Plan on getthing these skates

[RayJai]

Hi, I'm here, and as a kid i used to roller blade, but as i got older, i didn't have time for it anymore.

recently, i saw roller blade deals at modells, and i plan to get myself a pair of these:
http://www.modells.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2372654&cp=701917.701922&page=2&pageBucket=0&parentPage=family

i know its kinda late to get into roller blading, since its gonna snow in NY soon. but i want to get them anyway, i miss it.

i have on question, am i able to attach small wheels on it? like the agressive type ones? i don't plan to do tricks, but i want to put them on, to see how it feels.

thanks.

i'm basicly a noob again.

[Pepper Montana]

Nice skates for 80 smackers! You could have fun on some skates like that. It is my considered opinion that you should purchase those rollerblades and put whatever wheels you want on them. Rollerblading on them will be fun if the skates fit well. Any chance you could try them on before you buy? What size shoe do you wear? Are your feet wide or narrow?

[hungryrollerblader]

i have on question, am i able to attach small wheels on it? like the agressive type ones? i don't plan to do tricks, but i want to put them on, to see how it feels.

thanks.



I think you could, but there wouldn't be a point to it.

you get much better control with bigger wheels.

aggressive wheels are smaller so its easier to balance when landing jumps.

[RayJai]

thanks,
yes i can try them on.

i wear size 10.5 or 11

and i have wide feet, i think. lol

[Pepper Montana]

Ray,
The reason that I asked about the width is that I have wide feet. The Rollerblades have been good for my feet. They have been comfortable. You should get those skates and rollerblade!

[RayJai]

ic, thanks for the advice, i went out and got them! woo hoo! Size 13.
fits just right.

I also have flat feet. so would i need some sort of support?

also, can someone recommend me a good video for improving form?
i feel my form isn't correct. and im a noob all over again, lol
i can ride it fine, but i still fall once in awhile.

i know it doesn't make a difference, but i would still like to try the feel of small wheels. does anyone have recommendations?

like a good set of wheels for it's cheap price.
and a good online store.

thanks!

[Pepper Montana]

That was fast. You must be motivated. If your feet aren't supported properly in the boot because of your flat feet you can get inserts for your skates. No matter what you may experience some discomfort as you develop your skating skills. My advice is to ignore the minor aches as much as possible.

The size of the wheels make a huge difference in how your skates perform! The smaller the wheel you use the more maneuverable your skates will be. The trade off is that you can skate faster with larger wheels with a narrower profile. The Modells web page showed an 8 pack of aggressive wheels and bearings for $30. That is a very low price for 8 wheels and bearings.

Check out this video! She is amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGOn-BX7YGo

[KeLLy]

She looks like those pro speed ice skaters !

[Pepper Montana]

I tried skating like her today and I wasn't even close... Her conditioning must be amazing. She is a goddess!

[mvirtue]

Just looked at the video. Good form, but her set down should be straighter as she is severely veering off the center line.

[mvirtue]

Looked at the video again with Madeline and I found a couple more things to critique. She has very nice upper body form, and a very nice recovery. She needs to delay the set down of the recovery skate, she's landing it before she starts to actually extend her pushing leg. She also needs to push to the side and not as much to the side.

[Pepper Montana]

Just looked at the video. Good form, but her set down should be straighter as she is severely veering off the center line.

I noticed the big veer also. I think that it is just because her pace is so slow. She is getting a huge glide and the veer is exaggerated because of her slow pace. What I notice is that even though she is going "slow" her form is excellent. It is harder to do things correctly when you are going slow. She rules!

[mvirtue]

I noticed the big veer also. I think that it is just because her pace is so slow. She is getting a huge glide and the veer is exaggerated because of her slow pace. What I notice is that even though she is going "slow" her form is excellent. It is harder to do things correctly when you are going slow. She rules!

One of the Eddy drill is to glide on one skate in a straight line. So doing slo-mo good form in a straight line is do-able. And unless you work at it that way it is hard. To go fast you first need to go slow...

[Pepper Montana]

One of the Eddy drill is to glide on one skate in a straight line. So doing slo-mo good form in a straight line is do-able. And unless you work at it that way it is hard. To go fast you first need to go slow...

