Roll Line Cushions--break in time?

[slhallford]

Originally Posted by Doc Sk8

Thank you for the update...

How is the local art skater crowd that doesn't work on their own skates and use only stock cushions taking this?? Anyone taking note??

My coach takes note. Most of the crowd here is still using Atlas and Snyder plates. I know there are a few other Roll Line skaters but whether I'm on their radar or not remains to be seen. Coach calls me the tool lady now and if anyone has adjustment issues, my tool kit is always with me.

DH and the kids are on Snyders and Atlas and Sure Grip plates so I'm going to have to learn all about those plates as well. We've got a Super Deluxe, an Atlas freestyle, an Atlas figure plate and a Sure Grip Classic floating around the family now. I know that my daughter's figure cushions are going to be needing to be switched to a softer cushion very soon so that will probably be my next project.

S

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by slhallford

My coach takes note.

I hope that's a good thing...

Most of the crowd here is still using Atlas and Snyder plates.

Snyders?? Like these??

I know there are a few other Roll Line skaters but whether I'm on their radar or not remains to be seen. Coach calls me the tool lady now and if anyone has adjustment issues, my tool kit is always with me.

Good for you... Just don't get so wrapped up in tuning other folks sk8s you don't get to sk8 yourself..

DH and the kids are on Snyders

We certainly can make those happier with new cushions...

and Atlas

From my experience, the Atlas rubber ones are way better than the urethane ones..

and Sure Grip plates so I'm going to have to learn all about those plates as well. We've got a Super Deluxe, an Atlas freestyle, an Atlas figure plate and a Sure Grip Classic floating around the family now.

Who is on the Classic??

I know that my daughter's figure cushions are going to be needing to be switched to a softer cushion very soon so that will probably be my next project.

S

Have fun...

[slhallford]

Coach noticing seems to be a good thing. She's starting to give me feedback on what she's seeing performance wise with the changes which is very helpful, for both of us, I think.

I never miss skate time to help someone else unless it's an emergency. That is for non skate time.

Sadly, no Snyders as pretty as those. DH's is an older Super Deluxe. That pair looks like they need replacing to me. Son is on an Atlas AE 2001 and the cushions look good but they might be a step too soft for his jumps. We shall see. Daughter has an older Atlas plate for figures and she has the Classic for freestyle. I think both sets of those cushions could stand replacing. They just look old and a little discolored. Hopefully, the process is more or less the same for changing those out but I'm not quite ready for that yet. I'll have to dig up the diagrams for them.

I have lots to learn but with this many pairs (and that's not counting all the inlines) somebody has to know how to do this stuff.

S

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by slhallford

Coach noticing seems to be a good thing. She's starting to give me feedback on what she's seeing performance wise with the changes which is very helpful, for both of us, I think.

Sweet.. I really like a coach that learns with their sk8rs..

I never miss skate time to help someone else unless it's an emergency. That is for non skate time.

I wish I could say the same..

Sadly, no Snyders as pretty as those. DH's is an older Super Deluxe. That pair looks like they need replacing to me. Son is on an Atlas AE 2001 and the cushions look good but they might be a step too soft for his jumps. We shall see. Daughter has an older Atlas plate for figures and she has the Classic for freestyle. I think both sets of those cushions could stand replacing. They just look old and a little discolored. Hopefully, the process is more or less the same for changing those out but I'm not quite ready for that yet. I'll have to dig up the diagrams for them.

Wow instructions too!!

I have lots to learn but with this many pairs (and that's not counting all the inlines) somebody has to know how to do this stuff.

S

I'm more impressed every time you post..

Back to the Classics.. It may be a good idea to swap over to the Classic Jr. trucks. They use "normal" cushions (and you could use the SG Supers if you wished) instead of the big honkers the regular Classic uses.

[KMA]

I am on a cushion quest as well. Currently on my Riedells (dance and freestyle skates) I have clear urethane uppers, and gray rubber lowers. This is so much better then the rubber yellows that came with the variant M plates.

Last night I put all clear on my Harlick (figure skates only), did not like it at all. I am not sure what to do next with those. I am thinking that I will like a combo of some sort. My figure coach is against combos, but I do not always listen to her, so why start now. I promised her that I would give it a couple of weeks. Well I think at least one session and lesson.

