Rollerblade brake pads

[Alex Oren]

Hello,

I read the following on the rec.skate FAQ:

"For Rollerblade skates, there are 3 types of brake pads available:
standard, TRS, and polyurethane. Standard brakes tend to be fairly
screechy and wear out the fastest. TRS brakes, which come in gray, last
much longer and don't screech as much. They're more expensive than
standard brakes. Polyurethane brakes, which come in bright blue and
pink, last about as long as TRS brakes. They don't screech at all.
Poly brakes are about the same price as TRS brakes."

My question is: where can I buy the longer-lasting brake pads for
Rollerblade skates (EVO 07) in the Toronto Area?

Thanks,
Alex.

[B Fuhrmann]

"Alex Oren" wrote...

Post by Alex Oren
standard, TRS, and polyurethane. Standard brakes tend to be fairly
screechy and wear out the fastest. TRS brakes, which come in gray, last
much longer and don't screech as much. They're more expensive than
standard brakes. Polyurethane brakes, which come in bright blue and
pink, last about as long as TRS brakes. They don't screech at all.
Poly brakes are about the same price as TRS brakes."
My question is: where can I buy the longer-lasting brake pads for
Rollerblade skates (EVO 07) in the Toronto Area?

Did the rec.skate.faq say "(last changed Mar 31, 1995)".
It is a decade out of date.

I don't think that the colored brake pads are made anymore, which is
probably a good thing.

I have used both the standard (black) and non-marking (gray) brakes from
Rollerblade.
The non-marking pads are needed for some indoor venues that don't want the
floors marked up.
I got them at a time when I couldn't find the appropriate standard ones.

The non-marking pads do not stop as well as the standard ones and I did not
find them to last significantly longer.

Polyurethane does not have the grip that rubber does.
As I found out in a race, it also looses more of it's grip when wet than
rubber does.
That is critical to know when skating in the rain but even more so if you
need to use wheels to stop in the rain where the forces are higher.

I would recommend learning multiple stopping methods and "defensive"
skating. Defensive meaning doing some coasting and light stops instead of
coming in at full speed and slamming on the brake. Slamming on the brake is
fun (I still do it often) but it eats brakes.

I don't know what stores you have in your area. Rollerblade always seemed
to have problems keeping the various standard brakes in stock in stores.
The non-marking ones were generally rarer (except when I was looking for a
standard one). I got used to looking in stores when I was near them and
keeping buying a couple at a time so that I always had one new one on hand.

[Alex O.]

Hello B Fuhrmann,

Post by B Fuhrmann
The non-marking pads do not stop as well as the standard ones and I did not
find them to last significantly longer.
Polyurethane does not have the grip that rubber does.
As I found out in a race, it also looses more of it's grip when wet than
rubber does.

So you're saying that the regular ones are the best to get?

Post by B Fuhrmann
I would recommend learning multiple stopping methods and "defensive"
skating. Defensive meaning doing some coasting and light stops instead of
coming in at full speed and slamming on the brake. Slamming on the brake is
fun (I still do it often) but it eats brakes.

I mostly use the brake to slow down on inclines. My slalom "technique"
(if you can call it that) is insufficient and I tend to pick up more
speed than I'm comfortable with.

Post by B Fuhrmann
I don't know what stores you have in your area. Rollerblade always seemed
to have problems keeping the various standard brakes in stock in stores.
The non-marking ones were generally rarer (except when I was looking for a
standard one). I got used to looking in stores when I was near them and
keeping buying a couple at a time so that I always had one new one on hand.

Any recommended online stores that ship to Canada?

Thanks,
Alex.

[b***@gmail.com]

Post by Alex O.
So you're saying that the regular ones are the best to get?

I think so.

Post by Alex O.
I mostly use the brake to slow down on inclines. My slalom

"technique"

Post by Alex O.
(if you can call it that) is insufficient and I tend to pick up more
speed than I'm comfortable with.

Slaloming (or any other braking method that is not an advanced level
move) will never be able to slow you down as much as a heel brake.

Post by Alex O.
Any recommended online stores that ship to Canada?

RollerBob (www.rollerbob.com) ships overseas, he must be willing to
ship to Canada. He doesn't list brake pads on his web site but I know
he keeps a few on hand for local (Minneapolis, Minnesota) customers.

I suspect that www.Skates.com or www.InlineWarehouse.com would both
ship to Canada.

[LSMike]

Post by Alex O.

Post by Alex O.
I mostly use the brake to slow down on inclines. My slalom

"technique"

Post by Alex O.
(if you can call it that) is insufficient and I tend to pick up more
speed than I'm comfortable with.

