HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: rec.skate

|    As a side note, when I look at in-line skates, they look cheesey to me,
|    but the point of comparison is ski boots, which are of similar material,
|    construction and cost, but have a much nicer finish and considerably
|    more technical detail.  The in-line boots look like 10-year old low end
|    plastic boots...not very impressive.  On the other hand, maybe they're
|    exactly right - I guess sooner or later I'll have to break down and try
|    it, eh?

Please help me understand.  Perhaps I'm reading this incorrectly.  You're 
saying that in-lines look 'cheesey'?  You compare them to ski boots?  AND
if I might ask, what does "...look like 10-year old low end plastic boots..."
mean to you? (something from K-mart?)

After all this you say that you HAVEN'T TRIED IN-LINES?  I'm crushed...so much
for hero worship.  I sort of figured that you knew what you were talking about
(from your earlier posts). AHhh! Maybe there is more than one George Robinson?

Well...this is for you.  (whomever you may be...grin)   THAPPITTOOIE!

I'll listen AFTER you've rented and/or bought, but fer cripes sake...try 'em!  
                                                                     ^^^^^^^
Jim 8')s | aites@hpsmpa.lvld.hp.com 

PS - the above light-hearted teasing was NOT meant as a flame.  Besides, he was
     just making a personal observation...right?

Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: dcchan@engin.umich.edu (David Chi Wei Chan)
Subject: Night skating (was Re: FAQ:  Mail-order numbers/address)
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 19:10:25 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

In article <1992Aug20.184646.9611@umbc3.umbc.edu> hall@graffias.cs.umbc.edu (Marty Hall) writes:
>>General skating stuff:
>[...]
>>In-line Skate Associates (ISA) (800) 766-5851
>               ^^^^^^^^^^
>Not that it's important, but my catalog says "Accessories".

Oops, major mistake on my part.  I don't know how I turned "accessories" into
"associates".  Thanks for the info in your posts, Marty.


On an unrelated note, do most people here who do night skating with
lighting usually mount them on helmets?  I'm about to buy some lights
but I'm trying to figure out a good place to strap/mount them.  (I'm
talking about headlights vs. the blinking/red tail lights).  I guess
on the helmet is okay, but I hate to have an odd weight on my head.
On the wrists seems iffy, since the arms are in motion quite a lot while
skating.  Maybe on the waist, but I can see your arms or hands smacking
into them.  Maybe along the knees or thighs?  Or maybe on the shoulders
even? 8-)  

-Tony Chen
 adchen@lee.cs.uiowa.edu
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: pae@blackcat.stortek.com (Phil Earnhardt)
Subject: Re: Night skating (was Re: FAQ:  Mail-order numbers/address)
Organization: StorageTek, Louisville, CO
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 20:58:38 GMT

In article <Zwf-mXA@engin.umich.edu> dcchan@engin.umich.edu (David Chi Wei Chan) writes:
>On an unrelated note, do most people here who do night skating with lighting
>usually mount them on helmets?  I'm about to buy some lights but I'm trying
>to figure out a good place to strap/mount them.  (I'm talking about
>headlights vs. the blinking/red tail lights).  I guess on the helmet is okay,
>but I hate to have an odd weight on my head.  On the wrists seems iffy, since
>the arms are in motion quite a lot while skating.  Maybe on the waist, but I
>can see your arms or hands smacking into them.  Maybe along the knees or
>thighs?  Or maybe on the shoulders even? 8-)

If you are getting lights only for skating and not biking, I'd recommend the
Underwater Kinetics mini-q40 (hope that model # is right!). This uses 4 AA
batteries in a 2x2 configuration. The bulb is quite bright: it's really a SEE
light (as opposed to a BE SEEN light). I believe it's around $20 at dive
shops.

If you remove the silicone attachments, you can thread a nylon band with a
fastex connector to the light. These little bands are available at outdoor
shops. Then, mount the light on your left wrist. Amazingly, the light angle is
near-perfect for skating, and you can always point the light somewhere else as
needed.

I really like the Vistalights. I recommend one red clip-on vistalight clipped
to your waist and a Vistalight Que light strapped to your left knee. The
presence of both lights gives rear approachers a sense of distance to you.

