Hi and welcome Alex.
They r pretty easy to use...helps if you can get to meet others, so may i ask where ur we maybe able to put you in touch with others.
maintenance.
After your 1st couple of 'goes', Id say tighten up all the nuts and bolts....same with a bike. Things can get jolted loose.
Oil them every now and again...bike oil or similar ( tho many, including me dont seem to bother d'oh)
Tyre sox, there is a section on this in the 'mods' area. But the hooves on the latest stilts seem to be pretty tuff and hard wearing, so I wouldnt be too worried about this.
'tapping the springs' Basically this is adding extra protect to the stilts , a small 'nick' in the spring incurred in a fall may result in aa weakness that will ultimatly resullt in a spring failure. So wot peeps do is rap and then tape an old bike inner tube around the springs...again in the 'mods' section.
I have to confess......ive done none of the above and Im still bouncing about OK