Eddy rules too! I would want to know the reason for the drill. As for the goddess in the video, I would like to see how she skates with a faster cadence. I would predict that the big veer is an artifact from the slow cadence. She is so powerful it seems that she could pretty much do the Eddy Drill flawlessly if she could make it to a workshop. I would go to one of her workshops if I could. How's the firewood coming? :)

[mvirtue]

The firewood is on hiatus till tomorrow. 45 minutes till turkey!

yes it would be interesting to see a video of a higher cadence, but slow does magnify all the flaws. I know that at speed my set down is not quite straight ahead. Also if my weight is closer to my toes the further I will veer. If I get everything lined up I can use a line in my parking lot as a center line and stay on it :) Until I crash into a parked car :(

[RayJai]

That was fast. You must be motivated. If your feet aren't supported properly in the boot because of your flat feet you can get inserts for your skates. No matter what you may experience some discomfort as you develop your skating skills. My advice is to ignore the minor aches as much as possible.

The size of the wheels make a huge difference in how your skates perform! The smaller the wheel you use the more maneuverable your skates will be. The trade off is that you can skate faster with larger wheels with a narrower profile. The Modells web page showed an 8 pack of aggressive wheels and bearings for $30. That is a very low price for 8 wheels and bearings.

Check out this video! She is amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGOn-BX7YGo

LOL, yea

after seeing this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FHBU68NaIDI

i want to get back into it bad, it feels so free. like gliding on packets of air on ur feet. lol

can u post the link to those wheels?

also would i also need any special tools for wheel changing?

Can i also use silcone lube on the wheels? the type of lubes used for airsofts. lol.

thanks.

you guys have been a big help.

[Pepper Montana]

This is the link to the cheap aggressive wheels:
http://www.modells.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1430436&cp=&keywords=senate+wheels&searchId=19350561422&clickid=topnav_search_img&parentPage=search

If you want to feel like you are flying on pockets of air these wheels will not please you. They will make you feel like you are gliding on charcoal briquettes. They are good for abusing though.

Did your skates come with a wrench? They should have. If they didn't you need to get your hands on an Allen wrench to remove the axle from the frame.

Modells probably has some lube for bearings on display near the accessories. I'm not sure about the silicone lube. I haven't heard of it. I use a couple drops of BSB oil every so often to keep the bearings happy. Your bearings should last a good long time as long as you keep them dry and lubricated.

You didn't say how your skates are working for you. How do they feel? Have you had them out? Keep us posted, Ray!

[RayJai]

The feel great so far, lol
but i don't know what is great yet, lol
feel a couple of times, but im determined to get back up and get better, lol
so im back to basics of going straight, then making a sharp turn. then repeat in a loop.

i kinda feel my back isn't balanced, i tend to fall back, lol
but i'll keep training.

my skates didn;t come with wrench... damn... i tried several pairs, they didn't seem to come with one.

[Pepper Montana]

Glad that they feel good. That link was freaking awesome! Thanks. I loved it. It dragged a little bit at times but overall her skating was incredible. Formidable!

[KeLLy]

Yeah, that's a great video.

Aren't those more fitness skates?

How's the movability on those? to turn and stuff?

If you wanna go more freestyle / slalom.. check out some of the topics in the Slalom forum. They helped me out a lot.

(I'm doing ok on my "rocked" fitness skates 76/80/80/76 mm set up 82A)

Edit: If you wanna go that way, i seriously doubt you want agressive wheels

[RayJai]

hey i rode again today, and i felt my ankles kept bending inwards.
i don't think thats correct.

are the skates too loose for me?
or do i need to adjust something?

thanks.

[Pepper Montana]

Ray,
If they are bending inwards that is definitely bad. There are some things that you can do to fix this. I don't know that tightening your boots more will correct this issue. Are your frames attached to your boots with a bolt that can be loosened? Also, just curious, what happens if you consciously try to keep your skate wheels vertical without letting your ankles collapse?

[RayJai]

yea I see nuts on the bottom of the boots. so I think its adjustable.
when I make them stand straight I tend roll forward, lol.

thanks

[Pepper Montana]

when I make them stand straight I tend roll forward, lol.


Forward!?! WTF? That's doesn't seem right...

If you can move your frame to the inside edge that may help a great deal with your pronation. Good luck!