>-Tony Chen
> adchen@lee.cs.uiowa.edu

--phil
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: dcchan@engin.umich.edu (David Chi Wei Chan)
Subject: FAQ:  Mail-order numbers/address
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 13:34:44 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor



                    LIST OF MAIL-ORDER PHONE# FOR INLINES
                    -------------------------------------


General skating stuff:

Skates on Haight (800) 554-1235 / Skates Off Haight (415) 244-9800
P.O. Box 170010
San Francisco, CA 94117-0010

Inline USA (800) 685-6806
419 Monterey St.
Morro Bay, CA 93442

In-line Skate Associates (ISA) (800) 766-5851
1800 Commerce St.
Boulder, CO 80301

Roll With It (310) 379-9071
920 Manhattan Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

South Windsor Arena (800) hockey1
585 John Fitch Blvd.
South Windsor, CT 06074

In-line Direct Inc.  (303) 447-1971
????

More speed-skating oriented:

Skate Pro in S.F. (415) 752-8776
Built for Speed (315) 492-6620
SMR Sports (708) 387-0283

Competition Skates (205) 854-9617
c/o John Skelton
501 Springville Cr.
Birmingham AL 35215

Trailways Skate Rental (813) 461-9736
c/o Tom Sehlhorst
611 Palm Bluff
Clearwater FL 33515

Montrose Skate (713) 528-6102
c/o John McKay 
1406 Stanford
Houston TX 77019 

Shop Skate Escape (404) 892-1292
c/o Janice Phillips
1086 Piedmont Ave
Atlanta GA 30309
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: looking for LARGE pads (elbow,knee) and helmet
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 92 13:32:14 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

I have a complete set of used pads that are too large for me. Let me
explain.

If you buy Rollerblade pads in size large, they will become even larger
as they lose elasticity. In particular, I wash my pads every other week
in the washing machine, and this contributes to the stretching.

I'll perhaps give them to you or sell them to you.
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: ricks@itx.isc.com (Rick Sutherland)
Subject: Re: Rollerblading
Organization: Interactive Systems Corporation, Boulder, CO
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 23:07:45 GMT

There was only one thing left out of the "Beginner Advice" .
You can rent skates(w/pads normally) to try them out and see if you like
them.  Most of the rental places will deduct the rental if you buy skates
from them.
And I also agree....WEAR: Elbow, Knee, and Wrist pads/guards.
--
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+------
The IGNORANCE & SOCIAL COSTS of prohibition   +  The FUTILITY of Vietnam  = 
			The WITCH HUNT on (some) DRUGS....
+----+--> These are my views...not necessarily those of my employer <--+-----
From: cecilw@access.isc-br.com (Cecil Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Any Good In-Line Video's Available?
Date: 17 Aug 92 18:44:56 GMT
Organization: ISC-Bunker Ramo, Spokane, WA


 I remember seeing someone asking for information on in-line
 skating videos here a few weeks back, but I didn't see any response.
 If anyone has any information on videos of basic or especially advanced 
 blading technique (now that I've been skating 3 whole months (-; ...)
 would you be kind enough to (re?)post it? Thanks!

Cecil
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: hall@graffias.cs.umbc.edu (Marty Hall)
Subject: Re: FAQ:  Mail-order numbers/address
Organization: AAI Corp AI Lab, UMBC CS Department
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 18:46:46 GMT

In article <SLf-NgB@engin.umich.edu> dcchan@engin.umich.edu (David Chi Wei Chan) writes:
>
>
>                    LIST OF MAIL-ORDER PHONE# FOR INLINES
>                    -------------------------------------

Thanks Tony, for the very useful info in this and the other FAQ files!
This one, in particular,is a real boon.

>General skating stuff:
[...]
>In-line Skate Associates (ISA) (800) 766-5851
               ^^^^^^^^^^
Not that it's important, but my catalog says "Accessories".

One to add:

Hudson Bay Inline (800) 447-0400
5405 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

Very good prices on wheels, and they also carry bearings and axle kits.

					- Marty
(setf (need-p 'disclaimer) NIL)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Suggested protection & skates?
From: demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man)
Date: 12 Aug 92 14:33:07 EST
Distribution: usa
Organization: Demonic Possesions, Inc.

