Rollin News Cross Post - Founder's Syndrome

Wow, it has been waaay too long since I posted an article!  I wholeheartedly apologize for this and blame fiveonfive and Rollin News for taking up my time writing for them not to mention 2N1 Skate Shoppe becoming more and more popular (not complaining, just explaining).

Anyway, I thought it would be nice to follow the lead of some of my favorite shows and do a crossover post.  I recently wrote a couple somewhat controversial articles for Rollin News in which I discuss Founder's Syndrome (also known as Founderitis) in Roller Derby leagues and have posted both below for your reading pleasure.

Feel free to comment with your own experiences with Founder's Syndrome and come up with a haiku if interested in possibly getting a goodie bag.  Well, without further ado:

Board of Dictators

Imagine

You are one of the founding members of your league, have served on the Board of Directors (BOD) since the beginning, and any time the league faces tough choices, you never hesitate to make decisions. The league is your baby. You were more than eager to teach how to tie the laces on its first pair of skates, you jumped at the chance to help think up and yell its first jeer, and you lovingly nurtured while it stumbled through the league's first home bout. You honestly feel if you weren't making important league decisions, the league either wouldn't survive, or would end up evolving in detrimental ways...so, why in the world would you relinquish your power? Instead, you do whatever it takes to ensure the league continues to head in the direction you know is best. Those who disagree with your decisions either don't understand your vision or don't have the league's best interest at heart. You would rather see the league “split” or dissolve before allowing anything you don't agree with to occur.

Have you met, or heard of, someone who could relate to this scenario? Have you been a member of a league where an entitled member, or members, called the shots while ignoring differing opinions, even when the majority of the league was in favor of those opinions? Did you leave a league to join or start a new league because something like this happened? Or...perhaps you find yourself agreeing with and relating to the person described above, nodding along to each sentence as if I'm describing you.

Whether the opening paragraph describes you or someone you know, I'm sure the league involved has had to deal with internal strife because of it and if it hasn't yet, someday soon it will find itself in crisis. Hopefully this article will give you some insight into this type of issue and a few ideas on how to deal with it, no matter what side of the track you're on.

Founder's Syndrome

Since I started playing Roller Derby almost 6 years ago (wow, where has the time gone?!), I have heard of, and experienced, leagues suffering from “Founder's Syndrome.” Founder's Syndrome (also known as Founderitis) occurs when one or more creators maintain disproportionate power and influence after establishment, leading to organizational and personal issues. I think this quote from the Founder's Syndrome Wikipedia article is an excellent description, “The passion and charisma of the founder or founders, which was such an important reason for the successful establishment of the organization, becomes a limiting and destructive force, rather than the creative and productive one it was in the early stages.”

Founder's Syndrome (FS from now on) isn't unique to Roller Derby leagues and can occur at any non-profit or for profit business; however, many of us never encountered it until we became involved with this sport so dealing with it has been a struggle. Those struggling from FS may not even know of its existence.

FS can be very destructive to an organization. When members feel their opinions are not being considered and their needs not being addressed, league morale plummets. When league members are unhappy, word spreads, which can cause a decline in membership. As the divide between the privileged few and league majority grows, so does bad blood and visceral hatred for those in positions of power. Volatile tension increases until the unhappy masses either implement a hostile takeover or quit to form their own league or join an existing one nearby.

Unfortunately, this isn't just a cautionary tale...and it gets worse. Those suffering from FS not only cause league animosity, some of their attempts to maintain control could be illegal. Each individual state has laws pertaining to businesses formed as corporations (which is the business model most leagues operate under nowadays), whether non-profit or for profit, in regards to items such as voting, meetings, minutes, etc. For example, in Alaska, any corporation's Board of Directors (BOD) has specific notification requirements prior to holding meetings or when proposing to change corporation bylaws. They must also keep adequate minutes of all BOD meetings and have these minutes available when requested by shareholders/members or else they could face at least $5,000 in fines. From what I've gathered, actual jail time is probably not going to occur unless something like embezzlement is going on, but just one fine of $5,000 would seriously impact any Roller Derby league's bottom line.

Now that we have discussed some worst case scenarios, let's talk about how to avoid the pitfalls of FS in the first place...

Preventative Measures

Whether you are the founder of a league or later find yourself in a position of authority, you have the power to keep FS symptoms at bay. First and foremost, have an exit strategy. If you have the mindset that you are going to occupy that position for a specific amount of time and truly want the league to thrive when the next person fills that role, the league has a much better chance of surviving. Instead of keeping information close to the vest, create/update league documents with instructions on how you perform specific tasks pertaining to your position. When it comes time to hand over the reins, don't think of it as letting go of whatever prestige or power that came with that title. Instead, think of it as a graduation. Just like completing high school or college, graduating from a position of authority is an opportunity to transition into a new phase of your life.

For the league, changeover can help keep things fresh when those elected have new ideas and different skill sets than the previous incumbents, which helps to prevent burnout. It can be difficult to hand your baby over to be cared for by a new individual. You need to have faith in your fellow league mates and believe they too are looking out for the league's best interests. Yes, sometimes new ideas end up flopping or the person you thought would do really well ends up not being a good fit, but that's ok. Mistakes happen, that's how you grow as a league and find new ways to tackle issues. Once you overcome an obstacle as a league and put safeguards in place so it doesn't happen again, your league will be stronger for it.