All in all my freestyle coach loves the stability of my Riedells. More importantly I love them the skates hold edges better and jumps are more stable. He noticed right away. Holding edges for dance seem easier as well. AND for me I can hold a back outside edge.

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by KMA

I am on a cushion quest as well. Currently on my Riedells (dance and freestyle skates) I have clear urethane uppers, and gray rubber lowers. This is so much better then the rubber yellows that came with the variant M plates.

I think you might mean gray urethane?? The Roll Line rubber cushions are (softest to hardest) green, brown and yellow.. Urethane are (softest to hardest) clear green, gray, clear blue, clear and clear yellow..

Now this is interesting. Based on the charts Roll Line published the 3 rubber cushions are roughly equivalent to the clear green, gray and clear blue urethane cushions.

Last night I put all clear on my Harlick (figure skates only), did not like it at all.

I wonder why?? Unless you weigh well over 200 pounds you have no need of clear cushions on any Roll Line....unless you absolutely do not need them to turn...

I am not sure what to do next with those. I am thinking that I will like a combo of some sort. My figure coach is against combos,

Something to keep in mind about coaches.. More often than not their opinions are based on what worked for them. Often they loose track of the fact that no matter how hard they try to change things some sk8rs are just not them.

but I do not always listen to her, so why start now. I promised her that I would give it a couple of weeks. Well I think at least one session and lesson.

Combos are fine... the only negative is the truck swing point (where it moves between the cushions) moves up or down a bit.. The big plus is the give you the ability to dial the action into exactly where you need it.

All in all my freestyle coach loves the stability of my Riedells.

Help me out here.. I am assuming you mean your Riedell 297, Roll Line Variant M outfit??

More importantly I love them the skates hold edges better and jumps are more stable. He noticed right away. Holding edges for dance seem easier as well. AND for me I can hold a back outside edge.

Just between you me and the wall, get some softer cushions.. Granted I'm not an art sk8r but I do like my sk8s to turn.. I weigh 225 and run all greens on all my Roll Lines. (Ring, Giotto and my Chinese Navigator {plate only, everything else is real Roll Line} knockoffs)

[Aaron Inami]

Hey Doc,

We've had some discussions about cushion stiffness and combinations over in the Art forum. There are several of us that are using the hard upper / soft lower combination on the Roll-Lines with a lot of success. One of the things that was mentioned is that you don't skate art boots. I'm wondering if you've ever tried your Roll-Lines with a high-top art boot. Don't know if you've experienced this, but I tested two art boots. One was softer (less ankle support) than the other. The stiffer boot was more sensitive to driving the turning radius of the plate because the stiff boot used any movement/lean of your leg and translated that into plate lean (which turns the skate). The softer boot wouldn't turn as well and (for my own preferences) just couldn't drive the skate enough because it allowed some flex of the ankle. Softer (funny, I always want to type software) cushions only made the skate more sensitive and unstable overall. On the stiff boot, I could use a hard upper cushion and still be able to turn the skate, even on the small figure circles.

I'm thinking that low-top speed boots wouldn't give you any ability to use the lean of your legs to turn the skate, since it would allow your ankle to flex completely. Therefore, you only have the bottom of your foot to lean the skate/plate and force the skate to turn. This, in my mind, would require a very soft cushion.

Thoughts...?

[sk84luv]

Aaron, think about it: you can lock your ankle, just as with any other joint. When you can lock your ankle, you don't need a stiff boot to help you apply pressure/leverage.

[slhallford]

Update: Coach had me move up to backwards figures recently. I was having a terrible time with them and getting my skates (and the rest of me) to turn and trace the circles. Coach watched me lurching around and asked if I still had those gray urethane cushions around. I switched back to all gray from the blue upper/green lower and noticed and immediate improvement on my Rings. And it was for both forward and backward tracing, which surprised me given the standard RL art cushion recommendations.

S

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by slhallford

Update: Coach had me move up to backwards figures recently. I was having a terrible time with them and getting my skates (and the rest of me) to turn and trace the circles. Coach watched me lurching around and asked if I still had those gray urethane cushions around. I switched back to all gray from the blue upper/green lower and noticed and immediate improvement on my Rings. And it was for both forward and backward tracing, which surprised me given the standard RL art cushion recommendations.

S

I'm not surprised.. Their recommendations are truly a joke.. I wonder how any one sk8s the stock cushions..

