Inline Skate Equipment & High End Bicycle - Where to buy in Bogota?

Bunyipcatcher says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:05:

What do you want to do with the inline skates? Play hockey? Skate socially on the ciclovias? Or ride ramp or a skate park? Or competition speed skating?

A bit more information if you please

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tabla says on Nov 24, 2008, 14:00:

I went on a wild goose chase all over Bogota for a few days looking for inline skates. This was for a close friend (female) who is taking a 4 or 5 year professional skating course in Medellin. (Sunday mornings) She has done it for 2 years and needed better skates. We found the biz in the end and they made up a pair for her. I would have to hunt for the details, so give me a prod if you still need it.

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twmcm says on Nov 24, 2008, 14:22:

Tabla - see above for prod :-)

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twmcm says on Nov 24, 2008, 14:32:

Bunnypatcher:

My primary interest is speed, outdoor or indoor - either for fun or competition (after I get used to the elevation!).

Social on the Cyclovia would be a second choice so long as I'm not left putzing around at 3 kph waiting for stragglers.

Speed is my specialty . . . no interest whatsoever in hockey, ramps, parks, etc.

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Bunyipcatcher says on Nov 25, 2008, 08:23:

TWMCM,

No worries. Near Parque Simon Bolivar in Bogota there is a speedskating rink there. I have seen competitions there. So might be best place to start asking around about clubs etc. Also have seen kids from a club training on the ciclovia. But best bet would be to start at the place above and see what you find out. As for stores selling gear...hmmm....There are a couple of bike stores on CL127 west before the autopista. You could try them.

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webmanco says on Nov 25, 2008, 09:28:

There are some clubs training around Biblioteca Virgilio Barco in front of Parque Simón Bolivar east side. Saturday and monday mornings.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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tabla says on Nov 25, 2008, 14:08:

Thanks for the prod! Most necessary! I have come up with the following scanty information.

I have written San Andresito (Grande). I think this means there are two areas in Bogota called San Andresito, and this was the larger one. There were two very similar stalls/shops on the main drag in a pretty central position selling skates and a few other things. I am sure they are run by the same people. I paid 580,000 for a good pair but the best were 1 million (from memory). They made them up from some other pairs to give the girl what she needed. As I said before, I got many leads from people but all were useless until I found this place. It's a bustling retail area and many buildings are shopping arcades full of small traders selling just about everything. But these two little shops are right on the main street.

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tommie2 says on Nov 25, 2008, 15:12:

call Martha Ariza - she is Bont distributor in colombia - 011573158896596

gringo george

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twmcm says on Nov 27, 2008, 15:55:

Tommie2: Thanks much for the reference. I spoke with Martha and then went to meet her daughter Laura.

Laura lives here in Bogota and has a lot of the things I needed. I bought a set of Matter Juice wheels and Bones ceramic bearings. I also got a complete Bont SemiRace setup for the novia.

Her prices are cheaper than in the US. Laura has Bont, Hyper, Matter, Boen, Answer, etc.

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La_Huella says on Nov 27, 2008, 23:12:

There are more than two San Andresitos in Bogota. I'm not sure how many there are in total, 6 or 7??

For bikes the big area is cll 13 west of Av Caracas down to about I think Carrera 20 or 22.

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tabla says on Dec 1, 2008, 15:57:

Well I asked the taxi driver for San Andresito and he asked "the big one or the small one?" It was evidently the big one. I presume that is the one and only one in the Lonely Planet:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/bogota/shopping/419191

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