FS For Life

Roller Derby culture is one of acceptance, compromise, and inclusiveness; however, every once in a while you'll find someone so taken over by FS symptoms that they would rather destroy their league, their “baby,” than see anyone else take over. If you know of someone like this, please encourage them to be completely transparent and create a league with a sole-proprietor business structure. This way, there are no pretenses or false promises and those who join are aware of what they are getting into and how the league will be governed.

If you have faced challenges involving those suffering from Founder's Syndrome, please feel free to share your story in the comments section, especially if your league was able to overcome and continue to survive afterward.  I look forward to hearing form you.

Board of Diplomats

My previous article, Board of Dictators, discussed how Founder's Syndrome (FS) has negatively effected Roller Derby leagues, sometimes causing leagues to split or even completely dissolve.  I received some great feedback through emails, personal discussions, and comments to that article and would like to clarify some points.

Leagues are Unique
Some of the discussions I had concerning FS and the previous article made me realize I didn't emphasize this enough: not all league founders will develop FS.  A founder, or anyone for that matter, can be in a leadership role for a lengthy period of time of a thriving league.  When I say thriving, I don't just mean monetarily. 

Thriving leagues have clear policies in place which are followed and understood by the members and also updated as needed to keep up with changes affecting the league.  Thriving leagues address issues head on and work with members to ensure their needs are not being overlooked.  Thriving leagues conduct business openly by properly informing and inviting members to attend important meetings and providing access to league documents (BOD minutes, financial statements, voting records, etc.).

Secrecy leads to distrust, which in turn causes frustration, confusion, and internal strife; however, it doesn't have to be this way.

Delicate Balance
As mentioned in the previous article, leadership turnover has its advantages.  Newly appointed leaders often bring different ideas to the table and may be able to view old issues from a previously overlooked viewpoint.  Fresh blood also helps to prevent burn out, which occurs when someone is in a position so long that they become bored while feeling overworked and uninspired. 

While many of us have felt burned out at some point in our lives, something special happens when we find a job we are good at that challenges and excites us.  If your league has a president who does an excellent job leading your thriving league and they happen to be one of the league founders, it's not necessarily a bad thing for them to continue to serve the league in that position.  The problem occurs when symptoms of FS cause issues to the detriment of the league's ability to thrive.

Big Picture
So, how can you tell if you and your league are suffering from FS or if you have found your place in the system?  Try to take a step back and look at the situation from an outsider's perspective.  Do you feel like you have to hide or make decisions behind the membership's back or are you comfortable bringing possible changes to a vote, ready to proceed no matter the outcome?  Do you conduct business behind closed doors or is information given and made readily available for the members?  Do you feel wiped out and physically/mentally destroyed when having to deal with league issues, or are you invigorated? After honestly answering these questions, you should be able to come to a conclusion as to which side of the fence you stand (or, in our case, skate).

I hope this was able to clarify a few points and show that just because someone is in a position for a lengthy period of time, and happens to be one of the league's founders, they (and the league) aren't necessarily suffering from FS.

Thank you to all of those who contacted me to tell me their stories and experiences with this subject matter.  To show my appreciation, I would like to give away some goodies!  In order to be considered to receive one of these goodie packages, all you have to do is come up with a Roller Derby themed haiku and enter it into the comments of this article.  I'll choose a few winners and announce them with my next Rollin News article.

Until We Skate Again!
Shocker

Changing Wheels

Those of you out there who have been patiently waiting for the next G Spot article, I wholeheartedly apologize.  I fully intended to publish an article a month this season, but the past couple months have been a whirlwind...in a good way!  Not only has fiveonfive, the official Roller Derby magazine of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), published a few of my articles, but I also resigned from my day job to pursue a full-time Derby career.  In addition to writing articles and blog posts (Shocker Khan's G Spot and Roller Derby Nation's new venture: Rollin' News),  I continue to provide quality products and services through 2N1 Skate Shoppe, travel all over the world to train future Roller Derby super-athletes, and I have also started selling interesting items I make by hand in an Etsy store called The ShockerKnot.  These handmade items consist of jewelry and other interesting items (like this cool bottle stopper).

Enough about me, let's get to the good stuff!

Have you ever needed to quickly change out your wheels with a set that doesn't have bearings, only to have it take so long you end up missing part of practice?  Well, using the method described here, you'll be able to change out your wheels and be back on the track in no time!

First, gather your skates, new wheels, axle nut wrench, and bearing tool (optional). ***If you skate on wheels with metal hubs, having a bottle of lube on hand is a good idea.  See edit at the end of the article for more info.***

Next, position your skates so they are facing the same direction.  This is especially important if you are installing pushers; however, I like to do this even when I'm switching out 8 of the same wheels.  It helps my OCD.

You should see 4 axle nuts, unscrew and remove them, then set them aside.  If you use bearing washers (aka speed rings), remove them as well and place them with the nuts.

Use your tool to unscrew the axle nut,

remove the axle nut.

 then

Now it's time to take out the bearings (and spacer, if applicable).  The best way to remove bearings is either with a bearing press like the ones made by PowerDyne or Sure Grip, or with the more transportable Bones Bearing tool.

