Speed skates as upgrade?

[LIskater]

I currently use Rollerblade Lightning 5 skates which are 4-5 years old. I maintain both pairs well and they should remain quite serviceable for another few years. I was thinking of graduating to a pair of speed skates, however, not necessarily for racing but because my skating has gotten stronger, faster and technically better. My typical workouts are 9 to 17 miles on a beach path which is sometimes windy (at least on one way). Would speed skates provide more power under windy conditions? The path will be lengthened by the state in the next few years to provide a 30+ mile round trip under the same conditions. I will need efficient skates. Since I love my Lightning 5s I am considering upgrading to Rollerblade Speed Machines or Race Machines. Would appreciate any insights or recommentations.

[gem]

I currently use Rollerblade Lightning 5 skates I am considering upgrading to Rollerblade Speed Machines or Race Machines. Would appreciate any insights or recommentations.I beleive yor wheels come with 82mm, right? Yes changing to skates with say 100mm wheels will surely give Ü added push against any head wind. As an example, I have a path that is 2 clicks long, it always has a strong head wind, great to build up endurance and lung power. Per skate push I would average 80 to 90 cm's per stride, now on the same exact path with the same exact headwind I can skate push 1.25 to 1.45 m's per stride. With those strides adding up for the 2 clicks my time line decreased. I will never go back to smaller wheels again. Them RB's are nice indeed.

[LIskater]

I beleive yor wheels come with 82mm, right? Yes changing to skates with say 100mm wheels will surely give Ü added push against any head wind. As an example, I have a path that is 2 clicks long, it always has a strong head wind, great to build up endurance and lung power. Per skate push I would average 80 to 90 cm's per stride, now on the same exact path with the same exact headwind I can skate push 1.25 to 1.45 m's per stride. With those strides adding up for the 2 clicks my time line decreased. I will never go back to smaller wheels again. Them RB's are nice indeed.

Thanks for reply. The older pair has 80mm and the newer pair has 84mm.

What size wheels do you have? 100mm? Are your skates low cut speed skates (like the RB Problades or Racemachines) or do they go above the ankle? I'm wondering what kind of difference the boot itself will make, as well. Would the low-cut speed skate boots give a power boost? Do they let you make a harder lateral push? Must be some reason speed skates are generally made that way...

My upgrade choices are between the low-cut speed skates or one of the 100mm RB models that feature "in between" boots like the Lightning 5s I'm using now. With the speed skates I'd be trading off added ankle support, but for what?

Edited- I thought the closeout sale item I was looking at were the Speedmacine skates, which seem to be kind of like the Lightnings. I had the name confused though. I was looking at the Problades, which do have low boots.

[gem]

Thanks for reply. The older pair has 80mm and the newer pair has 84mm.
What size wheels do you have? 100mm? I'm wondering what kind of difference the boot itself will make, as well. Would the low-cut speed skate boots give a power boost? Do they let you make a harder lateral push? Must be some reason speed skates are generally made that way...

My upgrade choices are between the low-cut speed skates or one of the 100mm RB models that feature "in between" boots like the Lightning 5s I'm using now. With the speed skates I'd be trading off added ankle support, but for what?

Edited- I thought the closeout sale item I was looking at were the Speedmacine skates, which seem to be kind of like the Lightnings. I had the name confused though. I was looking at the Problades, which do have low boots. LI, I have Rß's crossfires but I changed to a different frame and 100mm wheels. I did a write up here of what I did call "Crossfire -upgraded and modified". Since I'm a sidewalk surfer I need the ankle support for those sharp turns I need to make and when doing tight slalums they give more ankle support and if Ü fall then Ü have plenty of laterial support or, just maybe enough to pull it out.. True speed skaters are basicly shoes as when speeding like in competition Ü need yor ankles to flex for power to push thru the whole lenght of yor stride. With my setup, I can still do 180°s, reverse, 90° turns, tight slalums and so on. I'm sure many speed skaters can do this to but basicly it's all bout hauling arse only. As for what types of ankle support Ü need, Ü need to decide on exactly what Ü are gonna do.

[LIskater]

LI, I have Rß's crossfires but I changed to a different frame and 100mm wheels. I did a write up here of what I did call "Crossfire -upgraded and modified". Since I'm a sidewalk surfer I need the ankle support for those sharp turns I need to make and when doing tight slalums they give more ankle support and if Ü fall then Ü have plenty of laterial support or, just maybe enough to pull it out.. True speed skaters are basicly shoes as when speeding like in competition Ü need yor ankles to flex for power to push thru the whole lenght of yor stride. With my setup, I can still do 180°s, reverse, 90° turns, tight slalums and so on. I'm sure many speed skaters can do this to but basicly it's all bout hauling arse only. As for what types of ankle support Ü need, Ü need to decide on exactly what Ü are gonna do.

