Stride Length

[powerplant42]

It's so that you can focus on your form without worrying about staying completely balanced, sicne the tire does some of that for you. Around the waist is better because, as said earlier, it makes it easier to hit correct postures.

[golfdane]

I feel very balanced when wearing the crossover bicycle tubes backpack style. In fact, I feel the urge to lean to much forward, or break in the hip, is greater when wearing the tubes around the waist. IOW, my own experience as well as what I see in the athletes I coach, is that they are very well aligned (no break in the hip).

Still, I mainly use it in the prep phase, since it doesn't promote a quick strike (IMO).

But I will try using it with poles (the thought has never hit me)
Just not with the 15" tires we got