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From: [e-mail] (Tony Chen)
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Subject: Rec.skate FAQ: In-line Skate reviews (5/10)
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REC.SKATE FAQ - PART 5:  SKATE REVIEWS

(last changed Mar 30, 1994)

================================================================================

                              IN-LINE SKATE REVIEWS
                              ---------------------
                         (as compiled from alt/rec.skate)

NOTE: This collection of "reviews" was culled from articles posted in
alt.skate (now defunct) and rec.skate, dating from May 1991.  While these
articles include many facts and first-hand experience, much of the text here
is necessarily opinion. Also realize that the in-line market is changing
rapidly, so prices and specifications are likely to be out of date.


Table of contents
-----------------
 Performance skates
 Ultra Wheels
 Metroblades
 Macroblades EQ/ES
 Aeroblade (Rollerblade)
 Racing skates



Performance
-----------
From: [e-mail] (Jerrold Comm/GI)
Subject: Re: deciding between Performance brand in-lines

Douglas V Roberts (Doug) ([e-mail]) wrote:
: Howdy All,

: I've decided to decide between the Performance brand of in-lines for my
: first pair of skates.  They offer the Attack and the Vector-II models.
: I intend to use them primarily for recreation and exercise and have
: no particular desire to learn stair-bashing or other "fancy" stuff.  The
: difference between the two boots appears to be that the Attacks have
: ABEC-3 bearing, a slightly higher boot, and 3 buckles.  The Vector-II's
: have ABEC-1 bearings and one buckle + laces.  Both boots appear to be
: well-ventilated.  My question is: for my intended use, and being a first-
: time in-line skater, should I shell out the additional $30 for the Attack
: model??  Any and all opinions welcome (as long as they're constructive!!).

: Thanks!
: Doug

--
I chose Vector-II's because the lower buckles on the Attacks were
uncomfortable and the Attack boots were too high for my ice hockey-
accustomed calves. I am only one week into this sport, but offer these
comments:

1) Changing wheels is difficult.  Instead of a through bolt with nut,
there is a threaded insert inside the bearing.  Wheel bolts are inserted
from each side of the frame.  When I tried to remove the bolts to
rock the wheels (like my ice hockey skates), the first bolt came out
easily, but the one on the other side just spun.  I had to tighten
the one I just removed enough to allow the stuck one to come off, then
hope the original one would come out.  ugh! I called the store (retail)
and they said "We never have that problem!"  Anyone else?

2) The buckles seem a bit flimsy, but are attached with screws for
easy replacement.

3) I have nothing else to compare them to, but in the 3 hours I have
spent on them here in Phoenix where I am traveling, they  have been
quite comfortable.  I managed to learn how to use the brake, and they
seem to stop adequately even on some pretty steep roads here at
South Mountain.

4) I got some wobble on high speed descents.  Could this be a
consequence of rockering them?

5) For $110, they seem like a pretty good way to get introduced to
this sport.


From: [e-mail] (Kevin C. Brown)
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1993 23:37:38 GMT
Subject: Re: One-buckle UltraWheel skates -- Impressions ?

In article <[e-mail]>, Benjamin Werner ([e-mail]) writes:
>Has anybody tried out the UltraWheel skates with only one buckle and
>rear-entry ?  What are you're impressions ? There is at least one model
>("Zephyr" I think) and the boot seems to be made in Austria.

I have the Zephyr's, I got them from Damark ( a mail order
catalog) for about $90.00. They are really cool looking.
When I skate by everyone looks down at my skates because
they are so different looking. They pretty comfortable but
you should try them on first if you can. They tend to be
slightly narrow in my opinion but I bought them a half
size larger than my shoe size 9.5. (they don't come in half
sizes. The chart on the box says that men should pick
their shoe size. If you are a 9.5 like me than you go to
the next full size. When I wore the skates for the first
time I wore socks that were too thick and I tightened the
buckle to tight and lost some skin on my lower shin just
an inch above were the foot starts. There is also a rivet
on the inside of the shell that can give you a nasty blister
if your inside ankle rubs on it. But otherwise they are OK
skates for the price I paid. I think they retail for about
189.00. My two buddies who also have this skate have no
problem whatsoever.

-----

From: [e-mail]  COMPUTER BLUE
Subject: Re: One-buckle UltraWheel skates -- Impressions ?

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Kevin C. Brown) writes...
>In article <[e-mail]>, Benjamin Werner ([e-mail]) writes:
>>Has anybody tried out the UltraWheel skates with only one buckle and
>>rear-entry ?  What are you're impressions ? There is at least one model
>>("Zephyr" I think) and the boot seems to be made in Austria.

I have serious reservations about rear-entry, one buckle boots.
IMO, they will only give  good fit for a minority of people.
One buckle doesn't provide much adjustment (alone) and  what
about the rest of your foot?  Npt all people have the same width
or shape foot.  Although /I have never tried on a rear-entry
boot, I can make some comments on other  types.

All lace:  Good fit for many different feet.  Hard to compromise
between ankle tightness and lower boot tightness.  Tend to loosen
after extended skates, may tend to break laces often.

Lace & Buckle (on upper cuff):  My favortie type.  goo d comfort,
Fits a wide variety of feet, and provides independent adjustment
of ankle tightness and boot snugness.

3 Buckle:  No laces to break, fast on/off time.  Independent
adjustment of ankle and lower boot.  Downside:
uneven pressure due to only 2 buckles on lower boot.  Has a
"pinching" effect.

My advice: try on many different types of nboots to see what you
find most comfortable.  If you like the rear entry, then fine,
but just be sure to try out all your other options before
deciding.

-----

From: [e-mail]
Date: 25 Nov 91 13:09:38 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

I test drove my new Gretzky Wings this past Saturday in a hockey game.
They roll very smoothly and the boot is quite comfortable.  The lower part
of the skate laces and the upper part has the ski boot style buckle. This
makes for a very snug ankle fit.   I would recommend these buckle styles
for any skaters that really like a snug fit.  One of the things I didn't
like about my last pair of skates was that it was hard to pull the laces
very tight with the plastic boots.  I like my hockey (ice) skates very
tight and snug (like they're a part of my feet), and the buckle really
allows for that feel on the inline.

Since I'm still pretty much a greenhorn at inline skating, I've got a few
things to learn about stopping in a hockey game!  Especially now with
skates with very fast bearings.  I love the fact that I can corner much
better with the Wings than my older skates, and the speed and
smoothness is much closer to ice now too, but ya just can't hockey stop
in an inline like you do on ice (and I keep forgetting that!).  Any other
inline hockey players have comments on stopping style?

I also removed the brake from my skate about midway through the game,
and it made turning around to skate backwards much easier.  I kept
catching the brake sometimes when I'd turn around.  I don't recommend
skating without a brake around town (hills and such) but on a flat surface
during a hockey game, not a bad idea.  I also found that I could turn more
easily by pivoting on the front wheels instead of the whole skate.  Might
be able to retain the brake if I perfect this technique more.