Hmmm. Tough decision for me. Speed skates would be a new experience and I'd probably get more power for windy days on the path, which is where I mainly skate. This time of year it starts getting pretty windy and the 100mm wheels plus ankle mobility might let me finish in reasonable time. I hate crawling against the wind. OTOH, I could use the support for when the path is extended and I'll be doing 2X the distance.

Think there would be much of a difference between 100mm and 104mm wheels?

[gem]

Hmmm. Tough decision for me. Speed skates would be a new experience and I'd probably get more power for windy days on the path, which is where I mainly skate. This time of year it starts getting pretty windy and the 100mm wheels plus ankle mobility might let me finish in reasonable time. I hate crawling against the wind. OTOH, I could use the support for when the path is extended and I'll be doing 2X the distance.

Think there would be much of a difference between 100mm and 104mm wheels?To answer the 100mm/104mm, I believe the Rß's Speedmachine 10 and 8 use the same frame, 325mm. There are some manufactures comming out with specificly designed frames for 104/105 but that will ße soon. As for skaing against the head winds, the larger wheels and with its a longer frame help emensely to skate faster as well as skating over obsticles. Skates like Rß speedmachine/K2 radicals might ße a gud solution(at least Ü can turn easier and make sharp turns easier and avoid the ever present AH who just cuts in front of Ü) but a low cuff speed boot might ße gud if only hauling arse is yor aim. Also, jumping from smaller wheels to larger wheels and longer frame, there is a learning curve to master all the thangs.

[LIskater]

To answer the 100mm/104mm, I believe the Rß's Speedmachine 10 and 8 use the same frame, 325mm. There are some manufactures comming out with specificly designed frames for 104/105 but that will ße soon. As for skaing against the head winds, the larger wheels and with its a longer frame help emensely to skate faster as well as skating over obsticles. Skates like Rß speedmachine/K2 radicals might ße a gud solution(at least Ü can turn easier and make sharp turns easier and avoid the ever present AH who just cuts in front of Ü) but a low cuff speed boot might ße gud if only hauling arse is yor aim. Also, jumping from smaller wheels to larger wheels and longer frame, there is a learning curve to master all the thangs.

Thanks gem, you've helped a lot. I'm leaning towards the Speedmachine or K2 Radical skates. I was looking at the Radicals recently and they looked good but I do favor RB. Maybe I'll hold out and see what's coming out soon and get skates with the new frames. You make a great point about the few but dangerous AHs who will run you off the path (usually on a racing bike) without even stopping. There are sometimes lots of people on the path and it gets really narrow over one bridge. I've been gored by handlebars once or twice. Not fun. Yeah, I think speed skates might not be the best for me at this time.

[gem]

Thanks gem, you've helped a lot. I'm leaning towards the Speedmachine or K2 Radical skates. I was looking at the Radicals recently and they looked good but I do favor RB. Maybe I'll hold out and see what's coming out soon and get skates with the new frames. You make a great point about the few but dangerous AHs who will run you off the path (usually on a racing bike) without even stopping. There are sometimes lots of people on the path and it gets really narrow over one bridge. I've been gored by handlebars once or twice. Not fun. Yeah, I think speed skates might not be the best for me at this time.LI, both companies make very gud products, Rß's speedmachine use a hard body while K2's radicals use a soft body. The hard body give more suport while the soft body has more flexbility. Exactly, AH's are just that, AH's but in the end who's the one gonna get hurt in any confritation with a bike? right. I see on skates.com they are dumping all 2007 and 2008 K2's, they must have inside info. They are the biggest online skate place out there but here they have a nice selection too and quick service. I'm sure here they will reduce their K2's as the new models come out. From the info I've seen K2 is bringing out a "Eco green" skates with bamboo frames and in 80/90mm wheels. The Rß's, I've seen pix of their new models and they are just aggressives so far. From what I figure, the 100/104/105 are a gud all around choice for a experienced skater who wants speed but needs controlability when the AH's get in the way. I am leaning towards the 104mm too and I know shortly the wheels will be out by a few manufactorers. I luv them Strom Surges as I hit wet surfaces from time to time and they wear very gud. They too will make 104mm like Rß speedmachine 10 uses. Stan here could help Ü with more detailed questions.