2014 lunocet

[neurodoc]

Those look like they would work really well! Would be more streamlined than the strap and buckle arrangement on mine, though they seem to work well. I need to get another pair anyway as cycling season is coming. I have to say that I seriously underestimated how much comfort matters in the equation; I don't take the Glide to the pool anymore as the Lunocet is much more fun and compact, and my feet don't hurt afterward (or during!).

 

[noa]

Props to you Noa for coming up with the cycling shoe idea! I just received my Sidi T2 triathlon shoes, and I cant wait to clip these babies into the Pro. They fit like a slipper, and as you can see are rather streamlined. They only come in "silver snake" color, but couldn't resist taking a black sharpie to them, in keeping with a more luno-centric color scheme
View attachment 37954

Some funky looking shoes. Where they once a king cobra : ) What kind of material are they ?

 

[Chipswim]

Those look like they would work really well! Would be more streamlined than the strap and buckle arrangement on mine, though they seem to work well. I need to get another pair anyway as cycling season is coming. I have to say that I seriously underestimated how much comfort matters in the equation; I don't take the Glide to the pool anymore as the Lunocet is much more fun and compact, and my feet don't hurt afterward (or during!).

THAT is the ultimate test! Which fin wins the trips to the water with you! Which fins go to the archives in the garage? Then the inevitable question..... Could something be made even better!?!?!? On goes the forum.....

 

[Xaid]

Some funky looking shoes. Where they once a king cobra : ) What kind of material are they ?

Haha yes they are funky, but I assure you that no cobras were harmed in the making of them! The shoe upper is made from a synthetic leather that Sidi uses for their triathlon shoes, with a gloss finish. The thing about triathlon bike shoes that I found interesting is they are made to hold their shape while wet, and not absorb water. They are also made to be comfortable with or without socks.

 

[noa]

Haha yes they are funky, but I assure you that no cobras were harmed in the making of them! The shoe upper is made from a synthetic leather that Sidi uses for their triathlon shoes, with a gloss finish. The thing about triathlon bike shoes that I found interesting is they are made to hold their shape while wet, and not absorb water. They are also made to be comfortable with or without socks.

Interesting points. I was not aware that they are made to somewhat withstand being used wet (not completely immersed like we do, but slightly wet nevertheless after the swimming transition). But it of course makes perfect sense.
As I had mentioned before however, the main negative that I find in them is the relative lack of upper foot support, which is actually the part one wants mostly supported for fin use.
I guess it's still a matter of finding a balanced compromise for our use.
Thanks a lot for the info...

 

[Chipswim]

 

[Chipswim]

This idea will likely help some one who's shoes for some reason don't have enough power transfer.

Looking closely at the photos you can see a Velcro strap wrapped all the way around each shoe. I began using that as the Velcro wore out on that pair. It worked well and was so simple.

The Velcro straps which come pre made with a slit in one end and already the right length are commonly available as cable wraps in the electricians section of hardware stores.

 

[Divenick]

It feels like it is time to share my lunocet experience…

I ordered my lunocet on Dec 23th. I bought the gift card for 299$ including shipping- not a bad deal and well worth a try I thought. I was asked to wait approximately 2 weeks until I would be sent a tracking code.

So far so good. After 4 weeks I got a little impatient, sent some emails to ted, got no reply to any of them and then found out in the deeperblue- forum that you have to write the word URGENT in the subject to make sure to get any answer. I did so and got a tracking code which I checked daily and waited another week until my fin finally started to move… By then Ted had started to promote the lunocet PRO- for just about the same price. Somehow this felt really disappointing to me.

I do not blame Ted for any oft he problems I had with the customs, but they caused another delay of more than one week, so that alltogether 2 months after I ordered my fin I finally held it in my hands.

Or let´s say, I held the parts in my hands… I am neither an idiot nor an engineer, but it would have helped a lot if there would have been a description or at least some words about how to assemble the fin. But anyway, I like to play and find out and less than 30 minutes later the fin was ready to get wet. Or at least so I thought…

My first experience in the pool was this:
Jumped in, felt great, started to kick, once, twice, felt as if something was really wrong, looked back, saw that the blades oft he fin looked somehow messed up and left the pool frustrated with a lunocet that looked broken. Took some pictures, sent them to Ted and was really surprised thatthis time I got an email back straight away in which he apologized and told me that I was missing a forward pin and that he asked for my telephone number and promised to get me a temporary solution as well as a replacement for the broken rubber spring.

I sent him my number and he called straight away. What can I say- after the phone call I really felt that Ted is a nice guy, he seemed to be really sorry and he promised to send me my replacement the next day.

Another three weeks passed. Another three or four emails remained unanswered. Tried the „urgent“-thing angain, Ted replied some time afterwards, only to let me know that he was busy with the pro- flukes and apologized fort he delay and informed me that he would ship „earlyer this week“.

So- here I am, three months after I have ordered and payed my lunocet (the meanwhile „old“ model) and still waiting for my fin… The one I got looks great, felt grat and with the (poor) replacement and the broken rubber it still works somehow, not good but promising in a way. It feels very stable in the water, that´s almost all I can say so far. The members of my team all have agreed that there is „something missing“- and that´s the power oft he fin. I just can´t seem to get nowhere with it- but maybe that´s because my fin is broken.

