> Hi all,
> I got my set of strands from the ISSA (International Steel Strandpullers
> Association) VERY early this morning.  To be honest they aren't swish like
> say an Ironmind set.  The handle is a welded 8 hoop with revolving handle,
> I'd imagine they are fabricated by a local welder, but they seem strong &
> good looks aren't that important as long as they do the business.  Infact
> the design looks based on some old, early 20th Century sets I've seen
> pictures of.  Each of the strands has the 'weight' (pulling force?)
> written
> on a bit of card inside the spring.  That was my first mistake, I
> stretched
> out a spring to look at it's weight, then of course as it slackened off
> PINCH!!!  Ouch!  Caught my fingers (OK I was tired, it was a Saturday, it
> was early...alright I'm a bit stupid too :-).  Think I'll copy the weights
> down & attach then with a small bit of card to one end of each strand
> today.
> When I ordered they asked for my 'wingspan' tip of middle finger to other
> marked on a wall, & by the looks of the design of the handles they've been
> made a specific length, so it might be the strands are set at a certain
> distance so you pull the right 'weight'.
> A nice surprise was the collect of photocopies that came with the handles.
> "The Art of Expander pulling" by Thomas Inch
> The strand pulling section from the Bodybuilders Bible
> Some photocopies of people doing various pulls
> & the ISSA Handbook which includes all the details of the organisation &
> the
> 20 pulls recognised by the ISSA for competition purposes
> Oh yea, & a letter from the Honorary Secretary Jim Bartlett (he gives me
> the
> 'comforting' warning that it might be best to obtain kick boxing
> protection
> head gear before trying the 'back press' as the handles pull back very
> quickly (something to look forward to!!!).

> Anyway, enough talk, you say, what do they feel like...well , I worked out
> yesterday (I've only started recently but I'm aiming at trying to get a
> bodyweight lift in the old fashioned one arm DB swing following the 1930's
> BAWLA rules...If anyone's interested I've got all the rules for the 42
> official BAWLA lifts), so I decided to just load up with two 50 pound
> strands & see how that goes for a few moves.  The handles are very long,
> you
> notice that as soon as you start your pull, it feels like it effects how
> the
> handles move in your hand.  You seem to need much more wrist strength &
> involvement than the ironmind set & even 100 pounds felt quite a
> challenging
> pull.  I mean you might adapt fast?  But on the other hand it may give you
> some extra wrist strength with regular use & make the newer design of
> strands seem easier with the same poundage on them?  I suppose only time
> can
> answer that one.

> If anyone is interested I could scan the 20 pulls of the association (the
> photocopies of the moves aren't that clear on the original, but I can
> always
> get my girlfriend to take a photo of me doing them, if worst comes to
> worst), or if you'd like to see the strand set I could take a quick photo
> &
> send a link in, so you can have a look.

> I've yet to get the latest magazine which will hopefully include some
> numbers they do on these pulls, when I do I'll pass on some numbers from
> the
> weight/age classes of some of the pulls, so you can see what they are
> doing
> (&, in comparison how you are doing).  To get some ideas there are
> 'Poundage
> clubs' from 200 pounds right up to 700 pounds (!!!!).

> That's about it for now,

> Pete www.veganbodybuilding.org

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