From: pae@teal.csn.org (Phil Earnhardt)
Subject: Re: Braking System Survey - FEEDBACK PLEASE
Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc.
Distribution: rec
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 21:28:36 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.000438.16493@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> pl3x@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes:

>Are their any other inline-skate braking devices on the market besides
>sacrificial rubber pads?

There are. I don't believe we've ever had any reports here. For that matter,
I don't believe that In-Line Magazine has had anything but very brief
announcements.

>I don't like them - they wear out fast, they leave disgusting 'burn-out'
>marks, and frankly they don't work well. At high speeds, they are worthless.

On what information do you base these conclusions?

Here's a different data point: the Polyurethane brakes leave no marks. For me,
they provide effective braking force (real masters are quoting braking
distances of 1 foot/MPH) and they work just fine at high speeds. Brakes do
wear out fairly quickly, but if you learn how to use quick high-intensity
pulses of braking force, they'll last longer.

The other thing about brakes is that it takes time to learn how to use them.
Beginners expect that they should be able to master braking in 10-15 minutes.
I can teach people the rudiments of braking in around 30 minutes, but it'll
take several hours' worth of practice before they become true macho brakers.

>Since I don't think I am alone in these opinions, I ask for your response
>to a device that may be a solution to the above problems.

You are not alone. There are a lot of people who think learning how to
in-line skate is as easy as they (think they remember) learning how to ride a
bike was. It isn't. It takes about as much time as learning how to be
reasonably competent on downhill skis. And, just like skiing, it goes much
faster if you get some competent instruction early in the game.

>What problems do you forsee with a braking system change on inline skates?

I don't care if other people want to use such devices. The problem I see is
that the public could *perceive* that such devices are necessary. Someone will
call them "safety in-lines" or somesuch nonsense. And people will fail to
realize what makes people truly safe on in-lines is developing the kinesthetic
skills of side-to-side and fore-aft weight transfer and independent leg
action.

Until I see otherwise, I'll put in-line braking systems in the category of
"safety" brake levers on bikes (which are in no way safer) and water wings
"safety" arm-band floats for little children (which make swimming much more
dangerous for the kiddies). There is no substitute for hankering down and
actually learning the skills of an activity.

>Would a better brake encourage beginners and first time skaters to
>participate in inline skating?

It could have beginners be over-confident in their equipment and attempt
things they have no business doing yet.

Have you ever skied at Keystone, CO? On the front slope of the mountain,
Keystone grooms the $##! out of the slopes. Visiting skiers careen down the
mountain way past the fine line of being in control -- they do not have the
ability to compensate if they hit a bump or some other skier does something
unpredictable. These skiers think they know what they're doing, but they do
not. And locals avoid Keystone like the plague.

>It is in a way. Its for a project that has developed some promising
>prototypes that work well, but consumer input and skater feedback will be
>necessary before mass production can begin.

There was announcements of some stuff that folks created in Boulder County
a while back (last summer?).

I request that you consider the possibility that marketing promotions of
such a braking system can create the perception that standard brakes cannot
perform adequately. This is not correct. With proper education, people can
learn how to use brakes.

...and people need proper education *anyhow*. There are lots of skills people
need to have on skates that the world's best braking system will do absolutely
nothing for.

>Todd Stiers

Do you not have anyone on your project who is skilled in braking?

--phil