First created: 20 May 2001 Last updated: 08 April 2002 Version: 1.02 Frequency: Weekly, on or around every Saturday Author: Duncan Clarke "skatefaq@inlineskate.co.uk" Please send comments, errata and info to: skatefaq@inlineskate.co.uk Changes since last posting: Added more on IISA certification. This is a "Frequently Asked Questions" document for the following newsgroup and is essential reading for new users: rec.sport.skating.inline This document can also be found online at: http://inlineskate.co.uk/faq ************************************************************************ Please make sure you read this FAQ before you post here, as many questions posted to this newsgroup can be answered by you doing a bit of research before-hand, failure to do so may result in a "curt" reply to a question that has an obvious answer (if you even get a reply). You can also find help at the following places: http://www.skatefaq.com http://inlineskating.about.com ************************************************************************ The following characters show the changes (if any) since this FAQ was last posted and will be placed in front of the appropriate section: * = Minor addition or correction to section # = Major rewrite or addition @ = New section What's here... 1.0 General 1.01 An introduction 1.02 Posting guidelines 1.03 Other newsgroups 2.0 Basic Questions 2.01 What is the best...? 2.02 What is "rockering" 2.03 Should I wear pads? * 2.04 How can I find a good instructor? 3.0 Equipment 3.01 Buying skates 3.02 Bearings 4.0 Techniques 4.01 Skating Backwards 4.02 Braking 5.0 Other stuff 5.01 Can I ask the author of this FAQ for help? 5.02 Useful links 5.03 Credits 5.04 Disclaimer 5.05 Copyright notice ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.0 General 1.01 An introduction The purpose of this FAQ is to provide basic help and answers to the Frequently Asked Questions found in the newsgroup named at the top of this document, and pointers to more detailed FAQs on subjects relating to inline skating in all its forms. You can also find more detailed information at the links already mentioned above and in the "Useful links" section below. 1.02 Posting guidelines The "rules" or "guidelines" for posting to newsgroups (and the internet in general) are covered by a set of documents called "RFCs". However, not everyone has the time/patience or will to read them. Coverage of the relevant RFCs is beyond the scope of this FAQ. There are very few "rules" in the newsgroup, but by following the guidelines below, you are more likely to get a helpful response, and avoid confrontation. a) Try to do a little research before asking a simple question. If you want others to help you, you should be willing to put in a little effort yourself. b) When answering a question, try to make it clear if your are simply speculating. If you don't know the answer, but have a theory, there is no harm in contributing as long as it is known that it is merely conjecture. c) Try to avoid confrontation and personal insults. Most people can cope with contradicting views, as long as they are made politely and can be explained. Simply telling someone they are wrong is not nice and is unlikely to help anyone. d) Only quote the most relevant parts of the post that you are replying to. You can cut out some parts and insert something like [snip] to indicate that you have done so. Replying to a 100 line message just to add one or two lines of your own wastes "bandwidth" and is generally regarded as bad "Netiquette" (Internet etiquette). e) Although some newsgroup reader software gives you the option or comes pre-configured to do so, your reply should follow (or be below) the previous post and not before. f) Posts to newsgroups should be made in "plain text" only. Some newsgroup reader software comes pre-configured to post plain text and HTML (or even just HTML), this annoys many people for a variety of reasons. g) There are discussions on the newsgroup all of the time. It may be that reading the posts already available will answer your question. Alternatively, there may already be a "thread" running that covers the area you wish to discuss. As such, starting a new discussion on the same topic is counterproductive. Try reading through the posts available already before jumping in. h) On no account post a "binary" (such as an image) attachment to a "non-binary" newsgroup. Remember, other people will have to pay to download it via their phone bill and will not be happy to do so. i) Finally, give people a chance reply before sending a second request for help. It's usually best to wait a full day before resending your post - in other words, be patient. Do not let these few "rules" put you off posting, a polite request for help will, 99.9% of the time, be answered within a few hours. 1.03 Other newsgroups Each newsgroup has a topic and scope. This is so that discussions on similar topics are kept together in one place. Sometimes however, the discussion covers topics relevant to more than one newsgroup. In these cases it may be appropriate to cross-post the article to more than one group. This involves adding multiple newsgroups to the header before posting. Please note however, that unless it is -really- relevant to all of the chosen newsgroups, this can lead to complaints from those to whom the subject is of no interest. If you believe there is a need for a new newsgroup to cover your particular skating discipline, then by all means discuss the issue in this newsgroup. One thing you may consider first however is why there isn't one already set up. The reason is usually that there has never been enough interest in that specific area. Unless you can show that this is no longer the case (by referring to a large number of postings on that topic over an extended period of time) you will not be successful is starting what would be an empty new group. 