-I need Oxygen (my skates got stolen)

The BBQ Pit
1

Is this strange karma or what! I make 3 posts to a skating post, and then my skates get stolen. Yes, they were in the bed of my pickup. Anyone could have grabbed them. But no one has in all my skating years before. I hope the asshole is not an employee where I work.

They were Oxygen XE’s. I got them 1 1/2 years ago for $109. Plus about 70 bucks for customizing.

If I only had smaller feet (size 14) I could get the same type of skate from Gary the skate shop guy. I know one person who wears my size and he does have an old pair of K2’s. But his phome # has changed.
Oh well, any suggestions on good skates. I am beyond K2. But Soloman’s I heard is good. Even some left over Oxygen’s
I don’t even feel much like drinking!! Maybe a toke.

2

wait… let me make sure I’ve got this right…

You left them in the back of your pickup truck?

Um… well it sucks that they’re gone, but I really can’t work up much sympathy for ya here.

3

Not much help today, but I know these guys used to carry Oxygen skates pretty cheap.

4

XE’s? Beyond K2? K2 make a load of skates better than XE’s.

Salomon do good rec skates, but what’s your preference - hard or soft body?

5

The soft body with the ankle hinge is good for beginner skates, and very comfortable. I had a pair of K2-76’s, but I get more power and stability out of the hard body. The XE’s are a humble skate, but add good wheels, bearings, metal spacers, ect., and I could reach faster speeds and longer cruises than with my K2’s. Of the people I skate with, most the faster ones have Oxygen XE. Of course, they got the same deal I did.
I have been offered Oxygen SE’s. It has a hard body with a hinge, supposedly much firmer than k2’s. THe K2’s seem to need replacing more often. I have seen some new model K2’s that look much better.

I still plan to stick with 4 wheels, and custom speed skates without ankle support are not even a thought.

6

Just last night I saw a pair of K2s with aluminum chassis that had the front wheel extended several inches forward (4 wheels) and a hinge in the chassis between the two middle wheels. $US350. The lengthened wheel base I could understand, but what’s with the hinge? Better maneuverability? In that case, isn’t it kind of cancelling out the lengthened wheel base? Cool looking skate, but kind of wonky idea.

I’ve got a pair of six-year-old hard-shelled Rollerblades. They’re still great skates, especially after mounting 86mm wheels, aluminum spacers and good bearings. All-black lace-ups, scratched and scraped after countless falls. Old skool, Baybee!!