The liner in the Wings is also very comfortable.  Pretty thick foam so
even when the skate is tight, you don't feel like it is digging into your
foot.  I'm pretty happy with the skate so far.

Oh yeah, we were playing hockey on a tennis court.  Great surface, pretty
smooth (although ours here at Carnegie Mellon have some major cracks
in them) so you roll nicely, and don't shred yourself when you fall, but
rough enough that you can really hug the surface on turns.

--Tom

P.S.  The Wings are also on sale now at the Great Skate for $170.  This
       is a *GREAT* price.  I paid $183 at Sabreland for mine, which is
        the best "regular" price I found.  I didn't get my Great Skate
        sale catalog until a few days after I had already ordered them
        from Sabreland.  If anyone is interested in a fast, comfortable
        skate, I'd recommend looking into these.  Enjoy!

P.P.S.  They also give you this really cheezy video of them making an
        UltraWheels video with Gretzky.  A real selling point!  (HA)

-----

The Reviews section of the October issue of Outside has an excellent article
about in-lines. The writer reviews skates he likes from Ultra Wheels,
SwitcHit, Bauer, Riedell, and Rollerblade.

He also describes the nature of learning new things on skates: you often will
find that you learn new skills instantly -- or will find that you already know
how to do something, but won't discover it until The Moment of Trial. I won't
spoil the stories he tells, but I do think he embellished his Boulder Creek
Trail story a bit--I don't think I've ever hit 40MPH on the section of trail
mentioned on my Racers. Perhaps 30. That's fast enough. It is a fun little
section of trail, provided that few other users are around.

The writer strongly states that lateral support is mandatory. This is not
necessarily true. Good racers prefer to have their ankles free for more power
on the stroke. World-class skaters -- both quad and in-line -- will use
boots that are cut very low. However, substantial lateral support is very
useful for almost all non-racing types.

My other gripe, a small one, is that I view the RacerBlade as an excellent
commuting skate, not necessarily as only a beginner's racing skate. If you're
mainly interested in getting from Point A to B and already have some
experience, don't ignore the "Racer".

All in all, an excellent article. Some good ideas for folks who want to try
something other than Rollerblade skates. Check it out.

Phil Earnhardt          [e-mail]
Netwise, Inc.           Boulder, CO  [phone]



From: [e-mail] (Tim Rice)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1992 15:15:42 GMT

I owned a pair of the Micron hockey skates back around '80.  I grew up on
Bauer skates (Black Panthers, 92's, etc.).  When I got into my 20's my feet
were too wide for Bauer's anymore (to much trouble with in-grown toenails).
The Microns are the urethane (plastic) boot with an ICM blade.  They were a
nice skate except that motion side to side was too restrictive.  The boot
didn't pivot enough in that direction so I would "often" lose an edge and
wind up on my butt.  This finally happened once during a game where I got
hurt, I went head first into the boards.  The skates were retired just after
that.

Other than that the boot was great.  It provided many advantages over a
leather boot.  One I didn't see you mention was that it distributes the
shock from a puck much better than leather.  Again this is speaking from
experience since I had some toes broken in this fashion.

After experimenting with different skates I'd buy leather because it is
still the best all around.  The only real disadvantages to leather are the
break in and down aspects.  They provide the most control.  The next problem
is in finding a leather skate.  I stay away from synthetics as much as
possible.  I prefer GRAF skates.  The break in period is very short.  The
break down period is also short (downside).  It is a very comfortable boot
and provides the most control I've found.  They are rather expensive 200+
for a hockey skate, considering they won't last 3 years.  An active high
school type player may only get one year out of them.  For someone my age
they're perfect, I get 3 years out of a pair.  It's about time for my third.


MACRO BLADES EQ/ES

From: [e-mail] (Gary W. Mahan)
Subject: MacroBlade Equipes Review

I recently bought a pair of Macroblade Equipes(the new model).  I thought I would give a little review on them as I have not seen any yet.

My main reason for buying the Equipe was shoe size.  I really wanted the AeroBlades (for weight savings) but the biggest size was a 12.5 and I have a size 13 foot.  Several people in this group recommended that I try the Aeros.  Well I did and they were way too narrow.  The Equipe boot will accomodate wider feet much better. I ended up getting the Equipe in a 30.5 (biggest size available).

I have seen several postings comparing Aeros to Equipes.  From what I have read, most seem to think that Equipes are not rockerable like the Aeros.  Well the Equipes I have seem to have the same rockering combinations as the Aeros. Also the Equipes have ratcheting buckles like the Aeros.  The buckles on the Equipes seemed a little better.

The largest wheel that will fit is supposedly a 77 mm as opposed to 80 for the Aeros(Supposedly). The skates were equipped with 76mm 76A hyper wheels (Small hub).  The bearings were ABEC1 made in singapore (same as on my lightning TRS's).

The Equipes have a cuff which allows some forward movement.  However it is not hinged like a Aero.  This is still hard to get use to.  I almost fell backward several times because of this (although this may have been for other reasons (wheel positioning)).  I consider the ankle support to be excellent compared to my lightnings.

The Equipes also seem to have wheel positioning similar to the Aeros (i.e the front whell is more forward).  The front axle is lined up with the front of the boot.

The liners are very comfortable although memory foam is not used.  There are holes in the liners for ventilation but these do not extend all the way through the foam.

The skates are vented like Aero's although not as much.

The skates have tremendously increased my skating ability (as opposed to lightning TRS's).  I seem to be able to go much faster now.  At high speeds I do not seem to have the skates wobble as much (eventhough the wheelbase difference is less than an inch).  My gliding ability (1 foot) has also increased dramatically, allowing more efficient strokes.

The price on the Macroblades was $279 (Aeros were $289).

METROBLADES
-----------

From: [e-mail] (James Garvey)
Subject: Re: MetroBlades - review requested

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jeffrey Ray Thieleke) writes:
>
>I'm looking for people's opinions on MetroBlades - good and bad.  Specifically,
>I'm interested in performance and comfort.
>
I sent out a request for info on metroblades about 2 months ago and really
didn't get much of a response.  My friend is getting ready to buy a pair in
New York City and he told me that the big problem is support around the
ankles.  Rollerblade puts them in their "sport" category which is supposed to
be for "thrashing".  I'm not sure how much trashing you want to do in a boot
like the Metroblade.  Anyway, the general consensus was get a pair of sandals
or lightweight shoes and buy a pair of skates with buckles.  Then buy a
fanny pack or something like that to carry your shoes while you skate.  Get
yourself a ski boot strap (handle with a loop of nylon) and carry your skates
like ski boots.  Most sports stores will give you a ski boot handle for free.

Here's a few of the replies regarding the Metroblade.  (Tony, I'm not sure if
you'd want to include these or not, but here they are for your review).

