Thanks Kevin,
Are you planning to make more and sell them? I'd try a right hander's
version if it's as good as you say. I wouldn't mind upping my prone game and
getting the heart beat out of there. I don't shoot badly prone, but I do see
some transfer of the heart beat to my sight picture if I have the cuff tight
enough to stay where I want it. Or, perhaps you could develop and publish a
method for building this? (including where one gets the materials). Thanks for
sharing your information and experiences. Will you be doing winter biathlon in
the coming winter season, as well?
Jay


www.draftinganddesignservices.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Brooker
To: biathlonnorthamerica@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 5:41 PM
Subject: Biathlon North America Re: new photos of cuff


Jay,
Sorry for leaving out some info. You are correct, I am a lefty and the
cuff is on the right arm. The carbon is what's under the straps and in
contact w/ the terry cloth. I have used a Core Sport cuff and am
familiar with the velcro closure and it does hold well. I went w/ the
ladder lock since I tend to get velcro all dirty and the strap is much
narrower so the contact patch is smaller. There is a velcro tab to
hold the end dowm from flapping and acts as a redundant closure. The
elastic allows the cuff to be snug, stay in place and allow movement
and bloodflow. It might look tight but its not. I have left it on
after races since its comfortable. I've forgotten about it until I
went to pull off my shirt. There is no tourniquet effect at all.

Putting the cuff on is really simple and yes, a bit odd at first but
after a few uses its really very easy. The best part about the cuff is
how consistant it is from hook-up to hook-up. It does not move at all
and I have no issues with my arm tingle or movement/restrictions. My
shooting improved a huge amount after I was able to fully commit to
the cuff and relax which I wasn't doing because it hurt so I was
muscling the rifle into position.

There is a club race at Ethan Allen on Thursday and I'll try to get a
few photos of the thing in use.

My arm wasn't going to sleep. The pinching from the ovalization of the
cuff was applying pressure to the nerves and it instantky felt like a
funny bone whack and continued to tingle hours after the shooting
event was over. I can obtain the same feeling if I just use my first
finger to apply pressure to the brachial nerve and artery while
sitting in a chair.

I hope this clears up a few bits I left out.

--- In biathlonnorthamerica@yahoogroups.com, "Jay Bender" <jay@...> wrote:
>
> Pretty cool, Kevin. The close ups are good, but I'm still trying to
figure out the orientation. How about adding a shot with more of you
in it, so we can see which arm it's on (in some it looks like you're a
lefty, with it on your right arm). Maybe one with you in prone
position on the mat? What parts are carbon fiber, and which parts are
web strap? By the way, a Velcro closure (through a slot and doubled
back onto itself) does a fine job of securing a cuff, plenty good for
racing. This thing looks like a bit of a project to put on....
Also, it looks like you have it cinched down really tight (as in TOO
tight) in the last photo. No wonder your arm was going to sleep! I
would certainly not want to ski or run with a tourniquet on my arm.
> The idea of a rigid portion of the cuff to prevent transmission
of the pulse is a good one. Do you do biathlon races, yourself?
> Jay Bender
> in Washington State
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>





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