From: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: rec.skate
Subject: Re: Rollerblading
Date: 19 Aug 92 05:48:33 GMT
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George Robbins)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA

In article <1992Aug18.191737.21852@cbnews.cb.att.com> lib@cbnews.cb.att.com (Lib) writes:
> 
> I'm thinking of taking up rollerblading mainly for the exercise. I'm basically
> a cyclist but I'd like something different. Problem is none of the women I
> work out with know anything about skating.

Have you seen areas where in-line skaters congregate?  You might want to sit
down, watch and chat with them a bit.
  
> Can somebody suggest how much I should expect to pay for my first pair
> of skates? Is there a particular brand/model you'd recommend? What kind
> of store do I go to? A sporting goods shop? Hockey/ice skate shop?
> Zayre's or a similar general merchandiser?

Prices for good quality skates seem to run $150-250.  Where you buy them
depends on how much you want to pinch pennies vs. the possibility of buying
them somewhere where the sales person *may* know something about skating
and be able to help pick the correct fit and give you some tips or point
out where you can get lessons or find helpful skaters.

If you got to a K-mart or discount/mall sporting goods store, you will
probably save some bucks, but you will be pretty much on you own.  The
discount stores tend to carry toy/trash skates upto beginner or mid-line
skates, while ski/bicycle/skate shops tend to avoid the worst stuff, but
they will generally charge you more.  Going with the cheap skates may
seem like a good idea, but you lose if you give up before you get to the
fun part because of poor/ill-fitting equipment or lack of help.

> How do I get started? Just lace 'em on and see what happens? Where should
> I go to skate? Any 'ol road without a lot of traffic?

Well, you can do it that way - please pick up on some protective gear first,
lest contact with the pavement prove immediately discouraging.

Better to find lessons or other skaters - there should be another posting
floating around with more on this subject.

As far as where to skate - start with a level, smoothly paved roadway with
*no* traffic.  Suburban drives can be OK, also check out office park drives
and parking lots, and church/school/business parking lots during off-hours.

Once you get more confident, you can cope with moderate traffic and look
to bike paths or walkways.  You will also be able to cope with gentle
hills or rough pavement/sidewalk cracks...

> Anything else I need to know?

It's mostly a matter of attitude.  Some learing *is* required.  Your first
attempts may prove awkward, embarressing and perhaps painful.  Don't bother
starting unless you intend to work past this and get the point where you
gain some confidence and it starts to be "fun"!  Just about anyone can
learn, but a fair percentage drop out because of the initial awkwardness
or lack of any real purpose for skating.

The most common beginner injuries seem to be skinned/knocked knees and elbows,
which are easily avoided with pads/guards.  The most common "serious" injury
seems to be broken or hyper-extended wrists which occur when the beginner
loses guards balance, falls and instinctivly tries to land on their hands/arms.
Wrist gaurds do much to prevent such injuries as do lessons or adequate
supervsion.  Many of these falls happen not while "skating", but when bending
over, trying to hobble around, or under stress or when attention lapses...

> Anything else I need to know?
> Anything else I need to know?
> Anything else I need to know?

Bend you knees, not your waist - stay upright - look forward, not down...

-- 
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