I'm riding this weekend on my normal route on Sunday. As I come up to an intersection six guys in full bike kit on roller blades make a right turn doing a rotating paceline. They had a motor scooter out front pacing them and a safety car behind. I rode behind them for about 5 miles and never caught them. I was doing 20-21mph the whole time. Amazing to watch almost like watching Olympic speed skating.

I was on a very flat weeklong ride of several hundred miles a number of years ago, and some of the group did the entire thing on rollerbrlades. Their paceline was a stunning sight.

I was on a ride a few years ago that several roller bladers participated in. Several miles into the ride I came upon a group of skaters just as we started down a long hill. They crouched down and got up to a pretty good speed going down that hill. My bike would have easily gone faster down the hill, but something would not allow me to pass one of the skaters. A lovely young lady in gray shorts. From what I saw, cycling may not be the ultimate excercise for shaping the glutes.

I've seen small groups on paved trails a few times this year. I enjoy watching the fluid motion too, and also trailed an incredibly good looking female for a couple of miles once. And they can really motor along!

Two weeks ago on bicycle Sunday (closed section of road), I took a pic of these guys. The inline skaters turned around and started out ahead of us. After we got rolling again, we finally saw them up ahead going approximately 16 mph up a 2.5% grade.

I was pretty amazed at how they were able to hold their speed for so long. Probably somewhat similar to cycling except for the muscles you use. Still have air and rolling resistance as the big factors on flats but since you don't have any gearing I would think doing hills would require more work than on a bike.

I played roller hockey for many years and used to go out on the Crescent Trail in DC for exercise at lunch. I never saw one of those pace lines - that does look like fun. In-line skating is great exercise and easy to pick up for anyone who did much ice skating as a kid.

This fellow passes a few cyclist on his way down the mountain

https://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=1

I did a lot of things in my life but I'm not this crazy.

That's actually what I'm moving from; I've been inline skating for over 15 years. But after a fall last year where I tore my MCL (also tore my meniscus during those earlier football days) I decided I'd better find a sport where you have breaks on your wheels. For those that didn't know, speed skates have no breaks…..Ouch

Fairly routinely where I live, you see large groups of rollarbladers riding along Pacific Coast Highway. Generally because the route is flat cyclist paceline along PCH as well. I'll never forget pacelining with 6 friends, rotating in ad out at about 22 mph. A group of rollarbladers came up behind, sat on back, rotated through the paceline and then when they hit the front, dropped us all. They had to be moving close to 30mph. It's just incredible!

While Hermes and I lived in DC, we used to in-line skate on the Capital Crescent Trail as well, and then when when we moved to LA, along the bike path/board walk in Santa Monica-Venice beach. We formed a two-person pace line. One time I was leading and fell. Hermes jumped over me, skimming my head with his skate - good thing I was wearing a helmet. Wish I had that on video.

And I did not fall.

At least they were not screwing up the MUP like they do in our area.

I just, can't picture that. I can't even get my brain around it. How is that possible?!

Equal to or lower than cycling aerodynamic drag with much lower wheel aero drag and low rolling resistance and the same power as a strong cyclist. The skates weigh very little compare to a bicycle.

Here is a pic of high end 100 mm wheel K2 skates with high precision bearings. These are not racing skates but very close. I have older technology with 80 mm wheels.



Here is what you need to power them.

I too have trouble passing female rollerbladers. I thought female cyclists were great until I saw rollerbladers! Actually, I still think female cyclists are hot! YMMV

[[IMG]https://Here is what you need to power them.

[/QUOTE]

Oh my! Who do those thighs belong too?

Hey, those are my exact skates, 100mm; they should be on EBay sometime soon if anyone is interested, they're in excellent condition. I've lost my love for inline speed and want something just a bit safer. With 50 right around the corner I can't afford another fall like the last one, the body just doesn't heal as quickly as it once did.

It’s hard admitting I’m no longer invincible.

Apparently they DO have breaks, just not brakes.

Well, maybe yes: maybe no...here are the skates I posted as a pair with a brake shown installed on the right skate. My current skates have the same setup, with brake, but smaller wheels. Some racing skates do not have the option of a brake pad and you must stop by dragging one of the skates perpendicular to the line of travel T-stop or forming a "V" similar to snow plowing in skiing a V-Stop. Real brakes are probably very Fred and considered unnecessary by the really good skaters. I can T stop but prefer the brake. If I raced, I would probably have to remove the brake.

Those guys are amazing...Whenever I am in Wash. park and I pass one of them going a really nice speed , I give em a report on how fast they are going...Always get a good response.....
Bud

Did an organized metric century early this past spring and passed a guy towards the end who had done the whole thing, including some rolling hills, on a scooter. Push....glide, push....glide, push......glide. I admired him but didn't envy him. He was toothpick lean.

[QUOTE=Hermes;5563886]Equal to or lower than cycling aerodynamic drag with much lower wheel aero drag and low rolling resistance and the same power as a strong cyclist. The skates weigh very little compare to a bicycle.QUOTE]

I understand what you are saying here, but also have a hard time getting my mind around this one. My gut tells me that transferring power from the legs to forward motion should be more efficient on the bike....

This got my curiosity up and I did some checking. The skating world record for a distance of about 52 miles is around 23.5 mi/hr. Apparently this is in a pack with drafting, etc. Not up to the speed of the pro cyclists for that distance but damned impressive no matter how you slice it!