Skate Preview: the 2006 Rollerblade Collection

The New 90mm Lightning

The 2006 Lightning (men's)
(Click photo to see women's version)

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By Robert "Just the Factoids" Burnson

Rollerblade is streamlining its Lightning line of marathon-fitness skates for next year.

Instead of seven skates (four for men and three for women), the 2006 line is made up of five models (three for men and two for women).

Cut from the roster for next year are the models with four 84mm wheels. (If you want that set up, your only Rollerblade option next year will be the basic Crossfire.)

The bottom of Rollerblade's marathon line is now simply called the Lightning. It is a 4-wheel skate with 90mm wheels, which will come in a men's and women's version.

The men's version is black, white and gray with red accents. The women's version is white, gray and gold.

The new skate is similar to last year's 90mm marathon model, the Lightning 6.

But Rollerblade redesigned the inside of the skate (creating new lasts) to provide a better fit. (It did this with its entire line.)

It also gave the 2006 Lightning a new, longer frame.

The new Lite Speed 4x90 frame is 295mm long (11.6 inches). The frame on last year's 90mm Lightning was 275mm long.

The longer frame should make the skate a little faster.

The new skate will come with a new, lighter wheel, Rollerblade's Active HP 90mm, and the company's ABEC 7 bearings.

Unlike the other new Lightnings, this one will come with the brake installed. (The others come with a brake in the box.)

Street price is expected to be $249.

The skates should begin to appear online and in stores in mid-January 2006.

(Mount spacing on the Lite Speed frame is 190mm.)

(Photo: Rollerblade)

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Copyright © 2005 by Robert Burnson