Use the Bones Bearing Tool to remove the outer bearing,

pry off the inner bearing with the axle.

 or






If you don't have a tool, you can pry out your inner bearing with your wheel axle, as pictured.  I don't recommend this as a frequently used bearing removal method, but every once in a while shouldn't do too much damage...hopefully. 

Alternate method of removing the outer bearing.

If you have issues getting the outer bearing to budge, you can try to push it out from the inside using the Bones Bearing tool.  For particularly stubborn bearings, I'll place the wheel face-down on a hard surface, then insert the tool and put my weight into pushing the bearing out.

Open side of a bearing faces UP on the axle.

After removing the bearings, place them back on the axle with the dust cover side toward the plate.  Both bearings will be facing the same way.  If the bearings have dust covers on both sides, it doesn't matter which way they go on the axle.  If you use bearing spacers, place one between the 2 bearings on the axle.  If you don't use spacers, see the "If you don't use spacers" paragraph below for further instructions.

Bearings With Spacer

First Bearing Seated

Now comes the fun part!  Take your new wheel, and place the OUTSIDE on the axle, centered on the first bearing, and press straight down.  You will feel the bearing seat into the wheel.  Take the wheel off the axle, and turn it around to make sure the bearing's dust cover is facing out and the open side is inside the wheel (see the pic to the right).  If the opposite happened, you didn't have the bearing facing open side up on the axle and you will need to remove the bearing from the wheel before repeating this step. 

Bearing Spacer/Speed Ring

Next, flip the wheel around and push it onto the axle until the inner bearing is completely seated in the wheel.  All you need to do now is replace the speed ring/bearing washer (if used) and tighten the axle nut until you feel resistance.   Repeat for the next 3 wheels then flip both skates over to complete swapping the last 4 wheels.




If you don't use bearing spacers...

First, I'd like to ask you, why not?  Spacers allow bearings to work properly by preventing pressure/friction.  Pair spacers with speed rings/bearing washers, and you have an awesome setup that is not only going to keep your bearings rolling longer, but you'll notice an increase in speed.  Using spacers also actually helps change out wheels when using the method I described above, so for those of you who don't use them because you say it takes too long to change out wheels...I'd like to challenge you to a wheel swapping duel!

4 Bearings Stacked, Dust Cover Side Toward Plate

But I digress...  If you don't use bearing spacers, you will need to place 4 bearings on one axle and press them into the outside of 2 wheels before pressing other bearings in the plate-side of those wheels.  See the pic to the left on how the 4 bearings will look when stacked.  The outer lip of most wheels is too concave for bearings to be properly seated if only 2 bearings are on the axle and are likely not going to be pushed far enough into the wheels to be seated so if you don't have a spacer between 2 bearings, you will need at least 3 bearings on an axle to perform this maneuver.




See how easy that is!  After you practice it a few times, it becomes second nature.  Soon you'll be able to change a whole set of wheels and get back on the track before your opponent is half-way done!

Wheeeeeee!

I hope you found this article interesting and will try out this method for changing your wheels.  Let me know if you try it out by posting a comment and I'll pick a few of you to send a free goodie to from "Shocker's Box O'Goodies."  So go try it out and post away!

Until we skate again!
Shocker

***Edited to add that a drop of lube on the inside of metal hubs works wonders to get bearings to seat properly and later be removed much easier.  This can also save your tools from being broken...I've now heard of a couple Bones Bearing tools coming apart due to trying to force bearings in/out and we had a large Bearing Press handle break due to an employee trying to force bearings in place...resistance is futile, use lube!  Thanks to Tracy for reminding me about this tip.***

Project: Roller Girl

There's no doubt about it, Roller Derby is a sport.  When you play Roller Derby, you get sweaty, you sprint around the track, you stretch yourself into positions reminiscent of a pretzel...all whilst looking like a rock star (or shock star, as the case may be)... and you know why?  Because of brands like Pivot Star, Iron Doll, and Derby Skinz.  That's right folks, today we are going to talk about Roller Derby fashion: what it is, what it does, and how to rock (shock) it!

Really, the fashion of Roller Derby?  Yes!

When I first started skating, I looked at the fishnets, panties, and tutus and thought they didn't seem very practical.  Fishnets looked sexy and left some pretty cool - albeit painful - track burn patterns,  but they didn't provide much support or function.  Real panties didn't usually last very long and some didn't find them family friendly.  Then there were the tutus...let's just say, it can be difficult to take an athlete seriously when wearing an unflattering bolt of tulle around their midsection.  Fortunately, it didn't take long before some entrepreneurial women met the growing demand and a new style of women's athletic clothing was born.

There are quite a few Roller Derby specific brands of clothing out there, so I'm just going to focus on the 3 I've been able to test out during my skating career: Derby Skinz, Iron Doll, and Pivot Star.  In order to keep this article short enough to read in half an hour, I'm just going to give some pros and cons of each brand.  If you have questions that are not answered here, feel free to ask them in the comments of this post and I will answer them for you there.

Derby Skinz

Derby Skinz Shortz

Pros:
TONS off fabric patterns to choose from and more added on a regular basis.
Wide array of size options (awesome selection for larger skaters!).
Lots of styles to choose from.
Customizable for reasonable prices.
Prices for shorts runs from around $20 to $45.

