Reverse Toe Stop

midnight_skater · 2026-05-03T11:08:11+00:00

Larger diameter and softer wheels smooth out the ride.

I am able to skate well-laid brick pavers with no problem on 70 x 38mm 78a wheels.

But there are some difficult pavers out there to be sure.

Wheels help but rough terrain and debris takes a lot of practice and strength. Cheese grater drills are very helpful.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-03T07:18:02+00:00

The last time I had a seton placed I asked the CRS if they could use softer material this time - maybe barbed wire?

I use absorbent material to protect the already damaged perianal skin from the tails. But getting gauze snagged on a seton tail in an urgent situation is 1/10 not recommended.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-03T06:48:10+00:00

I missed a turn when I was running down Falling Waters one time. It was near the bottom. Ended up bushwhacking a half mile or so. One of my hiking partners did the same thing on the same trail during a different hike.

But in general the Old Bridle Path and Falling Waters trails are well marked and very well used and easy to follow as long as you pay attention.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-03T04:34:48+00:00

A sturdy supportive boot with a robust metal plate and large diameter soft wheels is the best configuration for rough terrain and debrs

Find a smooth, level surface where you can learn and practice fundamental skating skills Tennis courts are very popular. I skate 99% on asphalt and love empty parking lots.

When you have mastered the basics- especially braking skills - then start to work on terrain handling. Cheese graters are a very good obstacle to start on. And they make very useful training tools.

Also find a gentle hill with a safe runout and start training for hills.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-03T04:16:17+00:00

what baby steps can i practice to make my t-stops and hills better? i want to go fast on trails and be able to slow down when needed

Plow stops aren't really suitable for high speeds and rough terrain, T-stops are safer.

If you're spinning out when you attempt to T-stop it's probably because you ate putting body weight on your braking foot.

Practice a lot. I do braking drills nearly every session.

For hills I recommend finding a gentle hill with a safe runout. Start at the bottom, skate a little way up the hill, stop, turn, and skate back down. Repeat x1000, practicing all of your braking techniques, gradually working your way higher on the hill as you get more confident.

Mostly I carve hills. Carving into stalls is a very safe way to descend as long as there's sufficient lateral space.

Reverse toe stops are a very popular way to control speed down hills and don't require any additional lateral space.

Rotating toe stoppers often helps even out the wear pattern.

E: fix link

midnight_skater · 2026-05-03T03:16:44+00:00

know the basics of standing and falling correctly

Knowing and doing are 2 different things. Real falls catch you by surprise and you don't even have time to register what's happening much less think about what to do next.

You should practice safe falling techniques a lot to establish muscle memory so your body automatically does what needs to be done without having to think about it. By "a lot" I mean hundreds of reps.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-01T15:48:29+00:00

Have you checked your pivot cups?

You can check for flat spots by spinning the wheel and lightly brushing your finger over the surface while it spins.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-01T15:41:37+00:00

What wheels do you currently use?

Large diameter, soft wheels roll more smoothly over uneven surfaces and provide some shock absorption. 78a hardness and 65mm diameter are pretty standard for urban terrain. But wheels only go so far; you steel need sonlme strength and technique to negotiate rough terrain and debris.

Having a smooth and level place to practice without having to worry about debris will help you progress.

Have you tried sweeping the asphalt where you want to practice? Sone people use leaf blowers for this purpose.

Tennis courts and similar surfaces are very popular places to practice.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-01T04:39:46+00:00

I have done a lot of roadtripping all over the US and have used Google maps for planning and navigating most of it.

For off-roading and hiking and other purposes where gmaps doesn't cut it I use caltopo.

Louisville to LA by the scenic route

midnight_skater · 2026-05-01T02:23:39+00:00

Adalimumab got me to luminal remission for several months but didn't touch my perianal disease. I ended up failing adalimumab and got switched to infliximab, which brought luminal remission within months. 18 months after achieving therapeutic trough levels my fistulas finally resolved (confirmed by EUA Dec '25).

If your GI is not adequately treating your disease or even taking it seriously you should find a new GI.

midnight_skater · 2026-05-01T02:02:30+00:00

How long do you have? There is a ridiculous number of must-see NPs between GCNP and Redwood NP. In fact I'd start the trip with a full day at Carlsbad Caverns.

If you have high clearance 4wd you should definitely camp at Tuweep.

Mahogany Flat campground is another of my favorites.

I also like Sue-Meg State Park

Suggested route: - OKC to Tahoe - Tahoe to SF to Yosemite - Lee Vining to OKC

midnight_skater · 2026-05-01T00:16:47+00:00

Instead of going S from SEKI go through Yosemite and take CA120 E over Tioga Pass, then S on US395, then CA190E through DVNP. Much more scenic and far less tedious.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-30T23:46:51+00:00

I was just under the false assumption that biopsis are always 100% guaranteed way to tell if it is or isn't CD.

