Gatorback Comments!

This page is devoted to comments from our customers. If you have comments about your Gatorbrake, please email me (mark@gatorbackskate.com).

Eric Kleffman in South Carolina tests the Gatorback Leash!

"Hey Mark,
Thought I would drop you a line and let you know how the beta testing is going down here in Greenville, SC. The Gatorstop Leash is AWESOME!! I have been drafting cyclist in Cleveland Park on my lunch hour, and they are amazed at how quickly I can now stop!!
I did get my first "vehicle" draft last week!! I was able to catch a bus, use my brake to slow down and then accelerated with it!! I was confident enough with the leash that if I needed to stop, I could have!! WHAT A RUSH!!! yes, I know how dangerous it is.... but what a RUSH!!
The only modification I have made is this. I am using a K2 brake axle in the front. This sticks out enough that I can tie the shoe lace to the front axle.
I will try to get some pictures this weekend for you.

Thanks again for sending that to me!!"

Dave Wysochanski -- Road Closed!

"Today on the ride we had this one long downhill that ended in a "road closed" type sign. We flew down the hill and there wasn't much time at all to react. But me and Sibert both used the leash and were able to stop in time so we didn't go flying through the barrier (it was marked on the cue sheet but we weren't paying close attention to it since the route was so well marked)."

Mark Virtue finds amazing power after only two weeks of using the Gatorleash:

I thought you'd like to know that I went to an Eddy Matzger clinic this weekend and I was ask several times by the participants to demonstrate the leash :) The amount of stopping power it generates is amazing to the point that I'm not confident enought to handle it but that is my problem and not the leashes.

Note: It takes a little time to develop the technique to handle all the power that the leash provides. Braking power is usually improved after the first couple of days but most customers need four to six weeks before they fully master the system.

Dave Powell at the skating strip in Singapore

Hi Mark, Got to try out the Gatorbrake over the weekend fitted to my 384 frame. Saturday was down at THE skating strip in Singapore, where it was nice to be able to ride the brake to a stop rather than wearing out my wheels doing a T-stop. Sunday was the real test. I skated to a nearby park via the footpaths. The approach to the park is on a long downhill with a set of traffic lights at the bottom. There is no way I can T-stop that one, but with the Gatorbrake it was as easy as any of my other skates fitted with heel brakes. I suspect that now I've got the Gatorbrake fitted to the 384s the other frames and skates are going to gather dust.