[RayJai]

lol. what's supose to happen if I stand straight.

[Pepper Montana]

Sorry, Ray! I was thinking about something else. Yes, get your ankles to be vertical and go forward. That is an excellent plan!

[RayJai]

NP, so should i move them in?
or train my muscles to make them stand straight?

here's more pics of my frame, before i start taking things apart.
tell me what you think.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/nycrayjai/blades/Picture1717.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/nycrayjai/blades/Picture1718.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/nycrayjai/blades/Picture1722.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/nycrayjai/blades/Picture1723.jpg

i also have a question. if i can remove the frame, can i attach a suspension frame to it? i know it sounds stupid, and im gonna waste alot of money.
but thats just the kind of person i am, i like to mod my personal things, lol
i know he heel is too high to add a suspension frame, but is it possible?
just asking, thanks!

[Pepper Montana]

It doesn't look like your frames can be adjusted side to side. You can try it but it didn't appear to me that the frames had slots but rather they just had a hole for the mounting bolts.
Ideas:

Have you tried bending your knees more when you skate and concentrating on keeping your ankles straight?
An advanced technique would be to "shim" your frames so that there is a cant. This compensates for your pronation.
Can you return the skates and try a different brand? A friend didn't pronate on the skates that I gave him but when he bought a pair he did pronate. I don't have an explanation for it but that was a real problem for him.

[RayJai]

shim my skates?

sadly i can't return it.

thanks

[Pepper Montana]

Shimming is when you put a thin material on one side of the frame between the frame and the sole of the boot. Because you are pronating you would shim the inside edge of your frames. You need something sturdy and you want to choose something thin, say about a millimeter to start. By shimming the boot you are forcing a better vertical alignment. You would put two shims per boot near to where the frame is bolted to the boot. This would probably be the next step if you can't force your ankles to obey your commands to stay straight.


Think of shimming as a cool mod that will help you skate better!

[lee-mcdonald]

i also have a question. if i can remove the frame, can i attach a suspension frame to it? i know it sounds stupid, and im gonna waste alot of money.
but thats just the kind of person i am, i like to mod my personal things, lol
i know he heel is too high to add a suspension frame, but is it possible?
just asking, thanks!
y would u put susp frames unless your gunna be doin massive drops?

[SeJoWa]

Hi Ray, and hooray for getting back into skates!

What finally got me skating was the prospect of gliding through Central Park... but back to your problem.

Unfortunately, I agree that your current skates may be the cause of your pronation. However, it's too early to know for sure! No good reason to hurry to a judgment - try to build up your muscles and balance with a useful skating routine instead.

Even if it seems really difficult at first, try to skate on one leg, extending the envelope as you go. I know it can be frustrating, but you *will* improve in strength and pick up some useful skills and also be more assured when deciding if this or any skate is good for you.

Going really slow is a good way to learn faster!

Skating is so much fun and can be really rewarding.

Hey - got a favorite New York burger? :p I liked the grubby one at McHale's (closed now), and for upscale diffidence, nothing beats Bistro DB's whacky ways.

Sean

[RayJai]

thanks, yea i normally skate on one foot as i glide for awhile. thats the only time its not pronating.
but if i was to put my 2 feet on the ground and relax, it happens, esp, when im kicking off the ground to gain speed.

i know i sound stupid to add susp frame, but it looks and sounds cool, lol
sounds comfortable too. i prob won't do it, but i was just asking if it was possible. i would like to mod them, and make them my custom skates, lol thanks!

for burgers, i usually go to Mc'Canns, on 5th and 46? i forgot, its around my work place.
I'm Chinese, so i don't eat western food often, lol, cept fast food.

[janneman]

hi there - suspended frames do exist. but experience on that is *not* great. go see hydroskate site (http://www.hydroskate.nl/).

you loose a lot of control and power in the suspension. I have seen some people riding them and they are always fuzzing around with their equipment...

[RayJai]

whoa, those look crazy! looks big and heavy.
anyway i was talking about these:
http://www.inlinewarehouse.com/descpage.html?pcode=KFSF2

but im not gonna spend $85 on them, lol
im just wonder if my type of skates can be modded to use those type of frames.

thanks!

[Jon B.]