2.0 Basic questions 2.01 What is the best...? No matter what it is you are looking at, the "best" will be the one that suits you most. This depends on what you want from it. For example, the best skate for a hockey player is going to be useless to a racer. If you want opinions on what to buy, then give as much detail about your requirements as possible. These can include your weight, skating type, skill level, budget etc. Even with this information, you may receive a number of differing opinions. This does not mean that anyone is wrong, just that their experiences or prorities are not the same. It is down to you to take in the information and make a decision. 2.02 What is "rockering"? Rockering is having the middle wheels lower than the outer wheels, typically by 3-4mm. It makes the skates easier to turn at low speeds (hockey, figure skating) because there are at most 2 wheels in contact with the ground at any one time. It is however, unstable at higher speeds (fitness, speed skating) because of the shorter wheel- base. You can rocker the wheels in your skates by either having the holes in the frame set lower for the middle wheels, or by putting larger central wheels in than outer wheels. 2.03 Should I wear pads? The general concensus is that if you have to ask this quiestion, then you should definitely be wearing them. You may feel at some point that you are confident that you don't need the pads. Then you have to consider the possible consequences, and decide whether the risk is worth it. Generally, the pad that saves most injuries is the wrist guard. This is simply because you will land on your hands 99% of the time, and in doing so you can easily break your wrist. Even if you don't, you will lose skin, so wrist guards reduce this. The injuries that can be most devastating are head injuries. It is for this reason above all that a lot of skaters rate the helmet as -the- most important pad to wear. It won't save you often, but with the head, one injury can be too much. When choosing a helmet, there is a huge range. For most skating, a good cycle helmet (see links below for safety standards) is adequate. They are dsigned to take one big hit, and then be replaced. When going into aggressive skating however, it may be better to look at the helmets specifically designed for skating. Not only do they cover more of the head (esp. the back) but they are often designed to resist multiple impacts during a fall (like hitting your head on a rail, then on the floor). Further Info: - http://www.smf.org - http://www.helmets.org/stdcomp.htm Other pads that are important are knee pads and elbow pads. Also available are pads from shin guards to padded shorts. Deciding what pads you wear is down to your own judgement as you are the one who will have to live with any injuries. Don't be coerced into leaving them off because they're not "cool". Just skate faster, bigger and harder and that will get you more respect. * 2.04 How can I find a good instructor? A good instructor is the best way to learn. They can give you the confidence to get going. They will teach you the basics so that you will start learning from a good foundation of knowledge. They can even help experienced skaters to inmprove their technique and get better results from their skating. The International Inline Skating Association run a scheme of certification to show who are qualified instructors. You can be sure that if an instructor is IISA certified, then they are of a good enough standard to teach correctly. There are 3 levels of certification - Level 1 instructors can give a good all round instruction of basic techniques. Level 2 can help you work on more advanced moves. Master level instructors can give specific training in high skill areas such as Fitness, Racing, Freestyle, and Street skating. To find an IISA qualified instructor in your area, try using the search function on their website: http://www.iisa.org/ci 3.0 Equipment 3.01 Buying skates The first thing to note is that there are many types of skates on the market. This is because different types of skates have different requirements. For example, racing skates will be small and light, whereas aggressive skates will be heavier, but a lot stronger. Even when looking at a particular type of skate, there will be a lot of difference between models from different manufacturers and even within the range from a single make. Firstly, you have to do 2 things; define your budget (including pads, helmet etc.) and think what features are most important to you. You can then go and start looking at skates. The most important thing when chosing skates however, if that they are comfortable. If they irritate in any way, you can be sure they'll a permanent home in the corner, and you'll have wasted you money. For this reason it is necessary to try the skates on. Never believe anyone who says that you should always buy one/two sizes bigger or smaller. This is NOT true. Each model is different, and you can't be sure how it will fit until you try it on. Wear it around the shop for a bit and don't be pressured into buying quickly. The staff are paid to look after you, so make them wait. If you are looking at a particular model, it may be worth looking through the archives of the group on Google (see link below). There have been a lot of discussions about the relative merits of different skate models. If you can't find it there, ask, and I'm sure someone will be able to give you the benefit of their experience. - http://groups.google.com/groups?group=rec.sport.skating.inline 3.02 Bearings a) Purchasing There are many different manufacturers and specifications of bearings available for inline skates. Not only in the traditional 608 size, but also the "micro" (688) and "mini" (698) bearings. One thing to watch out for however is ABEC (Annular Bearing Engineering Committee) ratings. These