Rollerblades on the playa?

MrKite · Post by **MrKite** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:30 pm

My camp is trying to figure out the logistics of hauling a bunch of bikes, but I thought it'd be much easier and space-efficient to bring a pair of rollerblades. Does anyone know if they will be usable on the playa?

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:33 pm

I have a video that shows a guy rollerblading. It looks really tough and he had really big wheels on his blades. Considering how loose a lot of the areas on the playa can become I would caution against this.

But...if you could make blades with big fat cushy wheels, they just might work.

headquarters · Post by **headquarters** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:23 pm

you'd have to make some custom super offroad rollerblades with super swamper equivelent wheels. towards the end of the week after everyone has been walking and driving and dust blowing there can be some pretty deep pockets of dust that make it hard to even ride a bike.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed May 25, 2005 7:22 pm

One guy had super blades. The wheels were bike tiers. held togeather with boards. Then he used long poles/sticks to steady him when stoped. Didn't look to hard when he was sakeing.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed May 25, 2005 7:22 pm

One guy had super blades. The wheels were bike tiers. held togeather with boards. Then he used long poles/sticks to steady him when stoped. Didn't look to hard when he was sakeing.

Smudge · Post by **Smudge** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:08 am

take bikes.
make sure they work decent and you can ride them before you finish your logistics for packing.
There are spots on the playa hard enough for riding skates on and many many places where it's just not feasable. That and the place is so huge that your feet will be sore and legs tired from carrying them. Bring the skates as an extra. If need be, bring a few bikes and share them. As long as it works, your bicycle will be your second best friend to your water bottle or your sunscreen.

Blue Jester · Post by **Blue Jester** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:41 pm

If I don't recall I read about this gentleman who used these off road rollerblades then he had this big magnet on a rope connected to his belt and he would attach it to art cars and get pulled around. Now that I think of it it was in "This Is Burning man" by Brian Doherty. I'm not sure how it turned out for him.

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:07 pm

our friend brought some blades out. (ex- pro guy) he used off road wheels, and poles, and he has a very serious leg injury. he was getting around well. (but, he is an athlete).
-b

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 5:30 am

Step One: Acquire old treadmill from thrift store (or curb).
Step Two: Bolt four bike wheels onto sides of frame.
Step Three: Rig drive roller for treadmill walkway to wheels with ingenius pulley mechanism. Add towloop.
Step Four: Tow behind golfcart or Mutant Vehicle while skating backwards on treadmill.

Ta-DAAAAHHHHH!

EvilDustBooger · Post by **EvilDustBooger** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:29 am

...Does anyone know if they are setting up the roller rink this year?
I was so pissed when I saw the rink last year and I didn`t bring my skates. But who would have thought there would be a roller rink ?
I hope they come again this year.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:00 pm

the rink has been there the last couple of years I've been. I thought you could borrow their skates too? Maybe I'm wrong, I usually am!

EvilDustBooger · Post by **EvilDustBooger** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:33 pm

Xvirgin wrote:the rink has been there the last couple of years I've been. I thought you could borrow their skates too? Maybe I'm wrong, I usually am!

I have size 13 feet. Not alot of those size skates laying around.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 3:33 pm

Blue Jester wrote:If I don't recall I read about this gentleman who used these off road rollerblades then he had this big magnet on a rope connected to his belt and he would attach it to art cars and get pulled around. Now that I think of it it was in "This Is Burning man" by Brian Doherty. I'm not sure how it turned out for him.

This is highly discouraged by the DMV, if not outright illegal. If not, it probably should be. At the very least make sure you get permission from the vehicle DRIVER before hooking on (not just some yahoo that is riding in back). In 2002 much of the back of my vehicle was torn off by some asshole who hooked on to a non-structural part without permission (he had a big skateboard thingy). I never even knew he was there until I saw him and the back of my vehicle in the rear mirror. I saw him later doing the same thing off another vehicle, so apparently he did not learn his lesson...

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:33 pm

"...Does anyone know if they are setting up the roller rink this year?"

actually, the guy i'm speaking of (above) is Dan, he's part of that camp, and yes the roller rink will be back this year. great guy. stop by to meet him.

