i got my skates back on friday. they were the same ones they’d sent me last time, but with the eyelets repaired. for some reason they changed out the laces they originally sent (nice waxed ones) with some that aren’t as good (still bont though). they came late in the day friday, and both my friday and saturday were full. the first time i got to actually skate was sunday morning before church.
let me backtrack a little. i heat-moulded the skates more, this time working on the outside ankle-bone area. the problem is that my ankle bones are maybe 5/8 inch higher than the last the skates were built on. i guess in the future that means i really should get custom made boots. i’ve worked several hours – multiple heating/forming/cooling cycles – and still don’t have an especially good fit. my ankle-bone is completely above the carbon part of the boot, but it’s difficult to get that part of the boot to fit securely.
when i skated sunday morning i ripped up my ankles quite a bit in just 4 miles, as well as creating some good blisters in the achilles tendon pad area. i think some of this was due to the ankle-bone issue, and some to frame alignment.
and now some general comments on the skates. on the sizing; i should have ordered a size 8/41, even though i’m 9/42 in every shoe i’ve worn since high school. the bont’s run quite large – i probably have 3/4 inch in the toe area. i don’t think it especially hurts the fit, but it’s not the way skate boots are supposed to be.
the hyper stripe wheels that came on them are quite gummy. the “cheap skate” (pun unavoidable) in me will force me to use them for a couple months, but i’m sure better wheels would improve the experience – probably the matters everyone seems to be skating on.
the white patent leather does look gay. i’m sure this is to motivate us to spend the money for apache’s (which are red) or vapor’s (which have a choice of colors) if we can possibly afford them.
having said all that, i think i’m still going to love the skates. they feel very solid and predictable. there was a 20 mph wind yesterday morning that made it a little rougher going, but i did get into a a good double-push rhythm for a mile or so and the skates felt really good. also, coming down a hill on the skate path with some twisty “s” turns, i felt much more in control than with my old skates. i’m going to use my ezeefit ankle booties to mimimize my skin damage if i skate again this afternoon.
so, let’s begin a new skate log for these skates wheels bearings:
4 miles this week, on the bont jets, on the bont bearings, on the hyper stripe wheels.
Tags: blisters, bont jet, bont skates, ezeefit ankle booties, heat molding
