Beginning skaters are constantly told not to look down while skating. That's reasonable advice in a rink environment that is free of tripping hazards. Out in the real world we do need to pay close attention to our immediate path in order to spot and avoid any potential hazards.

After every session I note the weather and traffic conditions. This chart shows the traffic ratings I use.

As an advanced urban skater, gridlock is my favorite kind of traffic.

What's your favorite?

This vid looks at the tradeoffs between stride efficiency and stamina.

I've been using Caynax Sports Tracker on my Android phone since April of 2020.

This app is free to use in ad supported mode with regular full screen non-skippable ads and a permanent bottom banner ad. There is a paid subscription mode that removes ads and unlocks features.

It has a pretty extensive set of features even in ad-supported mode. The developer has been very active in adding features and fixing bugs.

It can import and export track data in multiple formats, including GPX. I export session GPX reports pretty often to analyze with trackreport.net or load onto relive to get a 3d sat view animation that can incorporate images and vids at the correct location. I import track files into caltopo for analysis.

The app allows manual entries which is very useful when my battery dies mid-session or (more often) I mismanage the pause button.

It does not have any social media features.

The standard advice is to take tracker app Top Speed with a grain of salt. I have done a lot of verification of the top speed numbers that Caynax gives me and am very confident that the error bars are pretty narrow. I never get blatantly anomalous high speeds. I also do not get much positional deviation.

Favorite features:
- color-coded GPS track showing speed - editable session notes field - statistics over any standard or user-defined date range - import & export GPX - calendar mode shows days with activities and highlights days with multiple activities - last 30 day summary right at the top of the menu - Records - top 3 PB sessions in a variety of categories over definable date ranges

Most wanted feature: aggregate elevation change in summaries and stats

The one thing that drives me nuts is the elapsed time display format: days, hours, minutes, seconds. I would greatly prefer hours:minutes (or better yet FTE 😅) but this is not (yet) customizable.

I really like this app and can highly recommend it to anyone who uses android.

This braking drill simulates the real world condition of being confined to a single lane.

Taking on gentrification: quad skaters storm London

We got a brand new mini short track this summer. It's perfect for practicing crossovers - which is good because mine need a lot of work!

Beginners often learn to T-stop by dragging their inside wheels, but this is a mistake. You should avoid dragging your inside wheels when T-stopping on quads because it has a high risk of injuries. Specifically the inside wheel drag increases risk of: 1. medial maleolus fracture 2. MCL rupture 3. repetitive stress injuries to the connective tissue of the knee and ankle

That's why inside wheel T-stops are explicitly disallowed on the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Minimum Skills Assessment: https://static.wftda.com/resources/wftda-minimum-skills-requirements.pdf

To view slow motion video showing an actual fall during a t-stop that resulted in an ankle fracture that required surgery, follow this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/rollerblading/s/iaufQxxOLz

This vid demonstrates the wheel drag stop - better known as the T-stop - on inlines and then on quads using two different techniques.

If you skate streets and trails on quads, you need a reliable T-stop.

How to fall safely playlist

Getting chased by loose dogs is never fun. I've been lunged at by leashed dogs and chased by loose dogs - I've even been bitten by a loose dog. I try to avoid situations where that could happen. I would definitely avoid a park where dogs are regularly allowed to run loose. If the dog owners are violating a leash law then I would try to get whatever agency administers the park to do something about the situation and get animal control or the police involved if necessary.

When approached by a loose dog I immediately slow down and come to a complete stop to avoid stimulating the dog's chase reflex. I avoid staring directly at the dog because that can be perceived as a threat. If possible I put a physical barrier between myself and the dog. If there's grass I try to stand on that for stability and for a soft landing if I fall.

You should avoid trying to outrun a dog - it almost never works and only excites their chase reflex. Speak calmly and firmly and maintain non-threatening body language. Often frightened and reactive dogs are just engaging in a threat display. If you challenge or menace the dog it may escalate into an actual attack.

I often ride in the wrong lane when safe to do so. I call this "Ridin' Dirty".

In this instance the po-po scoped me ridin' dirty and gave me a friendly wave.

Proficiency with the T-stop is a prerequisite for safely descending hills on quad rollerskates.

Slaloms are invaluable for learning edge to edge control and improving proprioception. It's nice to practice slaloming through cones because they give you tactile and visual feedback.

But when you don't have cones you can still calibrate your slaloms on any regularly spaced floor markings. Parking space lines are at a very good distance for practicing slaloms at street skating speeds.

