Derby Lite is not your typical fitness group. These are women, mostly suburban moms, many of whom are Oak Parkers, learning and practicing the sport of roller derby. They don't compete with other teams, and may never, but twice a week the group meets at West Suburban Montessori School to socialize and exercise, while on skates.

There's a wild side to these women, or simply another side to these women. It's apparent in the team's logo: "Gentler hits, saggier ...." Ugh, let's just say that last word rhymes with mitts. The G-rated logo is "For women old enough to know better."

Upon retiring from the Windy City Rollers, a real, competing-and bruising-derby team, Oak Parker Barbara Dolan, or Queen B, started the recreational league last year. The group has blossomed to approximately 40 members. If you don't know roller derby, it's not for the weak heart, or bottom. Queen B says her tailbone can testify to that.

"One of the reasons I retired from the Windy City Rollers was due to injuries," says Dolan, 44, a part-time worker and mother of two who ran for village trustee last year. "But we're not doing anything like rough hits with this group. This is a more subdued version of roller derby. The girls are here to hang out and get fit. Don't get me wrong; they work hard, but they also have a lot of fun doing it."

The Derby Lites, many of whom are first-time roller skaters and self-described non-athletes, practice for nearly two hours twice a week. Queen B puts them through rigorous drills, and the team even scrimmages from time to time.

"The way I look at it is you can pay something like $100 per month to join a health club, never meet anyone and be bored with the same old workout. Here, you have the opportunity to meet similar women, while doing something fun to stay in shape," says Dolan, whose membership fee is $30 per month, which she says goes to rental fees for the gymnasium at the school and special events like when the club rents out the Lombard Roller Rink once a month starting in March or April.

Some of the derby dames have joined the club simply to relieve stress.

"As for me personally, I got involved in roller derby mainly because I was a stress case and looking for some relief," said Harlene Ellin, or Hellin Wheels, another Oak Parker. "I'm 45, have three kids-14, 12, and 10-and just went back to work full-time this fall. My husband, who plays hockey, was encouraging me to exercise to help relieve stress. He thought I'd do yoga, but I opted for roller derby instead. I'm not the type to hang out at the gym in spandex or walk around town with a fanny pack around my waist. Yoga is too mellow for me. Derby sounded funny-and a bit edgy."

Are they edgy? Some have tattoos, some wear short skirts and fishnet stockings to practice. And after our phone interview, Queen B left me a message about the club's "Gentler hits, saggier-" logo. It wasn't to make sure I kept it out of this column.

"Regarding our tagline," she explained with a chuckle, "I just want to point out that not all of my ladies are thusly endowed. Many of them have perfectly and lovely perky ones, not at all saggy. So I just didn't want to go on the record thinking that we all do because not all of us do. Have a nice day."

Thanks, Queen B, for clearing that up.

Contact: bspencer@wjinc.com