The video: how to tune up your quad roller skates

Rioter's Block walks you through what to look for when checking out your wearable roller skate parts. Good for roller derby setup and outdoor quad skates.

Its the end of the season; now what? Those tired feet need a rest. Time to put 'em up and get your holiday season kicked off properly…by fantasizing about the skates of your dreams! Maybe with a hot toddy in hand and a yule log burning on the TV…..

Creating your dream boots doesn't simply mean expressing your inner gear head or skate architect with style; they can provide a more precise fit, which will improve your skating experience and overall foot health. From choosing unique colors and hand cut designs to adorn them with, to having two different sizes or widths for your special-needs feet--custom and special make up boots can be just about anything your 'lil tootsies desire.

You may or may not have heard, but there's a lot of hullabaloo surrounding which helmet offers the best protection for roller derby players. 187 Killer pads have teamed up with WFTDA to conduct a survey about helmet use in roller derby. And there have been several articles written in the past year that extoll the virtues of one kind of helmet over another.

Triton Plates come standard on a few of the intermediate-level complete skate packages like the She-Devil and Minx, for instance. 

I recently had the pleasure of touring Riedell's facility in Red Wing, Minnesota. It was an eye opening experience to say the least, and I have a new respect for the time and care each pair of skates receives. Almost everything is hand made right there in their warehouse and 1 pair of boots can pass through upwards of 15 different hands. Run by the Reigalman family, the company has very little turnover and many of those employed by Riedell have worked there at least 20 years. Knowledge of their boot-building craft is apparent and they have made a proficient system for each detailed step involved in fabricating every pair of boots. I was surprised to learn that some of the machines used in their manufacturing have been around since the early 1900's!

Needless to say, it was an enlightening experience and I thought I'd share what I learned so you can get the lowdown on what it takes to get those pretty boots under your feet….

Most entry-level skates have the following features: they consist of a padded synthetic or lower grade leather boot, a nylon plate, and basic to mid-level wheels and bearings. Almost all of these boots are available in full sizes only. They vary slightly in their width and overall fit. Determining which entry-level skate is right for you can be done by answering the following question: