New fell shoe!

My lords, ladies and gentlemen, a new fell shoe has been discovered. The item's creator, a tortured and disheveled man, was working late one stormy night on the top floor of his Gothic tower when an accident with high voltage conductors blew him across the room. His hunched manservant Igor threw open the heavy oak door and rushed to assist. As the dazed, smoking man arose from the cold stone floor of his candle lit laboratory, among the torroids and galvanometers surrounding him he witnessed a vision; an unholy alliance of running shoe parts wrought, stitched and fused together to create the perfect tool for feral fell running:

The LSR FrankenTalon 212.


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Over the coming weeks this wretched manifestation will be put through its paces by its delerious, cackling creator. It's alive!

Superb!!

Seriously though, keep us updated how those LSR studs go for longevity. I'd considered sending some old shoes there, but was a little deflated when i realised they (quite obviously) couldn't fit a bona-fide Walsh sole to my non-Walsh shoes...

So inovative they have appeared on the Fell runner facebook!

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Originally Posted by MattPo

So inovative they have appeared on the Fell runner facebook!

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Meanwhile, the facebook group are now discussing the hot fellrunning topic of the generation... which selfie-stick to take on your runs.

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Originally Posted by Travs

Meanwhile, the facebook group are now discussing the hot fellrunning topic of the generation... which selfie-stick to take on your runs.

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It’s an issue that keeps me awake at night 😂

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Originally Posted by Travs

Meanwhile, the facebook group are now discussing the hot fellrunning topic of the generation... which selfie-stick to take on your runs.

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On the other hand a lot of people are inspired to see people getting out and about in the hills on instagram etc and taking pictures is all part of the fun. I don't think something simple like running in the hills has to be all about torturing yourself to get better or equally all about taking photos and perhaps not really running at all. Unless of course the runner is wearing earphones - earphones in the hills, when I become president of the UK, will be second on the list of things to be banned after golf :)

On the shoe refurb thing, I don't think my shoe uppers ever really outlast the soles to make it worthwhile

Travs, i found an old thread where you mentioned getting lsr to put new studs on a pair of irocks, did you do this and if so how did it turn out?
Brightside, be interested to hear how you find these are in action.

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Originally Posted by TimG

Travs, i found an old thread where you mentioned getting lsr to put new studs on a pair of irocks, did you do this and if so how did it turn out?
Brightside, be interested to hear how you find these are in action.

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Hi Tim... As I briefly alluded to above, I did look into it. I was under the incorrect impression that I'd get a genuine Walsh outsole put onto the Irocks. After speaking to them I quickly realised this wasn't possible, and they could put their "own brand" outsole onto them.

To cut a long story short, I never got round to it...

Full scientific tests to come.

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Originally Posted by Fellbeast

On the other hand a lot of people are inspired to see people getting out and about in the hills ... is all part of the fun.

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Fun!

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Originally Posted by Fellbeast

I don't think something simple like running in the hills has to be all about torturing yourself

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Utter tosh! Piffle!

Fell running isn't supposed to be an enjoyable lark! It's supposed to be bollock-tearingly painful, teeth-grindingly awful,and thereby sorting the wheat from the chaff, don't cha know!

How else are we to appear admiringly heroic to the grubby, feeble hoi polloi down below.

Get a grip Stolly man. And they let you be a moderator - huh!

:D:D:D

Anyone spotted smiling on a race photo should receive a 5 minute penalty for not trying hard enough!

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Originally Posted by Travs

Anyone spotted smiling on a race photo should receive a 5 minute penalty for not trying hard enough!

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Exactly. And shamed as obvious imposters!

Any torn or busted limbs (a worthy indication of a proper 'sport') should be shrugged off and recorded (if worth the bother at all :rolleyes:) as 'a mere scratch'.

I don’t count them as injuries. I like to consider it body erosion. It makes it seem much more geological. Also the only way to prevent more body erosion is just to be harder. It’s that Joss quote “any fool can be fit, it’s being hard that’s hard”.

And photo'd doing that jump where you flick your heels together, instant disqualification and 4 year FRA ban.

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Originally Posted by Travs

And photo'd doing that jump where you flick your heels together, instant disqualification and 4 year FRA ban.

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Nonchalantly throwing your guts up just over the finish line and then just swaggering off as if nothing was amiss = advance 2 places up.

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Originally Posted by matthew

It’s that Joss quote “any fool can be fit, it’s being hard that’s hard”.

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Fantastic - I'd not heard that before. Thanks :D

Rather like... 'pain is just weakness, leaving the body"

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Originally Posted by Travs

And photo'd doing that jump where you flick your heels together, instant disqualification and 4 year FRA ban.

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Ditto anyone giving the thumbs up.

I did once execute a (much warranted given the terrain and in no way superfluous) slightly exaggerated jump at Coniston as there was a cameraman there (see avatar). It was my gambit to be on the front cover of Fellrunner. I was obviously too youthful and sprightly as they ended up going with some old man not showing off ;)

I love some of those comments :)

I will qualify my previous statement - fell running can be super fun but, yeah your right, fell racing is kind of hard to call fun in any way, shape or form until you cross the line at the end. Except maybe super fast, super runnable descents which do make me smile a bit...

I hate people who chat during races, often about kit choices and best running shoes, nearly always going up the first hill - bastards ;)

Over the years I've been in some states after races that's for sure but my worst ever was probably at the end of 'my magnificent London Marathon debacle' in 2014 which I ran with absolutely zero road running training. To say that I had a tough last 6 miles is the biggest understatement ever known in the annals of race running and I was sick once having crossed the line, completely frozen with cramp trying to step up a curb, not able to move forwards or back, and then sick twice more in the middle of Horse Guards parade and couldn't do anything but lie there groaning... while my sister chatted to Hester and her sister about shopping or something :rolleyes:. I had been on for a super duper sub 3hr 15 but had to settle for a complete train crash 3hr 30

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Originally Posted by Fellbeast

I hate people who chat during races, often about kit choices and best running shoes, nearly always going up the first hill - bastards ;)

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Standard psychological tactics there...

Start chatting... couple of minutes later complain that its a bit of a tough climb... 20 seconds later, start running up it.

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Originally Posted by Fellbeast

Over the years I've been in some states after races that's for sure but my worst ever was probably at the end of 'my magnificent London Marathon debacle' in 2014 which I ran with absolutely zero road running training. To say that I had a tough last 6 miles is the biggest understatement ever known in the annals of race running and I was sick once having crossed the line, completely frozen with cramp trying to step up a curb, not able to move forwards or back, and then sick twice more in the middle of Horse Guards parade and couldn't do anything but lie there groaning... while my sister chatted to Hester and her sister about shopping or something :rolleyes:. I had been on for a super duper sub 3hr 15 but had to settle for a complete train crash 3hr 30

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I have done the cramp bit in the same context, but not the vomiting. They do say 20 miles is the true halfway point. That last 6 miles can be a living nightmare - the self questioning is awful - "why the f*** am I doing this again".

Thanks for your earlier post travs, got some irocks with the studs worn down but the rest of the shoe is in good shape, was thinking about getting them resoled. Will wait to hear the results of this experiment...

Mr Woodentop is great at capturing one looking at one's best. He got a shot of me having just completed my leg of the Badger stone relays bent over leaking bodily fluid from every orafice (except at the rear!). And it was on my birthday,

First test, coefficient of static friction on wetted surface.

Attachment 8859

Test surfaces: Wetted slate, wetted plywood
Shoes on test: X-Talon 212, Walsh PB, LSR Talon 212

Method: Soak with water and assume some sort of a downward dog position from yoga. Begin wriggling a bit and making direction of force closer to the horizontal.

Results: X-Talon surprisingly unstable on damp surfaces with a noticable tendancy to aquaplane, though the best on test on a soaked surface with water running off. LSR Talon marginally worse than Walsh on damp and soaked surfaces, with a slight tendancy to aquaplane. Walsh incredibly stable on damp surfaces, wood and slate, with virtually no aquaplane. Both LSR Talon and Walsh were worse than X Talon on soaked surfaces with water running off.

Conclusion: You'd be far safer fording a river in Inov-8 sticky rubber, but as legends tell, nothing beats a Walsh on wet/damp rock. LSR Talon not favoured for fording a river, but very close to Walsh performance on wet/damp slate.

In a practical sense, if you were lining up for the Coledale in heavy rain forecast to persist throughout the race, wear an X Talon. If it were a bit damp and drizzly then go for a Walsh, as the 212s wet performance is the inverse of that of the Walsh. The LSR Talon would be marginally more slippy than a Walsh in any conditions.

Attachment 8863

It's a bit difficult to see the map at that filesize, but never mind. The LSR Talon was tested over this 10.5m/2500' route today, first impressions are good. My spaghetti scales in the kitchen say that they have gained 50g with the addition of the LSR sole, so at sz9.5 they now weigh about 300g. I spent the afternoon deliberately running over slanty rocks with no concerning levels of slippage, the slabs up on the ridge are quite licheny and dodgy looking, but no slips in the end.

The descent of Slatepit Rigg is fairly steep and rough, with little in the way of clear paths. I pushed hard and was generating shear forces that would certainly make an X Talon lose grip. There was a lot of soggy stodge about, but i could hear the LSR Talon studs tearing into the turf and getting good purchase. I had the confidence to go very fast over fairly tricky ground, and i dropped down the Providence tips faster than i normally do.

Opted to test over the Great Wherny descent route into Kettlewell, seeing as it's popular. I don't like this route because it's too easy, it comes down to who can blow the hardest at the back end of a race. I think people like this one because it's uncomplicated and going fast is piss easy. The sheep had trampled the grass to a quagmire in places, but at full speed with a big stride the LSR Talon felt solid. I was surprised to see once i'd reached the bottom that the forefoot was not clogged with mud at all (this is the bit i land on). The heel was a bit gummed up, but no more than a Walsh would be.

It's going to be interesting to see how quickly they wear out and at what point they become trail shoes. I'd definitely like to try these on the treacherous middle section of the Wansfell descent and Dunnerdale, they seem to me to be a very grippy pattern.

Thanks for the detailed review, they sound alright so far.

Lots of slippy limestone and clay soil based footpaths today. No issues. You can step on wet limestone and get away with it, you can also run on paths churned to stodge by cattle and get away with it.

Anyone who has ever done Thruscross reservoir after a night of rain will know what it's like. The LSR Talon saw slurry for the first time today and coped very well indeed, no wayward moments.

Quick update. The LSR Talon has been relegated to trail shoe due to stud wear. The studs, being quite wide at the base, have worn into half marble shaped pimples which don't grab wet or slippery terrain very well. I don't really trust them any more so i won't be using them on proper fell ground again. My estimate is that you'd get a KWL series out of them quite easily.

Thanks for update. Do you think it was worth doing, for the cost?

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Originally Posted by TimG

Thanks for update. Do you think it was worth doing, for the cost?

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Yes, especially if you don't pay for a rush service. When they get too worn for racing, they make good trail shoes for the local woods.