Cons:
Different fabrics can make a difference in what size a skater wears.
Flat butts remain flat unless wearing some Ruffle Buttz.

Final Word:
Durable construction and flexible fabric allows Derby Skinz products to last a long time and look fabulous on or off the track.  My favorite Derby Skinz product are the High Waisted Capriz.  Pair them with any shorts and keep that tummy sucked in!

Iron Doll Lift and Separate Shorts

Iron Doll

Pros:
Wide array of size options.
Lift and Separate shorts make it look like any skater has an awesome derriere (even a billboard butt like mine!).
The Reversible Scrimmage Jersey is the best I've found.  It is heavy duty, so it won't fall apart like others out there and is reasonably priced-even with your name/number on both sides!

Cons:
Doesn't have the wide selection of fabric patterns like Derby Skinz, but tons of colors are available in flat and shimmer finish.
Can take 6-8 weeks to get custom/bulk orders (such as uniforms) due to their popularity.
Sizing is tricky, shorts seem to run big but the tops run small so try them on before purchasing or shoot me a message so we can figure out what size will work for you before you spend a bunch of dough.

Final Word:
If you suffer from uni-butt (think uni-boob, only lower), you need to get some Iron Doll Lift and Separate shorts, STAT!  Also, purchase one of the Scrimmage Jerseys...it will probably be the last one you ever need to purchase.

Pivot Star

Pivot Star Sin-e-Star Hoodie

Pros:
Chica Bomb shorts ($35) provide great coverage-no peep show here!
Sleeveless hoodies ($49) are all the rage, if you don't have one yet-get one.  They are great to warm up in and are super cute at after parties.
Francey Pants ($54) are finally available with a bunch of cuff colors.
All Pivot Star products are made of quality materials and there is attention to detail in their construction, so be prepared to have one of these items for life.
Customized colors available but may need to be purchased in bulk (such as uniforms).
New Uniform line makes getting new uniforms for skaters who just made it onto your team easy and affordable!

Cons:
Limited sizing and some items run a bit small.
Can be on the pricey side, but the quality makes up for it.
Not a wide selection of stock color choices for many items.

Final Word:
For those of you who want quality clothing that will keep all your naughty bits covered, check Pivot Star out.  My personal favorite items are the Sin-e-Star sleeveless hoodie and the Francey Pants.


I hope you now have an idea of what to look for when in the market to purchase your next pair of shorts, leggings, or hoodie!  Now, I know some of you are still only reading because you want to see if you won a pair of Bounce toe stops (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out my last post)!  I asked you to go post "Bounce me Crazy!" on the 2N1 Skate Shoppe FaceBook page to enter for your chance to win, and we had quite a few of you enter.  Alas, I was only able to pick 3 of you to win, so congratulations Jasmine Michelle, Evan Jean Lawrence, and Mindy Quadmother Craig!  Shoot me an e-mail at 2N1SkateShoppe@gmail.com with your address and you should get your new Bounce toe stops in the mail shortly.

I'm working on a new contest, so keep checking my G Spot as well as the 2N1 FB page for an announcement.  In the meantime, 2N1 will be having a CYBER MONDAY sale tomorrow with 20% off all in-stock items.  Just use the code "cyber" when checking out (we aren't that clever).  So if there is something you've had your eye on to purchase, tomorrow is a great day to get it!

Until we skate again,
Shocker

RollerCon 2013 Virgin Recommendations

One of my favorite things about my G Spot is that I get to give away goodies to my readers.  This is only made possible because I have amazing followers who share the blog with their Roller Derby family, spreading the Derby Love.  This time, I get to give away a goodie pack of Bones stuff:  Bones Bearing Washer Bottle, Speed Cream, 8-pack of Super Reds (or 16-pack of Reds), Bones Bearing Tool, and Bones Stickers!  But wait, that's not all!  I also have a purple CSPC Triple 8 helmet to give to anyone the winner chooses. 

So without further ado, the winner is...HardKore Lena from Athens Ohio Roller Derby who submitted the name "Kitty Liquorbottom." 

Congratulations!  Have fun with your goodies!

Craziness at the Black and Blue Ball

I have been working on a blog post about how to keep your toe stops from coming loose and falling out, but with RollerCon coming up next week I don't think I will be able to post it until after the festivities.  If you are having this issue and would like me to send you the article, send me an e-mail at 2N1SkateShoppe@gmail.com.  The article is complete, I just need to take some photos to include to enhance the verbiage.

This will be my 5th RollerCon in a row and I'm just as excited as my first one.  I don't have any recommendations specifically relating to gear, so this is just general advice:

1. Keep your schedule loose!  There is nothing worse than having your heart set on a specific class, only to find out that it already filled up, was cancelled, or you got drunk the night before and woke up too late to attend.  If something like that happens, brush it off and don't give it another thought.  There is so much going on at all times during the convention, you won't have trouble finding something else to occupy your time.  Come on, it's Vegas!