One other thing, don't be afraid to keep playing.. I get it on good account the a green barrel and a blue cone will make the Rings sk8 like a Hudora..

[sk84luv]

Originally Posted by Doc Sk8

I'm not surprised.. Their recommendations are truly a joke.. I wonder how any one sk8s the stock cushions..

One other thing, don't be afraid to keep playing.. I get it on good account the a green barrel and a blue cone will make the Rings sk8 like a Hudora..

Hudoras, huh? Doc, you are funny. I must try these some day. I just like the name cuz it makes me think of cigars.

Likes these? http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0006A3LS...2&linkCode=asn

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by sk84luv

Hudoras, huh? Doc, you are funny. I must try these some day. I just like the name cuz it makes me think of cigars.

Likes these? http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0006A3LS...2&linkCode=asn

Obviously you are the comedian... THESE HUDORAS


Some of my references are in intended to be web searched since the web does NOT contain all knowledge.. However, there was some discussion of them on the art forum.. back in 08..

[slhallford]

Originally Posted by Doc Sk8

I'm not surprised.. Their recommendations are truly a joke.. I wonder how any one sk8s the stock cushions..

One other thing, don't be afraid to keep playing.. I get it on good account the a green barrel and a blue cone will make the Rings sk8 like a Hudora..

Will do. I am lucky to have an open minded and flexible coach. . I have to say, with these all gray cushions, I am really starting to like these Rings a lot.

S

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by slhallford

Will do. I am lucky to have an open minded and flexible coach. .

Seriously.. Nothing better than a coach that balances what they know against what the sk8r needs and helps the sk8r find their own way..

I have to say, with these all gray cushions, I am really starting to like these Rings a lot.

S

Good.. Keep playing... You may continue to find combinations that work for ya..

[bolivia]

Originally Posted by Doc Sk8

Just between you me and the wall, get some softer cushions.. Granted I'm not an art sk8r but I do like my sk8s to turn.. I weigh 225 and run all greens on all my Roll Lines. (Ring, Giotto and my Chinese Navigator {plate only, everything else is real Roll Line} knockoffs)

Hey Doc,
Not to hijack this thread, but what's this Chinese Navigator knockoff you mention? Like you, I have all the real Navigator parts but wouldn't mind a plate a little shorter. Can you fill me in? (PM is ok too).

Bill

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by bolivia

Hey Doc,
Not to hijack this thread, but what's this Chinese Navigator knockoff you mention? Like you, I have all the real Navigator parts but wouldn't mind a plate a little shorter. Can you fill me in? (PM is ok too).

Bill

It was a sample I picked up along the way... The suspension was not real good so I ditched it.. At the moment I cannot remember how I wound up with it.

[sk84luv]

Originally Posted by Doc Sk8

I'm not surprised.. Their recommendations are truly a joke.. I wonder how any one sk8s the stock cushions..

One other thing, don't be afraid to keep playing.. I get it on good account the a green barrel and a blue cone will make the Rings sk8 like a Hudora..

Thanks for educating me professor. I couldn't find that neat advertisement of yours for the Hudoras, and when all I could find was a picture of the clamp on skates, I seriously thought you were joking about making the Rings sk8 like a Hudora.

Next lesson please. How does a Hudora skate with the green barrel, and blue cone? What would the action be like if the cones were reversed, as I have on my Mistrals; blue barrel, green cone?

Thanks,
Bob

[Doc Sk8]

Originally Posted by sk84luv

Thanks for educating me professor. I couldn't find that neat advertisement of yours for the Hudoras, and when all I could find was a picture of the clamp on skates, I seriously thought you were joking about making the Rings sk8 like a Hudora.

Next lesson please. How does a Hudora skate with the green barrel, and blue cone?

It don't think it could...but I have never seen a Hudora in person so IDK if Roll Line parts would fit....

What would the action be like if the cones were reversed, as I have on my Mistrals; blue barrel, green cone?

Thanks,
Bob

I think you need to swap the cushions and see what happens.. I won't do it because I run all greens and refuse to put anything firmer into my Roll Lines.. Also I'm certainly not a loop skater..

The whole point of the original comment was the Hudora plate was loved by figure sk8rs back in the day and normally set up Roll Lines and ATLAS plates don't have the same feel on the loops..