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Your skate bearings are one of the major components of your skates. And in the world of inline skating there are two main types of bearings that dominate the marketplace: ABEC and Swiss. ABEC and Swiss bearings dominate in the marketplace not because they are brands, but rather these two bearing types dominate in the marketplace by classification. In fact, many bearing manufacturers will produce both ABEC and Swiss rated bearings. The biggest questions that exist between the two are:

 

1.) What’s the difference?

 

And

 

2.) Which is better?

 

The answer to the first is rather simple. ABEC, an acronym for Annular Bearing Engineering Committee, refers to the perfection of a bearing. Historically ABEC ratings have been used to grade the quality of a bearing and the smoothness of the polish. According to the ABEC rating system, the higher the ABEC rating a bearing receives, the more efficient the bearing will operate. The more efficient the bearing operates, the faster speeds it is capable of producing. Presently there are 5 classes of ABEC ratings:

 

• ABEC 1 – Class 0
• ABEC 3 – Class 6
• ABEC 5 – Class 5
• ABEC 7 – Class 4
• ABEC 9 – Class 2

 

The above ABEC ratings correspond with the stated class above as measured by the International Organization for Standardization.

 

The Swiss bearing came long after the ABEC rating system. The primary difference between the Swiss and the ABEC are the standards for which they are rated on. The Swiss system takes into account not only the smoothness of polish on the bearing, but also the entire assembly of the bearing itself. Swiss argues that their rating process and the bearings they produce roll faster and shed debris with less maintenance.

 

Simply put, the difference that exist are in the standards used to rate the bearing. A Swiss bearing utilizes the same rating for smoothness of polish, but adds the process as a whole to its ratings process.

 

When making a decision to purchase a new set of bearings for your skates, your decision should be based on what you plan on using your skates for. Swiss bearings, while easier to maintain are generally more expensive. Out of the box, they also tend to be a bit slower, based on our personal opinion. However, if you plan on skating very frequently and in long stretches, or even marathons, the speed of a Swiss bearing will be beneficial for you in the long run.

 

ABEC bearings are generally less expensive and will be faster out of the box. However, ABEC bearings tend to be more susceptible to debris which can cause friction inside of the bearing itself, and make them less efficient. If you are a recreational skater who skates occasionally, you may not need to spend the extra money on bearings. Instead, educate yourself on bearing maintenance to help extend the life of your ABEC bearings.

 

 

Bearing Lubrication:  Oil or Grease?

 

Regardless of the type of bearing you decide to purchase, you will need to select the proper lubricant to service your bearings and help its performance. The two most common types of lubricant that you will be considering are oil and grease. Both work effectively, but each has its own pros and cons given a situation.

 

Oil is much thinner than grease and as a result creates less friction inside of the bearing. The less friction that is present in-and-around your bearings means the bearing can rotate faster, making your wheels rotate at a faster rate, allowing you to accelerate faster, and maintain speed longer. Unfortunately, the high viscosity of oil does a poor job of keeping dirt and dust from entering the inner parts of your bearings, potentially creating large amounts of friction if not serviced routinely and correctly.

 

By comparison, grease based lubricants offer the opposite effects on wheels and bearings. Grease is thicker than oil, which creates more friction for the wheel and bearings. This makes a grease lubricant inferior to oil in respect to speed. From a positive standpoint, grease lubricants are the perfect choice to protect the bearing from water, dirt, and dust. This allows the bearing to go for longer stretches with less friction from these elements.

 

The bottom line when it comes to bearing lubricant is that you want to consider how often you are going to be using your skates, and how often you will be able to flush the bearings and re-oil or re-grease. If you are buying a skate and want low maintenance, you will probably want to get a grease based lubricant. However, if you are buying a skate for aggressive uses like hockey or speed skating, and you plan on taking good care of your skates, then an oil based lubricant is the better selection. No matter which lubricant you select, remember that you do not need much at all. A couple of drops of oil based lubricant or a dab of grease should get the job done on each bearing.

