Question: Roller Skates

[Kitten]

hey all, I'm wondering who else roller skates and if anyone knows where i can locate good books/magazines and websites on roller skating and maintenance of skates. thanks! (let me know if i put this in the wrong board, cos i couldn't figure where to put this.)

[Ceri]

I've just started skating ^.^ I got my skates from Rollersnakes.com and they arrived a few days ago...I'm not great but I'm not as bad as I thought I'd be!

As for literature, though...sorry, can't help you

[kovitlac]

I have a pair of blue and gray blades from Sheals... I've hardly ever used them, though. I hope to do so more this summer.

[Starlightlover]

I haven't skated since is was like 8 but i'm starting up again STEX gave me a bit of a kick up the backside! and encouraged me back on I'm not to bad either can do spins n stuff can't dance very well on them though!

I can't ever find any good websites on skating!

[Kitten]

COOL! take your time and have fun with skating, Ceri! I've been working on my skating for almost a year or so now. I've got Chicago black with blue wheels skates, designed for indoor rink/dancers skate. i got them from a local store, Big 5 Sporting Goods, good place. *pokes gently kovitlac and Starlightlover* so get your skates out and have some fun! hehe. ok, I'll get back to searching the web and library databases...

[Jewel]

I love skating, but I only got inline skates/rollerblades at the moment. They're K2 skates (they're German I think). It was only a while ago that I noticed I got men's skates, but I don't think it makes much of a difference, they're groovy.
Wouldn't mind rollerskating again at some point, will see. Do roller discos still exist? Probably not.

As for literature etc - no idea, sorry.

[Ceri]

I used to have a pair of those trainers with wheels that popped out...I got them about four years ago. I didn't really use them much back then but like Starlightlover said, StEx got me back into the mood I didn't have much luck on the trainerskates...they were inliners, of sorts, with two wheels each, and no ankle support at all, so I didn't get on with them very well!

But my sexy new ones are the best

[jeremy]

I've been skating for 23 years and have competed in Roller Derby, and worked as a Rink guard, and sales person at The rolling Star roller rink in Forrest city AR.

I will say with all honesty that I know a LOT about boots, skates, leather, and ball bearings.

I own 7 pairs of skates ranging from European Blazers, to American fliers, to roller Derby Dance bar elites, and Roller Derby Classics.

I will now recommend WHOLLY searching for skates on e-bay. Authentic roller derbies and American fliers with leather boots and dance bars are the way to go. Dance bars add stability to the skate and make it a lot more easy on the knees.

skate you should NEVER buy!

Chicago Bullet Quad Speed Skates: light weight, but "PLASTIC". these are ment for speed, and well, if speed is all you want, get friggin' roller blades, because thes skates will toss you face first in the dirt!

ANYTHING from the "shark" company. Shark are the WORST skates you can get. cheaply made, all nylon and plastic, and no strength to the t-bars or bearings. THese will break on you and leave you bleeding. Trust me. (not to mention they are hard and will blister your feet.)


Chicago company: wide range of SUCK!!!! plastic lining, and foe leather leave feet sweaty, and covered in sores. there is no "bounce" in the skates and they usually have really bad axel problems.


Any Britney spears endorsed roller quad. : okay...a skate endorsed by Britney spears...nuff said. These are meant for poser girls trying to look "retro" they have bad ball bearings, and more often then not need constant oiling to keep the wheels moving.

GOOD Skates! Skates you should consider!
Krypto Precision Quad Outdoor Roller Skates
Great skates!
BOOTS Riedell 130 Leather Lined Suede
PLATES Sure-Grip Super-X
WHEELS Kryptonics Route 62mm
BEARINGS ABEC-1
TOE STOPS Fixed
SIZING These Skates Are In Mens sizes (Ladies Go Down One Size)


Zone Quad Outdoor Roller Skates
These are really awesome outdoor skates!!
BOOTS Riedell 135 Leather Lined Suede
PLATES PowerDyne Torq Nylon
WHEELS Radar Energy Zone - 62mm 78A
BEARINGS KWIK ABEC-7

Cheerleader Ladies (Magna 700) Quad Roller Skates: classic rink skates, for rink use only, inexpensive, good for a beginner, and come with pompoms!


Anything endorsed by roller Derby, (closely inspect skate specs and wheel recommendations)

American Fliers: (leather upper only classic steel bracer's and acrylic wheels)

some web links:
www.rollerderby.com/
www.skates.com/roller-skates-s/25.htm
www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page_id=1792/vendors%255B%255D=RD/
www.lowpriceskates.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=537

and of course e-bay ... I recommend E-bay for truly retro skates and a good diverse variety for very little monies.

Any questions you can ask me, I will try to answer promptly and with as much info As I can.

(Wrench and Belle have witnessed my skate skills 1st hand, and they can vouch for me if you are concerned with my reliability.)

[Ceri]

Wow! Thanks for the info there, Jeremy ^.^ I'd love to get better at skating...at the moment slowing down on downhill is my main concern That and turning sharply...but I've only had them for a few days so hopefully practice will sort that out

[jeremy]

ceri said:

Wow! Thanks for the info there, Jeremy ^.^ I'd love to get better at skating...at the moment slowing down on downhill is my main concern That and turning sharply...but I've only had them for a few days so hopefully practice will sort that out

when going down hill, keep your knees loose and bent. Watch out for sand,rocks,sticks, or any divits in the pavement.

when you are first learning I highly recommend wrist guards, as more often then not you will fall on your palms first. (it's an instinct to catch yourself.) you do not want broken wrists.

If you feel like you're going to fall, lean to your side, and land on your side. Crumple you knees to achieve this, do not fall on your knees. This will hurt them significantly. Knee and wrist injuries won't bother you when you're younger, but as you get older they will become a rather uncomfortable reminder of youthful carelessness.

drag your stopper to slow down. Stoppers are easily replaced, and are there for a reason.
Stoppers are located on the BACK of blades and the toes of quads.

dragging your wheels is for those who know how to balance, if you side drag your wheels, there is a chance you'll trip yourself.