New Skates

Perhaps an internet search on ebay, craigslist, and skating websites could yield good results.  Otherwise I bet the www.roadskater.net community or www.triangleskateclub.com could offer useful advice.  I'm using Powerslides and I need to tweak the heal fit a little - anything more than 40K isn't good. 

 

I don't recall there being any vendors with skates at the 24 hour race last year, but maybe that will be different this year... Most likely, though, you'll have to just bite the bullet and order another set (assuming you can't get your K2s to fit well.) People have had good luck ordering from Asphalt Beach (http://www.asphaltbeach.com/) which has a nice return policy if they don't fit right. Call them to confirm details of that first though... I think basically as long as you don't skate on them outside and they still look new, they'll take them back. Just about any skate can take a brake. Some come with a brake, some have it available as an option, and others require an after-market brake. GatorbackSkate used to sell a very nice aftermarket brake, but I don't think he makes them anymore. (He just sells the pads for it now.) If you get boots & frames separately, he does sell a frame with a built-in (and non-removable) brake that is very good. Bont has a couple skates that you can get brakes for, but I've heard the brake pads are awful (and expensive.) The "right skate" is going to depend a lot on the type of skating you want to do. If you want to stick with a "recreational" skate, I'd say try a Rollerblade skate next and see how that fits your foot. If you're ready to upgrade to something more like a "racing" skate, then there are tons of options. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to find something that fits well and is comfortable. If it's not comfortable, you're not going to want to skate so it defeats the whole purpose of getting the skates in the first place. - SM -