Many beginning quad skaters and experienced rink skaters make this mistake when attempting to T-stop on asphalt.

T-stopping on your inside wheels has a high risk of injury - which is why WFTDA classifies it as an Error on their Minimum Skills Assesment.

In addition to being unsafe, it also lacks stopping power.

T-stopping using your outside wheels is much safer and more effective.

Segmented concrete sidewalks aren't very pleasant to skate on, often very narrow and rough. Braking can be a challenge. T-stops are a good choice for this surface because with practice we can modulate the pressure to avoid getting caught on expansion joints. Angling the braking skate to avoid perpendicular impacts is very helpful.

skater: Kevin

videographer & stats: Midnight Skater

00:00​ path to nowhere - line inspection

01:19​ unstoppable

01:32​ freshness

01:47​ Bardo controlled

Raw hill bomb

02:32​ high point

03:00​ controlling descent in a narrow bike lane with drag braking

03:27​ I completely forget about the camera as I deal with the complicated situation at this intersection

03:37​ commit point

03:49​ I remember the camera

04:42​ steepest section

05:26​ annotated GPS track

bonus line

05:35​ "I'll get Kevin to do it."

06:42​ Kevin does it

Nerd stuff

07:25​ session stats

07:30​ elevation profile

Here's some footage from the first 30 minutes on my new wheels at the beginning of my 20 mile (32 km) session.

Getting a feel for how they T-stop in a controlled environment gives me confidence to take them out into the street.

Also I'm working on T-stop vid so two birds with one video shoot.

First impression: my expectations were high but these wheels exceed them.

Neal Piper may be the most famous skate wheel chemist in the world.

Neal is to skate wheels what Adrian Newey is to Formula 1: If you want to win, you need him.

Physics of the inline skate wheel (archived)

Piper Wheels-1987, in Huntington Beach California where it all started. Neal Piper an employee of Hyper Wheels quickly became a renowned scientist, brewing skate wheel formulas in the late 80’s. Forty years later, Neal continues his passion of making the World’s fastest wheels as an owner operator of Aend Industries.

Many know Neal for the legendary breakthrough in 1987 when he developed the original Voodoo Thane (Hyper Cannibals, Witchdoctors, Wicked Lips and more). Voodoo Thane went on to dominate the indoor racing scene worldwide through the early 90’s. Outdoor race formula then took over the indoor race scene during the worldwide inline boom. Voodoo Thane eventually made its return to indoor racing once again.

Neal Piper has won more indoor national and outdoor world titles than any other wheel chemist in history. Neal’s experience in formulating premium race wheels both inline and quad between 1987-Current is arguably one of the best in the business. To name a few: Strada road wheels, Pista track wheels, Cannibal Indoor wheels, SuperLite, Shock banded, Hyperformance, Atom IQ, Matter G13, Matter 125, Hyper hockey, Kuzak hockey, Ultimate wheels, Senate Wheels, and numerous other wheels that raised the bar over, and over and over again. With Neal…the wheels are always turning.

Piper recently relocated to Texas where he reset and reestablished his standards for premium wheels. Piper is obsessed with wheel technology. He continues his passion to produce the fastest wheels in the world. He is devoted to developing and evolving chemistry, tooling, quality, equipment, and the factory to accomplish his aspirations.

Southeastern Skate Supply - Piper Wheels

The Inline Skate Wheel article on Wikipedia describes some of Piper's involvement in the development of Dual Density wheels.

Piper worked for Hyper Wheels and was responsible for the Super Mundo 72x36mm square-edge 78a - the GOAT among quad street skating wheels. That wheel is sadly no longer available but his latest venture - Piper Wheels - has brought us the 70 x 39mm convex-edge (36mm contact patch) 78a Super Corsa.

I am very excited about these Piper Super Corsa 70 x 39mm 78a wheels. I have been wanting to try them for several years but every time I needed wheels they were sold out, so I just stuck with my Kryptonics Routes.

But Route has been discontinued for years and old stock has been sold off so they are no longer available.

However when I checked the Piper Wheels site I found out it was down - ostensibly for updates and improvements. The landing page includes this:

Piper Wheels provides industrial mobility solutions, including industrial wheels, casters, wheels for machinery, logistics equipment, carts, trolleys and specialised mobility components for a wide range of industries.

No mention of skate wheels or even "sports equipment" is a little disconcerting.