describe how close to the standard size the bearings are. The higher the rating, the more accurate. Though better bearings will often have a higher ABEC rating, this is in no way a guarantee of quality. There is no relationship between the rating and the friction speed, or strength of the bearings. Indeed, low rated (or even unrated) bearings from one company can be much better than the highest rated bearings from another. More details on ABEC ratings and what they mean to skaters are available from Miniature Bearings Australia: - http://www.minibearings.com.au/skate.htm Also note that spinning a wheel and seeing how long it takes to stop does not give any indication as to how good a bearing is. It is -only- the performance under load that is important. A bad bearing that is sloppy and falling apart may spin much longer than a good bearing, because of the extra gaps. Put it in a skate and use it however, and you'll see how bad it is. b) Maintenance No matter how careful you are, over time your bearings will attract dust and dirt. Some of this will manage to get around the shields and will make your bearings slower and noiser. If left in this state the rolling surfaces on the bearings can become damaged.i This can also occur if water gets into the bearings and washes the lubricant out. Water can cause rust and damage the rolling surface. To stop this happening, it is often necessary to clean out the old lubricant, dirt and contaminents and relubricate. Basically, the process for doing this is as follows: - Remove one (or both) shield. Some bearings are made so that a shield may be removed and replaced but others are not. For those which are not, you can carefully prise on off using a strong pin or similar. - Use a degreaser of some sort to clean out the bearings. The most commonly used are mineral spirits, lamp oil and petrol. It is advisable to avoid petrol because of it's volatile nature and its effect on health. - If necessary, use a soft brush to dislodge lumps of grease/dirt. - Remove the bearings and dry them off. - Relubricate. 4.0 Techniques 4.01 Skating Backwards Start with your heels pointing slightly outward then bend your knees deeply, pushing your feet away from each other. As you bring them back toward each other, stand more upright. To initiate the next step, deep knee bends once again, pushing outward for power. This will be hard work at first, but it will gradually become efficient and easy. Later you can try the same thing but pushing only one foot out to the side with the other going straight back. Initially try it on only to one side (e.g., pushing out your left foot only), repeatedly, around a large circle. Then try it using the other foot, going the other way around the circle. Eventually, you will be able to alternate a left- foot 'C' stroke followed by a right-foot 'C' stoke. This is quite efficient and powerful. Further Info: - http://www.mysportsguru.com/CDA/Article/0,1093,1-1009-4186-2007,00.html#braking - http://inlineskate.co.uk/tips/backwards - http://www.skatefaq.com/skate.2.1.2.html 4.02 Braking When learning to skate, we naturally want to master going forwards. What is often overlooked is that we will also need to stop. For this reason it is advisable for all beginners to learn at least one braking technique which works for them. As this implies, there are a number of ways to stop on inlines. Some of these are shown in a little more detail in the Techniques section below. The easiest and most effective for the majority of skaters however is the heel brake. If used correctly, it will stop you very quickly in a controlled manner, without the need to take up any more space than necessary. It is often suggested that one technique can stop you quicker then the otherss. However this is usually due to that particular skater having learned one method more than any other. Please bear this in mind before suggesting that everyone should use your own favourite way. 5.0 Other stuff 5.01 Can I ask the author of this FAQ for help? Preferably, no. Why? Because the answers to many of the problems asked in these two newsgroups can be found in, or through the links in this document, posting to the newsgroups or even doing a bit of research using a search engine like Google (http://www.google.com). I'm not trying to be "mean" (I will always /try/ and help where possible), but I'm generally busy and may not be able to give you a response to your questions. Also my knowledge is limited, and I can never give as much help as the combined intellect of the newsgroup readers. I'm not saying I won't answer any questions sent to me, just don't expect too much (if anything) in return. 5.02 Useful links... http://groups.google.com/groups?group=rec.sport.skating.inline http://www.skatefaq.com http://www.mysportsguru.com http://www.skating.com http://www.speedskating.com http://www.aggressive.com 5.03 Credits... I would like to thank the following people for their suggestions, input and any other help they have provided. David Lindgren | Brad Jerome | Marcus Wagenaar | David Diamond And not forgetting the "unsung heros" that wished to remain anonymous - you know who you are... Have I forgotten you? Then let me know at the address above. 5.04 Disclaimer You use the information in this document at your own risk. The author and/or the contributers will not be made liable or responsible for any damage or loss incurred in any way by the use of the information contained within this document. 5.05 Copyright notice. This document is copyright (c) 2001 by Duncan Clarke You can post this document to any relevant newsgroups or to any other user as long as it stays intact and is not altered in any way. If you wish to publish this document on a website, or by any other means (including paper, etc.) please gain the author's permission first (even though it's unlikely you will be refused permission).