When purchasing a pair of inline skates you should consider the money that you spend as an investment. Like most investments, you will want your inline skates to last for a long time before having to replace them. There are many ways to ensure that this takes place, but one easy way is to routinely rotate your wheels.

Wheel rotation on your inline skates is similar to the process of rotating wheels on a car. The process consists of removing your wheels and then positioning them in a different spot on your frame than they were before. The purpose of this is to make sure that the wear taking place on your wheels is balanced. Most skate wheels are made of a urethane material that while long lasting, begins to wear down after many uses. If you do not properly rotate your wheels, you will wind up with wheels that are severely worn down in one direction. This makes skating very difficult, and forces you to purchase new wheels to remedy the problem.

Ideally you should be checking your wheels before and after any skating session, but every couple of sessions is okay too. Checking before you skate will allow you to assure yourself that your wheels are in good condition to skate on. Checking after you skate will allow you to gauge how much your wheels are wearing down. The rate at which your wheels wear down will depend on the type of skating you are doing and the terrain you are skating on. If you are skating on an indoor skating rink, your wheels will not wear down as fast as if you were skating outdoors on pavement. Also, the Durometer rating of your wheels will play a factor in the wear as well. Keep these two things in mind when inspecting your wheels and making a determination whether you should rotate or not.

A standard wheel rotation should involve swapping wheel position, as well as flipping the wheel so that the inside edge now faces outwards. This will help keep the wear balanced and prevent you from having to replace wheels worn to a 45-degree angle on one side. Additionally, swapping wheel position is important because pressure isn’t always applied equally on each wheel. To remedy this issue you will want to swap wheel positions. You are welcome to re-position your wheels in any manner that you like, but the following method is the most common for 4-wheeled fitness or recreational skates.

1-3-2-4 Swapping Method:

For 4-wheel skates with wheels that are all the same size, you will want to utilize the 1-3-2-4 rotation. This method is known as the 1-3-2-4 because it requires the 1^st and 3^rd wheels on the frame to be swapped, and the 2^nd and 4^th wheels to be swapped.

There are other swapping methods as well, for 5-wheeled skates and Hi-Lo roller hockey skates as well. For a more in-depth review of those processes, please review Inline Skates 101 Guide.

Flipping and rotating your wheels is an easy way to save some cash, improve the performance of your skates, and increase the longevity of your skates in general. If you don’t feel like rotating your wheels, you are more than welcome to purchase new wheels every time, but don’t be upset if you spend more money on replacement wheels in 6 months than you did purchasing your skates.

Preventative Maintenance

The key to keeping your skates rolling and performing like the day you bought them is preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is nothing more than a few simple decisions on your part.

First, make sure you choose the right surfaces to skate on for the type of skate you own. Avoid skating through water, sand, mud, or any other type of material that can cause severe damage to your skates. The fewer opportunities your skates have to get dirty and collect debris, the longer they will continue to perform like the day you took them out of the box.

Second, if you want to avoid Stinky Skate Syndrome, make sure you select the appropriate sock to wear while skating. This should be a thin athletic sock. If you wear thicker socks, the more moisture builds up and the more your skates will stink. Once Stinky Skate Syndrome sets in, there is not a lot you can do about it.

Restorative Maintenance

If you have slacked on the preventative maintenance but you want to get an old pair of underperforming skates back in top shape, you will need to conduct some restorative maintenance.

Restorative maintenance will require that you focus on 3 areas of your skates: Wheels, Bearings, and Brakes.

Wheels: Rotating inline skate wheels is an essential part of keeping skates performing well. Analyze the wheels of the skates you are looking to restore. If they are in good enough shape to keep, analyze them for a rotation.

Bearings: Likely the key area to look when skates are underperforming. Bearings that are properly cleaned and lubricated will perform best. It is highly recommended that you remove the wheels from the frame and inspect the bearings for debris. Conduct a cleaning and lubrication before inserting them back into the wheel hub. Keep in mind that when servicing your bearings, there are two types of bearings you are likely to encounter. For a more thorough discussion on how to service and maintain your bearings, please review our Bearings Article.