2. Don't go crazy!  It's amazing to be amongst so many fellow Roller Derby fanatics, and it can be quite overwhelming, but that doesn't mean you have to keep up drink-for-drink with your new buddy and wind up puking into the pool during the Black and Blue ball (yes, that supposedly happened.)  It's okay (and expected) to have fun, but if you overdo it, you may not be able to put your skates on the next day or two due to a nasty hangover.

3) Have a battle buddy!  This one comes from my time in the Army.  A battle buddy is someone who is supposed to look out for you and keep you out of trouble, and you are to do the same for them.  This may mean you take turns getting trashed, find a way to keep your buddy from going over their limit (booze, gambling, staying up late, etc.), or making sure they don't go back to some random person's hotel room when they may not be able to make the best decisions for themselves.  If you pick the right battle buddy, they will not only keep you out of trouble, but also will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and into situations you wouldn't have thought to get yourself info if you were alone.

If you follow those 3 rules, you should have no problem staying happy and out of trouble while experiencing new adventures.  If you have an interesting story from a past RollerCon, whether it be a tale of woe, humor, or just plain strange, please feel free to share it with us in the comments.  If you are heading to RollerCon next week and happen to see me, flash me the shocker...it will make my day.

Until we skate again!
Shocker

Crazy at Play

Have you ever rolled on a new set of wheels and thought to yourself, "I'm in love?"  When I tried out Play wheels by Crazy Skates, that's exactly what I thought, and not just for the first week either.  The more I rolled on these, the more I loved them.

The first thing I noticed was how light the Play wheels are.  I haven't actually weighed them to see if they are in fact lighter, or if I just felt lighter skating around in them, either way they are a wonderful experience.

When I put the wheels on, I thought I would be slipping around everywhere.  I usually skate on 89a and 92a wheels at our normal practice space, so the 93a hardness made me a little apprehensive.  After a few laps this apprehension quickly turned to joy as I was able to grip around the corners and had no problem skating some of the quickest laps of my life.  The true fun came when I went to stop, specifically hockey stop...then hockey stopped again, and again, and again.  I'm still not sure how a wheel can make hockey stops not only easy but enjoyable, but these certainly found a way.

Out of all the wheels I've tried in the past 4 years, these are hands down my absolute favorite.  These wheels come in 90a (Rewind), 93a (Play), and 96a (Fast Forward) hardnesses, so if you skate on an uber slick or sticky floor, there are wheels for you as well.  You can purchase them here for around $80 a set.

The only con I have about these wheels is that I had to take them off to try out more wheels!  If you have tried these as well, please let me know how you like them.  I'd like to know if I'm loony, or if these really are made of spun unicorn hair.

A Vacation for Your Bearings

Before I get into this week's product review, I'd like to show what happens if you mistreat your bearings...

Photo courtesy of Matt Powell

Note how the metal dust covers are bent inward on these otherwise brand new bearings.  I would bet $100 that the person who owned these used something other than a Bones Bearing Tool or other proper device to put the bearings into or pull them out of their wheel.  Then they wondered why these brand new bearings aren't helping them go faster.  Now, these bearings were salvageable, I just had to remove the metal ring and pop out the dust covers and now they are working just fine, but I couldn't put the covers back on so I'll have to clean/lube them more often than if they still had the dust covers on them.  Which brings us to our featured products:

The Happy Place for Bearings

I used to clean my bearings in a mason jar...not anymore or ever again!  I recently discovered the Qube Bearing Spa and I'm never looking back.  What makes the spa different from using a mason jar or other bearing cleaning devices?

Well, the first major difference is that the spa cleans all 16 bearings at once, which is super convenient for us roller skaters.  The other difference is that the spa comes with Qube Bearing Wash Cleaner which is environmentally safe and you only have to soak bearings for about 5 minutes before agitating them to get the gunk out.  The spa fits either 7mm or 8mm bearings and comes with easy-to-understand instructions complete with nifty pictures.

The instructions say to remove dust covers from the bearings prior to cleaning them, but I've found that many times, even when you are super careful, it's pretty easy to bend the dust covers.  Sometimes they bend so slightly you don't know anything is wrong until you go to change out your bearings after doing a half-hour of suicide drills and end up burning your fingers on your super-hot-due-to-friction bearing (yes, this has happened to me).  If your bearings are sealed with dust covers on both sides, I recommend you remove one of the covers (doesn't matter which one), clean them, then install the bearings in your wheels with the dust cover side facing out.  If, after cleaning them once, they are still making strange noises or not spinning as they should, take the other dust cover off and repeat the cleaning process.  If you still have some unsavory bearings after doing all that, I recommend tossing them...Or, you could always send them to me to make ShockerKnot jewelry.  Usually, if they are not working well after 2 cleanings, it's going to take a lot of work to get them to the point where they are worth putting in your wheels.

When your bearing wash gets nasty, all you have to do is filter the wash through a coffee filter or toss it and purchase more cleaner.  Each time you clean your bearings or filter your solution you will end up with less cleaner than before, so eventually you will need to purchase more cleaning solution anyway.

Moto Bearing Oil

After cleaning your bearings, just put them on a towel and pat them dry.  If you're impatient, you can use some canned air or an air compressor to dry them quicker.  If you live in a humid area, I don't suggest letting them drip dry as it will take forever and rust is highly likely.

