From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Neat Accessories for Skating
Date: 12 Sep 92 20:16:33 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <ABOULANG.92Aug25182119@kariba.bbn.com> aboulanger@bbn.com writes:
> 
> I will mention some accessories for quad funky *dance* skating:
> 
>   Socks: The Double Lay-R socks sounds neat. I have found that the
>   Burlington athletic socks and the like to be good. I get mine at a
>   flea market.
> 
>   Sweat band: Absolutly essential when the music makes you sweat
>   bullets. Not any kind will do. I had found good sweat bands at Ames,
>   but can not find them anymore. There are plenty of wimpy ones around
>   and I have not been successful in finding replacements. Any
>   suggestions?

You might want to try one of those discount sporting goods places.  Wandering
around the local "Sports Authority" looking for LONG skate laces, I spotted
a large assortment of sweatbands and accessories adjacent to the tennis section.

I'm not sure if you are after style or performance - there used to be some
great bicycling sweat bands that were strips of sponge with a little elastic
head band.  You might also want to try looking for some colorful new or used 
terrycloth towelling and make up your own.

>   Baggy (gas) pants: The best for skating since they do not restrict
>   movement. The baggier the better. You can find baggies sometimes at
>   Army/Navy surplus stores.

I've found that Western Cut (Levi's 557) or Levi's stretch jeans a size or
so large work pretty well for skating.  Regular jeans, you go so far and
you bind up at the knees or crotch...  Some of the "loose fit" jeans that
seem to be this years marketing ploy would probably work pretty well.

>   T shirts: They should say something like "Shut Up and Skate" to
>   indicate you are a serious skater. If you are a serious dance skater,
>   button shirts will not do since you will be sweating bullets and they
>   will be incinerated, melted, or absorbed.

Hmmm... I'm basically a jeans+flannel/chambrey (you can take me out, but
you can't dress me up) type, but I find myself suffering from strange
urges to dress up while skating.  White jeans / white dress shirt stands
out pretty well at the rink, black pants / black shirt for the suburban
skate ninja effect.  Also a big blousey patterned silk shirt flapping
in the breeze is fun and surprisingly cool.

Be warned that maintaining white skating clothes entails regular use of
spotting detergent and bleach and occasionally blood stain removal.  Cotton
is preferable to polyester, since sythetics tend to melt/fray when you
fall and slide on the skating surface.

I do have a couple favorite t-shirts (one says "Make up your Own Mind"),
but button shirts do have the advantage of airflow adjustment - one button
is plenty for the "what air-conditioning?" hot and humid days...

>   Music Venue: (Most important!) DJ mixing house, acid house and techno,
>   plus good dance skating standards from the roller disco era. No
>   personal sound systems since they would fly off any part of your body
>   you place them when you do serious spinning. (I even have problems
>   spinning with my glasses on. The sweat band helps it stay put, plus
>   I have glasses with the wrap-around-the-ears temples.)

You could get one of those skiing retainers - Croakies is one brand,
that works well in holding sunglasses in place, not just a safety
retainer.

The personal sound is another intersting issue.  Certainly not in a
rink situation where you need to be aware of your environment, nor in
an outdoor environment where you need to be aware of cars or other
skate/bike path users.  However there may be some situations where a
little music helps, just don't cutoff the outside world...

> Now this is a almost serious list. Come on folks, please state what
> venue FAQs, and equipment discussions are about. The accessories will
> differ depending upon what one dies with their skates.
                                 ^^^^
this does sound serious!   8-)