(original post)
>I have a friend that is getting ready to buy a pair of inline skates and is
>considering buying Rollerblade Metroblades.  This is the skate that has a
>built in boot inside of it that lets you "walk" out of the skate.  He's
>not planning on doing a lot of heavy duty skating, just to and from work.
>I would say that stalling and rail sliding would definitely be out!
>
>His main concern is not having to carry around a pair of shoes when he
>skates.  Does anyone know anything about these skates?

I own a pair and am very happy with them, commuting to and from university
and generally around town.  _I_ might recommend them, but they're the only
skates I've used for extended amounts of time (i.e., non-rentals), so I
don't have much to compare them with.  I've heard other skaters (on this
board, in person, and in Inline magazine) complain that they're not really
up to snuff... that Rollerblade made too many performance degradations to
get the design to work.  The design _does_ work, though.  The shoes are
comfortable both inside the skates (though it hurts for a few days getting
used to how tight it needs to be to minimize wobble) and outside them (I've
hiked in the shoes.. no problem.  They look like they'll last quite a while
too).  Getting into and out of the skates is fast and easy.
    On the other hand, even folded up the skate shell is heavy and
unwieldy, perhaps not as much as whole blades, but they can't be stuffed in
a backpack unless the backpack's pretty empty (btw, Rollerblade is offering
a free backpack -- a $50 value! *snort* -- to purchasers of Metroblades.  I
haven't gotten mine yet, but I suppose the pack could be designed to carry
the blade shell easily).
    If your friend is planning to use the skates for organized
recreation (i.e.  hockey or half-pipes), or even for getting a bit radical
during the commute, probably a one-piece skate and a light pair of shoes
would be a better idea.  I'm happy with my pair, and wouldn't trade them in
for anything, but then I always wished I had a pair of key-roller-skates or
a fold-up-bike when I was younger.  I like to be portable.

-eh

------------------------------------------------------------------
erik hilsdale                     [e-mail]



Word is that these are a clever idea, but the compromise is that you
may not get the best skate for the money you pay.  It they guys is fixed
on it it's probably survivable.  Is he an experienced skater, or just a
beginner trying to plan his fate?

The alternative would be a good 3-buckle skate that is very quick to
pop on/off and pair of really lightweight shoes he can carry in a fanny
pack or other tote.  There are some lightweight (soft sole) cycle shoes
and some that are even lighter for swimmers or something like that.

George Robbins - now working for,     work:   to be avoided at all costs...



>The alternative would be a good 3-buckle skate that is very quick to
>pop on/off and pair of really lightweight shoes he can carry in a fanny
>pack or other tote.  There are some lightweight (soft sole) cycle shoes
>and some that are even lighter for swimmers or something like that.

This has been my solution - I have a pair of Teva sandals that I wear
when I'm off the blades, and they work pretty well - I carry them
around in my fanny pack.   I also have a loop of nylon cord with a
handle on it for carrying the skates when I'm wearing the sandals.
There's also an over-the-shoulder carry strap that you can get for
rollerblades, but I haven't tried it, so I don't know how well it
works...

                   _MelloN_
--
[e-mail]                        uunet!lupine!mellon
Member of the League for Programming Freedom.   To find out how software
patents may cost you your right to program, contact [e-mail]


From: [e-mail] (Erik Hilsdale)
Subject: Re: RB Metroblades:  good, bad, or ugly?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (James Andrew Garvey) writes:
>I have a friend that is getting ready to buy a pair of inline skates and is
>considering buying Rollerblade Metroblades.  This is the skate that has a
>built in boot inside of it that lets you "walk" out of the skate.  He's
>not planning on doing a lot of heavy duty skating, just to and from work.
>I would say that stalling and rail sliding would definitely be out!
>
>His main concern is not having to carry around a pair of shoes when he
>skates.  Does anyone know anything about these skates?

I own a pair and am very happy with them, commuting to and from university
and generally around town.  _I_ might recommend them, but they're the only
skates I've used for extended amounts of time (i.e., non-rentals), so I
don't have much to compare them with.  I've heard other skaters (on this
board, in person, and in Inline magazine) complain that they're not really
up to snuff... that Rollerblade made too many performance degradations to
get the design to work.  The design _does_ work, though.  The shoes are
comfortable both inside the skates (though it hurts for a few days getting
used to how tight it needs to be to minimize wobble) and outside them (I've
hiked in the shoes.. no problem.  They look like they'll last quite a while
too).  Getting into and out of the skates is fast and easy.
    On the other hand, even folded up the skate shell is heavy and
unwieldy, perhaps not as much as whole blades, but they can't be stuffed in
a backpack unless the backpack's pretty empty (btw, Rollerblade is offering
a free backpack -- a $50 value! *snort* -- to purchasers of Metroblades.  I
haven't gotten mine yet, but I suppose the pack could be designed to carry
the blade shell easily).
    If your friend is planning to use the skates for organized
recreation (i.e.  hockey or half-pipes), or even for getting a bit radical
during the commute, probably a one-piece skate and a light pair of shoes
would be a better idea.  I'm happy with my pair, and wouldn't trade them in
for anything, but then I always wished I had a pair of key-roller-skates or
a fold-up-bike when I was younger.  I like to be portable.


From: [e-mail] (Dailene Wilson)
Subject: lots of info

I have things to say to Matthew, Bill, Stephen, Koop, and Chris...

Matthew: Yes the Roces have good standard features but their frames (the
part of the skate on which you should base your purchasing decisions) are
terrible. Their plastic frames leave much to desire compared with the
glass reinforced nylon frames the Rollerblade Lightnings (and up) give you.
I skated on the Paris skate and the steel (yes, steel) frame bent in at
a strong angle.I haven't seen any RollerBlade frames bend! They saw this
potential problem years ago when they redesigned the ZetraBlades! I would
rather feel comfortable and safe with a strong frame than worry about
the color of the buckes/liner/boot. Also, the liner of the Paris was
awful. It moved around and was no where near as comfortable as the liners
in my TRS or RacerBlades. Some people say that not everything makes a
difference when buying skates. Not true. The frame should be a one-piece
frame (for stability and rigidity), not to mention the bearings, wheels,
liner, boot, wheel kits. About the only thing that does not make a
difference is the color. You can change that and be creative at the same
time. I don't trust the Roces frames, but the rest of the skate seems
pretty good, especially for the price. But what a price to pay for plastic
frames!

Bill: The MetroBlades are very sturdy considering the flex factor at the
ankle. Whoever said that the sole of the shoe would wear out is probably
right. If you did get these, I would walk on the shoe as little as possible.
Good comfy skate nevertheless.

Stephen: To get buckles on lace up skates, go to your local ski shop.
Any ski shop that does repairs in skis and boots should be able to rivot
some buckles onto your skates..

Koop: The IISA has worked with several cities to reverse the bans on
in-line skating and they should be able to help you out too. Call them
at 1-800-FOR-IISA. Good luck!