To me it almost feels like I have been ripped of. Maybe not on purpose, but the customer service in my case is to be described as really poor. I liked the idea to support somebody who is really trying hard to build a new type of monofin, but so far I have to say it wasn´t worth it. The fin looks and feels promising and maybe the pro- model will solve the lack of power and I would really love to give it a try but after all this hassle I am pretty much done with the way I was beeing treated as a customer. If I will ever get any replacement I will let you guys know what it felt like in the water to me…
Sorry if this all sounds really negative, I have read so far that many of you seem to be happy with the fin and maybe I was just extremely unlucky...

 

[Ted Ciamillo]

Hello Divenick,

Please send me an email with "Divenick" in the title and I will make sure you get sorted right away. I have been lately spending so much time on the shop floor and I am sorry for dropping the ball on you. I did not mean to cause you this frustration and will do whatever is required to make things right for you.

tciamillo@gmail.com

Thanks,

Ted

 

[Divenick]

did so...

 

[Chipswim]

It feels like it is time to share my lunocet experience…

I ordered my lunocet on Dec 23th. I bought the gift card for 299$ including shipping- not a bad deal and well worth a try I thought. I was asked to wait approximately 2 weeks until I would be sent a tracking code.

So far so good. After 4 weeks I got a little impatient, sent some emails to ted, got no reply to any of them and then found out in the deeperblue- forum that you have to write the word URGENT in the subject to make sure to get any answer. I did so and got a tracking code which I checked daily and waited another week until my fin finally started to move… By then Ted had started to promote the lunocet PRO- for just about the same price. Somehow this felt really disappointing to me.

I do not blame Ted for any oft he problems I had with the customs, but they caused another delay of more than one week, so that alltogether 2 months after I ordered my fin I finally held it in my hands.

Or let´s say, I held the parts in my hands… I am neither an idiot nor an engineer, but it would have helped a lot if there would have been a description or at least some words about how to assemble the fin. But anyway, I like to play and find out and less than 30 minutes later the fin was ready to get wet. Or at least so I thought…

My first experience in the pool was this:
Jumped in, felt great, started to kick, once, twice, felt as if something was really wrong, looked back, saw that the blades oft he fin looked somehow messed up and left the pool frustrated with a lunocet that looked broken. Took some pictures, sent them to Ted and was really surprised thatthis time I got an email back straight away in which he apologized and told me that I was missing a forward pin and that he asked for my telephone number and promised to get me a temporary solution as well as a replacement for the broken rubber spring.

I sent him my number and he called straight away. What can I say- after the phone call I really felt that Ted is a nice guy, he seemed to be really sorry and he promised to send me my replacement the next day.

Another three weeks passed. Another three or four emails remained unanswered. Tried the „urgent“-thing angain, Ted replied some time afterwards, only to let me know that he was busy with the pro- flukes and apologized fort he delay and informed me that he would ship „earlyer this week“.

So- here I am, three months after I have ordered and payed my lunocet (the meanwhile „old“ model) and still waiting for my fin… The one I got looks great, felt grat and with the (poor) replacement and the broken rubber it still works somehow, not good but promising in a way. It feels very stable in the water, that´s almost all I can say so far. The members of my team all have agreed that there is „something missing“- and that´s the power oft he fin. I just can´t seem to get nowhere with it- but maybe that´s because my fin is broken.

To me it almost feels like I have been ripped of. Maybe not on purpose, but the customer service in my case is to be described as really poor. I liked the idea to support somebody who is really trying hard to build a new type of monofin, but so far I have to say it wasn´t worth it. The fin looks and feels promising and maybe the pro- model will solve the lack of power and I would really love to give it a try but after all this hassle I am pretty much done with the way I was beeing treated as a customer. If I will ever get any replacement I will let you guys know what it felt like in the water to me…
Sorry if this all sounds really negative, I have read so far that many of you seem to be happy with the fin and maybe I was just extremely unlucky...

Hi Divenick!

I wish for Ted that all these issues would get current. For now I tell myself it's partly the less desirable effect of being on the very leading edge of something I'm interested in.
Like every one I wish the best for Ted to continue advancing his designs AND to have a smooth running profitable venture that gives him time to go to the water without worries of the shop getting behind.

As the "Lunocet butcher" my goal in writing to you is for you to have a Lunocet that swims great tomorrow morning even using the damaged spring you have on hand.

I wish I could see how your spring was damaged. Or if it's not damaged but just missing a pin. If it's not damaged which seems most likely get a small package of 3/8 wooden project assembly pins from a woodworking section of a hardware store. They work fine and fit snug in the assembly just pushed in by hand. I like one in every hole because I prefer stiff flex.

If the spring has split between the adjustment holes I'd do the same thing then use a couple of nylon zip ties to go around the spring/hinge assembly in the weakened area. That should get everything working fine by tomorrow!

I do the zip tie wrap even with a new spring because I think it protects it from damage when over flexing coming off walls and I think it makes the assembly feel more lively swimming.

