Mitigated success

[mousme]

So rollerblading so far has been a mitigated success. It is not nearly as close to ice skating as I would have liked. Who knew that wheels on concrete don't react at all like sharp blades on ice? :P There was also considerably more pain involved than I had anticipated, given that I hadn't anticipated any. Turns out my shins are not fans of rollerblading.

I am, as a result, going to take this slowly. Today I spent about twenty minutes just rolling around in very wobbly circles. I have not at all got the hang of braking (I think the fact that there's a lot of grit on the sidewalk near my place may have interfered a bit with the brake), and so have been using convenient trees and fences. I look like an idiot, but that's rarely stopped me in the past.

The plan is to go around in wobbly circles for about twenty minutes each day until I get the hang of things. Then I'll venture maybe to the end of the block and back. I refused to go further until I'm sure I can apply the brakes properly, because otherwise I'll be plunging directly into oncoming traffic, which would very much not be a good thing.

Mostly I am annoyed by the leg pain thing. Falling over/colliding with the cover is one thing, but being actively in pain while not doing anything drastically wrong? That's just insulting. I'm hoping it'll go away with practice.

Cross-posted to team_ankh_2008.

Comments

[moonandtree.livejournal.com]

Dude. I remember the first time I fell last summer. It hurt so effing much. A few falls and you'll learn fast how not to... For Braking, the key is anticipation. Know when you need to stop at least 10 to 15 seconds in advance.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Knowing when to stop isn't so much the problem: it's mastering that heel motion that makes the brake connect with the ground in an effective manner that's the tricky part, so far.

Ah well. At least I have trees and fences to use in the meantime. I'm trying not to be afraid of falling over: after all, I have a helmet and all sorts of protective pads, so in theory even if I do faceplant, the damage should be minimal.

[irishyogini.livejournal.com]

Oh, you SO rock for rollerblading. I'm too chicken and afraid of falling. Well, maybe not of falling, but what my body will do to try to *avoid* falling. Rock on.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I am a giant chicken myself, but I'm trying to push my boundaries a little bit these days and get myself out of my comfort zone.

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Ooh. Me need a blading partner.... yes? yes? We can wobble together!

They wibble and they wobble...

[mousme.livejournal.com]

YES!

That would be fantastic! When are you free in the coming weeks?

[shovel-bum.livejournal.com]

You are far more daring than I! I'll stick to my old bike and let the kids do all the rollerblading. Good luck with it!

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Hee! Actually, I'd rather take rollerblades to work than my bike: I figure there isn't as far to fall. ;)

[dizietsma.livejournal.com]

Shin pain is probably because your ankles are tensed-up all the time, trying to keep your balance. Try to focus on relaxing your ankles and using your knees and thighs for balance, it should help.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Shin pain is probably because your ankles are tensed-up all the time, trying to keep your balance.

Makes sense. That means that it should all sort itself out with practice, as I get used to the movements involved, right?

[dizietsma.livejournal.com]

Right, but for the time being still try to keep your ankles as relaxed as possible, feel where your balance starts to go, and try to correct using your thigh muscles instead. Your shins will thank you :)

[luvenditti.livejournal.com]

it'll get better, and then, soon, we will be unable to keep up!