Chris: Right on with your comment on the best all around 4-wheel skate
on the market- the Lightning TRS! While you can make some modifications
on this skate, it still provides you with a very strong frame and the
durability to outlast even the craziest skater out there (that's what Chris
Edwards wears!). If you want some more ventilation, drill some holes in
the boot and go crazy! Avoid the seams though, just in case. You can
probably cut holes in the liner where you drilled the holes to give you
the "Aeroblade" effect.
I have tried the Rollerderby Shadow (my 1st pair, I know, really bad), the
MacroBlades, the TRS, the AeroBlades, the CoolBlades, the Macro ES and EQ,
the Racerblades (toughest 5-wheel on the market!), the Bauer XR10 (liner
wore out before anything else and cannot be replaced- bad move on Bauer's
part), Roces Paris (bad), Roces Atlanta (bad!), and the Problade. The
best ones in this group are the TRS, the RacerBlade, and the ProBlade
(leather). You have to not only consider ones options available on the
skates, but to remember that everyone has different feet and one skate
that fits terribly for one person may be the answer to another person.
My main point is look at the hardware after you found a skate that fits
your foot well. If the hardware is poor, go to another skate or you'll
be sorry later.

--Dailene Wilson  [e-mail]       RollerBlade!!
--UNCCharlotte                            Skate Safe, Skate Smart


AEROBLADE REVIEWS
-----------------

From: [e-mail] (Todd Biske)
Subject: Re: AeroBlades vs. Roces Barcelona model

[e-mail] (Simon Handley) writes:

>Does anyone know what the difference is between Aeroblades and the
>Roces "Barcelona" model?

The Barcelona and the Aeros are actually quite a bit different.  Roces used
to manufacture all RollerBlade boots, but this is no longer the case.
RollerBlade boots are now made my Nordica.  Anyways, here goes:

Similarities:
        Both boots are vented
        Both have Memory Foam liners
        Both use a three buckle system on the boots
        Both come with 76mm 78A wheels

Differences:
        Aeroblade boot is vented much better.  The vents are larger and more
          numerous.
        The Aeroblade boot is made from BladeLite (tm) while the Barcelona
          uses the same material as the CoolBlade (polyurethane?) which
          results in a 15% heavier boot.
        Aeros have a graduated brake, can also accept older style RollerBlade
          brakes.
        Barcelona uses a custom Roces brake, not commonly available for people
          in the cornfields of the midwest like myself.
        Barcelona tends to run $30-$40 cheaper than the Aeros.

I just purchased a pair of Aeros from Courtesy Sports in Los Altos (before I
drove back to Illinois for school) and did a lot of research on the Roces vs.
RollerBlade debate, and I think I bought the better skate.  That's an
opinion however.  My final decision was made when I tried on BOTH skates at
Courtesy.  Then my mind was made up.

-----

By the way, I love my new Aeros.  Much better glide than the Lightnings I had
been using (rental loaners).

Something I thought was extra neat, although I haven't taken advantage of it
yet, is that the rockering SLOTS are offset.  This allows a flat blade, a
shallow rocker, a deep rocker, and combinations.

What do I mean?  This is the flat blade setup.

   ---               ---
   | |   ---   ---   | |
   |x|   |x|   |x|   |x|
   ---   | |   | |   ---
         ---   ---

I don't know, maybe this is an old idea, and the Aeros aren't first, but I
*love* this kind of design detail!

-----

I have a pair of Aeroblades.  Here are my comments:

On the plus side:

* Boots very lightweight as mentioned.
* Ventilation good.
* Allows you to bend forward a lot.  (And not side to side, fortunately.)
* Boot positions shin tilted forward more than some other skates --
  encourages you to bend knees more -- a good position for skating
* Big wheels (76mm)
* ratchet buckles are pretty good
* lightweight but strong frames (runners)

End-on view of frames (very schematic):
 Aero     Other
_______  _______
\#   #/    | |
 \   /     | |
  | |      | |


Cons:

* The buckles don't "remember" your previous setting when you remove them
  like the Macroblade ones do.  But you can always mark it with a felt tip
  pen I suppose.

* The brake is like that on the lightnings and macroblade, but it is made
  of "a new composite material" that SQUEALS LIKE HELL WHEN YOU BRAKE.
  Scares the daylights out of unsuspecting pedestrians.  Rollerblade told me
  this would stop when the brake pad was broken in, but it hasn't.  I just
  bought a lightning replacement pad -- I hope this cures the problem.

* I've had some trouble with the fit to my feet.  These seem to be narrower
  than my old rollerblades.  They should really offer both D and E widths
  like Bauer does.  It may also be that three buckles and a very thin boot
  can't support the whole foot all that well.

* The place where the tongue overlaps with the rest of the liner digs two
  ridges into my foot.  Also the footbed (insole) they come with is fairly
  uncomfortable and non-anatomically-shaped.

* They seem to have missed some places that need ventilation. the areas under
  the tongue and and the front and back of my ankles still get quite sweaty.

* On some skates the two parts of some of the buckles do not line up quite
  parallel -- this could lead to premature wear or slipping.

* Some were shipped with wobbly wheels (non-true) -- but your Rollerblade
  dealer should replace them for you if you bring them back in.  Also
  the wheels are not centered with respect to the bearings, and they
  have a cheap-looking part on where I guess they were cut out of their
  mold during manufacturing.  Makes me want Hyper Wheels.

* Wheels aren't as light as the newer wheels from Hyper and Kryptonics.

* I've decided I like softer wheels, to handle those bumps more gracefully.
  Aeros are 78A so maybe my old Zetra 608s had 74A?  But I don't know of any
  inlines that come with softer than 78A nowadays.  Maybe I'll splurge on
  some new wheels.

* Front wheel is further forward than on other skates.  This is okay for
  the experienced skater but I don't recommend it for a beginner because
  this can make the skate unstable if you put your weight forward onto it.
  This may make the skate faster for racing, but it also makes more leverage
  that tends to lift your heel inside the boot, so proper fit becomes even
  more important.  I think they should have moved all four wheels back a
  little (maybe 1/4 inch), since having the back wheel back a little improves
  stability.

* I don't like the color options -- can't they offer something more low key so
  people outside of California aren't embarrassed to be seen in it? :-)

* NMB 608Z bearings (made in singapore).  I have heard that these are not as
  good as the GMN 608Z german bearings that at least used to come in the
  Lightnings.  Not that I've noticed any difference in performance myself.

* Back of the brake sticks out a little more than I think is necessary, which
  can get in the way of crossovers if you're not careful.

* The frame spacer / bearing spacer / axle system is poorly designed.  It does
  not hold the wheel quite straight, and it seems to bind the bearings a little
  when you tighten the bolts a lot, which you have to do to prevent the wheel
  from slipping up and down a little during skating.  Before tightening there
  is too much play and the frame spacer does not properly meet the bearing --
  one of them starts to slide off of the the other on one side.  I don't know
  why, but the one pair of Lightnings I looked at were better than the Aeros in
  this respect, even though they *appear* to have the same parts for this.
  Phil Earnhardt says Reidell has a superior spacer system.  I used to have the
  old metal-runner Zetra 608, which held the center of the bearing via metal
  washers and spacers, and worked much better in that way.  They should make
  the inner diameter of the frame and bearing spacers smaller to match the
  axle, and the frame spacers and the inner part of the bearing spacers (which
  holds the two bearings apart) should be made of aluminum instead of plastic.