Brakes: Checking your brake is a very important part of the inline skate restoration process as well. If you spend the time to make the skates go faster, you may just want to spend a bit of time making sure you can stop as well. Many brakes will have a recommended ‘wear-line’ that will help you determine how low you should allow your brake to wear down. We recommend that you do not wait until your brake gets to this line, but rather keep an eye on it and change it when you feel it becoming ineffective.

In similar fashion to other elements of inline skating, wheels have seen their fair share of advancements over the years. Wheels that you find on modern inline skates are manufactured from polyurethane. Seldom will you find wheels made of any other material, unlike decades ago when inline skating began its emergence. Many skates manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s had plastic wheels, which were ineffective and cracked easily. Nowadays, very few skates (typically skates for children) offer anything but a polyurethane wheel. The following discussion will take you through many of the important items you should know about inline skate wheels.

Inline Wheels: An Overview

One of the most notable things about inline skate wheels is that are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and hardness ratings (Durometer). Due to the overwhelming selection that is available, it is good to know that most wheels are designed for a specific type of use; therefore, it is easier to decipher which wheel you need to get for your skate.

Knowing which type of wheel you need is important because it may be the difference between a smooth, comfortable skating experience and a disastrous one. In order to determine the type of wheel you need, you must account for each of the following items:

* Size

* Durometer Rating (hardness)

* Type of Skating

* Shape

If you do not account for each of these items you will run the risk of purchasing the wrong wheel. This not only will make for a poor skating experience, but it is also a waste of your money because you will have to replace them again.

In addition to the items listed above, skate wheels also incorporate other elements, including a bearing, bearing spacer, and a hub. To help you locate where each of these items exist, you may review the following image:

Inline Wheels: Size

Inline wheel sizing is measured by diameter and stated in millimeters (mm). Wheel diameters will vary in size from very small (57mm or below), to very large (up to 100mm). The variances exist due to the different types of skates that are available. Very large wheels are most commonly found on racing skates because larger wheels allow for higher speeds. Smaller wheels on the other hand offer faster acceleration and deceleration, which is why most skates do not utilize the larger wheel sizes mentioned previously.

To provide you with a general idea of the wheel diameters you will find across the different skate types, here is a short breakdown:

Aggressive Skates: Require high rates of acceleration to perform tricks and jumps. The typical wheel size found on aggressive skates is 56mm, and rarely larger than 59mm.

Recreational/Fitness Skates: Depending on the level skater the skate is made for, recreational and fitness skate wheel diameters can range from 76mm up to 90mm, and anywhere in between. Remember, 90mm wheels are rather large; therefore they should be used by skaters who are comfortable at higher speeds.

Roller Hockey Skates: Many roller hockey skates will utilize what is known as a Hi-Lo chassis. This type of skate frame is unique in its set up because it uses two different size wheels; larger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front. This is important because it will require the purchase of 4 smaller wheels, and 4 larger wheels. Typical adult Hi-Lo frames are set up to accommodate wheels up to 80mm in the back and 72mm in the front. This set up is different for junior Hi-Lo frames, and depends on the size of the skate.

Some roller hockey skates may not use this style frame, using a traditional frame that uses 4 wheels of equal size per skate.

Speed Skates: Wheels for this skate type are usually larger than you will find on any other skate type. Commonly, the wheel diameter is larger than 90mm for the purpose of higher speeds. Additionally, speed skates are unlikely to use a brake, but instead will feature a wider wheel base, and also potentially use 5 wheels instead of the typical 4 wheels. Keep this in mind when you are searching for wheels for a speed skate.

One very important item to keep in mind when shopping for wheels is that skate frames have a size capacity. This means that they may allow for a slightly larger wheel than what comes stocked at time of purchase, but not much larger. If you purchase a wheel that is too large, it will either not fit on the chassis, or the wheels will rub together. Either way, it means you cannot skate, so be sure you do not purchase a wheel that is too large.

Also, if you desire to purchase wheels smaller than what was stock on your skates, keep in mind that a smaller wheel may require spacers to account for additional room between the frame and the wheel. Commonly it is recommended that you replace your wheels with the same size they were manufactured with.

