David Richfield
2009-05-02 21:00:10 UTC
Surprise 1:
I'd been skating regularly on the level, and moved into a hillier
area. I was not at all prepared for the out-of-control feeling on my
first serious downhill! Luckily there were no cars on the cross-road,
and there was a broad cul-de-sac at the bottom where I could make a
large skidding turn. Whew!
Lesson:
I learned to control my speed by more aggressive slalom turns and by T-
stops.
Surprise 2:
I'd started skating to work and back, and figured I'd better buy new
wheels. These were hard (84 durometer hardness IIRC) racing-profile
wheels. When I decided to replace my softer, by now rather round and
flat, wheels, I came down the downhill on the way home and *once
again* lost speed control! I could turn into an uphill road, but
where I could usually go onto the sidewalk, this was the day they
decided to dig up the sidewalk, so I was skating with the traffic. No
collisions, fortunately, but I seriously overshot my normal turn-off
on the way up.
Lesson:
I bought a helmet and pads. Dropping to your knees is supposedly a
good last-ditch stopping maneuver, and I'm also using them while
practising my power-slide techniques. I haven't had the guts to
commit to a proper power-slide without protection, but with the gear
on, I'm a bit more comfortable falling!
I'd been skating regularly on the level, and moved into a hillier
area. I was not at all prepared for the out-of-control feeling on my
first serious downhill! Luckily there were no cars on the cross-road,
and there was a broad cul-de-sac at the bottom where I could make a
large skidding turn. Whew!
Lesson:
I learned to control my speed by more aggressive slalom turns and by T-
stops.
Surprise 2:
I'd started skating to work and back, and figured I'd better buy new
wheels. These were hard (84 durometer hardness IIRC) racing-profile
wheels. When I decided to replace my softer, by now rather round and
flat, wheels, I came down the downhill on the way home and *once
again* lost speed control! I could turn into an uphill road, but
where I could usually go onto the sidewalk, this was the day they
decided to dig up the sidewalk, so I was skating with the traffic. No
collisions, fortunately, but I seriously overshot my normal turn-off
on the way up.
Lesson:
I bought a helmet and pads. Dropping to your knees is supposedly a
good last-ditch stopping maneuver, and I'm also using them while
practising my power-slide techniques. I haven't had the guts to
commit to a proper power-slide without protection, but with the gear
on, I'm a bit more comfortable falling!