I hope somebody at Rollerblade reads this.

David B Rosen, Cognitive & Neural Systems         Internet: [e-mail]

-----

David B. Rosen writes:
>I have a pair of Aeroblades.  Here are my comments:
>
>* The brake is like that on the lightnings and macroblade, but it is
>made of "a new composite material" that SQUEALS LIKE HELL WHEN YOU
>BRAKE.  Scares the daylights out of unsuspecting pedestrians.

It is pretty effective, though, at getting those dim-wits who don't
know what "on your left" means to move off the path... :-)

>* I've had some trouble with the fit to my feet.  These seem to be
>narrower than my old rollerblades.  They should really offer both D
>and E widths like Bauer does.  It may also be that three buckles and a
>very thin boot can't support the whole foot all that well.

Same here.  I've got relatively wide feet, and I'm just hoping that,
over time, my liners will compress a bit and my boots will stretch just
a bit to fit my feet better.

>* The place where the tongue overlaps with the rest of the liner digs
>two ridges into my foot.  Also the footbed (insole) they come with is
>fairly uncomfortable and non-anatomically-shaped.

Of all things, my heels are uncomfortable in my Aeroblades.  It feels
as though I'm putting far too much pressure on them.  Has anyone else
experienced this?

>* I don't like the color options -- can't they offer something more
>low key so people outside of California aren't embarrassed to be seen
>in it? :-)

Ditto!  I'm all for basic black...

-JC, [e-mail]

-----

The only suggestion I have is buy the best skates you can possibly
afford--and maybe even a pair that you can't REALLY afford, but by
scrimping somewhere else you can do it.  Or, alternatively, buy
a cheaper pair of skates but outfit them with high performance
wheels and A-grade bearings before you even hit the pavement (that
is probably the best solution, if you haven't got a lot of money).

I bought a pair of Rollerblade Zetra 303s in May on a whim.  They
cost $150, and I didn't want to "spend to much on something I might
not stick with."  Well, I didn't know it at the time but those skates
were inhibiting me, and within 20-30 miles the el-cheapo C-grade
bearings had melted down and left me with an inoperative pair of
blades.  Two months later I finally got around to calling the shop
where I got the skates to find out about getting them repaired under
warrantee.  They said it would take 8-10 weeks while they shipped
them to Minnesota, determined if it was really a warantee repair,
and then shipped them back--and there was no guarantee they wouldn't
charge me for the repair if they thought it was "my own fault."

Well, in 8-10 weeks there will be snow on the ground up here,
so I was a little upset.  I went out and bought a pair of AeroBlades
($300) in a fit of pique, and man I should have done that in the
first place!  All I can say is, for twice the money you get three
times the blade.  The fast wheels and bearings have a lot to do with
it, but the buckle (as opposed to lace) closure system is a dream.
A medium-priced alternative are the Lightnings, which have
buckle closures but not the fancy chassis.

I'll shut up and let someone who really knows what they're talking
about advise you, but I'll stick by the "best you can afford"
recommendation.

Andy, [e-mail]


END AEROBLADE REVIEWS

                        = RACING SKATES REVIEWS =

From: [e-mail] (Kimon Papahadjopulos)
Subject: Re: Performance 5-wheelers

[e-mail] (Carl Castrogiovanni) writes:

>I'm considering Performance Bike Shop's 5 wheel high tops (alternative to
>Racerblades).  Anyone have experience with these (and can share opinions)?

I happened to be in a Performance Bike shop the other day, and I must say
I was not impressed by either their high end bikes, or their high end
skates.

The 5 wheelers were a high top plastic boot with an I-5 frame.
Ick.  I didn't check to the weight, but for that set up it had better
be pretty cheap.  Reasons?

1.  There is not much point in getting hightops with 5 wheels unless you have
some sort of ankle problem.  It's sort of like getting a racing road bike
with mountain bike tires.

2.  The I-V frame is a bargain basement frame (costs about $45 for the
frames alone, I think).  Superior Skate Co. has made improvements since I
had a pair, but when I used them they bent very easily and were a royal
pain when it came to switching wheels.

> Any other high top 5 wheelers out there besides these two brands?

Take a look at the Baur 5-wheeler.  It seems to be one of the better
cruiser skates.

Kimon

--

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>Can anyone give me information on brands of 5-wheel skates, besides
>racerblades, that are available?  I'd very much appreciate any info at
>all.
>
>M. P. Bunds, U. C. Davis

The good news is that there are models from many different manufacturers.  I
have heard of models from Bauer, SwitcHit, Riedell, Rollerblade (Racerblade
plus the Pro Racer), Viking (A very good European ice speed-skating
manufacturer), Bont (Australian ice), etc.  There also is a movement for
manufacturers to sell racing boots with a pair of threaded bolts to attach
either blades or runners for wheels. Yeah! Standardization!

The bad news is that I've never seen anything other than the Racer in retail
markets.You're going to have to either travel to someone who sells the skates
or do it via mail-order. Marty Hill of Built for Speed sells stuff out of his
house in Syracuse, NY. Dave of SMR sports ([phone]) does the same out
of Riverside, IL. SoH ([phone]) was planning to sell the SwitcHit
5-wheeler when it became available.

If at all possible, I'd go in person to one of these stores and make sure you
find someone knowledgable about the long skates. You might be leary of SoH,
since they appear to have a pretty cozy arrangement with SwitcHit.

Have you tried the Racer? It's a bit on the heavy end for a 5-wheeler, but is
very robust and probably a good skate to start out on racing. (Heck, any of
the faster 4-wheelers are fine, too!) Some Rollerblade demo vans have the
Racer available; you can try a pair there. Some very good racers are winning
races on the Racerblade.

One other piece of good news: Rod Murillo, a member of Team Krypto, is now
reading alt.skate. Welcome! He's far more qualified to talk about racing
than I am; he might have some suggestions for you.

Phil Earnhardt          [e-mail]

-----

From: [e-mail]
Date: 13 Nov 91 23:06:25 GMT

I got some new racing skates about 2 months ago. I love them!!! I tryed
on Zanstras and Racerblades. Looked into Bauer and leather boots (from
Built for Speed). After all my looking...I bought Ultras from Sventech
in Seattle (sold by Ultra).

Here are thoughts that might help others who are looking at racing skates.

Zanstras

There are three problems with Zanstras, from my point of view. Firstly,
the bearings "seem" really cheap. They aren't as smooth as I would like
and they make too much noise. Secondly, the boot is really
uncomfortable. A number of racers have complained that they bind the top
of their feet too much. In fact, some people cut out the sizes of their
boots. I found this true when I tryed them on. Finally, my size (6-6
1/2) only comes with four wheels....great why buy racing skates. The
good thing about Zanstras is that they are pretty light.