In article <Bsuuz4.9Gw@rice.edu>, rbutera@owlnet.rice.edu (Rob Butera) writes:
> In article <BsuApt.AA6@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, davidw@vista.atmos.uiuc.edu (David Wojtowicz) writes:
> |> 
> |> case, being just a bit tense helps.  Not so much that you can't
> |> concentrate, are afraid, or move stiffly... just enough that you're
> |> really alert and all your protective reflexes are on standby mode.
> |> ----------------Dave
> |> d-wojtowicz@uiuc.edu
> |> 
> 
> Have you ever been alert and all of a sudden your brain just fries on you?
> Case in point:  skating one day through Houston down a sidewalk.  I see
> a woman about 75 feet ahead of me get off a bus, turn onto the sidewalk,
> and in a couple of feet she trips over a spot where the sidewalk has cracked
> and dropped about an inch.  My brain says "watch out for that crack you're
> approaching."  Somehow the reaction, which I had plenty of time for, never
> occurred and I was sprawled all over the sidewalk looking might stupid to
> the people at the nearby bus stop :).  And I landed on my walkman and busted
> it.

	I was playing first base in little league, and the coach took out our
pitcher because he was wild (and put him at third).

	As I threw pratice grounders to the other infielders, my brain said
"watch his return throws".  I did.  I watched it all the way to my lip.  Ouch! 
Much blood and a few stiches later, I could replay watching the ball come and
and my glove sllllloooowwwwwyyyyy rising-and missing the ball.

	It was like I knew it was going to happen and couldn't stop it.

> THAT's what protection is for - when you least expect it.  That fall while
> "casually" skating knocked the wind out of me worse than any other fall I've
> ever had. I find that I'm least likely to fall unexpectedly when going down 
> a hill or trying something new, maybe cause I'm watching out for it more.  
> Some of my controlled falls have actually turned out to look quite impressive
> (like I wish I could say to the nearest passerby "yes - I intended to 
> do that").

	:)

	But of course!  I find that when I'm practicing a new move (and thus
falling repeatedly :) I get different reactions than if I fall, do my Pee Wee
Herman "I meant to do that" imitation and skate on.
	People expect you to fall when you are practicing.

Brett                                                      
_______________________________________________________________________________
Proconsul Computer Consulting                                        CHA-CHING!
Better, Cheaper, Faster					       (Pick any two :)
Disclaimer:								   NOT!
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Skating and Weather
Date: 12 Aug 92 23:53:10 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Distribution: na
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1992Aug12.134815.14401@news.eng.convex.com> hess@convex.com (Mark Hess) writes:
> i am interested in some talk about the relationship between skates and water.
> i don't need to hear the fact that a wet surface is more slippery and thus
> skating much more difficult.
> 
> i am more interested in hearing whether skating in the rain or on wet surfaces
> will ruin skates.  the skates in question are RollerBlade CoolBlades and Ultra
> Wheels EuroGlides if that matters.  i am about to get my skates in the mail and
> i really don't want to go out right away and ruin the bearings or the axles or
> something like that but it is supposed to rain off and on for the rest of the 
> week here.  if it's cloudy out should one stay home?

Skating in wet conditions will fairly quickly wash the lubrication out of your
wheel bearings and wash in grit.  This will drastically reduce the effective
lifetimes of the bearings.  You could improve this situation by a very proactive
dry/clean/lubricate cycle after any wet activity, but the only real solution is
sealed "training" bearings, which are more effective at repelling water, but at
the cost of considerably higher drag.

Note that wet may or may not include damp conditions.  There are two problems,
one droplets of water presenting themselves at the bearing shield, the other
increased grit pickup/retention of damp surfaces.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,     uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing:   domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com
Commodore, Engineering Department     phone:  215-431-9349 (only by moonlite)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: FAQ: Bearing maintenance
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 00:12:23 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

I've been skating on in-lines for two years, and I've never understood
why skaters clean bearings. My preference is to buy a new set once per
year, and discard the old.

Cleaning used bearings is like recharging a dying auto battery. Once
it starts to go bad, you know it's going to go bad again, so why
put off the inevitable? Do you really want to spend half a day restoring
used bearings?

Just buy new ones, and be done with it. 

Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: Richard.Banks@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Richard Banks)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Relubbing bearings
Date: 16 Aug 92 21:05:50 GMT
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service

First I recommend that you use a 50-50 mixture of lighter fluid and
baby oil to lubricate your bearings.  This way you should not have to
clean them out as often, only lubricate more often.

