Monday, September 15, 2008

A Chat with Rollerblade -- 104mm Hyper (Stripe and HyOctane) Wheels

Below is my conversation with Rollerblade regarding the their inability (along with Hyper's) to make available the Hyper Stripe (or HyOctane) 104mm/84A wheels that come with the new Speedmachine 10.0 in-line skates.
Note the time stamps of the corespondents.


Submitted via website:
08/30/2008 08:48 PM
info@rollerblade.com
Subject: Rollerblade - contacts

ROLLERBLADE - CONTACTS

name: Micah
surname: Fonoroff
address: 12666 Patton St
city: Broomfield
country: Colorado
zip code: 80020
phone:
fax:
e-mail: micahfonoroff@gmail.com
location: U.S.A.

msg: I bought a pair of Speedmachine 10.0 Skates about a month ago which I am very pleased with. I am, however, very displeased with the fact that the Hyper 104mm/84A wheels are not sold anywhere that sells the skates (online or in stores). I have been able to find select online stores that carry the 104mm wheel, but only in 89A and higher. I find these to be to hard for street skating. I have talked to a number of other people who are also having this problem. Is there anything you can do to assist.

Thank you

Micah Fonoroff



-------- REPLY --------

From: rollerbladeinfo@rollerblade.com
To: micahfonoroff@gmail.com
Date: Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: Rollerblade - contacts
Dear Mr. Fonoroff, Thank you for your support of Rollerblade. Unfortunately, we do not carry the 104 mm wheels, we were only able to purchase them for production, not to be sold separately. This wheel size was made by Hyper under the names, Stripe and HyOctane as well. Here is one website that sells them: http://www.skates4u.net/hyhyspwh.html Please know that we provide you this information as a courtesy, they are in no way affiliated with Rollerblade. Sincerely, Rollerblade Technical Team


----- My Response -----


From: rollerbladeinfo@rollerblade.com
To: micahfonoroff@gmail.com
Date:
Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 2:38PM
Subject: Re: Rollerblade - contacts Thank you for the information, but I had already found the site mentioned. And as stated in my original e-mail, they are too hard (91A & 93A). The wheels sold on the Speedmachine 10.0 are 84A. I am very disappointed that Rollerblade does not make these wheels available. If I would have known that these wheels would be this difficult to find, I would have thought otherwise about purchasing this skate. Is there anywhere that sells these wheels in 84A - 86A?

--
Micah
303.550.1166


----- Rollerblade's Reply Once again -----

From: rollerbladeinfo@rollerblade.com
To: Micah Fonoroff
Date: Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Re: Rollerblade - contacts
Dear Micah,
I certainly understand your disappointment, unfortunately the matter is not in our control. Hyper, the wheel manufacturer does not choose to make the wheels alone available to us for resale. You may have luck with them directly. I suspect with it being a newly available wheel they wish to protect their exclusivity.

Sincerely,
Rollerblade Technical Services

----------------------------------------------------------

I was both impressed to see their response time greatly improved from my original inquiry to their first reply, but this leads me to wonder why it took them so long in the first place. On another note, we see that they progressively provide less information and assistance (presumably to get me off their case).

I do see part of their argument... but completely disagree with them. What genius decided to package and sell a wheel that can't be replaced. These skates were more expensive than others that were comparable (except for the larger wheel capacity - 104 mm vs 100mm). If I (or anyone interested in these skates) knew that it would be virtually impossible to find wheels of the same size and derometer (the 'A' number rating of hardness), I may have spent the $100 less and gotten last years model (or even another brand).

I am not faulting Rollerblade for not carrying the wheel necessarily; I am faulting the fact that they sell the skate knowing that Hyper isn't making these wheels available to the public.

Now off to see what Hyper has to say....

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Denver Roller Dolls - Doin' it Again

Last night I went to my second Roller Derby; The Denver Roller Dolls - Mile High Club vs. The Minnesota Roller Girls - All Stars. The Mile High Club swept the All Stars quite nicely.

Eric and I hit the Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe for a few prior to the festivities (and I do mean festivities when it comes to the Roller Dolls). When I arrived at the Cafe to meet Eric, I found him sitting at the bar with no less than three of some of the finest beers in town in front of him. I sat down and he gracelessly handed me one of his beers for a taste.... All I have to say is "Ommegang was that a sour beer". Definitely a beer worth a taste or two. While Eric was finishing up another beer, I struck up a conversation with what seemed like a regular at the Cheeky Monk.

After our tasting frenzy, we left for the Fillmore Auditorium to secure our spot for the event. Once again we got the right hand corner; just behind the starting place for the Jammers. Just before the match Kon joined us again and a few minutes later my friend Bobby and his wife Courtney made an appearance. Interestingly enough, I also saw Brian (another friend of mine who I had also last seen there the previous match) with another friend Caroline (who I hadn't see n in quite some time). We were all a big happy family.



Vinyl Trax being in the pre-match exhibition and not play with the Mile High Club, stopped by to say hello and thank us for showing up just before the match began.



As the Dolls were whippn' some Minnesota skirt, I tended to make some noise (a loud whistle is appropriate in situations like these). Trish Forget (aka Lisa Remember) looked at me after a particular long and loud one and said "You sound like my mom". Now what was that supposed to mean?

Another oddity of the night was when Allyn (another girl having a good time out at the match with her friends) decided that "talking" to me was just as fun. What are you supposed to do when someone asks you to see their "augmented" breasts? Is there a polite way to answer? Needless to say they were very nice. Now, things progressed from there... Yeah, so..... she asked...... what was I supposed to do, say "No thank you Mam, I don't want to feel your augmented breasts". Bull shit! If anyone still thinks I'm gay, they can print out this post, roll it up, and stick it up their ass, thank you very much.



After the Derby, Eric and I decided to go to Benders Tavern for the After Party (not before hitting up Cheeky Monk again for a quick "good" beer).



The After Party was just about getting into the swing of things when we arrived. This time Eric and I went straight for the dance room where the fun was commencing. The Denver Roller Dolls along side the Minnesota Roller Girls cut it up like old friends (I just love how these girls can get along with ans socialize with the competition so easily -- makes it that much more fun to see this). After dancing out all of the beer, we departed before closing out the bar.

This was an unusual night for me. DRD events are always a blast and you never know what will happen.



Sunday, September 07, 2008

32nd Annual Labor Day Party

If you can read this, your invited...

I am having my 32nd annual Labor Day Party (yes, it is my birthday party) Saturday, Sept. 6th. @ 8:00pm or there abouts.

I'll have a variety of snacks, hors d'oeuvres', Keg O' Sunshine Wheat, liqueur, and other drinks.
Bring what you want, if you want.

Directions provided upon request.

----------------------------------------------------

Well, the party was a success. There were about 40 people over all that made an appearance. Unfortunately, I have no incriminating evidence (read: pictures) of the few who had "too much fun", but I'm sure I'll be seeing them again at another function where I can remind them.


I would like to thank everyone who came to celebrate with me. I had a fantastic time and hope to see y'all again before next year.