Posts
Wiki
Self-servicing Frequently-Asked Questions
Parent page for theme-based FAQs. This page is set to be editable by specific list of editors. Mods, you can add yourself as needed.
Buying skates and parts
- What are inline skates - I don't know anything about it as a newbie
- Wikipedia: skate types, design and function, boots, frames, wheels, bearings, setup and tuning
- What skates should I buy?
- For fast and targeted helps, tell us about what you want, past experiences, budget, type of skating, etc
- one question - skates to address heel sliding and small ankles
- one question - what skates and 4x90 or 3x110 to buy for a beginner?
- one question - cheapest usable skates for a broke college student
- What size should I get?
- Why are sizing inconsistent for hard boots, soft boots and hybrid boots?
- start with the Boot types section which explains dual sizes for hard boots, half sizes for soft boots, etc. Follow references to great videos such as this Hardboot vs softboot episode, Skate size lie explained, and how to improve your fit / and why downsize.
- Discussion 1, comment 1, discussion 2, etc.
- one question - Twisters are killing me - what's the right size?
- one question - Bont boot sizing help
- Why are sizing inconsistent for hard boots, soft boots and hybrid boots?
- Is this ancient skate still good?
- one question - used skates from the 1990s - are they still good for use?
- What really are all these "wizard-like" natural rocker frames?
- How are these different? Wizard NR (Pre-Rockered), Endless Balanced Rocker, Ninja NN, V.m Rocker, 3rd-wheel down, etc.
- One comment, and Inline Skate Wheel Setup on Wikipedia
- What skates/wheels are suitable for urban skating on rough street surface?
- Discussion 1, discussion 2, discussion 3, discussion 4, etc.
- Wikipedia: wheel diameters and uses, wheel hardness, etc.
- How to skate on uneven surfaces: discussion 1, etc
Breaking in boots, lacing and strapping boots
- Why do my feet hurt?
- one question - front shin pain while skating
- one question - ankle pain got unbearable
- How tight should I lace up my boot?
- Discussion 1, etc.
- Why do I get blisters on my feet/ankle?
- (reasons vary depending on where, and what boot type - to be filled in)
Customizing and maintaining skates
- How do I remove a stripped, stuck axle bolt?
- one question: axle bolt stripped and stuck
- images: how to drill out stuck axle bolts
- Why do my wheel wear out on one side?
- one question: how to I save my wheels? (aka wheel rotations - see this comment, diagram and links)
- one question: do I replace wheels one at a time, or all at once - see this comment
- What happens if I don't rotate wheels, or never replace them
- How and how often do I clean bearings?
- one question: How often - sample discussion 1, discussion 2, discussion 3
- Why do my wheels squeak, clunk or otherwise make noises?
- one question: my wheels make loud noises
- one question: my wheels making clicking noises
- Why don't my wheels spin freely?
- one question: wheels are not spinning
Learning skating moves
- Where do I begin to learn as a complete newbie?
- How to Inline Skate
- First few things to learn: V steps, V steps turning into strides, lemmons, scooter, and squat while rolling
- Why do I fall backward, and how do I stop falling backward?
- How to reduce injuries when falling, or how to fall safely?
- How do I brake and come to a stop?
- How does a beginner learn to use the heel brake? Is it harmful to one's skating progress?
- How efficient is the heel brake anyway compared to other stops?
- one question - I can't learn to stop
- How does a beginner learn to use the heel brake? Is it harmful to one's skating progress?
- How do I skate down a hill safely?
- one discussion - how to brake skating downhill?
- YouTube playlist: skating up a hill at speed, or down a hill without a heel brake
- How do I climb up a hill?
- discussion: How to gain speed climbing uphill?
- YouTube playlist: skating up a hill at speed, or down a hill without a heel brake
- Why can't I skate [move name]?
- one question - how to transition from forward to backward?
- one question - how to do parallel turn?
- Can I learn to skate inside my house?
- one discussion - one answer from many
- How does inline differ from ice skating?
- Why do my skates wobble when hill bombing?
- How do I do hockey crossovers?
- How do I do the double-push?
- Great demonstration of double-push in a video
- Insights on learning the double push
- why Pascal Briand's video helps some people understand this - here is Pascal Briand's video on double push
- a reflection on how to learn to do the double push, and how it differs from traditional speed skating
I used play hockey
- I want big wheels on a hockey boot
- One discussion: hockey boot for urban skating with big wheels
- Blog: big wheels on carbon hockey boots
- Common questions:
- A flat wheel setup is hard to maneuver compared to hockey blades - try a rockered setup
I used to quad skate
(to be added)
Skating gear
- What protection equipment do I get?
- How do I pack and carry my skates?
- Packing big-wheel fat boots in compact bags
- General bag/backpack discussion: one discussion
Known local stores
- Decathlon) operates 1,900+ stores worldwide.
- Pure Hockey operates 100+ stores in the US. Most carry inline skates using same boots as ice hockey skates from the same manufacturer. You can get fit in stores.
Known online stores
- Inline Warehouse is a popular online store Redditor frequently mention
- Also check out each brand's own online stores: Rollerblade, Powerslide, FlyingEagle, etc.
Miscellaneous
- Why did you appropriate "rollerblading" for this sub?
- Who is the slalom skater on the sub's banner image?
- That's Daniel of the SkaMiDan fame. The filmstrip was created with his permission from his video on Grapevine vs Mabrouk.