LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Adam B(GMF) · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 237

I am curious about why people carry on with speedskating competively when it would seem that unless you started at an early age, and/or devote a very large part of your life you are not going to win anything and are going to put yourself through a lot of painful training and hard races. Yet we keep on doing it!

Personally I know that I do it to test myself and I'm the only person I'm competing against -but i have been there when I am keen to find out where I placed or am disappointed if I didn't give it 100%. I think that I need to focus on the fun aspect more and be happy with the results based on the amount of time I train and the amount of time I want to devote to training above other things. I also have to admit to having an addiction to endorphins.

So why do other people do it?

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Pretty much same here. The battle is largely against yourself. However, within the club you can race against other people who have come in to it late and you can spur each other on to greater personal achievements. Speed skating alone is much more difficult.

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

I like lots of stuff about speedskating:

The self improvement thing
A marathon is like a mirror you hold up to yourself, you get to learn things about yourself you can't find out any other way. Both physical fitness, technique, and mental too.
Endorphine boosts, this is getting bad now, I'm actively seeking out hills to hurt my body with, for example.
The excitement of such a big race. It's like a funny kind of NTWNS.

Adam B(GMF) · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 237

Tim · Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 381 Location: leytonstone E11

For me skating is my ultimate way to relax and have a whole lot of fun.
Taking part in these marathons is for me not about winning as i know there is not a chance, but having as much fun and challenging myself to do better and better with each competition.
Skating as part of a team is a joy as like has been said, you can coax your teammates into surpassing themselves again and again.
I think that without our team i would not carry on speed skating as there would not be anybody to share the experience with.
An experience shared is an experience doubled.

Hmm..not too deep that was it ? Laughing

Hans · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:54 am Subject:

Too many to list… but the shortlist would be

Gav · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:20 pm Subject:

It's all about the challenge. The challenge to myself of proving that I can do this - starting from nothing (remember I only started 3 years ago minus 6 months of broken leg!), and building it up to a point where you're proud of what you've achieved.

If you do want to push it, you're right, it is a question of dedication. How much are you willing to commit to your personal challenge.

Amar · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:55 pm Subject:

all of the above, but not having experienced enough marathons or speedskating trials, perhaps a little presumptuous of me.

in the end...

- the ability to move at great speed under my own energy. what a rush.
- the knowledge that my technique will continue to improve. there are always things to learn.
- the knowledge that it's good for me, and about 4-gazillion times better than watching TV.
- the community and friends i've made and will continue to make.

merten · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:37 pm Subject:

I don't know, I'm 25 now so I hope to get fast enough to at least be competitive at a regional level. I'm sure there will neither be time nor ability Smile

to go anywhere further.

Speedskating is probably the fastest way you can go without any helping machinery (even bikes have gearshifts - bearings and wheels do not count as they only help maintain a speed you achieved). So this certainly has its aspects. And it is the most attractive way of streetskating for me, which is important as I do not want to skate for racing alone.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

Adam B(GMF) · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 237

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

Plus your skates have gearing anyway.

merten · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:59 pm Subject:

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

Your skates have gearing - it's the toe out angle since they are really a simple wedge machine. That's why you have to open your toes more to start and to go up hills, and close off the angle to go fast. They're just infinitely variable within their limits.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

A skate converts a high force exerted over a short distance (the sideways push) into a lower force over a much longer distance (propelling you forwards). Which is conceptually the same thing as gearing does. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_machine - in their terms it's basically a wedge, though it's being used "backwards" from how wedges are usually used