Service (and new skates?)

[chris101]

I just wanted to say thank you to Inline Warehouse. I actually felt like someone was there taking my order (unlike the hundreds of orders I have made from amazon, and even if the IW message was computer generated, it still felt human anyways). I got my order today and wanted to say, excellent service.

In any case, I just got back into skating a few years (my girlfriend convinved me we should start working out together, and being a graduate student in a computer science program doesn't help my exercise case either) ... and got a pair of Rollerblade Aero 8s. I felt it was lacking in some areas and since I had already worn down the wheels, I ordered new ones from IW, along with new bearings (Labeda Team Wheel 82mm/82A with Labeda 608 Titanium Bearings ABEC 7 for those tuning in). As opposed to the stock bearings/wheels, these felt much more stable over rough terrain and stays at speed for a longer time.

With that being said, I had considered moving up to speed skates, but I'm not sure if that's a good option for me yet. My girlfriend thinks I'm going to bust my ankle with those very low cut boots. What options do I have with fitness skates if I wanted a longer frame that supported 5-wheels (84mm) or 4-wheels (88mm). I know there are lower cut boots out there (at first glance, it seems like K2 Mod 10.5 are lower cut, but not completely low cut and has some padding on it). What's everyone buying these days when they want to move up or thinking of it, but not willing to take that extra step. So, in essense, a cross between fitness and speed skates, without the lack of support that a speed boot would give...(doesn't mean I won't try them one of these years, but it's not like I'm going to race constantly)... I know everyone has their opinions, but I figured I'd see what others think.

Thanks again! I'll be sure to recommend you to everyone I know.

[GhostRider]

Much depends on what you want to do with the skates. One thing I think I will state is that speed skates are NOT required to go fast. I use the RB 10 4x100s (advanced fitness skates) and have no problems at all going fast on them. Having speed boots is useless if they dont work for you. I prefer the advanced fitness boots over speed boots.. but that is me. I like the idea of being able to skate fast or slow for long distances and not have my feet or ankles sore after heavy mileage. Im not a fan of K2s MOD series.. I tried the 10.5 2004 version and they had too much padding under the foot which greatly reduced power transfer for me. I could not skate on them at all.

Some prefer the low cut speed boots for speed skating. It all depends on what your comfortable with. I do think that advanced fitness boots are a good possibility for doing just about whatever you want to do with them.. from recreational skating to speed skating. Speed boots are not as much intended for comfort as they are for peformance.. but then again that can vary for each skater.

What wheel sizes are you going after? I would recommend considering 90-100mm wheel sized skates. I personaly will never go back to 84mm like what I used to skate on. ;) If you have never skated on "speed boots" before then a step up, rather then a leap up, could be a good advanced fitness boot.. NOT a recreational boot and there is a difference.

Thanks.

[chris101]

Thanks for the reply! I guess I'll keep my options open, keep reading, and keep asking before I actually lay down any money for anything new. Comfort will probably be my number one concern.

I also realize that there has been much debate over 4/5 wheels and 84/88/90/100mm sizes. It probably comes down to personal preference. Some people won't get off the 5-wheels, and some people won't get off the 4x100 setup.

The only answer I'll probably get out of anyone will be personal preference, of course, but I'm looking for my options now.

[IW Staff]

Chris-

Thanks for the posts. Looks like you were just going for some opinions as I didn't really see any questions. Wanted to say thank you for the kind words though.

Myself, I like the 4-wheel skates and like staying around 84mm. 90mm at the most for me. Have a great time on the Radical 90's.

Thanks again !!

Stan from IW

[GhostRider]

Quick note on 4-5 wheel rigs, I have seen 4 smaller wheels not be as stable at higher speeds as 5 wheel rigs of similiar wheel sizes. If you want to go faster and retain stability then 5 wheels is a good idea for less then 90mm wheels.

4x90 to 4x100 rigs have a similiar effect on better stability. The other nice part about larger wheels is their ability to roll over obstacles better and have a better roll. Of course this can depend on the quality of the bearings and wheels as well. 4x90 is probably a good all around skate rig setup for maneuverability, decent speed, and can work with most sized skaters. This is also a good step up from smaller wheels.

Me, I like the 4x100 as I am a 200lb conditioned speed skater with 12 sized feet so they work very well for my profile and speed stride. I still retain good maneuverability and excellent stability at higher speeds. The difference of 4x90 vs 4x100 I think would be mostly due to foot size and skater build and/or skating style.

Some speed skaters are trying the 5x90 rigs but to me that seems like a very long frame and I have not heard enough about them yet to determine the differences overall with other 90-100mm rig setups. I am keeping my eyes open for further details though.

I do think your trying to mix 2 worlds though.. comfort and speed. Comfort will come more from the boot and stability/speed will come from the frame and wheel setup. The trick here is to make sure the boot and frame/wheels work together effectively.

I think a fitness boot on a 4x90 or 5x84 setup for you might be a consideration. Take care though, some fitness boots are not designed for good power transfer or speed control/stability and that can degrade your ability to acheive higher speeds or good level of control. Figure out what boot you want first, then the frame and wheel size, and then make sure they work together for your style of skating.

Thanks.