Wow, didn't expect to de-lurk for my first Silverfish post for something other than longboarding..
I ride those, and they're awesome. There's a steep learning curve for sure, but once you "get it", you're in heaven. I learned to ride mine on flat ground from the start, and it took me 3.5 hours spread over three days before I could propel myself. I've seen posts from other Freeliners where it took them considerably longer, YMMV. But even though they're difficult, they're not as dangerous as they look- I've been riding for a month now, and have only fallen 5 times. Generally, you just wind up on your feet when things go wrong unless you're going pretty fast; which is why most of my falls happened towards the end of that month, when I got better & faster.
My brother's got my skates now, he's picking it up faster by using a slight downhill instead of flat ground to learn on. (Why's my brother got my Freelines? Because I jacked my ankle on my new longboard. Well, not on it, I guess. Grr, no skating for 7 days now and still not healed. I'm gonna get back on it, though.)
Anyway, to anybody reading this.. if Freelines look cool to you and you're debating whether or not to get some... get some. They're an effing blast to ride, and the looks & comments you get from people are priceless.
i got a pair when they first came out, the 'thane the old wheels were made out of sucked so my wheels are completely chunked to hell. Freelines are fun to do from time to time but nothing can beat a board. everyone who has a pair knows if you bust them out around people they will stare and ask many questions. o and it took me 2 weeks to learn how to ride them on flat ground.
so this threads been dead for a while but i was wonderinhow these things hold up.... it looks like they would get pretty scratched and rusted..im deef in the market and also is there a difference in the wheels cuz on the website it gives u the standard red wheels with the set but u can buy an extra set of like 4 assorted colors, are the different colors different duros n stuff
They hold up fine. I mean, the edges get scratched pretty quick, but you're in the wrong sport if you want to wax 'n polish your equipment, you know? I don't think there's much chance of ever breaking them just skating, they're built pretty tough. I have seen a few pics of skates guys have managed to chip a corner off of a deck, always due to tossing the skates. You can still skate on 'em after losing a corner if it comes to that. Rust? Aluminum doesn't rust.
As for the wheels, I've only tried the black ones, but AFAIK they're all the same other than the color. Freeline doesn't publish the duro info, but I think it's around 78a. I've also tried a set of Rainskates Hornets (98a) on mine, but those are strictly for super-nice smooth concrete, like at a nice skatepark or on a polished concrete floor or something. The stock wheels work better on the street, even nice new asphalt.
I was at the warped tour,
the freeline team was there riding the miniramp,
not impressed,
there was a guy riding xliders at my park
not impressed,
I can ride both right away,
cause I use to own a snakeboard.
IMO, the snakeboard is the most fun on the flat.
True, Freelines aren't impressive to watch on ramps; at least not when compared to skateboards. They are hella fun to ride, though, and the more modest-looking tricks are just as difficult as the flashier tricks you were seeing the skaters do. Fact is, they're just plain harder than a skateboard, particularly when it comes to ramp tricks and big air. Really, they're more about the challenge and the ride than they are about showing off tricks. Although, when it comes to the flats, people are way more impressed watching a Freeliner just cruising than they are watching a skateboarder push.
I haven't tried a snakeboard (I'd like to, though!), so I can't say which is more fun, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that being able to ride a snakeboard does not mean you can suddenly ride Freelines. Riding a bicycle doesn't mean you can ride a unicycle.
I test rode both briefly, and could get them going due to my experience with snakeboard.
Well, then I'm impressed. I've yet to find anybody that could get them moving on the first day, regardless of other rides they've mastered.
Quote:
but I think they are all just novelty toys....
they all have major drawbacks...
if you are a good skater, slalom or bowl,
you wouldn't bother with these.
IMO, snakeboard is best for flatland wiggling after a couple of beers...
One man's stoke is another man's novelty toy- ask a non-skateboarder sometime if a skateboard is a toy. Drawbacks? Seems to me somebody finds one drawback or another with every ride out there, usually by explaining how it can't do such-n
Freeline Skates??
Grr, no skating for 7 days now and still not healed. I'm gonna get back on it, though.)
I don't think there's much chance of ever breaking them just skating, they're built pretty tough. I have seen a few pics of skates guys have managed to chip a corner off of a deck, always due to tossing the skates. You can still skate on 'em after losing a corner if it comes to that. Rust? Aluminum doesn't rust.