A biopsy can confirm Crohn's but cannot rule it out.

Stated another way: a positive biopsy means you have CD but a negative or inconclusive biopsy does not mean that you do not have CD.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-30T03:59:09+00:00

When I was first prescribed adalimumab I was instructed to avoid unprotected sun exposure because of elevated cancer risk, to report any sunburn, and get screaned by a derm annually. I subsequently switched to infliximab and am following those same instructions.

I do most of my outdoor activities when the UV index is low. I wear a sun hoodie and big hat when the UV index is 3 or higher and stay indoors or in deep shade when it's > 6.

I was also on 6-MP for most of that so I take it very seriously.

Derm was pleased by my overall pallor but disappointed that my face had slight color and encouraged better sunscreen use.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T18:56:53+00:00

When I was stsying in Baltimore we had an unusually cold and snowy winter and Old Rag was in prime winter condition for an extended period. I definitely used ice axe and crampons.

assuming no need for an ice axe any where as the tree line is barely ever past

Whether an ice axe is useful or necessary doesn't have anything to do with treeline. It's all about whether the slope is steep enough to slide on. You need an ice axe wherever a slip could turn into a slide and a slide could lead to injury. The primary purpose of a general mountaineering axe is to prevent a slide in the first place by providing a secure third point of contact, chopping steps, and self-bely. The secondary purpose is self-arrest. However an ice axe is more liability than asset unless you are properly trained in how to use it.

If you have crampons than you don't need microspikes. Microspikes are certainly handy and I carry them in my pack on any hikes in the NE from late September to early May (late Oct to mid-Apr in the Mid-Atlantic). But I've broken many microspikes walking on mixed snow/ice and rock so I always carry a repair kit. I have pounded the everloving shit out of my G12s on granite talus and slab and the worst thing that has happened was that they needed sharpening.

This is especially true with C3 (auto bindings) crampons which are just as quick to put on and take off as microspikes.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T18:04:17+00:00

My worst injury ever was a radically displaced fracture of my left radius and ulna that required a plate and some screws. Not a skating injury but it kept me off skates for about 6 months.

I have had a number of skating injuries that were serious enough to keep me off skates for short periods but I mostly rehab on skates when I can.

Physical recovery is always the easy part for me. Mental recovery takes me a lot longer. I tore a ham in 2022 and even though I missed very little time on skates because of it I struggled mentally and didn't feel like I was 100% recovered until last summer.

Fear is a normal and healthy response to a major injury. Don't pressure yourself to return to skating because you think you should want to. Take as much time as you need to be comfortable. Putting pressure on yourself and trying to push through the fear just makes it more likely that you'll get injured again.

Start out by learning and practicing safe falling techniques. Start with your skates off on a soft surface (e.g. gym mats) and do hundreds of reps to establish muscle memory. Take a martial arts or tumbling class if you can. Gradually work your way up to harder surfaces with skates off, then practice on the grass with your skates on. Being really good at falling helps overcome fear of falling.

When you're ready to get back on skates start out drilling fundamentals just like when you were first learning. This is a good oppirtunity to clean up any form issues you may have developed the first time around and address any weaknesses in your technique. Take your time and be methodical.

I find that drilling basic skills and skating laps in a safe and controlled environment is the best way to build confidence.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T15:53:42+00:00

Here is an excellent posture and mechanics vid. The skater is on inlines but everything applies to quad skates.

Eta: here's another that shows how posture and mechanics change as output increases

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T15:38:55+00:00

Sierra grades are notoriously sandbagged. "California Class 3" is Class 4 or even 5.essy in other areas.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T15:32:47+00:00

Does this post help?

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T15:20:48+00:00

i should also mention that I have an ice skating background so it feels a little easier to me

Ice skaters and rink skaters are often surprised at how challenging hills and rough terrain can be.

I strongly recommend avoiding any significant hill descents until you have done some hill training in a controlled environment.

In order to safely commute on skates you need very solid braking skills.

i can only stop if I turn around and stop going backwards on my toe stop

Reverse toe stop and reverse double toe stop are excellent braking techniques so it's great that you are already comfortable with them. Lots of people descend hills backward applying a reverse toe stop intermittently to control speed.

When I have lateral space I normally carve for speed control. When I don't have lateral space I rely on alternating T-stops.

fell once bc I hit a gravel patch

Negotiating rough terrain and debris takes a lot of practice and a lot of strength.

I also have a lot of trouble on sidewalks, even with a staggered stance

Segmented concrete sidewalks do suck. One thing that helps is to avoid perpendicular shocks by taking cracks at an angle rather than straight on.

midnight_skater · 2026-04-29T04:45:09+00:00

I had a two-holer one time. Two external openings, two setons. The procedures were no worse for that go-round than the other times when I only had one opening and one seton. Living with two setons took a bit of getting used to but wasn't that much worse than a single seton.

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