--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: New and Uninformed
Date: 19 Aug 92 05:15:20 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1992Aug18.191507.624@ccsvax.sfasu.edu> z_kennedypc@ccsvax.sfasu.edu writes:
> Hi,
> I am new to roller blading and when I say new I just picked them up this
> afternoon.  I have a few questions.
> 
> 1. Other than wrist guards, elbow and knee pads, and a helmet( the only thing I
> don't have coming), is there anything else I should be looking for?

Well, the helmet.  Besides this, you might want to see if you can pick up
one of the how-to books.  There's one by RollerBlade called "Wheel Excitement"
and an independent called "Blazing Blades" - you might find them in the sports
section of a good bookstore - libraries tend not to be up-to-date, but you can
find books on outdoor skating with regular skates.

> 2. My skates have the ability to rocker the wheels.  What does this mean?

When you rocker the wheels, the center two stick out further then the end ones
so that the wheels are on an arc and only two normally contact the ground at
and time.  This increases manueverability, since two wheels follow an arc better
than 4 in a row, but at some loss of fore-aft stability.  It's a trade-off
depepending on what kind of skating you plan on doing - you can switch later,
but it will take a bit of getting used to either way.

> Any suggestions at all would be nice.  I have never been able to take the time
> to roller skate and I hoped that finally owning{a pair of skates would force me
> to finally learn.  Is it easw3ier to roller skate than roller blade?

The difficulty is similar, there is much in common (and transferrable) between
in-lines and regular skates.  The most effective way to aid your learning is
to find somewhere you can get some lessons or even help from a experienced (but
patient!) skater.  There are certain points in the learning process where you
need to be prompted to stay upright, keep you head up and keep you feet under
your body - having someone with a clue help will avoid your getting stuck in
a bad groove or having to unlearn something that was starting to get comfortable.

You should check with shops selling in-lines, recreation departments or just
areas where you observe skaters to find lessons or help.  If this fails and there
is an indoor roller rink nearby, time spent taking indoor skating lessons will
not be wasted.  Some indoor rinks allow in-lines, others will make you rent
conventional skates.

> I apologize for all the questions.  Thanks.

No problem - someone please e-mail these folks the FAQ.

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,     uucp:   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing:   domain: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com
Commodore, Engineering Department     phone:  215-431-9349 (only by moonlite)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: cass@netcom.com (Diana Tenery-Fisher)
Subject: Re: skating and the economy
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 18:02:16 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: na

(Previous post about skating vs. the economy and the support of
coaches deleted)

I was a competitive rollerskater between the ages of 9-16. 
1976-1983. By the time I reached 16, I was winning competitions
at the Senior level. At that point, it kind of lost it's excitment.
There was nothing really else to shoot for. Rollerskating was not 
going to become an Olympic sport in my career. Coaching and equipment
was getting more and more expensive. And the schools I attended weren't
happy to give me time off to travel to distant competitions. (Their
ignorance about the sport was to blame, I am sure.)

I got a lot out of the experience. My sense of discipline, self-motivation
and just plain organizing my time were all skills I picked up
during those years. I am happy I did it, but I can definitely understand
why people drop out when they are still winning. 

diana
From: demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Performance Catalog/Shop info
Date: 14 Aug 92 14:09:33 GMT
Organization: Demonic Possesions, Inc.


	If you want to order from Performance, get a catalog, tech service,
etc. call 1-800-PBS-BIKE.

	Current prices:
	(summer catalog)

	Pad combo (wrist,elbow,knee):	44.95  (page 22, #12-1219)
	Knee:	19.95	(pg 22, #12-1218)
	Elbow:	14.95	(pg 22, #12-1217)
	Wrist:	16.95   (pg 22, #12-1216)

	Vector skates:	129.95 (pg 22, #12-1271) whole sizes only
	Lightning:	169.95 (pg 23, #12-1299) whole/half sizes to 12

	They also have computers/wheels/carryalls/poles/etc.

	The pad combo sale price is the same in the fall catalog, so don't look
for big price drops until winter.  I bought the pad combo and they are fine. 
Cheaper than what the local shops had, too :).

	Also, Performance has a reputation of getting things to you FAST.  I
usually get things in 2-3 days with normal shipping.

	Their guarantee is NOT limited to 30 days.  If you're ever unhappy,
send it back.  No restocking fee either.