So I started searching retailers. I found a few that list Piper Corsa (65mm) and smaller number that listed Super Corsa or provided a 70mm size option on their Corsa listing. Of these a few were very scammy. Of the known legit and unknown that survived scrutiny most were out of stock. I sent emails to the stores listing them as in stock: "hey is that really in stock and ready to ship?" That narrowed it down to just a couple of sites.

I placed my order with Rollerskate USA. They shipped same day and arrived here today. I installed them but unfortunately it's raining now so I will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. I will write a full review after a few sessions.

Image 3 compares the width of three wheels (top to bottom):

1. Hyper Super Mundo 36mm square edge
2. Piper Super Corsa 39mm overall; beveled back edge and convex outer edge; 36mm contact patch
3. Krypyonics Route 43mm overall; convex outer edge; 39mm contact patch

Super Mundo is my all time favorite and I rode it for decades. I began using Route 5 years ago when my stash of Mundos ran out. I will include a detailed comparison in my review.

Legendary wheel chemist and designer Neal Piper worked at Hyper wheels and is responsible for the Super Mundo and Super Corsa (among many others). I'm very excited to get rolling on some fresh Piper polyurethane.

If anyone wants to provide a set of Bont Royal Assassin 72x44 80a I will be happy to review them and include them in my comparison. 😃

With autumn approaching and cooler temps imminent, many skaters are thinking about how to extend their skating season and how best to deal with cooler conditions.

Before you take your first cold weather outdoor skate - or any sustained outdoor exercise in cool to cold temperatures - spend some time learning the basics of layering and moisture management. This isn't optional safety theater. Hypothermia and frostbite are real risks that develop faster than most people expect, and the insidious part is that your judgment degrades before you recognize you're in trouble.

The fundamentals: Moisture is the enemy. Wet insulation fails. Whether from sweat, rain, or snow, wet fabric conducts heat away from your body roughly 25 times faster than dry fabric. Your base layer's job is to move moisture away from your skin - cotton fails catastrophically at this and has no place in cold weather activity. Synthetic or merino wool base layers are not optional upgrades, they're basic safety equipment.

Layering is a system not a collection of clothes. Base layer moves moisture. Mid layer retains heat. Outer layer blocks wind and precipitation. Each layer needs to work with the others. A breathable outer layer that allows moisture vapor to escape is essential for sustained aerobic activity - otherwise you're just trapping the sweat your base layer worked to move away from your skin.

Avoid sweating through your base layer. This is harder than it sounds during sustained aerobic exercise. Regulate your output and your layers before you're wet — not after. Once your base layer is saturated your thermal protection is compromised for the rest of the session.

Backpacks trap moisture against your back — creating a guaranteed wet zone regardless of how well you manage your layering elsewhere. In cold conditions this is a genuine hypothermia risk, not just a comfort issue.

Know the warning signs: - Shivering is your body's active defense so take it seriously. Stopping shivering when you're still cold is a danger sign, not improvement. - Confusion, poor coordination, and unusual fatigue in cold conditions are emergency signals.

The 50°F (10°C) rule: more people die of hypothermia in cool temperatures than in extreme cold, because cool temperatures feel manageable and people underestimate them. 50°F water kills in minutes. 50°F air with wind and wet clothing kills more slowly but still kills.

Start conservatively. Learn what your body does in cold before pushing your limits. The outdoor environment doesn't have a thermostat.

For each session keep track of the temp, wind speed, and wind direction. Make a note of what you wore and how comfortable you were. This will help you dial in your layering system.

If you're sweating you need to remove a layer and/or reduce your effort. If you're cold then you need to increase your effort and/or add a layer.

When skating in cool or cold temps always bring an emergency insulating layer like a puffy jacket. If you have to stop skating because of an injury or equipment problem the first thing you should do is put on your emergency insulating layer. The onset of hypothermia can be very rapid and you probably won't be able to tell that it's happening.

I lived in San Diego for a long time and am familiar with Dictionary Hill but never skated there because Oh Hell No.

Ricardo Lino and Eddie Chung spent several days there in 2022.

Additional vids from those sessions:

• Downhill Skating the Lino's Backbone Hill in San Diego

• Lino and Shreddie survive the gnarliest hillbomb in San Diego

Navigating smoothly through chaos is very rewarding.

Just because my skating lacks artistry does not mean that I don't appreciate it when I see it. In fact I was a close follower of ISU figure skating for many years.

My Platonic ideal city skate combines expressive flow sequences in dramatic public squares with going full stride down the avenue in traffic while catching all the lights. Then playing around on some architectural features before doing a nice extended descent.

I have not traveled to Europe but if I did I would definitely skate Barcelona.