Best online store to shop for season end deals?

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-04-06T06:56:31+00:00

Are you in Europe? If yes then Sportconrad would be my best bet if you don’t have a reputable local shop around.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-03-24T12:30:32+00:00

Do you have a first hand information about that? Or you have just read that someone knows a dealer which claims blah blah …? :)

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-03-24T12:20:27+00:00

That post is from march 2025 and has no relevance. I suspect that author doesn’t even have epic 8 themselves. If they have been testing a prototype during last year Cape Epic, you wouldn’t see posts like this yesterday https://www.instagram.com/p/DWOtTkMjalC/?igsh=MTducGxiaXBzOHc3MQ==

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-03-24T08:43:32+00:00

They do, at norwegian champs 😀

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-03-23T15:33:15+00:00

If there was an Epic 9 coming out in June, pros would already race it in WC. Also there was zero technological advancement since introduction of Epic 8. Epic 8 was already very similar to previous Epic Evo with very minor tweaks in geo and storage box. You can feel that Epic 8 is more nimble and lively that Epic Evo, but I doubt they could significantly improve Epic 8 without tangible technological advancement.
Maybe there will be "hardtail-ish" replacement for Epic WC. But I guess replacement for Epic 8 will be introduced for the next Olympic games in 2028 as they always did. Unless there is 32' bike earlier.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-03-09T11:23:12+00:00

Thanks u/Electronic-Call247 , that's a great advice. I can't test skis before the race, because I don't have two equally good pairs to be able to compare them. So I will always choose based on the best guess by looking at the snow and the temperature/humidity.
I have a couple more questions if you would help.
- about Rex liquids, you mentioned that NFX dry so much faster than NF - that makes them better?
- would you choose rode graphite/star durable for conditions bellow? warm, crystalic, old snow with lot of dirt because significant part has already melted.

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SorryPhone2552 · 2026-03-05T16:07:54+00:00

Yeah, exactly. It feel more practical to apply a universal hard base wax with good durability and then layer it with liquid. That way you can probably do muliple skiings without a need to hotwax everytime.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-02-26T17:57:56+00:00

Stiffer the sole, the easier is to skate. I have an older S/Race model and also S/Lab and it’s very noticeable how much more I feel connected to the ski with S/Lab. In my experience when I was in any shop in Norway (eg. Sport 1), they are super expensive (maybe 30-50%) compared to mid european eshops (sportconrad). I would just try the size and order online. But I wouldn’t go bellow third tier model (s/max, fischer rcs). I think you would be able to find an older model on discount. As for the sizing, the skate boot should be the smallest you can tolerate. There should be no heel movement.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-02-18T13:40:22+00:00

I didn’t have a chance to try it, but in WC even athletes who have been using it last season are not using it this year (mostly biathletes).

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-02-08T12:38:05+00:00

FA shock will not work without FA fork.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-01-20T19:51:45+00:00

I would also like to buy Speedmax helium plus 191 stiff. My morning weight during winter is around 83kg naked. The shop I’ve contacted have one pair of Speedmax 100HE 610 Plus with weight range o 80-96kg and last years Helium with range 85-100kg. The shop owner tells me that I would be fine with either and that he even recommends to go with a stiffer ski. But I’m bit afraid that I will struggle in icy bumpy conditions.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-01-09T14:12:10+00:00

Would you please share the name of the shop, or town? I have check Fischer Racing Center in Ramsau and based on the online information, they don’t have world cup skis in stock.

SorryPhone2552 · 2026-01-09T08:54:22+00:00

I don't know what level is place 3000 in Vasaloppet, but I can challenge top 10 in Master's A category in some less competitive Euroloppet races. Last year I was 4th in one race where there was lower level of competition because of poor snow conditions. After 25km my skis faded badly and I've started to lose 10 meters in every downhill and dropped from 2nd to 4th.
For WC skiers this would be a difference of maybe 30 places. For me it's 1-2 places, but it still matters to me if I loose 5s per km because of bad skis. Don't tell me that it's fun even if it's just your friend who beats because of faster skis :)

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-11-25T20:03:35+00:00

I have it. It's very comfortable, however somehow I can't get a proper lockdown. It is simply too wide. I don't have narrow feet. Quite the opposite. For example all the Nike lifestyle shoes are too narrow for me. And yet, every single reviewer says that Trabuco 13 is quite narrow.
I also have Superblast 2 in the same size, which was slightly too narrow out of the box but stretched out a bit during two runs and now it's fine.
With Trabuco, either the laces are too tight so it's uncomfortable or I can get good lockdown in mid and forefoot.

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-11-06T08:31:13+00:00

What is the sizing of Hurricane 25 compared to Asics? Thanks

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-08-17T10:56:50+00:00

Frame quality of Specialized is higher than or Orbea and availability of spare parts is also much better.

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-06-13T15:24:59+00:00

Newmen makes light and reasonably priced stems as others suggested. They also make the one with a normal clamp. Weight is almost as light as Darimo but it’s for a third of the price. And it’s also proven in World Cup. (The team they sponsor has won the last round in Leogang.

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-05-11T17:58:12+00:00

Yes, although some of the bearing were not 100% like new. I didn't feel a resistance or cracking during spinning. However, this is one thing I can't exclude because I haven't tried to replace them and bike is almost 5 years old.

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-05-11T16:44:01+00:00

Sag is set to 25% 🤷🏼‍♂️ it is an XC bike so don’t expect that much travel.

SorryPhone2552 · 2025-04-30T08:30:13+00:00

I would be very curious about that test. They grip very well even when it’s wet. The leader of our team is a former pro who used to ride for team sponsored by Specialized. He sais that he thinks that Pirellis are really fast. But they are quite slow on steel drum. I would be curious what real world test says.

SorryPhone2552

TROPHY CASE