I like to spin them at this time just to see if there are any that may need further attention then place ONE drop of lube in each bearing and give it a quick spin.  I like using Moto Bearing Oil because the needle applicator doesn't get lube all over the place.  After lubing up each bearing, I let them sit for a few minutes before giving them another spin to make sure they are all good-to-go (clean again if not).

I recommend cleaning your bearings about every other month, but if you have taken your dust covers off or skate in an extra dusty environment, you will need to clean them more often.  Proper care of bearings makes them last longer and work better.  In the long run, it costs a lot less to purchase a bearing tool, wash/spa, and lube than most sets of bearings.

If you were anxious about cleaning your bearings for the first time, I hope I have given you the tools to be able to tackle this task with confidence.

Until we skate again!
Shocker

Making a Clean Break

Razor, Stalker, Shocker, and Bat Ma'am at the Rage City Ugly Sweater Party

I know my blog is SUPER young and I have been trying to post a new article once a week.  Well, I failed you this time.  Being an atheist without children, I don't really have an excuse.  Being the daughter of a wonderful Polish Catholic mother and girlfriend to a partner with a close Catholic family, I am swept along the Holiday tide along with the rest of humanity and have just taken to float along eating my way through it.  Not saying any of this is a bad thing...not at all!  Just an excuse as to why it is taking me longer between posts than usual.  Hope you understand.

Now that's off my chest (as a lapsed Catholic, I still feel guilty about pretty much everything!), let's talk about something you may be able to get to after the official festivities of this time of year have past and you have some time before your league officially starts practicing for the new year.  That pesky gear maintenance!

I've talked about cleaning your wheels and bearings in recent posts and touched on keeping up with inspecting and maintaining your gear in my first post, so now may be a good time to revisit those instructions and actually put them to use.  Throw those pads in your washer, have a wheel and bearing cleaning party while re-watching your favorite bouts from this past season, and inspect your helmet for any cracks or dents that may mean it's time to get something new to protect your noggin.

Speaking of protecting your noggin...anyone want a free S-One Lifer helmet?  I have one up for grabs for one of my fans who posts (or has posted) a comment to any of the posts or subscribed/followed my G Spot.

My next post will be on plates, trucks, and kingpins followed by a series on protective gear.  I'm also planning to do a symbiotic blog post with the ever inspirational Elektra Q-Tion and her blog You Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me Loose Wheel.  Check her out!  Then come back next week for more.  Until then, have a photo of Ms. Mel Mangles of Rose City fame when she stoicly jumped into freezing water with Rage City to raise money for Special Olympics...

Mel Mangles is in the middle, I'm right beside her. Held her hand later during the jump.

Until we skate again!
Shocker

Toe stop, or no toe stop: that is the question.

Shocker During Her Rookie Year



Sure Grip Super Grippers

When I first started skating 4 years ago, the only toe stops easily available to us up here in AK were the Sure Grip Super Grippers as seen to right right in pink (and in red and black in the photo above).  These worked great, but only because I didn't know what I was doing and I didn't know what I was missing out on.  As time went by and I went through quite a few pairs of these during my first season of skating, I knew there had to be something better out there.


This article isn't a review on the many toe stops on the market, rather it is an overview of different options and styles available and how they fit into the Derby World.  One of my next articles will be a product review of the half dozen or so toe stops I've tested over the past few months.

Adjustable vs non-adjustable

RC Non-Adjustable Toe Stops

There are quite a few children's skates that have non-adjustable toe stops on them.  Also, some low-end adult skates and rentals come with them.  These have a different size screw going into the plate than adjustable toe stops, so they are not interchangeable.  If you can't avoid non-adjustable toe stops, go with a better stop like RC Target Toe Stops because they are softer than many of their competitors and will actually help you stop, not just slide forever on a hard plastic stop.

Stop or Plug

Formac Dance Plugs

Jam or Dance Plugs are not only used by quad figure or hockey skaters.  Some Derby skaters wear them and I always have a pair with me in my practice bag.  A couple of years ago I had the great pleasure of attending a boot camp where B-Train led a "Going Stopless" class.  Side note, this is where my Derby crush on B-Train began.

It's nice to take your toe stops out for a practice or even just an hour to reinforce certain skills.  If you find that you are always putting your toe stops down when you are just trying to transition from skating forward to skating backward, this will definitely help cure you of that!  Also, it's good to be able to adjust to not having a toe stop for those (hopefully infrequent) times where you lose a stop during a jam.  I lost one of my toe stops TWICE during one of my last bouts because it had been stripped and because I had practiced without my toe stops I was able to adjust for the rest of those jams and still be an effective blocker.  I've actually seen skaters skate off the track during a jam to replace their toe stop, leaving their team down a player until she got that thing back in her skate.  Definitely not the best use of your time on the track.

So, to prevent freaking out when you lose a toe stop, just practice without them every once in a while.  Jammer plugs are always nice to have on hand for these "stopless" practices so dirt and gunk don't get into the toe stop screw threads.  They also keep your toe guards in place so they don't flap around.

