four of the dial"). After about 4 minutes outside, 2 minutes inside heating of the boot, I then proceeded to use the handle of a screwdriver to push the boot (from the inside) at the point of pinching, thus widening the boot. This process repeated a few times, each time, with growing confidence until I was satisfied I had made a difference. |
--> http://www.londonskaters.com/review-bont-jet-2008.htm
And a difference it indeed made...any questions, shoot.
| Van wrote: |
| 4. I tend to supinate ever so slightly, and as my ankles are not sufficiently strengthened yet. what's the best way to compensate for this by moving the frame? |
Are you definitely supinating in the speed boots? The basic frame alignment rule of thumb is to ensure that:
- the central part of the front of the frame is in line with your big toe and second toe.
- the central part of the back of the frame is in line with you achilles tendon
From there, if you find you are:
- pronating, move the frames to the inside of the boot
- supinating, move the frames to the outside of the boot
Do bear in mind the difference between your ankles being lazy. or if you really cannot keep your feet straight due to shape / natural balance.
If it's the former, then it's something you need to correct with practice. If it's the latter, then fiddle about with the frame.
Remember, only make minor adjustments at a time (unless it's obvious that it's really not right) and ensure you spend a session on them in any given setting to give yourself a chance to know if it feels right or not.
Another thing to do is to get someone to skate behind you, and tell you whether or not when you set your foot down, how your foot is positioned.
Sounds like you're having fun! Stick with it  |
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Michi
Joined: 11 Jun 2005
Posts: 652
Location: Hamburg
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| Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:46 pm Subject: |
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We got the recommendation not to put the skates completely in the oven but to heat them with a "hot air gun" (don't know if this is the right word for what I mean).
If you put them in the oven it might be that they start flexing as a whole and become a bit instable.
Not that I have experienced that by myself - I've had my skates molded with the oven tactic as well  |
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Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 221
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:04 pm Subject: |
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OK, cheers guys.
I will take everything on board and try it a few times with the heat gun (or hairdryer in my case). Hopefully I'll get it more or less right after a couple of attempts.
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andyman
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Posts: 1945
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:01 pm Subject: |
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Hi Van, hope the new boots aren't too bad, but I do promise they will get better!
Regarding the moulding I haven't had chance to read through all of the above buts here is a few tips from me:
Don't mould them straight away, give it a week or two because at the moment you aren't skating 'properly' in them and your foot will sort of change shape a little.
Definitely strip everything i.e. frame, and laces when you put them in the oven, and don't fasten the buckle
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES be tempted to up the temp even a little (in fact get an oven thermometer they are only a couple of quid)
You must leave the boot in for the 20 minutes it will then have permeated through all of the material (Don't worry about the rigidity as mentioned by Michi, the Bonts are set up with an extra rigid strip along the footsole and it will not lose shape under normal moulding
Make sure you wear socks also might be worth adding a plaster on your foot where the inner metal shows from the buckle - it gets hot!!!
When the boot comes out, refit the frame and laces (no need to rush too much it will not 'set' straight away) but DO NOT do the buckle up (as Barrie says, don't overtighten, there is no need just tighten normally)
Sit on a chair to enable you to put your feet slightly under and behind to emulate skating position with knee over toe
(Now the boring bit) Stay in the position for up to 30 minutes for boot to cool down (watch telly or read a book!)
I find its worth putting 1st skate in oven then adding second after say 5 minutes so you can remove one, fit it and put it on before then doing same to other one
Good luck, and no problem if its not perfect 1st time, you can do it as many times as you like AS LONG AS YOU DONT OVERCOOK THEM |
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Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 221
Location: London
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:07 pm Subject: |
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Cheers for the tips, Andy.
Just got back from a long break, so I'll be able to skate a bit more in them now. At the moment I'm just wearing them around the house to break them in a little more. Can now skate for a few more minutes before before the discomfort sets in.. still can't seem to TURN though... |
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ed!
Committee Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 4168
Location: E R, London
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:10 pm Subject: |
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Where do they hurt, or is it everywhere?
Have you heat moulded them yet - oven or otherwise?
For turning, having more weight on your heels might help. |
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Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 221
Location: London
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:28 pm Subject: |
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| ed! wrote: |
Where do they hurt, or is it everywhere?
Have you heat moulded them yet - oven or otherwise?
For turning, having more weight on your heels might help. |
Hey Ed,
The heel/ankle area is relatively OK. The area at the bottom of the laces (where the foot is the widest) is the area where it is tightest and most most problematic. After a while it feels like all circulation is being cut off and I have to sit down and take the skates back off. I think I just need to spend more time in them.
Haven't heat moulded them yet. I'm gonna skate a few sessions in them first as Andy suggested.
Cheers, |
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Sparky
Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 403
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:00 pm Subject: |
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| Having recently broken my feet into my Bont Jets I would thoroughly recommend getting some ankle booties, they have done wonders for me. |
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andyman
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Posts: 1945
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:13 pm Subject: |
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Forgot the booties, definitely agree with Sparky they work wonders. I have a spare pair you are welcome to try.
For some really good tips on general doing the switch from street to speed, you should try and get along to the Sunday morning training at Tatem. Not only are there a couple of other skaters who are going through the vhange (!) but there are also plenty of others to offer tips and advice |
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Van
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 221
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:33 pm Subject: |
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Thanks, guys.
yes I will definitely come along to Tatem soon to get some tips. Unfortunately haven't had much of a chance to skate recently (have any of us?) so need to spend more time in my boots first! |
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