4/19/01

Inline Clap Skates

Mogema Clap Skates

The Mogema M-41 Clap Skate attracted a lot of attention with its good performance at the Long Beach Marathon. Download a larger image of this frame while open HERE
Download a larger image of this frame while closedHERE
Download a picture of a complete setupHERE
Raps Clap Skates
Raps claims that its Clap Skates are 3% more efficient than fixed skates dropping the 1500 meter time by 1.4 seconds. This is close to a 1% time reduction for no extra work. Raps developed the Rotrax, the Axle, and the Berne Klapper as 4-wheel clap skates. Now a 5-wheel model called the Heman is available. Download a large image of the Raps HemanHERE

M-Skate Clap Skates
The M-Skate Diamond clap skate has only two front wheels which "clap" so the weight seems less than the full clap skates. But there may be some lack of stability with only two wheels on the ground.

Download a very large image of the M-skate Diamond frame by Peter Lang HERE
Download a picture of Mario's complete setupHERE

Solomon Clap Skates
Tristan Loy of Team Solomon set the endurance skate record on these clap skates.

Verducci "Clap" Skates
Julie Glass-Brandt has been racing (and winning) on the Verducci V-Drive clap skate for over a year. It is advertised for sale now. Note that Verducci calls their skate the V-Drive skating system and does not consider it a clap skate. Presumably the reason for this distinction will become clearer in the next year. Note that while the pivot axle of most skates shown on this page are near the second wheel's axle (the 1st wheel for the M-skate) , the V-Drive pivot point is not far from the 3rd wheel's axle.

K2 Klap Skates
The K2 4-wheel Klap Skate has been advertised for sale. It uses "Klop" technology and the 4-wheel version is called the Escape Splitframe model. The Klop frame is split into two pieces and only the two front wheels stay on the ground when you push with the toes. The K2 version used the sole of the boot as the spring and the boot flexed whereas normal boots are rigid. The 5-wheel version of the Klop seems not to have been produced.

Bont Clap Skates
Here is the Bont Slingshot Clapskate.

During the push the 2 rear wheels stay fixed to the boot while the front 3 wheels extend your push and allow the use of your calf muscle. The pivot point on the frame and the point where you get maximum power to the road are both under the ball of your foot.
With only 3 wheels clapping the spring is built into the frame, so the skater is closer to the ground.
Bont also uses a smaller spring to save weight and the total weight of their frame is 14.3 oz, several ounces less than full clap frames.

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