Standard Stem vs Short Stem

Short and Standard Stem Gumball Toe Stops

Some adjustable toe stops come in two sizes like Gumball toe stops.  The longer ones (standard or long) are usually the ones Derby players tend to use because of how much we use our toe stops for things like running, side stepping, and stopping.  However, some skaters prefer the short ones because they feel the longer ones get in their way.  It's a personal preference, but I really push the longer ones for Derby players for a couple reasons:

1) If your toe stops are too high your ankle ends up in a very unstable position, and

2) Having your toe stops closer to the track forces you to have better form when skating the track.

Crazy Bloc Toe Stops

Colors vs Natural

You might have noticed that a lot of toe stops are coming out in a beige color, such as Gumball and Bloc toe stops.  When I asked if GRN MNSTR was going to make their Gumball toe stops in different colors because, come on, women love color choices.  It was explained to me that the material wouldn’t be as strong, and if you have ever had a toe stop break or come off the stem in practice or a bout, you know how annoying and frustrating that can be!  Other companies who make colored toe stops like the Powerdyne Moonwalker must have a different formula because there are some with very pretty colors out there.

Well, that's about all I have on toe stops for now.  Like I said, later I'll be able to do more in-depth reviews of many of the toe stops used today in our sport, so stay tuned.

Until we skate again,

Shocker

More Cushion for the Pushin

I've talked to many skaters who have been skating for years, and have never done more to their skates than change their wheels and maybe, just maybe, changed out their bearings. If you are one of these skaters, please grab one of your skates and have it in your hand while you are reading this article. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Dee da dum, dwiddley de, hacha hacha koo koo, ohh, ahh, chuck-a-chong..oh hey, you're back!

First, turn your skate so you are looking at it from a side view. Either side is fine. Now, the metal bar between the wheels is the truck (or axle), and if your skates are put together correctly you should have two trucks per skate. One keeps the front wheels rolling and the other keeps the rear wheels holding onto the track. There are huge bolts (kingpins) that keeps the wheels and trucks attached to the plate and if you look directly above and below the truck along the kingpin you should see colored rubbery looking things. These are your cushions.   Here is a picture for those of you visual learners...the red items are the cushions...

Cushions are part of the shock system (tee hee, shock) of your skates and can make your skates more responsive to how your feet, knees, and even hips move while skating...but theycan work against you if you have bad cushions or the wrong squishiness for your skating ability and body type. Cushions are made of urethane or rubber, which helps to make your ride smoother when going over bumps and also retains power when loaded (pressed down) to reliably and predictably release energy when you need it for those powerful jukes. When cushions go bad, this smoothness goes away and they no longer load like they should. Since cushions go bad gradually, it can be difficult to notice when it is time to change them. The rule of thumb is to replace cushions at least once a year.

Now, what's up with all the different colors? Each manufacturer, such as Sure-Grip, Riedell, and Crazy Skates to name a few, make their own cushions and have their own color system. The different colors represent different hardnesses, or "squishiness" for a more technical term. Normally, new skaters want to start off with medium to hard cushions until they learn to be more stable on their skates. Lighter skaters will normally want softer cushions compared to a heavier skater since the lighter skater doesn't have the weight to press down and load a hard cushion. As a skater evolves into being more comfortable on their skates, they usually want to switch to a softer cushion to be more maneuverable. However, it really is up to the skater what they like to skate on so try out different hardnesses and see what you like. Last bit of info on hardnesses...you don't have to have all 8 cushions the same hardness so play around to see what works for you.

The last component of cushions is the shape. All cushions are round when you look straight down on them, but from the side you see cushions that are straight up and down and others that are conical shaped. The straight ones are standard cushions and provide more stability. The conical shaped cushions create more range of motion while skating and you are able to lean further before the cushion starts pushing back. Most skates come with 8 standard cushions, but many skaters are changing this to 4 standard on the top (or part closest to your boot) and 4 conical cushions on the bottom (or part closest to the track). Conical cushions should "point" away from the truck, so if they on the top (which I've rarely seen but is an option), the small part should be closest to the boot and if they are on the bottom the small part should be closest to the track. Conical cushions require a conical cushion cup (the metal part that holds the cushion in place) so if you are switching from standard to conical, you will need to purchase conical cushion cups to replace the standard ones you are currently using.

I bet you never thought there was so much to know about these little colored pieces of chewiness!

Until we skate again, Shocker Khan

What's Up With Wheels?

My goal with this blog is to spread some of the knowledge I've acquired the past few years to all levels of skaters.  The first series of posts will cover the basics of gear, which may be a review for more advanced skaters, but after we make our way through the basics, I can focus more on specific product and in-depth reviews.  

I looked for a good picture of wheels in action and found this nice memory from the final tournament bout of last season.  As you can see, Blitzkrieg Baker (only ass is pictured) and I (orange helmet) turned into a centaur-like animal in order to engulf Salmon Ella with our massive booties.  

It looks like everyone is wearing Heartless wheels, which work amazingly well on the surface in the Dena'ina Center.  This post will cover many things about wheels and hopefully, after you have read it, you will be a little more knowledgeable or at least a little refreshed.



Now, onto wheels!
Juke, Poison, Fugitive, Interceptor, Sugar, Heartless, Radar…there are so many wheels to choose from it can get overwhelming.  But before we look at different manufacturers or specific wheels they offer, let's first go over the anatomy of a roller skate wheel.

