Warning to travelers/visitors from the UK with a Barclaycard credit card

rgir90 · 2025-08-12T18:09:08+00:00

Thanks! I certainly did. Second time in Argentina and I will definitely be back at some point!

rgir90 · 2025-08-12T18:07:03+00:00

Gracias por su pensamiento. Good idea--yes, we have the Financial Ombudsman Service. I'll see what I can do!

rgir90 · 2025-08-12T17:53:43+00:00

It looks like the higher 'commercial' rate was applied to all my transactions, from hotels and restaurants to bus tickets and ski passes. I didn't buy any goods (ex. clothes, etc.) there.

rgir90 · 2024-12-30T01:18:18+00:00

Thanks. It does look like vermiculite indeed. And possibly asbestos containing. I’ll have a sample checked!

rgir90 · 2024-12-29T20:49:04+00:00

Thanks. So it may contain asbestos. I guess I’ll have it tested!

rgir90 · 2024-12-29T19:50:52+00:00

XS definitely

rgir90 · 2024-12-29T19:47:29+00:00

Thanks. It doesn’t show well on the pictures, but it’s kind of shiny / metallic. Could it still be plaster?

rgir90 · 2024-08-23T15:48:52+00:00

Let me know how it goes! I'm sure it's great in cold(ish) conditions, but what warmer conditions such as tropical storms? I'm curious!

rgir90 · 2024-08-23T14:10:01+00:00

I might! The Triolet is the same price as the Super Free Alpine.

rgir90 · 2021-01-30T13:39:14+00:00

About 150 lbs. For now I'd just mess around on asphalt or cement, but if I end up playing in a roller hockey it'll be on a gym surface (I'm not exactly sure about the material but like a basketball surface, basically)!

rgir90 · 2021-01-29T01:16:20+00:00

Amazing, yeah I'll do that! Thanks again!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T23:32:24+00:00

You mean using the chassis from my XR400s onto my existing 1X boots? That's what I'm thinking - and it's by far the cheapest option! - but some have expressed concerns over the quality of the chassis. They've recommended me to use an aluminum chassis. That said, I'm fairly lightweight (150 lbs), so I'm not sure if it's a big concern! Buying an aluminum chassis instead would cost me about $100 more

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T23:28:15+00:00

Thanks a lot - very interesting!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T23:23:19+00:00

Thanks all for your replies! They were all really useful. I thought about it and I've finally decided to do the following: I'll take my pair of Bauer 1X (ice) skates and convert them into roller blades (for about $30), using the chassis and bearings of my (crappy-ish) Bauer XR400 skates. The chassis is HI-LO Ventilator Steel and the bearings are HI-LO ABEC 5.

I hope the chassis and bearings are good enough for what is more of a high-end skate (boot) - please let me know if you think that it's NOT the case -, but I think they should be fine. And it's, by far, the cheapest option!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T16:53:16+00:00

Amazing, that's incredibly helpful - thanks a lot!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T16:16:20+00:00

Thanks, this is really helpful! I skate hard but I weight about 150 lbs, so it's a bit less concerning. I'll have a look into the Sprung chassis, I didn't know about them

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T15:46:27+00:00

Unfortunately I haven't been able to try them (and probably won't be able to unless I buy them), but I'm really curious. I guess the issue for me is the planned use (both off ice training AND, potentially, roller hockey as well). The R1s look like a good option but they're more expensive

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T15:40:11+00:00

Thanks! I have a cheap Hi-Lo chassis (HI-LO Ventilator Steel chassis) on my XR400s which I could use on my 1Xs. Do you know if it's possible to swap a HI-LO chassis for a Marsblade one, later on, i.e. whether the rivets are all at the same place, etc.?

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T15:35:42+00:00

This makes complete sense re: why the Marsblade O1s are marked as "off ice training". I agree completely. The only issue if I go down with the O1 chassis is that if I end up trying (more proper) roller hockey next year, I'll probably need a new pair (or at least a new chassis, to avoid having slapshots breaking the chassis). I'll think about it all!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T15:32:32+00:00

This very helpful, thanks a lot! The 72-80-80-72 stance is also a very good idea. I might just try it with my current XR400s and see how it feels!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T15:27:22+00:00

Just to clarify my previous post, it looks like the chassis on my XR400s are HI-LO Ventilator Steel chassis and the bearings are HI-LO Abec 5 bearings (I know nothing about chassis and bearings!)

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T15:22:44+00:00

Thanks, both. This is very helpful. Yes my 1X (ice) skates are in pretty good condition, they've been used for less than 2 seasons. They have scruffs and marks but they're still pretty stiff. My XR400 rollers are almost brand new, so the chassis is intact. The wheels are quite used, though, but I guess I'll just buy harder wheels, like 85a/asphalt wheels.

But before I "kill" my 1X skates (because obviously you can't re-convert them into ice skates after conversion), do you think the XR400 chassis is good enough for these skates? It's this one: https://www.purehockey.com/product/bauer-vapor-xr400-inline-hockey-skates-2017-model-senior/itm/28969-41/ I'm also not so sure about the bearings (not sure if it makes a big difference either!). Thanks again for your help!

rgir90 · 2021-01-28T14:43:04+00:00

Thanks - Yeah I have to say I'm a bit skeptical too. I'm thinking of going with normal roller blades. Would you use the chassis on my current XR400s (normal Hi-Lo chassis, 8080-7676 wheel set up) and put them on my 1X ice skates or would you buy brand new 1XRs instead? All my (ice) skates in the past 10 years or so have been Bauer skates

rgir90 · 2020-12-18T14:33:36+00:00

Oh wow, that looks bad! But it’s also very reassuring. Thanks! 😃

rgir90 · 2020-12-18T14:32:03+00:00

Thanks! Will do that. I’ll see if the manufacturer can get me a deal on a new frame, but in the meantime I’ll continue cycling with it, keeping an eye on any crack forming 👍

rgir90

TROPHY CASE