-b

swampdog · Post by **swampdog** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:48 pm

Don't know if any of this helped the original poster or not - re-reading this thread a lot is implied but not stated outright. So, blunt guy that I am, I'll spell it out (in case he's still checking this)

The playa is nearly all a soft powdery surface. It's more like flour or baby powder than sand. Attempts are made to harden up the "streets" with water trucks hosing them down regularly, but it never forms up to a surface that you could roller blade on with normal equipment. Hence all the discussion of what wacky equipment might do the trick.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:24 am

But, it does get hard enough for skateboards some years (and this appears to be one of them)...since they are so small and there ARE roller rinks usually, I would say bring them (if you don't mind replacing the wheels - the playa will probably trash the bearings). You may even be able to use them in some areas that do not get heavily travelled on. But be careful, you can go along for aways and suddenly hit a patch of powdery playa (or a ridge).

missmann · Post by **missmann** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:06 pm

there was a thread similar to this a while back (could be a long while back).
Never have tried wither in-line skates or a skateboard on the playa myself, but have been told that you need to alter the gear a bit, like using dirt board wheels instead of regular ones on a skateboard.
Personally, I had no problem with walking.

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:33 am

yup, the dirt wheels are what they use. and poles. they help quite a bit.
(i don't blade. my friends have this set up and it works well)
-b

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:45 am

If the playa surface is like it was last year especially out by the temple and beyond I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to skate, dirt wheels or not. I had trouble getting through with a powered off-road scooter and in some places the mountain bike didn't do so hot either! Until someone gives a definitive report on playa conditions I'd be planning on bringing alternate transport.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:55 pm

And lets not forget those little black rocks that are mixed at random with the dust. Those are great and cause all sorts of interesting thrills and spills. Please do being the roller blades, I am adding to my skin collection this year and that is a perfect way for you to gift some.

Jesus · Post by **Jesus** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 8:55 am

Blue Jester wrote:If I don't recall I read about this gentleman who used these off road rollerblades then he had this big magnet on a rope connected to his belt and he would attach it to art cars and get pulled around. Now that I think of it it was in "This Is Burning man" by Brian Doherty. I'm not sure how it turned out for him.

Oh, wow, that is probably me. (However, I don't connect it to a belt; I use the comfy handle of a retractable dog leash.) I have to get a copy!

Oh, and contrary to the claim made above, I find 3 out of 4 drivers are willing, nay, ecstatic, to be 'pooned. FFS, it's Burning Man! Even LEOs and org people on duty have said they would let me if they didn't fear they'd get in trouble. (I only 'poon mutant vehicles.)

I've received no complaints or discouragement from the DMV at all; quite the reverse. I don't do it in an altered state, and manage the risks.

I've been skating with Dan. He has incredible stamina. And yes, he's awesome and we've camped together at the Black Rock Roller Disco, which has been on playa for years, and I expect we will be for many more. Yes, we have size 13 skates, and yes, we love people who bring skates to use or donate! (Especially size 11 men's)

We are one of the only theme camps that is open pretty much 24/7. Our floor got trashed by the rains this year, so we are starting to raise funds for a new, better, waterproof one. We organize at http://brrd.wikia.com and cora.org

lucky420 · Post by **lucky420** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:37 am

omg that looks so fun...I will try and remember to bring you a pair of rollerblades (ladies 9) that I've only used once and would like to donate...

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:15 pm

unjonharley wrote: Didn't look to hard when he was sakeing.

Is it too much for me to hope that the term 'sakeing' implies rollerskating while drunk on sake?

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:58 am

Hard to believe 'pooning is much of a thrill sport at a strict 5 mph.

Jesus · Post by **Jesus** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:15 am

Bob wrote:Hard to believe 'pooning is much of a thrill sport at a strict 5 mph.

I don't have a speedometer, but I can assure you it is a thrill, indeed.

Parasitoid · Post by **Parasitoid** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:22 am

pooning?!?!

Awesome to hear about that happening in real life because the only other place I read about it was in Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.

Jesus · Post by **Jesus** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:22 pm

Snow Crash was my inspiration! I should start sporting some RadiKS-logo'd garb.

Looks like this artist thinks Y.T. would be quite at home on the playa, sporting RadiK Knight Visions goggles... http://tastycake.deviantart.com/art/YT- ... h-42795974

Parasitoid · Post by **Parasitoid** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 8:27 am

yes yes and yes.

Y.T. is a badass

Jesus · Post by **Jesus** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:04 pm

Parasitoid wrote:yes yes and yes.

Y.T. is a badass

Indeed... magnapoon ... dentata!

Oh, and there isn't even a theoretical 5 MPH speed limit before or after the event. Plus, the speed limit doesn't apply to non-motorized vehicles.

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:43 am

Jesus wrote:Plus, the speed limit doesn't apply to non-motorized vehicles.

Want to bet?