Anatomy of a Wheel
Looking at this cross section of the Adonis wheel, we can see the outer layer (blue in this case) which is made from polyurethane of different durometers (hardnesses).  These hardnesses are represented by a number followed by an "A", such as 92A, or 86A.  Some wheels will designate their hardness as "hybrid" or "outdoor" which usually have hardnesses of around 84A and 78A, respectively.  The higher the durometer, the harder the wheel will be.

The hub (white in this photo) holds the polyurethane in place and provides a place for the bearing to sit.  Hubs have some variation, with some having a solid core, others having a hollow core, and some having an aluminum core.  These different cores allow for different weights, speeds, traction, and grip.

Bearings
Next comes the bearings, which we could go on and on about, but we won't because they will have their own post later on...but we can go over a few basics while we are on the topic.  Each wheel takes 2 bearings.  The bearings can have 6, 7, or 8 ball bearings within them, but 7 is standard.  In this image, there is a bearing spacer between the two bearings.  Bearing spacers help to keep the bearings working correctly and I've noticed a huge difference in my speed since I started using them.  There seems to be a divide amongst skaters about whether these are needed or not, but instead of listening to a bunch of differing opinions, why not try some and see what you think?  2N1 Skate Shoppe has some bearing spacers for $4 a set, plus bearing washers for $5 a set (I recommend using both to get the most out of your bearings).

Wheel Sizing and Grooves
Now that we have dissected a wheel and looked at its innards, let's take a look of some of the wheel's outer characteristics.  Standard wheels are about 40mm wide and 62mm in height. These wheels become clunky for many skaters, so often they turn to lower and/or thinner wheels, such as the Atom Lowboy Slim which are 62mm high and 38mm wide or the GRN MNSTR Heartless wheels which are 62mm high and 35mm wide (one of the skinniest wheels on the market).  The Adonis Micro Wheels are the lowest and skinniest wheels I've seen on the market at 50mm high and 32mm wide.  I will do product reviews on these wheels for a later blog, but if you have any questions on any of these wheels, or anything else, please feel free to send me an e-mail at 2N1SkateShoppe@gmail.com.

On the surface of most indoor wheels, you will see grooves running along the circumference of the wheel.  These grooves help to grip to surfaces and you can get your wheels regrooved once they have worn out to make your wheels better than new.  It is much cheaper to get a set of wheels regrooved than purchase a whole new set.  

Choosing Your Wheels
What are the factors that go into choosing a set of wheels?  Well, your skating level is definitely a factor.  If you are just starting to skate and are having trouble staying upright, you probably want to start out with some fairly sticky and wide wheels.  Check out some Atom Poison wheels for great grip and stability.

At the point where you feel like you are skating through peanut butter?  Time to think of some harder or thinner wheels.  You may also want to switch to some harder and/or skinnier wheels if you experience shin splints, which can be caused from your muscles having to work too hard.  Sure Grip Zombie wheels are also popular because they come in 3 sizes and 3 harnesses for a total of 9 different combinations to choose from. Coupled with their anodized aluminum hubs, they have quickly become a popular new wheel!

Slipping out all the time on turns?  You can get a grip with some softer wheels, but grippier wheels tend to be slower so you sacrifice speed for stability.  When you first start skating, slipping even a little can feel very disconcerting.  When you feel more comfortable on your skates you get used to crossing over more quickly on slicker surfaces and sliding makes practicing hockey stops and power slides much easier.

Another factor to consider is your weight.  Wheels that work great to keep a 100 lb skater on a fairly sticky track are going to make someone like me (a “big girl”) feel like I’m super glued to the track.  Don't feel like just because half the team has a wheel that works perfectly for them, that it should also work for you.  

Personal Preferences
Lastly, everyone has their own personal preference so when you are getting ready to purchase some new wheels, see if someone else already has some you can borrow first just to make sure they will work for you.  If that isn't an option, look for wheels that come in 4 packs so you can adjust your wheels by purchasing a 4 pack of grippier or harder wheels instead of another 8 pack, which can get pretty expensive.  I have a box of wheels that I bring to practice with me for other skaters to try out and have even sent them to clients to try out before purchasing their new wheels just to make sure they are getting the best wheels possible for them.  It really helps to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck.

Cleaning Your Wheels
Cleaning wheels is super easy, just pop out your bearings (very important!), throw them in a tub with warm soapy water in it, then scrub with one of those green and yellow sponges. I normally use either dish washing liquid or laundry detergent for soap, which has worked for me really well. If the gunk on the wheels is really caked on you can let the wheels soak a bit in some fairly hot soapy water before scrubbing (almost too hot for your hands is usually perfect). Have a towel handy and after you have scrubbed all that dirt and grime off the wheel, take it and smack it against the towel a few times to get as much water out of the nooks as possible. This will allow a faster drying time. I don't worry about rinsing them after their bath, but it wouldn't hurt. Another way to dry them off is to use some canned air, or even better an air compressor if you happen to have one handy.

Well, I think that's a good place to stop for now.  Like I said, I want to have a nice overview of different pieces of gear before getting too far into the muck and the mire.  Next we will explore the awesomeness of those colorful little gummy looking things under your skate, connected to your king pin....your cushions!

Until then, skate safe and I'll see you on the track!

Shocker