Best to you for tomorrow. Striving for happy Lunosapiens!

Chip

 

[neurodoc]

Don't forget to put one of Chip's pins in the hole that is on the far side of the pivot. This hole is only visible with the flukes removed, but is what anchors the fluke end of the fin to the rubber spring. The pin must go far enough side to side so that the spring is anchored to the aluminum part of the peduncle. It is probably what Ted meant by "forward pin". The two ends of the rubber that are above/below the fluke attachment point are not what limit the travel of the flukes or connect them to the spring; it is the pin inside that does.

 

[Chipswim]

Good point Neurodoc! Here's a more exploded view showing the various parts including the 3 wooden alternative pins laying together.

You want that spring solidly trapped in the assembly with zero free movement. The flukes must always return to the center position on their own when swim power is not being applied. I have to put mine over my knee to test deflect it out of the water.

Your swim kick produces an incredible amount of force!!!

 

[Ted Ciamillo]

Good point Neurodoc! Here's a more exploded view showing the various parts including the 3 wooden alternative pins laying together.

You want that spring solidly trapped in the assembly with zero free movement. The flukes must always return to the cente position on their own when swim power is not being applied. I have to put mine over my knee to test deflect it out of the water.

Your swim kick produces an incredible amount of force!!!View attachment 37970

Wow Chip... that's exploded alright! I need to get you some new gear buddy.

Thanks for helping Divenick out guys. I actually left that forward pin out of his luno. I have a new spring and pin on the way to him.

 

[Sarcomere]

What about putting less holes in the back of the rubber spring to help prevent breaking through?

 

[Chipswim]

Wow Chip... that's exploded alright! I need to get you some new gear buddy.

Thanks for helping Divenick out guys. I actually left that forward pin out of his luno. I have a new spring and pin on the way to him.

Thanks Ted!

My Lunocet is back together and working fine. So it is much easier for me to be patient for a Pro than those who don't have a Lunocet yet to swim at all.

I took those photos a couple of months ago when installing the springs you sent to test. The stiffer black one is in the fin currently. The super stiff white one was actually too stiff and brittle as we covered earlier.

It sounds like Divenick should be fully functional right away also. That's great! I look forward to his impressions when his is complete.

The Lunocet ships with the spring and hinge assembled if all goes well we just bolt the shoes on one end and the flukes on the other. Then you insert the stiffness adjusting pin or pins and swim till you find your favorite set up.

It sounds like Divenick's missed a pin in that process. I may have misinterpreted how fixable that would be without parts from Ted.

Sarcomere are you writing from some exotic location or are you home from the trip you mentioned. Any cool experience in the water?

The current springs are actually quite durable but I expect continuous improvement as long as Ted is in the game.

Strangely it's been my role to destroy Lunocets even though I love them..... And Ted's to make a version that is Chip resistant if not Chip proof. My 2014 Lunocet has taken many jumps off pool walls and I'm astonished and thrilled with its durability.

I have pictures of some of my ideas that didn't work along the way. Maybe I'll post some to kill time while we wait for release of AA's 2014 and Pro reviews.

 

[marginatus]

Maybe I'll post some to kill time while we wait for release of AA's 2014 and Pro reviews.

Sir, what do you mean "Maybe"?!?!
Please do so ASAP

 

[Sarcomere]

Trip to the Turks and Caicos was awesome, beautiful water and reef there. Spent a few non windy days underwater and several windy day kiteboarding the flats. Sadly though I'm back home now still waiting for my Lunocet to play with.

I have a ton of gopro video to go though now

 

[Divenick]

Chipswim, Neurodoc, thanks so much for your replies. I found a replacement for the missing pin, the front rubber part of my lunocet is a little damaged but I guess that´s more a cosmetical problem, the fin itself is working so far as far as I can tell. The wooden replacement is not gonna work for long in the water I guess but I got another tracking code now and trying to be remain very patient.
I stick to what I wrote earlier- the fin feels extemely good and is reacting nicely, it seems stable and is very comfortable, I am not a strong pool diver and my last max attempt is long ago, but I tried 75m- swims and came to the conclusion that they feel like 100m- swims with my glide fin. In my eyes the fin has way too little power so far, I usually like the kick, kick- glide- style, with the lunocet this leads nowhere and leaves me extremely tired after 75m. My plan is to give it a go in the lake as soon as possible and find out what it feels like when diving vertically, but I am pretty sure that the result will be pretty much the same when it comes to the power of the fin- so the pro- version is still something I really really would love to try, but I am for sure no gonna order anything as long as Ted hasn´t had time to work on a somehow reliable distribution system. If there is anybody around in Europe (or Dahab?!) with the pro- blades I really would love to know Again- thanks for your time guys, I really appreciate this!!!

 

[neurodoc]

Glad we could help, Divenick! It took me a few weeks to get it tuned to me and learn how to do a dolphin kick that works best with it. Much of that time was un-learning bad habits from a mono with no angle (nemo) and one that is too stiff for longer swims (carbon 5 glide). I think the pro flukes will work even better when we get them!