razl
Stylish Dinosaur
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2009
- Messages
- 11,269
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I am still a novice skier but am going for my third season in a few weeks and I stumbled across a tip that inline skating was a good way to prep. I used to skate quite a bit and had a pair of Rollerblade Fusion MXs, a high end pair from back-in-the-day, stashed up in the attic. They've been up there at least 8 years and maybe more like 10 or 12, I'm not exactly sure...
I got them out, did a quick look over, and everything seemed OK. The plastic had changed color taking on a more matte rather than the shiny look I remembered. Regardless, they seemed to be functional and intact, let's give it a go!
I heard some weird creaking while strapping the boots on but, again, they seemed to be ok. Until the first couple of steps where they, literally, crumbled underneath me. Crumbled is the best way to describe it, they just splintered and broke away into pieces over the course of 4 or 5 seconds.
This isn't my pic but for comparison, here's what a pair of mine looked like before imploding:
I'd also say people should keep this in mind if, for whatever reason, they are picking up a used/old pair of skates. If they were stored like mine then you might be in for a big disappointment.
Also keep in mind that I live in central Florida where our attic, even with a fan and ventilation, is probably at 90 degrees or more a majority of the year. I didn't think that destroy Rollerblade's plastic but apparently, it does. Maybe in more temperate climates it isn't a concern.
I got them out, did a quick look over, and everything seemed OK. The plastic had changed color taking on a more matte rather than the shiny look I remembered. Regardless, they seemed to be functional and intact, let's give it a go!
I heard some weird creaking while strapping the boots on but, again, they seemed to be ok. Until the first couple of steps where they, literally, crumbled underneath me. Crumbled is the best way to describe it, they just splintered and broke away into pieces over the course of 4 or 5 seconds.
This isn't my pic but for comparison, here's what a pair of mine looked like before imploding:
I'd also say people should keep this in mind if, for whatever reason, they are picking up a used/old pair of skates. If they were stored like mine then you might be in for a big disappointment.
Also keep in mind that I live in central Florida where our attic, even with a fan and ventilation, is probably at 90 degrees or more a majority of the year. I didn't think that destroy Rollerblade's plastic but apparently, it does. Maybe in more temperate climates it isn't a concern.