RollerSkating/RollerBlading

[uk elephant]

I just read this thread about your skating adventures, Lisa. Think I will take my rollerblades out for a spin again today since it's sunny and dry out. I haven't been out rollerblading for years, but I used to do it quite a bit as an alternative means of transport instead of cycling. Going up the hills to visit my parents was a bit hard, but flying down the hills home again was great fun! And I even did a couple of long distance skating adventures. Not sure how many miles, but I'm guessing around 10 miles including hills. Great fun except for that stretch where the pavement was particularly rough making my legs go numb rumbling down the hill.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sandra- I have been wearing my chamois biking knickers all along! But the chamois don't come up high enough in the back to cover my tailbone unfortunately, they stop just short of it. I'm hoping the rollerblading shorts will be the solution- in addition to the side hipbone shields, they have a whole triangular shield pad covering the entire tailbone area. No one will see them under my swingy skirt.

UK- I'm so glad you got inspired to get back on your rollerblades! Be careful now! Sounds like you were pretty good on them, zooming down hills and all. I want a full report of your first blading adventure!
Myself, I'm just a baby skater for now.

Happy to say that I feel much better today and will be going twice this weekend since I have 2 music gigs coming up and so will miss the next two Wednesdays skating. I'll do two weekend sessions instead. I won't progress much unless I can go at least twice a week I think. I will be pretty careful tonight.

Still trying to get friends to come with me, but no luck so far. They probably think I'm a bit nuts.

[Jolt]

Well, I did go ice skating this morning and it was indeed interesting! Fortunately the rink wasn't crowded, so I didn't have to do a lot of dodging; however, there was one hockey player with his coach practicing some skating drills and he about gave me tachycardia a few times with his sudden moves and all. I felt pretty wobbly, which I think had a lot to do with the skates I have being a little big for me; next time I'd better wear two pairs of thick socks instead of just one like I did today. If that doesn't help I'll have to look into getting a smaller size. After a few minutes I got into a decent rhythm (but still did not look graceful I'm sure!) and as long as I didn't try to go too slow the wobbling and swerving were kept to a minimum; the key seemed to be the momentum. I did fall down twice--once while trying to stop (sort of a slow-mo fall) and once while turning (leaned a bit too far, feet went out from under me and I slid about ten or fifteen feet on my right side, which was sort of funny!) but no injuries. I skated for almost an hour and I'm sure I'll feel it in my legs tomorrow!

[uk elephant]

I got out skating too today. Jumped on my rollerblades as soon as I got home this afternoon, but still only managed 15 minutes of skating before it got too dark to see the potholes. But it was such good fun! only took me a few mintues to find my skating legs again and it felt great to be out. Definitely uses some different muscles from cycling though.

[Crankin]

Jolt, when you wear ice skates, you should be wearing tights, not thick socks. You should be wearing skate boots 1/2 to one size smaller than your shoe size. That way, you won't have the problem you described.
I'd go skating with you! There's public skating at the rink in Boxboro on Rt. 111 on Sundays. It's about 4 miles off of 495.

[Jolt]

Jolt, when you wear ice skates, you should be wearing tights, not thick socks. You should be wearing skate boots 1/2 to one size smaller than your shoe size. That way, you won't have the problem you described.
I'd go skating with you! There's public skating at the rink in Boxboro on Rt. 111 on Sundays. It's about 4 miles off of 495.

Interesting...I didn't know one was supposed to wear tights with ice skates--seems counterintuitive given the fact that it's done in cold temperatures. (Shows what an expert I am...) I'm definitely looking into getting a smaller size, because I just didn't feel like I was in control on skates that are too big.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well I went roller skating at the rink for the 5th time today. I discovered that Sundays are great- only about 20 skaters at any given time on the floor, as opposed to about 50 on Sat's and Fridays. So, for me wednesdays and sundays are the best.
So far, I've only had one painful fall and a bruise, that was two sessions ago.

I had really GOOD session today!
---First- I learned that skating with my feet more in a centerline actually helped me keep my balance better than the lunging forward from side to side with a wide base. Counter-intuitive perhaps, but the beneficial effect was immediate. Now I feel more steady on my feet.
---I learned how to bend down carefully and pick up debris from the floor without falling down on my butt...this means I don't have to watch for and dodge the same stupid little pebble or candy wrapper a hundred times during the two hours.
---I said the H*ll with trying to stop myself by dragging one toe stop (that was taught to me on that first day and seems to be the usual beginner's way to learn to stop)...instead I learned how to do a "T-Stop" today with my feet at right angles and it was much easier to keep my balance while stopping. I practiced that about 75 times slowly, and am getting the hang of stopping in mid floor now at a slow speed. (i always first check behind me to make sure the coast is clear for suddenly stopping!) I'm still a baby skater though, have a long ways to go.

Also, my leg muscles are getting used to this skating with the knees bent thing- legs now get less tired while skating, and I don't have to rest as often.
All in all, a very productive roller day for me!

Poo....now I have to wait all the way til next weekend to go again.