Anyone here rollerskate?

Salohcin · 6 Jan 2009 at 01:21

I've been thinking of trying rollerskating, with the 'aggressive' skates, with the smaller wheels. I don't really know too much about skating, nor have I tried it before.

One main question for me is the civil-case-inducing uneven paving slabs on the streets. I don't suppose it would be really nasty if I were to hit such a slab?

Any brands to look out for? Any good shops in the London area?

bum · 6 Jan 2009 at 01:25

doesn't those local skating teenagers often have a hang out point?

I know lillywhites in picadilly circus sell good those gears but if u want some professional stuff I'd imagine u need to go to them specialised shops that's scattered around in london city

gareth.e · 6 Jan 2009 at 01:37

Don't inline... It's gay.

Become a skateboarder or atleast a bmx bum chum..

goujon945 · 6 Jan 2009 at 01:50

I used to back in the day. Back then the top names were Roces, K2, Argon but no idea if they even exist now. May i ask why you're thinking of taking it up?

Dano · 6 Jan 2009 at 01:51

Used to skate quads years back, was fun till they banned us from playing British Bulldog just because some poor girl got her arm broken, honestly, anybody would think it was a rough game

Salohcin · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:12

goujon945 said:
I used to back in the day. Back then the top names were Roces, K2, Argon but no idea if they even exist now. May i ask why you're thinking of taking it up?

Should have explained why. It's mainly a balance issue (long story). No, I'm not going to zoom around in public with beanie-wearing 14 year olds

Sic · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:16

goujon945 said:
I used to back in the day. Back then the top names were Roces, K2, Argon but no idea if they even exist now. May i ask why you're thinking of taking it up?

Argon were made by a company called Oxygen and they were awesome.

I used to binline back in the day. If you're not looking to trick, don't get the smaller wheels as they don't make skating quite as smooth. If you're doing it purely for fitness then Bauer is a good make to look at.

Are you talking about inlining or rollerskating, as they're different?

Also, skateboarding isn't cooler than inlining - it's harder, but you look like a total douchebag doing it.

Dreadi · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:38

Sic said:
Also, skateboarding isn't cooler than inlining - it's harder, but you look like a total douchebag doing it.

Lies!!!

Skateboarding owns

Sic · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:41

Dreadi said:
Lies!!!

Skateboarding owns

You're wrong. Only douchebags and 9 year olds do it.

semi-pro waster · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:43

Q: What's the hardest thing about rollerblading?
A: Telling your parents you're gay.

Now with that out the way, Sic's advice is correct, if you don't want to do aggresive skating then there is no need in the smaller wheels and Bauer offer suitable models for just tooling about on if it is rollerblades you want. If you want rollerskates then I have no clue about suitable brands. Don't skimp too much on them though, a pair of catalogue £19.99 specials are probably not going to offer suitable support or good enough bearings/wheels to make it an enjoyable experience.

Prophet · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:43

I used to skate in my early teens. I've got a pair of Bauer Turbo 33's that I got out for the first time in 15 years only the other week. A group of us went to Roller World in Derby for a laugh. One of the staff offered me £100 for them as they're now retro lol.

tisonlyme · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:45

I remember my pair of Roces skates very fondly, all the kids had them back in the 90's! Felt like you had a couple of breezeblocks on your feet mind...

Sic · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:47

Mmmm, Roces Fifth Element

uv · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:49

Had a pair of Solomon's back in the day, they were great

nicktay2605 · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:49

Both skateboarding and inlining are cool, I've done both in the past. Personally, I found inline more fun because although it is difficult, it is nowhere near as hard as skateboarding. I just didn't have the patience to get past the basic tricks with skateboarding.

To the OP: when I did aggressive inline the best brands were USD, Roces, and Razor. If you are looking more for standard inline skates for races or just for fun, look at Bauer, Salomon or Roces, they were good for that sort of thing when I skated.

gord · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:50

Sic said:
You're wrong. Only douchebags and 9 year olds do it.

I could do both!

Dano · 6 Jan 2009 at 12:59

Orange Peel said:
I used to skate in my early teens. I've got a pair of Bauer Turbo 33's that I got out for the first time in 15 years only the other week. A group of us went to Roller World in Derby for a laugh. One of the staff offered me £100 for them as they're now retro lol.

Wooo... may have to throw mine up on the bay

Dark_Injection · 6 Jan 2009 at 13:05

Yes i "rollerskate" and have done for the past 5 years or so.

www.rollersnakes.co.uk

www.routeone.co.uk

Skating has been dieing off slowly, but these are the 2 best shops you can buy from. I am an avid rolersnakes user though, good service and not a bad price.

Are you a complete beginner or what?

Skating is ALL down to preference, many different things you can use and adapt.

Would you be skating in skate parks or on the street?

I have a pair of Razor G4's, with Ground Control Shima FL Frames and Mindgames wheels, custom died cuffs and some Lucky Bearings.

Ask me any questions and im able to help you!

EDIT - Also whats your price range?

Also would you prefer a soft boot, for more flexibility in grinds and movement, or a hard boot for more sturdier skating (just a generalisation but you get the point)

Emlyn_Dewar · 14 Jan 2010 at 01:42

Bump...
For some reason I've been watching a heap of skating vids tonight online. I think me and a mate had been speaking about "the old days" over the new year period. Alcohol was involved so the memories were immediately erased.

Used to skate many many years ago, had the standard Roces Rome skates that everyone seemed to have.

Was never very good at it, more falling than anything else, was a good laugh though.

Have been contemplating buying another pair of skates just for "something to do".
Many folks here into it still?
Was on that rollersnakes site and the Roces Graal look fair cheap?

Only issue I'd foresee now is the lack of people... Could ruin everything.

GarethDW · 14 Jan 2010 at 02:06

Shame you're in Aberdeen, mate, cause if you were closer to London (or if you fancy a trip there) then you could look into doing the Friday Night Skate

www.lfns.co.uk

If you're really serious about it then head over to Paris on a Friday night and hit the streets along with a few hundred (or thousand in the summer!) others for the weekly Pari-Roller

http://www.pari-roller.com/en

The French really do organise this very well, it's excellently marshalled and has support from the police so no hassle from motorists. Plus Paris is my favourite city in the world so skating around it is always fun.