I don't know about you, but I get pretty tired of using the same trails. Some are short, which leaves the fun of loops or out and backs; and, where I live, some of the trails have some steep-ish hills and mildly dangerous curves. This leaves me with the roads of suburbia as an option. Oh Frabjous Day.
Choose the right wheel. This is partially because of road conditions. The trails are pretty smooth--but wet leaves and pine needles on them aren't; the roads can be anything from buttery to bumpy as hell. And, when you get a mix of everything, you have to find a happy medium. Suggestion: roller ski wheels if you want slow or hard workouts; 78 durometer polyurethane wheels if you want a faster ride (but go with smaller mm wheels for safety & control). I'll post later in depth about wheel experiences.
Might I add sharpen your ferrule tips? Rumor has it there is some sort of tool out there that does it. I just use the sharpening stone I have for my ice speed skates. Digging into any tarmac is pretty easy. But concrete is another matter--even with sharp tips, lots of luck. So, as sharp as possible is always a good idea.
Ski on the right side of the road (going the same direction of traffic). We are to follow the same laws as inline skaters. Ideally, choose low-traffic roads, and/or roads with a BIG shoulder, if ride the roads you must or do.
Of course, WEAR A HELMET. This applies even if you are on trails. I have seen the carnage of inline skates without one (my dad got to direct the ambulance to the bleeding skull fracture; we never did learn if he regained consciousness...). Why people think this can't happen on roller skis, I don't know. But I see too many skiers around here without them. And on the road, we have our friends, the cars.
Ah, yes: The Cars. Good music group. Bad machine to play with as a pseudo-pedestrian. Have I mentioned how drivers think they own the road? Or how they are paying SO much attention while texting, talking, drinking coffee, having a conversation, shaving, putting on make up, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum? They are just looking out for things like cyclists or roller skiers, right?
The etiquette for roller skiing is to double pole (single file in groups) as a car passes you. On a country road, for sure. Around here...I find it best to wait until the car is damn near on your butt. There is something about the out-flinging of a sharp ski tip that encourages cars to give you a wide berth. If they aren't going to voluntarily pay attention, I will find a way to make them pay attention.
Roads aren't the ideal place to ride, but they can be fun, especially if you are more in the country. If you are stuck with the 'Burbs, choose the roads less traveled. And on any road, try to avoid rush-hour traffic. No exercise is worth your life.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Skis, Skis, and More Skis
It sounds pretty basic, but it would be good to start with the types of roller skis. Granted, nothing will ever be just like skiing on snow--but that's why this is called roller skiing.
Classic Skis: These skis have FAT wheels (40+mm wide) with a small diameter (about 70 mm) . The back one ratchets, to mimic the kick phase of classic cross country skis. They look like this:
The Pros: These skis are safe--they are pretty slow, comparatively speaking. So, leaves, a little moisture, and schmutz don't hold much terror.
The Cons: I don't think they mimic the kick phase very well--you can get away with "shuffling" your feet to get forward movement.
Bottom Line: I am lukewarm about them. If you can get a pair used, and are more classic-oriented, they are worth it, though.
CAT Skis: I know--you are thinking what? I am not talking felines. These are CAT Skis:
They have a flat plastic bottom. The plate atop it has rubber stretchy tube that that allows the plate to slide forward, then snap back into place after shifting weight. The wheels on the front are there to get over obstacles
The Pros: As a person who had technique problems with classic, these things rock. They really helped me fix my form; though I know some people say it's all crap/in my head/whatever. They demand you shift your weight with each stride. If you don't, you go nowhere. And, you can go anywhere on these. Anywhere: grass, dirt, asphalt (not recommended for long skis). They are also extremely safe. You can't go much faster than 4 MPH.
The Cons: They are a tad pricey ($359--not much more than some other roller skis); sometimes the wheel has to be readjusted to roll smoothly; also, if you glide too much, you can snap the band, though there is a 1 year parts warranty--so getting a little lesson is useful. And if you want to try a pair, it is a lot harder to find a set for demonstrations.
Bottom Line: Great for fixing technique and if you live in areas where good roller skiing paths/trails are hard to come by (i.e., rural areas; "Up North")
Skate Skis: Also known as freestyle. These are the "fast skis."
The Pros: These skis are my main training tool. You can double pole, do leg-only drills, and easily change out & play with wheel set-ups. This last part is important if you want to be able to control speed and heart rate--it is kind of the equivalent of messing around with wax jobs.
The Cons: No brakes (though you can add them)--so you should be careful.
Bottom Line: If you are primarily a skater, these are the way to go. You also better wear a helmet.
Combi Skis (See Here): I didn't really want to mention these, but... These are like any combination piece of equipment: they allow you to do both techniques--but not really well. Wheels are wider than skate skis, narrower than classic; a smaller wheel is up front, a bigger one in the rear, and a brake is optional equipment.
Pros, Cons & Bottom Line: I haven't used them. I have had combi snow skis and boots before. My opinion is it is better to have a ski specific to the technique you primarily do. But, if you are strapped for cash and want all possible options, give them a try and let me know how they work.
All Terrain Skis: These are another type of ski I have yet to try. These are the Skate version of CAT Skis. They have big pneumatic (air) tires & can come with brakes:
Pros, Cons & Bottom Line: What can I say, not having used them? I would assume they are slower than normal skate skis, and I know you can go off road and on rough terrain--how well it works, I don't know. Since they are tires with an inner tube, it is probably good to carry a spare tube and patch kit with you for long skis--much like cyclists do. I know the tubes can be a pain in the butt to change--if you have ever had to change one for a stroller (and I have, since I work PT in a bike shop), it is as "simple" (snort) as that. Bring a tire lever, just in case. I think the only manufacturer is V2. Again, if you've tried them, your input is appreciated.
This is a basic entry, for the neophyte roller skier. And, of course, these are my opinions and experiences (or lack thereof). The main thing is to remember is WHERE you ski and HOW you ski. Let that guide you when buying any piece of training equipment. The "normal" classic only or skate only skis are easier to find used, if you are not sure you want to invest a lot of cash, compared to combi, CAT, or All Terrain skis. And please, unless you are CAT skiing, wear a helmet. But that's a post for another day.
Classic Skis: These skis have FAT wheels (40+mm wide) with a small diameter (about 70 mm) . The back one ratchets, to mimic the kick phase of classic cross country skis. They look like this:
The Cons: I don't think they mimic the kick phase very well--you can get away with "shuffling" your feet to get forward movement.
Bottom Line: I am lukewarm about them. If you can get a pair used, and are more classic-oriented, they are worth it, though.
CAT Skis: I know--you are thinking what? I am not talking felines. These are CAT Skis:
They have a flat plastic bottom. The plate atop it has rubber stretchy tube that that allows the plate to slide forward, then snap back into place after shifting weight. The wheels on the front are there to get over obstacles
The Pros: As a person who had technique problems with classic, these things rock. They really helped me fix my form; though I know some people say it's all crap/in my head/whatever. They demand you shift your weight with each stride. If you don't, you go nowhere. And, you can go anywhere on these. Anywhere: grass, dirt, asphalt (not recommended for long skis). They are also extremely safe. You can't go much faster than 4 MPH.
The Cons: They are a tad pricey ($359--not much more than some other roller skis); sometimes the wheel has to be readjusted to roll smoothly; also, if you glide too much, you can snap the band, though there is a 1 year parts warranty--so getting a little lesson is useful. And if you want to try a pair, it is a lot harder to find a set for demonstrations.
Bottom Line: Great for fixing technique and if you live in areas where good roller skiing paths/trails are hard to come by (i.e., rural areas; "Up North")
Skate Skis: Also known as freestyle. These are the "fast skis."
The Cons: No brakes (though you can add them)--so you should be careful.
Bottom Line: If you are primarily a skater, these are the way to go. You also better wear a helmet.
Combi Skis (See Here): I didn't really want to mention these, but... These are like any combination piece of equipment: they allow you to do both techniques--but not really well. Wheels are wider than skate skis, narrower than classic; a smaller wheel is up front, a bigger one in the rear, and a brake is optional equipment.
Pros, Cons & Bottom Line: I haven't used them. I have had combi snow skis and boots before. My opinion is it is better to have a ski specific to the technique you primarily do. But, if you are strapped for cash and want all possible options, give them a try and let me know how they work.
All Terrain Skis: These are another type of ski I have yet to try. These are the Skate version of CAT Skis. They have big pneumatic (air) tires & can come with brakes:
Pros, Cons & Bottom Line: What can I say, not having used them? I would assume they are slower than normal skate skis, and I know you can go off road and on rough terrain--how well it works, I don't know. Since they are tires with an inner tube, it is probably good to carry a spare tube and patch kit with you for long skis--much like cyclists do. I know the tubes can be a pain in the butt to change--if you have ever had to change one for a stroller (and I have, since I work PT in a bike shop), it is as "simple" (snort) as that. Bring a tire lever, just in case. I think the only manufacturer is V2. Again, if you've tried them, your input is appreciated.
This is a basic entry, for the neophyte roller skier. And, of course, these are my opinions and experiences (or lack thereof). The main thing is to remember is WHERE you ski and HOW you ski. Let that guide you when buying any piece of training equipment. The "normal" classic only or skate only skis are easier to find used, if you are not sure you want to invest a lot of cash, compared to combi, CAT, or All Terrain skis. And please, unless you are CAT skiing, wear a helmet. But that's a post for another day.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Why Write About Rollerskiing?
Roller skiing is very much a niche market, and a little-participated in sport--even here in Minnesota & the Midwest, where many live for the cold. But, it is great prep for cross county skiing, though some may disagree. However, aside from a few training plans and some places to buy equipment, there is not much written about it. This is a problem. Why? Because there is no place to learn about other peoples' experiences with this sport.
If you are like me, you like to cross train. And, you like to experiment--both in training and with your equipment. However, you like to also learn from other peoples' failed experiments. This is where this blog comes in.
I have been roller skiing for about 15 years now; in the past 5, I have done a lot of tinkering with equipment and toying around with various set ups. So, if you are new to roller skiing, want to try something new with your equipment, or just want to laugh at my idiocy: welcome to The Roller Skiing Blog.
If you are like me, you like to cross train. And, you like to experiment--both in training and with your equipment. However, you like to also learn from other peoples' failed experiments. This is where this blog comes in.
I have been roller skiing for about 15 years now; in the past 5, I have done a lot of tinkering with equipment and toying around with various set ups. So, if you are new to roller skiing, want to try something new with your equipment, or just want to laugh at my idiocy: welcome to The Roller Skiing Blog.
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