What would you think if you saw a middle aged woman roller skating down the street?

[PottyPotterer]

Honestly? My finger is hovering on the buy button. I see grown men flying along the street on skateboards and scooters but can't say I ever see adults on roller skates. I was a 70's kid, loved roller skating and teens were spent hanging out at the local roller disco. My first pair of skates were those metal adjustable ones that you strapped onto your normal shoes . Then I got 'proper' skates, blue suede with rainbow stripes which I would still have had my brother not found them in my parents garage and sold them at a carboot . Back then we just skated on the roads as there were hardly any cars, not even sure you're allowed to skate on pavements . Anyway have a hankering to take it up again, mainly for fitness trying to keep my arse up where it belongs , I went ice-skating for the first time in years recently and picked it up again no problem, balance and coordination good so what's the verdict? Am i going to look like a twat?

I could ice skate as well but I preferred roller skating on quads. Probably because I wasn't restricted to a rink. we use to skate all over the village and down a small hill, were we would squat or do the duck all the way down and try to negotiate the corner at the bottom without flying off the curb we also use to spend hours on the school playground on light nights and weekends.

My DS has some inline skates he's outgrown I might go dig them out the cupboard, I did try them years ago but didn't really get a look in.

Thinking about it we have a photo of my Grandma when she was in her mid 60s (in old fashioned granny dress) happily skating about a roller disco, at one of my cousin birthdays parties. you're never to old.

Just give it a go!

I live in a little city with an old indoor rink(?) that runs several sessions a week. One of the guys that volunteers and taught DD to skate/stand up is a regular volunteer in his eighties!!

Much to my bemusement, several of my friends bought skates. One had done it properly as a kid. Another ploughed round as an alternative to running. "Skater Mum" teamed up with some younger folk and they get together in a 'village hall'/ante room to practice bits and bobs.

If you want to street skate, start in a park (unless your LA has money to mend pavements etc).

Good luck OP

A few weeks ago I saw a man in a top hat riding along the road on a penny farthing and carrying a croquet mallet. That's the level of crazy you're up against, OP
Do it! It sounds ace!

I would be jealous af. I had a pair of the boots with rainbow sides in the 80's and I wish I was able to/confident enough/less fat these days. Go for it!

Do it OP
Who cares what people think!

montydon
Do you live in Buxton?
If you do, say HI to him from me

I'd think you were awesome

Talkin
It was in London - but near Victoria station so he could have been visiting

I'd think you were pretty cool.

I'm looking into it myself now!!

if it was in a park or down on say brighton beach front, I'd think "how cool".

If it was just on the normal pavement I'd probably think "idiot" (and thats male or female, i think the same at 20+ males on scooters). Dangerous if can't control them on a public footpath.

I’ve seen plenty of adults roller skating in parks, never on the road or pavement though.

To answer your question...

Old skool quads or blades? it depends on what you want to do…

Fitness skating: blades are faster, easier and more efficient. Much harder to fall over.

Quads: retro cool, easier to start with if you’ve used them before and if you are considering certain hobbies (derby or artistic skating) you will have to use them.
Cons to quads are the can be heavier and much, much easier to fall over, especially forwards. Kneepads and wrist guards are an absolute Must.

So if you wanna dance at the disco, I’d go with quads, if you want to breeze along the esplanade effortlessly then blades. You can still take blades to the disco though.

I’ve got both, but use the quads the most. I’m old skool.

Also, if you are skating in the street, and Theres a Risk of crossing paths with vehicles, I’d also recommend a helmet, bike helmet is ok.

Yep, park or beach front wouldn’t bat an eyelid.
Local high street? attention seeking loser.

Op: if you want people to look at you just wear great clothes!
If this is about fitness then great, but stick to the parks.

Oh god no I don't want people to look at me, it's purely for fun and fitness, just wish it was seen as something normal like running. It's low impact and weight bearing which suits me as my knees aren't really up to high impact exercise anymore.

Ideally want to do it outside and get up a bit of speed so probably looking at inline skates, wouldn't say no to a bit of roller disco though!

Glad to have Inspired others, if I see any other skaters out there now I'll know they're mumsnetters

I've just googled local rinks.

I was 50 in January so perfect time to go back.

I'm in Cheshire if anyone fancy's joining me? Will look out my 1986 skates tomorrow hopefully the light up dynamo wheels still flash.

I'd think fair play to you!

Do it you will have great fun.

I love mine, go for it!

I would laugh ( not in a bad way or at you) because it would be so unexpected on our street.
I think you should go on MeetUp.com and set a group up.

I would think, ‘HOORAY!!!!!!!’ and would jump on my bike, put my hood on my head so I could wear my coat like a cape and join her. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

Too much coffee, perhaps.

I'd be admiring your balance!

I bought some roller skates a few years ago.

My idea was that I would roller skate to the swimming pool as it was very near, did not warrant cycling but was still quite far to walk and be back in time for work.

I forgot two key things:

1. I live on a huge hill - at which the swimming pool was at the bottom
2. I didn't know how to stop

I set off OK but half way down the hill gathering speed I felt myself beginning to panic and had to abort by swan diving into a hedge.

I decided it was more hassle than it was worth.

I would think she is bloody brilliant!!

I roller-blade. I"m not middle-aged though! It's great fun. Go for it! Wear helmet, pads etc though, falling over or on your backside will hurt :-)

And I went to a roller disco with my nieces last year! Brilliant fun.