New member, old skater, with Q's

[cal_gundert05]

Hi everyone,
My name is Mike, and as I said I'm an old skater--I did it when I was a kid since I couldn't ride a bike, but haven't skated for years (except for once last year, when I broke my hand).
I have since learned to ride a bike, but found myself hardly using it. I much prefer skating to biking, and HOPE I stick with it.

My main goal is to use skating as a means of exercise and getting around. DOES ANYONE HERE COMMUTE BY SKATE, AND IF SO, I'D APPRECIATE ANY BITS OF WISDOM YOU MIGHT HAVE.

I can't remember what else I was gonna say, so...bye!

I should add that I live 0.5 mile from school, so "commute" isn't really the right word. But since I don't drive, I want to make skating (and biking) my main mode of transport.

[fablemaker2]

Living in Berkeley, nice! I grew up in Oakland, but it's been many years since I've been there.

Anyway, I would assume that there are a couple of hills to skate, with traffic and pedestrians impeding your progress. So, your first order of business is to learn to stop, quickly! Google and learn to do a T-stop, a powerslide, and brake stop (if you have a heel brake on your skates), and, my favorite, the "lay down and slide into third base rather than impress your facial image into the side of that truck" (it helps if you have knee/elbow pads & wrist guards for this one).

Once you learn to stop, learn to skate up and down hills of various inclinations. Learn to stop going downhill, then. Remember your physics when you start this. That's all I have to say about that.

Learn to jump up and down curbs (you won't always be able to just roll up at the corner...especially if pedestrians walk the same way they did when I was there....they don't look; they don't move - they just go:cool:

Last, once you master stopping, hill-bopping, & hopping (hey I like that:D ), learn to skate backwards; there will be a time when you're in a hurry, but you still want to get a second look at that "very interesting person" in People's Park!

[cal_gundert05]

...especially if pedestrians walk the same way they did when I was there....they don't look; they don't move - they just go:cool:

...there will be a time when you're in a hurry, but you still want to get a second look at that "very interesting person" in People's Park!

Spoken like a true Berkeley local (ok, Oakland).

Yeah, hills are kinda scary. I've only been down 1 and that was on campus. That was...:eek:

WHICH WOULD BE BETTER FOR GOING DOWN HILLS--SMALLER WHEELS FOR MORE CONTROL OR LARGER ONES TO BETTER HANDLE ROAD IMPERFECTIONS? (I'm riding on 72s right now).

Thanks!

[Jon B.]

WHICH WOULD BE BETTER FOR GOING DOWN HILLS--SMALLER WHEELS FOR MORE CONTROL OR LARGER ONES TO BETTER HANDLE ROAD IMPERFECTIONS? (I'm riding on 72s right now). Thanks!
The 72's will probably provide you with more maneuverabililty and help keep the speed down a bit. The only disadvantage would be that they'll be easier to "trip up" on debris and imperfections. If I wasn't feeling real good about hills and people I'd opt for the smaller wheel, especially since speed isn't much of a factor. JB