Racerblades

The Racerblades are really comfortable! It's like riding in pillows.
However, it's also like using a limo in a road race. They felt too
big and heavy (though I don't really remember their weight). Once I felt
the weight, I knocked them off the list...so I can't comment on the
bearings or wheels.

Bauer

As with the Zanstras, the Bauers don't have 5 wheels in my size.
However, the boot looked really comfortable. I knocked them out as soon
as I heard about the wheel limit.

Leather Boots

Sorry...I may be into skating....but I would like to try and stay out of
the poor house. I was looking at spending $700 to $800 for leather
boots. Maybe if I ever get close to beating Karen Edwards or the other
top women skaters, I'll think about it...but I think that will take more
than just new skates.

Ultras

The Ultras have a titanium frame. The lengths come in 13, 14 and 15
inches. The boots are very comfortable (I can usually keep them on for
three hours before they bother me). The boot fit is like the Racerblades
with a buckle and wide fit, but the shell is very light. The boot can be
molded to your foot with a dryer or hot water. In a rough estimate,
with 5 wheels they are about the same weight as my 4 wheel
Rollerblade 608s.

I guess what finally made the sale..was Bancroft hill in Berkeley. I can
jam down Bancroft without any shaking. The ride is very smooth. The
bearings are smooth and fast. By the by...they come with Hyper Wheeles.

The only problem is...no brake. So, I may not need it for racing....but
I would like one for working out. Berkeley drivers don't know what to do
with a skater.

I guess my advise is...try on everything (in your price range). Some
people swear by skates I rejected. What everyone is looking for in a
skate is different. I wanted good low weight racing skates.

Still plowing down hills....

betsy

By-the-by, does anyone know of something to put on road rash (second
skin or the likes)?

-----

From: Donn Baumgartner, [e-mail]

I can recommend the Xandstra Skeelers, which are available locally from
Riedel, without hesitation.  I have used these skates on the OMRA circuit
for the last two years and am very pleased with them.

I have the Xandstra 6000 - but got it directly from Walter Xandstra a few
years ago when he came to the New York race.  I use the Hyper 80mm wheels...
and prefer the harder (82A) wheels, but many racers prefer the 78A's and
even the 75A's.  Personal preference... but the harder wheels hold up a
little longer.

There are many shops nationally that carry this (and many more) inline
skates... such as:

        Competition Skates                Trailways Skate Rental
        c/o John Skelton                  c/o Tom Sehlhorst
        501 Springville Cr.               611 Palm Bluff
        Birmingham AL 35215               Clearwater FL 33515
        [phone]                    [phone]

        Montrose Skate                    Shop Skate Escape
        c/o John McKay                    c/o Janice Phillips
        1406 Stanford                     1086 Piedmont Ave
        Houston TX 77019                  Atlanta GA 30309
        [phone]                    [phone]

I've done phone/mail/direct business with every one of these shops... they
are all reputable.  Competition Skates and Trailways Skate are both run by
active members of OMRA (Outdoor Marathon Rollerskating Association), and both
John and Tom are racing 'experts' (in some sense).

And a final comment... get a subscription to Speedskating Times... for $15/year
it's the best thing going.  Dave Cooper, Eddy Matzger, and Marty Hill regularly
write articles in it.

-----

From: [e-mail] (Michael Peters)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 10 Mar 92 13:41:32 GMT

las writes:
>I'm planning to buy a pair of speed inline skates. Need advice as
>to which brand I should purchase. Would like a skate under $350.00.

For under $350.00, if it's a racing skate you want, I would check
out the Bont skate packages that Special Equipment C0. has to offer.
(Phone:[phone])  They have Bont Sharkie boots with Zandstra
frames, wheels and German bearings for $315.  These are leather
boots with fiberglass counters that you heat and mold to your foot.
This is a much hotter setup for speed than buying a citizen racing
skate, that has gobs of padding inside, i.e. Racerblade or Bauer
XR-10, besides they're cheaper too.  The last I heard the XR-10 may
go for $385 and the Rollerblade Pro-Blade $450.  The Rollerblade
Racerblade is in your range, but it's a bit heavy, though if you
don't skate that much, you may like the additional support that the
Racerblade gives.

[e-mail] ...!uunet!ncrcom!wtcp!mpeters



From: [e-mail]
Subject: re: Racing Boot/Frame questions
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1993 12:39:21 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Shawn Grammer) writes:
>I'm gonna get into racing and I have the following questions:
>
>1) What is the net opinion of the Bont Bluebottom/Powerline frame combination?
>2) What is a good price for each of these items?
>3) I was recently talking to a racer who had this combination, and she was
>showing me how her boot is angled slightly on the frame.  That is, if her left
>frame is pointing straight up, her boot is pointing slightly off center to the
>left (relative to the frame).  She said that it improved power.  To me it
>would seem to decrease the power.  What is the opinion of orienting the boot
>this way?


My son used the Bont Bluebottom for 1/2 a season of indoor racing, the boot
broke down before the end of the season.  He bought it used, which could be
the problem.  I've seen a lot of racers using the PowerLine and they like
it.  You may want to check into the new suregrip frames....

On the offset.... she is an indoor racer right????? they will offset that
for the power ... they get a better edge on the corners... both my
son's and the vast majority of our team do this.... They skate for
the Waterbury Skate Club in CT.



From: ([e-mail]) David Lowe
Subject: Re: Inlines:  Aspiring racer wants 5-wheeler info
Date: 17 Nov 1993 18:48:58 GMT

I find your questions much the same as some of mine but I can tell
you what I have found out and believe in.  First about the bearings issue.
I have found that a bearing contructed with a solid outer face as
hartfords tend to resist the buildup of dirt a dust much better than an
open face bearing like most fafners.  I beleive that bones make a fairly
well selled bearing which is considered one of the best for durability
in the speed skating community.  Hartfords are usually found in low end
or rentals and are durable but probably not a good competitive bearing.

For plates I have found that most skaters perfer the extend 5 wheel
plate which will accomodate wheels larger than  a 76mm.  Most people I
have talked with find little difference perforance wise between the
availible inline plates.

For boots I can only tell you what ive seen.  I personally have found that
about half of the top skaters I know of skate on bonts.  Most do not
get the blue bottom bonts because they seem more likely to crack
under pressure.  Most are skating on the yellow bottom huster boot by bonts

I have the yellow hustler bont boot, labeda extreme edge plate, bones
bearings and a soft hockey wheel for training purposes.  I have yet to
purchase wheels but am likely to get the green ones comprable to
cherry bombs.



