The best rollerblades for women have a design that blends with the female feet anatomy. However, when rollerblading, you may encounter few problems with your inline skates. It’s thus essential to understand the anatomy of inline skate[Parts of An Inline Skate].
On that note, here are some of the common problems with inline skates and how to fix them:
Common Problems with Inline Skate and Suggested Solutions
Waxed Laces Won’t go Through the Eyelets
Waxing laces enable them to go through eyelets smoothly and minimizes fraying. Besides, it creates a barrier such that water can’t soak up the lace and weaken it prematurely.
But after waxing the tip of the lace, it may refuse to pass through the eyelets easily. One possible solution is to broil the tip of the lace so that it softens. For example you can hold it briefly under the broiler for few seconds, then thread it on the skate’s eyelets before it cools down.
Insert Often Roll Up
A skate insert that rolls up creates high discomfort and distraction when rollerblading. One viable solution is to remove the creases by ironing the insert.
In case you don’t have an iron, then a hot flat bottom pan may help. Half fill it with water, then bring to boiling point. Then sprinkle few drops of hot water on the creases. Finally, take the hot pan and press it on the insert, with the flat bottom against the insert.
Numb Feet When Having the Inline Skates On
If your feet get numb when you are on the rollerblades, there could be two possible causes. It’s either the extreme cold or the inline skates are uncomfortably tight on your feet.
Therefore before beginning rollerblading, carry out some exercise that taps on the flexibility of the feet, thus inducing sweating. When you have finished the warm-up exercise wear a light pair of wool socks.
Mostly inline skates feel over tight during breaking in. For that reason, when threading, skip an eyelet midway through your lacing.
That is, once you are halfway through with lacing, instead of passing over the lace to the opposite side, thread it to the next hole on the same side before continuing the usual way.
Wheels Not Revolving Freely
When the wheels don’t spin freely you can’t skate smoothly. One possible reason is that that some foreign particles have infiltrated the bearings. And even if you try to rotate the wheels with a full hand, you’ll notice the difficulty. The solution, therefore, is to clean the ball bearings.
Constant Slipping at the Heel
If your rollerblades are prone to slipping off at the heel, then most like they are oversize. An oversize pair of skates may cause blisters, bunions, or hammertoes.
Here are few tricks to try out. Re-adjust the tightness of the laces and terminate them at the back of your feet.
That can help keep them steady on your feet. Thicker socks can also help. If the problem persists then go for the rollerblades that are a size down.
High Arches Causing Uncomfortable Feeling
When you have high arches in your feet, then an inline skate may exert undue pressure by attempting to flatten it. In that case, getting a footbed with adequate arch support will give your foot the right alignment and comfort. However, it’s vital to note that excessive padding interferes with healthy blood circulation in the feet.
Misaligned Wheels
Misaligned wheels in inline skates make balancing or precise turning into one particular direction difficult. One major cause of misaligned wheels is the loose nuts and bolts on the frame.
To avoid loosening the nuts, regularly inspect the bolts and nuts once every week or during the inline skate maintenance[How to Maintain Inline Skate]. When they are loose adjust accordingly and ensure the frame falls into place with the boots.
Conclusion
Some problems with inline skates are minor and easy to solve. However, if you aren’t sure about tackling the problem, then visit a technician for help. Ensuring that your rollerblades are in their best state is a step towards avoiding future accidents.