RayJai: I think you'll find your frames are removable, but not positionable. There is a "build-up" at the heel of the boot that will prevent lateral positioning and generally disallow substituting frames. Basically your stuck with what you have, unless you want to really chop things up. As far as DMorg's response:
Shimming is when you put a thin material on one side of the frame between the frame and the sole of the boot. Because you are pronating you would shim the inside edge of your frames.

Not quite so, and I'm sure Dave knows it, he just fell asleep at the computer. Putting the tabs, or shims on the inside will only cause you to pronate worse. The shims would need to be on the outside mounting edge, between the frame and the boot. An old heavy duty leather garden glove is just about the perfect material for cutting shim strips from. This may not be feasible on your skates either because of the "captive" design of the boot to frame mount.

When my wife and I first started to "get into" skating, we had already developed a nasty "pronation" style of skating that was difficult to break. We wound up duckwalking on our outside edges, and when possible would slowly propel ourselves forward concentrating on staying on the outside edges. As we picked up speed we would invariably revert back to pronation, so we would stop and begin all over. It was a very frustrating part of our training, but it definitely "cured" us. It's a sort of "overcompensation" that will ultimately lead you to acceptable edge control. Of course, you could just say "forget it" and join the ranks of the thousands out their who are resigned pronators. JB

[Pepper Montana]

Does this mean that I am fired from the help desk?

I had just ordered help desk stationary too!

[RayJai]

LOL
thanks, so basicly i have to train my muscles? i can do that.

i wonder if i could enlarge the holes on the frame, so i can move them in. but then i'll need to right the right nuts to hole it in place.
and pray it won't get loose over time.

thanks guys

[Jon B.]

Does this mean that I am fired from the help desk?

I had just ordered help desk stationary too!

PERISH THE THOUGHT!
A rookie leader, like the one's I work for, would fire such a one as thou for sleeping on the job. A savvy leader would apply wisdom and realize by the number of your posts to time in membership ratio would signify a zeal that keeps you at your keyboard a little too long. I think paid vacation is in order!
JB

[RayJai]

wtf? lol u guys are insane. i didn't get a single thing you just said to him, lol
damn im a noob. lol

everyone that replied was great, thanks for your help.

[SeJoWa]

There the forum stalwarts go again, confounding posters with mellifluous prose. :p

Janneman, those - erm - thingies look awesome, but I can imagine how annoying they must be to use. Gratis proefrijden? Free proofrides? Yay!

RayJai, I recognize the urge to customize, but think you'll be better off holding back for now. (And I would never trust those plastic suspensions.) Please come back anytime for advice! And do try all kind of weird balancing acts... what helped me a great deal was a small leather ball to play rollersoccer with.

Oh yeah, KFC is really popular in China, I've heard! ;)

[RayJai]

lol.
i duno about china and KFC, as i've only visited china a few times.

i'm an American born Chinese.
I just eat chinese food more often cuz it's cheaper, lol

[RayJai]

I got my 54mm wheels and they feel great!
i also stopped pronating with the new wheels.
i lose my gliding feeling, but now i can feel the road alot better, i feel more balanced in them.

thanks for your help guys.

[Pepper Montana]

I am really glad to hear the good news. Keep on skating, Ray! :)

[s243a]

hi there - suspended frames do exist. but experience on that is *not* great. go see hydroskate site (http://www.hydroskate.nl/).

you loose a lot of control and power in the suspension. I have seen some people riding them and they are always fuzzing around with their equipment...

In the video's I've seen of the hydroskate it looks like people are going pretty fast. I'm kind of wondering for rough rodes if it would be better to get a pair of hydroskates or a pair of landrollers. The hydroskates look pretty fast and I've heard landrollers ant as fast as conventional rollerblades. The hydroskates look like speedskates and I think they'd be fast.

Of course the landrollers can go on grass and I don't think the hydroskates would work well on grass. However, if I'm thinking of skating a mix of smooth and rough rodes I wonder if they hydroskate would have the edge.

[janneman]

I wonder if they hydroskate would have the edge.sorry for reacting a little late -

no i wont count on that. i think the hydroskate is more thought of to make better contact than to smoothen the rough for your feet's comfort. If you do really rough underground, i'd pick the landroller type.