As long as the weather holds out, inline skaters will be zipping along the lakefront and gliding through forest-preserve bicycle paths. With the fall leaves show, autumn can be the best time for blade action. Here are Web sites that offer skaters tips and camaraderie:
Skate! Chicago
www.skaters.com/index.html
Inline skaters from all over the city have rated the best places to skate. Links to maps show exactly where the blade action is. Some of the best locations include Grant Park’s Bicentennial Plaza, Navy Pier and Northwestern’s campus in Evanston.
In-line skater
www.xcscx.com/skater/
On-line skating lessons are the big draw at this artistically designed site (the backgrounds look like types of asphalt). There are tips for aggressive, fitness and hockey skaters. A link to safety tips is helpful, as are buying suggestions.
Skating the Infobahn
www.skatecity.com/Index/
This site has plenty of information for the high-octane blade runners (the ones who don’t have trouble stopping). There are safety tips, lists of clubs and organizations, images and even a look at traditional rollerskating.
Inline on-line
bird.taponline.com/inline/
This e-zine has plenty of pictures of on-line skaters, plus a list of “Skate Parks of the World.” Lots of instructions and tips are here too.
