WHAT ABOUT ROLLERBLADE BLADERUNNER??!
Paolo
I'm shopping around to buy my first pair of in-line skates and in the past
few weeks I've been searching the internet to learn about the "technical"
part. I'm now familiar with stuff like ABEC, hardness, wheel diameters, soft
boots vs. hard boots, metal spacers vs. plastic spacers etc. BUT not having
direct skating experience I'm a bit lost among the many brands and models
available.
Since I'll be skating most likely during weekends only and probably no
longer than an hour or two on my town's bike path (asphalt) I don't want to
spend a fortune in a pair of skates I'll never have the chance to
appreciate. I have seen two pairs of skates that looks interesting to my
wallet, Rollerblade Bladerunner Pro 3800SS and Rollerblade Bladerunner
Pro900, priced on sale at $39.99 and $49.99 respectively. I know, I know,
they are cheap skates, low-end Rollerblade, they are made in China, Hungary
or who knows where etc. etc. but would someone be so kind to tell me which
one is the best between the two? The 3800 comes with 72mm wheels and a mix
of lace, buckle and velcro strap, the boot is basically soft, "sitting" on
the frame. The Pro900 has 76mm wheels and three buckles, the boot is a rigid
one. Both have hinged cuffs and ABEC-1 bearings. I wasn't able to find any
information searching the internet on the Pro900, while the Pro3800SS is
listed at $59.99, thus a $20 discount seems to be a fair deal. To me the
Pro900 looks sturdier, but I wonder if the extra $10 mean really something
or it is just "salesmanship" (they are at two different stores). I don't
really care about the $10, I just want to get the most for the least amount
of money. Also because all the stores in my area doesn't offer anything
between $50 and $110 and I don't really feel like shelling out 100+ bucks to
find out if I like in-line skating... I would REALLY appreciate any opinion,
Thanks in advance.
Gordon Sanders
Congratulations on wanting to join the more than 30 million current inline
skaters. I am sure that you will get lots of enjoyment out of this sport... Now
on to your questions....
You will not find any info on most of the Bladerunner Series by Rollerblade
because most of them are made SPECIFICALLY for a retailer. The reason that
this is done is so that you cannot "price match." No other retailer will have
that SAME MODEL ... but other retailers will have the same skate w/same
components but it will be a different model number.
Now to your $$ requirement...... It is almost unrealistic to find a quality
inline skate for under $100. At the $50 range, which you are at, your chances
of getting a skate that will enable you to "enjoy" skating is very low ... and
here are the reasons.
1. A GOOD QUALITY ABEC rated bearing runs about $1 -$1.25 with 16 bearing in a
skate that is about $20.
2. A GOOD average wheel runs about $5 or so ... with 8 wheels the total is $40
3. Axles, Spacers ..... another $10.....
As you can tell you are now at about $70 and you have not even gotten to the
FRAME, LINER, OR SHELL.
These parts that I mentioned is all of the "replaceable" pieces of the skates,
and are easily priced. If these are more or less fixed prices ... what type of
quality do you think that the UNREPLACEABLE components are.
These are just some things to keep in mind. I always recommend to my skating
clients to purchase a skate of at least $150 in price to fully start to enjoy
the inline skating experience.
Gordon Sanders
Owner - Top-Spin Inline Skate School - Dallas, TX 214-537-7774
Over 2,000 lessons served :-)
>Since I'll be skating most likely during weekends only and probably no
>longer than an hour or two on my town's bike path (asphalt) I don't want to
>spend a fortune in a pair of skates I'll never have the chance to
>appreciate. I have seen two pairs of skates that looks interesting to my
>wallet, Rollerblade Bladerunner Pro 3800SS and Rollerblade Bladerunner
>Pro900, priced on sale at $39.99 and $49.99 respectively. I know, I know,
>they are cheap skates, low-end Rollerblade, they are made in China, Hungary
>or who knows where etc. etc. but would someone be so kind to tell me which
>one is the best between the two? The 3800 comes with 72mm wheels and a mix
>of lace, buckle and velcro strap, the boot is basically soft, "sitting" on
>the frame. The Pro900 has 76mm wheels and three buckles, the boot is a rigid
>one. Both have hinged cuffs and ABEC-1 bearings. I wasn't able to find any
>information searching the internet on the Pro900, while the Pro3800SS is
>listed at $59.99, thus a $20 discount seems to be a fair deal. To me the
>Pro900 looks sturdier, but I wonder if the extra $10 mean really something
>or it is just "salesmanship" (they are at two different stores). I don't
>really care about the $10, I just want to get the most for the least amount
>of money. Also because all the stores in my area doesn't offer anything
>between $50 and $110 and I don't really feel like shelling out 100+ bucks to
>find out if I like in-line skating... I would REALLY appreciate any opinion,
>Thanks in advance.
to respond.... please remove my wheels.... :-)
Cheapskater.com
Thank You! I desperately wanted to answer this post, but felt an honest
reply such as the one you have posted, from a retailer, would be seen as
just trying to up-sell a pair of skates. The limitations of these "special
make-up" skates negatively effect every aspect of skating and can even
discourage new skaters from continuing in the sport. Anyone who buys special
make up skates "to see if the like in-line skating", are not doing
themselves or skating justice. It takes $100-$150 to get a skate that will
offer the support, comfort and performance that even a beginner skater
needs.
Marc Beladino
Owner
Cheapskater.com
601 South St
Peekskill, NY 10566
http://cheapskater.com
914-788-1490
Skate Safe!
Drop by our site and register to win a FREE pair of the K2 Camano
Gordon Sanders <thesp...@aol.commywheels> wrote in message
news:20000727162145...@nso-mc.aol.com...
Bill Hicks
introduction lesson BEFORE investing any money into skates. Most skate shops or
schools will rent skates with a lesson either free or for a very nominal charge.
Make sure you are going to like inline skating before you purchase. Then look
at that $100 - $200 range for your skates.
Bill Hicks
IISA Certified Instructor
Member, National Skate Patrol
Bill Fuhrmann
> longer than an hour or two on my town's bike path (asphalt) I don't want
to
> spend a fortune in a pair of skates I'll never have the chance to
> appreciate. I have seen two pairs of skates that looks interesting to my
> wallet, Rollerblade Bladerunner Pro 3800SS and Rollerblade Bladerunner
> Pro900, priced on sale at $39.99 and $49.99 respectively. I know, I know,
> they are cheap skates, low-end Rollerblade, they are made in China,
Hungary
I will go against the grain of the previous comments and suggest that you
buy whichever ones FIT you best. Expect that you are likely to either going
to quit skating or upgrade them.
From your descriptions, there probably isn't a significant difference in
quality.
I would recommend putting them on in the store and standing for a while. If
your ankles want to wobble sideways, you might want the extra support of the
hard boot. Standing in them will also help you decide which one fits the
shape of your foot better. The larger wheels will last a bit longer and
will feel smoother.
> of money. Also because all the stores in my area doesn't offer anything
> between $50 and $110 and I don't really feel like shelling out 100+ bucks
to
> find out if I like in-line skating... I would REALLY appreciate any
opinion,
I would consider your purchase of the cheap skates as a long term rental fee
or insurance. If you find that you like skating, you will want to get
better skates. However, don't get discouraged because you feel slow. Part
of that is being a beginner and part will be due to the skates.
If you can find others who skate or someone who is giving cheap or free
lessons, talk to them. Getting a good start can help you like the sport
more. It is a very good way to get excercise.