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 would think wow look at her, I wish I had that skill! Go for it.

People really need to care less what people think but also realise people don't always think negatively. We had 2 people who unicycle down the lane I work on and it's way out there but I think it's amazing!

Go for it just get some knee and elbow pads.... just in case :-) and enjoy!!

If you live anywhere near me, we could be skating buddies 😄

I'm 47 and took it up again a couple of years back. I get a lot of smiles when I skate in the park

I’d be really envious as I can’t even stand still in the buggers without falling over. Unless I’m on carpet that is. Get elbow, kneepads and helmet and get your skates on.

I've got a pair I used to be fab at skating but years of unfitness leave my shins sore. Still love them though and past caring what people think of me

I would think you were very cool and I would be jealous :)

”Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh, Bodyformmmm. Body form for you”

But seriously, I doubt I’d give you much thought if you were in the park. On the high street I might give a second glance and tut, mostly because our high street is busy with lots of elderly people & pram traffic, not ideal for speedy or unsteady skater boys/girls.

I had my first pair of roller derbies at the age of 5 and learned to skate on the boardwalks of Southern California alongside by BFF Danielle who’s dad was a total disco skater. If we weren’t on the boardwalk we were at the rink! And this was 1977 up until about 1984. I remember the first song I skated to! What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers.

I’d ask your middle aged skater what her playlist is! Then I’d tell her to rock on with her badass self. 🤘

If I won the lottery, I swear I’d open a proper roller disco, old school.

Up until 44 I was happily rollerblading around Hyde park (lived nearby), often pushing a buggy. I also used my blades as transport in central London. I only ever got stared at when pushing a buggy as I don't think people see that very often. Sadly, we moved and I haven't rollerblades in a couple of years as nowhere here to do it without a long drive. (Not even footpaths)

Finding places to skate can be the challenge as too much debris on the path messes up the wheels or makes you stumble. I’ve got quads (currently sitting in hallway as I want to go out on them but weather been too pants) DH has inline but he finds them harder to stop in. My DDs both have quads we are a skating family but only on local seafront & when they have cleared the wind blown sand. I’m mid-40s, had skates for 6yrs. Go for it! We all use wrist guards & kids have knee pads & helmets on.

I’ve got solid boots (adapted ice skating boots) as I have weak ankles now, the canvas boots of past years are too flimsy for me now.

I got suckered into going on the local ice rink at the weekend by the kids. Now I spent most of my teenage years hanging around the local ice rink - occasionally skating, mostly snogging unsuitable boys - so I thought I would still be pretty competent.

I have discovered I'm OK at the staying upright and moving forward aspect - but bloody hell my SPD in pregnancy knackered hip and plantar fascitis did not appreciate the rude awakening to muscle groups that would quite like to remain dormant.

Just take it easy - you don't bounce quite as nicely in your middle age as you did in your teens. But fuck what anyone else thinks!

I have one question- do I go for inline skates or roller boot skates?

Bit of a thread bump but i just found the thread now. I took skating back up at the start of the year and have fallen completely and utterly in love with it. I inline skate outdoors and quad skate at the rink. While obviously people's preferences vary that's a good rule of thumb when choosing. Inlines have bigger wheels and hit less surface on the ground so they are better for the rougher terrain of outdoors, less vulnerable to bumps, small stones, etc and they can go quite a bit faster. Quad skates are better for tighter spaces like in a rink as they are more manoeuvrable and can feel easier to control.

Get good skates, with PU wheels and ones that state they have at least 3 bearings. This is the "ABEC" you'll want and abec3, 5 or 7. If you are going to be skating outdoors get a softer wheel. This is the wheel hardness and you'll see it as a number(a), the harder the skate the higher the number. My inline skates are 80a and you honestly don't want anything harder than that for outdoors. They feel absolutely beautiful on a park footpath/bike lane. For indoor skates a beginner/someone going back to it might want to stick with a fairly soft wheel. 82a is a good hardness for a beginner. If you are a confident skater and want to practice for derby or do artistic skating (a bit like figure skating) then a harder wheel (with a higher number might suit you better.

And lastly. Protection. Once you are on our side of 35 you don't want to risk skating without protection. Wrist guards are an absolute must. Knee and elbow pads are also advised. They do an amazing job of protecting you in a fall. If I'm skating outdoors I wear a helmet. But do go back to it, it's an amazing hobby and so good for you. It's super easy on the joints an fantastic cardio work out and tones and builds muscle in the legs, butt, core and arms. It's actually really fantastic for your core and general balance.

I would love to get some roller skates! I used to be a roller kid, hanging around the local roller disco with my much older big sister who was a fantastic skater and who taught me how to skate (I was about 6 or 7). It shut down a couple of years later.

Not been on a pair since I was 13 and a new rink opened up in town, but was monopolised by some of our school bullies who made your life hell at school the next day if anyone they knew but didn't approve of dared show their face at the rink. I only went a couple of times. I would love to put on some skates, just to see if I can still do it - if my balance is as good as when I was child, though I would probably fall on my face, though I would love to try anyway.

i'd think 'that looks fun but i'd end up on my arse' - the Mr has a grown up adult scooter & loves going out on it during the summer evenings

I would love to put on some skates, just to see if I can still do it - if my balance is as good as when I was child, though I would probably fall on my face, though I would love to try anyway.

You should give it a go. It's honestly not that long since I got back into it but it makes me so very happy that I don't know how I did without it. It's amazing exercise, so good for so many parts of your body but just so, so much fun. You don't feel like you are working out, you just feel like you are having a great time and all the while you are getting fitter and stronger.

I also really love that there are two aspects to skating for me. I go with my son and it's a super family activity for us to share. And I also go alone/with my mum/with friends and it's my adult time, something I do for me.

I joined a fresh meat roller derby programme a few weeks ago and love it. I was borrowing equipment before and was in the situation where I felt so crap I needed lots of practice but also so crap that I'd be embarrassed to be seen outside.

I've got my own kit now and venturing out tonight for the first time to practice, feel a bit nervous but looking forward to it. I'm going to the park and DP is going to go for a run, while I skate.