Slaloming (or any other braking method that is not an advanced level
move) will never be able to slow you down as much as a heel brake.

Absolutely, learn to master the heel brake first, it's the easiest and
amongst the most powerful stop on inlines. Bill, you'd not rate a proper
slalom stop as an advanced move? I think I would, and it's probably as
effective as a heel brake stop in the dry, but uses more space. Not good in
the wet. :)

[Alex]

Thank you all for your replies.

Post by LSMike
Absolutely, learn to master the heel brake first, it's the easiest and
amongst the most powerful stop on inlines. Bill, you'd not rate a proper
slalom stop as an advanced move? I think I would, and it's probably as
effective as a heel brake stop in the dry, but uses more space. Not good in
the wet. :)

I'm pretty comfortable with the heel brake.
I can also do a spinning stop (if the speed is not too high) and a lunge stop (if there is enough space) and there is always the grass...

My concern was not with stopping but with *slowing down* on an incline, particularly a narrow one. For that, I use the brake.
There may be other, (better?) techniques but I am either unfamiliar with them or just not proficient enough to use them effectively.

I found out that Sport-mart in Canada carries the Rollerblade brake pads for CA$15 per pair.

Best wishes,
Alex.

[motorblade]

Post by B Fuhrmann
"Alex Oren" wrote...

Rollerblade always seemed

Post by B Fuhrmann
to have problems keeping the various standard brakes in stock in stores.

That would be the stores problem not Rollerblades. The stores order the
brakes and choose how many and what kinds to stock. Some stores sell
skates but don't even stock brakes or only remember to after the
customers start returning and looking for them. They are not a high
profit item so stores tend to not care as much about keeping them
stocked or restocking when they run out. For many years Rollerblades
brake design was changing from year to year and model to model(various
ABT brakes mostly)but they finally settled on a design about 5 years
ago and haven't changed...even the kids skates take the same basic
brake.

Personally I like the gray non marking brakes...they do tend to last a
bit longer and that is why they don't brake as fast, because they don't
rub away as quickly...I don't mind the trade off myself. Plus I picked
up about 50 of them on closeout from my rep at about a buck a piece.

www.motorblade.com

[b***@gmail.com]

Post by B Fuhrmann
Rollerblade always seemed
to have problems keeping the various standard brakes in stock in stores.
That would be the stores problem not Rollerblades. The stores order the
brakes and choose how many and what kinds to stock. Some stores sell

Actually, I think that it was Rollerblade's fault.

All the stores were out of the same brakes at the same time (except for
some lesser known stores). The ones that I asked said that the parts
had been ordered but Rollerblade hadn't shipped them.

All of a sudden, the other brakes would appear in various stores.

[motorblade]

Post by b***@gmail.com

Post by B Fuhrmann
Rollerblade always seemed
to have problems keeping the various standard brakes in stock in stores.
That would be the stores problem not Rollerblades. The stores order

the

Post by B Fuhrmann
brakes and choose how many and what kinds to stock. Some stores sell

Actually, I think that it was Rollerblade's fault.

Yes , I can see your point. However Rollerblade also has a series of
steps involved with manufacutring and distributing parts. I suppose you
can blame a company for problems that occur in a chain of commands from
ordering to distribution...however without being in the loop it could
have been anything from labor issues, to a bad batch of rubber to who
knows what. If you have ever bought supplies from companies(like Protec
pads and helmets to bearings to wheels) different companies can have
different problems for different reasons. It may or may not have been
directly RB's fault , but assuming it was is simply that an assumption.
I suppose the simple answer and the most accountable entity is Rb , but
remember they have traded ownership a couple times(nordica, benneton,
and whatever the new one is i forgot) in the last several years and
that in itself could cause problems for any company. Blame it on them ,
thats cool . I won't argue the point , only trying to widen the view.

[FNGuy]

Post by Alex Oren
standard, TRS, and polyurethane. Standard brakes tend to be fairly
screechy and wear out the fastest. TRS brakes, which come in gray, last
much longer and don't screech as much. They're more expensive than
standard brakes. Polyurethane brakes, which come in bright blue and
pink, last about as long as TRS brakes. They don't screech at all.

It was once agreed on this board that brake screech is a GOOD thing--the
louder the better, lol. Anything that shocks oblivious pedestrians into
realizing they are taking up too much of the public thoroughfare is a GOOD
thing.

I am constantly searching out and testing exotic chemical compounds that
will INCREASE both the timbre and overall volume of my brake squeal. ;') If
it also increases the burning rubber odor, then that's a bonus.