From: [e-mail] (David Lowe)
Subject: Re: Racing Boot/Frame questions
Date: 17 Nov 1993 19:18:36 GMT

>From: [e-mail] (Shawn Grammer)
>Subject: Racing Boot/Frame questions
>Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1993 19:00:28 GMT

>I'm gonna get into racing and I have the following questions:
>1) What is the net opinion of the Bont Bluebottom/Powerline frame combination?

Bont Bluebottoms have been known to crack due to stress over a peroid of time.
The Bont Hustler boot (yellow bottoms) seem to be stronger and less likely
to crack.  They also usually cost less and come predrilled ( a big plus).


>2) What is a good price for each of these items?

Shop around you can usually get the best deal buy buy all your parts at once.
rember that if you purchase your skates non-local then don't expect your local
dealers to help you much if you have problems.  Your best bet is to find
the best price then ask your local dealers to match it if you can.


>3) I was recently talking to a racer who had this combination, and she was
>showing me how her boot is angled slightly on the frame.  That is, if her left
>frame is pointing straight up, her boot is pointing slightly off center to the
>left (relative to the frame).  She said that it improved power.  To me it
>would seem to decrease the power.  What is the opinion of orienting the boot
>this way?

I think she is right on the money.  By moving the right foot plate left of
center you but your center of gravity on the ball of the right. So when
you are stroking in a tight corner your can step easier and further with your
left foot before having to but it down.  With the right plate in the center it
seems that the right skate trys to get out from under you before you can
step out with you left foot.  Most everyone I skate with has their right plate
adjusted as your friend does  :-)

David Lowe [e-mail]



From: [e-mail] (Kimon Papahadjopulos)
Subject: Re: Racing Boot/Frame questions
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 03:59:39 GMT

[e-mail] (Shawn Grammer) writes:

>1) What is the net opinion of the Bont Bluebottom/Powerline frame combination?

Acceptible for competitive racing.

>2) What is a good price for each of these items?

Off the top of my head, $200-$250 for the frames, $300-$350 for the boots.

>3) I was recently talking to a racer who had this combination, and she was
>showing me how her boot is angled slightly on the frame.  That is, if her left
>frame is pointing straight up, her boot is pointing slightly off center to the
>left (relative to the frame).  She said that it improved power.  To me it
>would seem to decrease the power.  What is the opinion of orienting the boot
>this way?

Its personal preference.  Some people like their frames inset.  I personally
think inseting your frames unevenly is usually to compensate for bad form,
but there are some pretty good racers (Steve Carr for one) who do it.

Kimon


From: [e-mail] (Joseph P. Cernada)
Subject: Review: Performance Competition Skate


Well, I finally got tired of waiting for someone else to order these
skates so I figured I'd order them and see if they were worth keeping.

So, here's the long awaited review of the Performance Bicyling
5-wheel racing skate:

Low cut leather boot, glove leather in the ankle area, ankle stiffener, padded
tongue, laces.  Seems like a typical Performance brand item: well
made, attention to function, but not cosmetically pretty.

76mm, 78A wheels (look like Hypers).  Long wheelbase I-5 frame
(13.375" ?).

Too many parts to the Axles: bolt, nut, metal tube, small tubular
spacer, and two washers (go between the frame and the bearing).

GMN ABEC-3 bearings.  I think they're oiled (either that or they're
using real low temp grease, since it seems to be dribbling out of the
bearings :).

I also got the brake since I do a lot of hills and don't like trashing
my wheels to stop.  The brake frame seems fine, but the stopper itself
seems pretty lame.  Made out of very soft rubber and looks like it
belongs on the bottom of a piece of furniture.  Also, when taking long
strides/strokes, the side of the brake would scrape on the ground.

Weight: 2 7/8 lbs for a size 9.  For comparison, my Ultrawheels
Gretzky Wings weigh 3 3/16 lbs with the same type of wheels.  This is
for one skate, without the brake.

My Gretzkys are the only other skates I've ever used, so I don't have
a lot of reference points.

Took me a day to really get used to skating on these things.  The
weight positioning is very different.  I can put my weight much
further forward than with my 4-wheelers.  Great traction on the turns.
That brake sticks waaaay out; have to be careful on the cross-overs.
The low boot is taking some getting used to.  I have to consciously
think about keeping my ankles straight.

Turning is pretty slow.  I did some cone slaloming (one foot, two
foot, and spread-eagle; 6 foot cone spacings) and maneuverability was
way down.  Tried to do some short stairs, and mostly tripped my way
down.

--
--
Joseph P. Cernada    AIT, Inc.
914/347-6860        50 Executive Blvd.
[e-mail]        Elmsford, New York 10523


From: [e-mail] (Gary W. Mahan)
Subject: Perf. Comp Skate Review

I bought a pair of Performance Competition skates about three months ago
and would like to present a review of these:


I was in the market for a pair of speed skates.  Prices ranged consideribly
from ~300 on up.  As I was not completely sure if I would like speed
skates, I opted to target the lower price range.  I also required a brake.

Last but not least I needed a size 13 (this is always a problem!) and
I wanted to try them on before purchasing.


So I went out and purchased a set of Performance Competition skates:

Price $299 for the skate (Seen on sale for $249)
      $19 for the brake pad assembly

Wheels: Performance Brand (look EXACTLY like hyper 76mm 78A's to me).

Bearings: ABEC3 Nonservicable (unless you remove a shield).
          They really used a light grease or oil on these as
          they spun forever right out of the box.

Frame: I-5 (adjustable positioning) one of the lower priced frames
       but to be expected in this price range.

Axle: 2-piece Aluminium spacers/axle retainers with one long bolt going
      through the center.  This system is comparable to the
      axle kits/hopup kits available.  No reduction in bearing
      spin if the axles are too tight (I really tested this one!)

Boot: Leather, some ventilation, all laces, plastic inserts/liner in boot for
      ankle support and lower foot support.

Brake: Metal assembly which bolts to frame.  Repacement pads are
       ONLY available through mail order and are ~$5 a piece.
       Toe stops from Quad skates may also be used is one
       so chooses (they bolt right on).
       The original brake SEEMS to last forever.

Initial Problems: Wrench supplied was not correct size.
                  The bolt and nut supplied with the Brake assembly were
                  mismatched causing me to stip both.  I went down to
                  the local hardware store and bought replacements (Cost $1).


My initial skating sessions with these skates were very painful.  The boots
did not fit quite perfectly to my feet eventhough the seemed fine in the
store.  A hair dryer was used to soften the plastic liner in the appropriate
places.  This worked very well.

The lack of ankle support took a while to get used to (compared to my Macro
EQ's).  Once my ankles strenghtened, this was not a problem.  I initially
compensated for this ankle problem by adjusting the chassis to the outside
of the skate (so my skates would angle inward).  This provided some added
stability.  I have slowly moved the chassis inward as my ankles and
technique improved.  Ankle support straps (Lazy Legs) could be used to help
with the ankle support.