	I can't recommend this place enough.  (Too bad I don't work for them, I
could probably get paid for that :)

Brett                                                      
_______________________________________________________________________________
Proconsul Computer Consulting                                        CHA-CHING!
Better, Cheaper, Faster					       (Pick any two :)
Disclaimer:								   NOT!
From: aites@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Jim Aites)
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 14:47:38 GMT
Subject: Re: Yet Another Wheel Question...
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO
Newsgroups: rec.skate

| Warning - net.wisdom has it that some of the lightweight, spoked hub designs
| may be a little too wimpy for big, strong skaters or aggressive, abrupt 
| skating such as roller hockey.

A small follow up on the term 'abrupt'.  The ONLY time I've heard of anyone
blowing out a lightweight hub is from a guy 'trapping' on the edge of 
a curb, and some other big guy landing hard after catching some air.

For aggressive/abrupt stuff, I'm not sure hockey is in the same catagory, but
it's still something to consider.

Jim 8')s  |  aites@hpsmpa.lvld.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: dcchan@engin.umich.edu (David Chi Wei Chan)
Subject: Re: FAQ: In-line Stopping Techniques
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 16:52:48 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

In article <1992Aug22.025826.15647@eng.umd.edu> georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
>Dave,

(It's Tony, I'm just using Dave's account to post)

>Your description of the power slide differs from the way Jack Murphey
>taught me how to do it last year. You suggest it be learned and done
>in two steps. (1) turn. (2) extend the free leg.
>
[good comments deleted]

>Jack's method is not an all-or-nothing routine. At any point in the
>continuous motion, you can abort if something is going wrong.

It's true that the FAQ suggests learning the power slide in 2 steps, but 
the final result is supposed to be the same (or nearly so).  Once you
become proficient, the 2 steps should become one fluid motion and less 
deliberate.  As far as I can tell, good skaters usually conserve motion
much like good skiers do.

Still, I can see how the two approaches differ.  Perhaps I ought to
include both descriptions and let skaters choose the easier one for 
them.  BTW, I can't take credit for the power slide method in the FAQ.
I believe Ricardo was the one who spelled it out, and I just re-hashed
his description.


-Tony Chen
 adchen@lee.cs.uiowa.edu
Newsgroups: rec.skate
From: brown@quorum.com (Robert E. Brown)
Subject: skating and economy
Organization: Quorum Software Systems, Inc.
Date: 14 Aug 92 15:26:04 GMT

The people I talked to who went to the national roller skating competition in
Lincoln, Nebraska last week seemed disappointed with the quality of the
skating they saw.  One person attributed it to the recession -- after all,
lessons and equipment are not cheap.  Less money for skating means fewer
lessons and less practicing.  Has anyone noticed a similar trend in the ice
skating world?  Ice lessons and rink time are generally much more expensive
than roller lessons, so one might expect a greater cutback in practice time
and lessons among ice skaters ... leading to a decline in performance levels.

Note for skating fanatics:  the roller skating world championships are in
Tampa, Florida this year -- the last week in September, I think.
From: evensen@husc8.harvard.edu (Erik Evensen)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Night skating (was Re: FAQ:  Mail-order numbers/address)
Date: 21 Aug 92 15:00:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: husc8.EVENSEN.92Aug21080046
Organization: Harvard Arts and Sciences Computer Services, Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: dcchan@engin.umich.edu's message of Thu, 20 Aug 92 19:10:25 EDT

>>>>> On Thu, 20 Aug 92 19:10:25 EDT, dcchan@engin.umich.edu (David Chi Wei Chan) said:

> On an unrelated note, do most people here who do night skating with
> lighting usually mount them on helmets?  I'm about to buy some lights
> but I'm trying to figure out a good place to strap/mount them.  (I'm
> talking about headlights vs. the blinking/red tail lights).  I guess
> on the helmet is okay, but I hate to have an odd weight on my head.
> On the wrists seems iffy, since the arms are in motion quite a lot while
> skating.  Maybe on the waist, but I can see your arms or hands smacking
> into them.  Maybe along the knees or thighs?  Or maybe on the shoulders
> even? 8-)  

> -Tony Chen
>  adchen@lee.cs.uiowa.edu

Well I'm not sure if my news reader got the attribution line right so
pardon if I misquoted anyone...

As for lights, I've seen an ad or new product feature somewhere for
lights which attach to the frames of the skates - called something
like BladeLights I think. This seems like a cool idea...has anyone
tried them? If anyone's interested I can try to find the information
again - but I'm moving so it may take a while to dig through
everything and find it.

--Erik