The brake for this skate works quite well once it is broken it.  It can be
really scary before it is broken it (as most brakes are).  The Pad seems
to last a VERY long time compared to my RB pad on my macros. I think I don't
brake quite as much as I used to so this might be the reason.  The overall
braking performance is not as good as my macros but still acceptable.
Because of the lack of ankle support and longer wheelbase, braking required
more ankle muscle than with my macros.

Overall, the transition to the skates was tough (for me) but well worth the
effort.  These type skates REALLY force you to use good technique which has
trickled down to skating on my macros.  The added flexibility at the ankle
is actually much more comfortable once you get used to it.

As a side note, the bearings never seem to get dirty on these skates.  I
guess this is because the open frame chassis allow lots of air circulation.
The washer used between the wheel and the frame might also limit dirt
accumulation around the bearing.


From: [e-mail] (Anthony Chen)
Subject: INLINE:  difference between frames? boots, wheels, etc.
Date: 18 Feb 1994 06:48:01 GMT

Okay, hope this post provides some break from the olympic traffic.
Should be enough questions here to generate a few in-line posts
hopefully 8-)

1) What's the main difference between all the tiered frames?  Is there
   any significant differences?  I'm just curious, from looking at the
   Raps Edgemaster, Mogemas, LaBeda Extreme Edge, and Powerline frames.
   I know some of these vary in material, Al vs. Ti vs. Mg or whatever.
   Is one preferrable to the others?  There are various grades of
   each material, I know that much.

I'm looking to get some low-end 5-wheelers, so probably I'll start
out with some cheapo I-5 frames, but eventually I may want to move
up to a better frame.  Is the drilling/mounting incompatible if I
want to switch from a flat frame to a tiered one?

I'm not intending on doing competitive races (not yet anyway), mainly
long distance trips.  In particular, I'd like to do the Athens-Atlanta
race/trip this upcoming October (anyone have a specific date?) so I
figure I better start getting ready right now 8-)  I don't figure to be
real fast.  I just wanna finish 8-)

2) Also, any opinions on the Airlite XL boots?  These are molded
   polyurethane boots, laces with a small cuff buckle.  Low cut.

   I was told the Riedell 201TS boot doesn't fit very well.  The
   401TS's fit very well apparently, but for much more money.  Can
   anyone confirm about the 201s?  This is from the guys over at Inline
   USA.

   I'd get some Bont Sharkies or Hustlers except I was told they're not
   as comfortable over fairly long distances?  (Bluebottoms have a rep
   for cracking under pressure, correct?)

3) One other thing, I notice Hyper Redlines come in large and small hub
   versions.  Is it a significant difference, the amount of cooling you
   get from a bigger hub?  I assume you get more wear out of the small
   hub wheels, of course.

4) Also, how much diff between ABEC-3 and ABEC-5?  I'm skating on ABEC-1
   Bones which already seem darn fast.  A good idea to jump to ABEC-5s
   for the 5-wheelers?  I do have some cushion money wise, so if I can gain
   some significant performance I'm willing to pay for it.

5) One last thing, how do the varying axle types vary?  I notice that
   Mogema style axles are apparently different enough to warrant Airlite
   frames to have a specific model for those type of axles.  The racing
   axles are similar to hop-up kits, no?


From: [e-mail] (Michael Peters)
Subject: Re: INLINE:  difference between frames? boots, wheels, etc.
Date: 21 Feb 94 17:49:32 GMT

In article <2k1ob1$[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>   I was told the Riedell 201TS boot doesn't fit very well.  The
>   401TS's fit very well apparently, but for much more money.  Can
>   anyone confirm about the 201s?  This is from the guys over at Inline
>   USA.

An acquantance of mine said that her 201's were very uncomfortable.

>3) One other thing, I notice Hyper Redlines come in large and small hub
>   versions.  Is it a significant difference, the amount of cooling you
>   get from a bigger hub?  I assume you get more wear out of the small
>   hub wheels, of course.

Hyper's latest racing wheel is the 'Shock'.  The top three finishers at
Athens-Atlanta were on Shocks.  I just picked up some 80mm-81A Shocks
last Sunday, but I haven't had a chance to try them outside yet.


>4) Also, how much diff between ABEC-3 and ABEC-5?  I'm skating on ABEC-1
>   Bones which already seem darn fast.  A good idea to jump to ABEC-5s
>   for the 5-wheelers?  I do have some cushion money wise, so if I can gain
>   some significant performance I'm willing to pay for it.

Personally, I think ABEC 3's are the way to go.  The ABEC-5's are pretty
expensive and after a little wear and dirt, that fine precision is gone.
At the speed that our wheels are spinning, I had heard that the 3's are
all that we really need.
>
>5) One last thing, how do the varying axle types vary?  I notice that
>   Mogema style axles are apparently different enough to warrant Airlite
>   frames to have a specific model for those type of axles.  The racing
>   axles are similar to hop-up kits, no?

The Powerline axles are similar to the Mogema's (me thinks?).  They are
aluminum with a slotted end that locks into a counter sunk hole on the
outside of the frame.  An aluminum spacer slides over the axle between
the bearings.  The aluminum axle sinks into the inside of the opposite
frame wall.  They are held into place by a counter sunk allen head type
of screw.  The axles are solid, other than the drilled and tapped end.


From: [e-mail] (Plant a tree today! ---;*] )
Subject: Re: INLINE:  difference between frames? boots, wheels, etc.
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 03:47:47 GMT

Anthony Chen ([e-mail]) wrote:
: I'm looking to get some low-end 5-wheelers, so probably I'll start
: out with some cheapo I-5 frames, but eventually I may want to move
: up to a better frame.  Is the drilling/mounting incompatible if I
: want to switch from a flat frame to a tiered one?

If their prices haven't gone up much, try the suregrip airlites.  When I
bought mine, they were only $30-40 more than the bendable I-5s.

:    I was told the Riedell 201TS boot doesn't fit very well.  The
:    401TS's fit very well apparently, but for much more money.  Can
:    anyone confirm about the 201s?  This is from the guys over at Inline
:    USA.
The fit depends on your foot type.  The 201s are more forgiving if you
have a medium to wide foot.  I have some good info for anyone trying to
break in a pair of 201s.  I'd post, but I don't want to was bandwidth if
nobody is interested.
:    I'd get some Bont Sharkies or Hustlers except I was told they're not
:    as comfortable over fairly long distances?  (Bluebottoms have a rep
:    for cracking under pressure, correct?)
Heard the same.
: 4) Also, how much diff between ABEC-3 and ABEC-5?  I'm skating on ABEC-1
:    Bones which already seem darn fast.  A good idea to jump to ABEC-5s
:    for the 5-wheelers?  I do have some cushion money wise, so if I can gain
:    some significant performance I'm willing to pay for it.
You will realize more difference by packing your bones with some fancy
oil (everyone has their opinion on what works best).  The difference
between ABEC-1s and ABEC-3 or 5s is measured in thousandths of an inch.
Unless you are planning do over 80 mph (has been done), you won't notice
the difference.


=END OF PART 5==================================================================