Inline Wheels: Durometer Rating

In addition to wheel size, wheel Durometer is another important aspect in wheel selection. A wheel Durometer is simply the hardness rating of the wheel. Durometer ratings are indicated by a number following by a capital letter A. The hardness scale runs from 0 to 100, with 0 being the softest rating and 100 being the hardest. While the rating scale is from 0 to 100, it is not likely you will find a wheel that has a rating softer than 68A. A wheel softer than this is likely to wear down too fast, regardless of its use.

Inline Wheels: Type of Skating

To determine what Durometer rating you need, you must determine what type of skating you will be using your skates for. Softer wheels are to be used on smooth surfaces such as indoor hockey rinks or skating rinks. A softer wheel is ideal for this type of surface because it has better grip than harder wheels. It also equates to faster acceleration. If you are looking to skate outdoors, but desire a wheel that will absorb shock, you can use a wheel with a Durometer rating at the upper-end of the soft range, usually around 78A. Keep in mind however, that if a softer wheel is used too often on a rough surface, it will wear down very quickly, and in some cases chunk apart.

If you are planning on doing some recreational or fitness skating, the lowest Durometer rating you will want to use is a 78A. This rating will provide you with an excellent combination of grip and speed. Additionally, this Durometer rating will provide you the flexibility to take your skating indoors, without worrying about slipping and sliding on the floor. If your plan is to skate exclusively outdoors, you’re probably best to get a wheel with a Durometer rating that is slightly higher, perhaps 82A or 84A. This will offer increased speeds, and it will not wear down as quickly on the rough terrain.

Aggressive skaters will want to seek out harder wheels, usually no less than 88A. The reason for this is because of the terrain it will be used on, the abuse it will take, and the speeds that aggressive skaters require.

The Durometer rating that a roller hockey player uses will depend on whether the hockey is being played indoors or outdoors. If it is indoor hockey, the Durometer will range from 72A to 74A for maximum grip and maneuverability. If it is outdoor hockey, perhaps street hockey, the Durometer rating will need to be higher to compensate for the surface it will be used on.

Inline Wheels: Shape

Wheel shape may not seem like an important element of your wheel selection, but do not be fooled. If you’re sitting there saying to yourself, “Aren’t all skate wheels round?” you are correct, but it is the profile shape of that wheel that makes the difference. To help you understand the profile shape differences, please review the following image:

Beginning from the left, you will notice that aggressive skate wheels will have a flat profile, looking very much like a rounded rectangle. The purpose of this design is to provide an aggressive skater with a larger landing surface when performing jumps and tricks.

A recreational wheel will resemble a standard elliptical profile, with a narrow center and graduated edges. This design offers skaters with a stable foundation to skate on, while simultaneously allowing easier turning and acceleration.

A hockey wheel will have profile shape that is rounded more than a recreational skate. This rounded profile offers maximum contact for the skater regardless of the angle they have their skates. Hockey skaters perform many turns, many of those being very sharp. The round profile makes it much easier to accomplish those turns, as well as accelerate and decelerate easily.

Finally, speed wheels will have a pointed appearance. This profile is designed to create the least amount of rolling resistance possible. It is however important to point out that they will have less grip too.

Inline Wheels: Other Things to Account For

In addition to the items discussed above, the following items are also important to take into account when selecting wheels:

* Spacers

* Wheel Core

Inline Wheels: Spacers

Every inline skate wheel will hold two bearings and contain a nylon, plastic, or aluminum spacer in between them. The purpose of a spacer is to provide an exact bearing alignment for better free-wheel spin and additional torsional strength to withstand harder impacts.

Aluminum spacers are the preferred choice among inline skaters, primarily because they allow for better heat displacement than nylon or plastic spacers. This allows the wheel to perform better.

Inline Wheels: Wheel Core

A wheel’s core contains the hub and the spokes of the wheel. Its design is very similar to that of a wheel on an automobile. Just as an automobile wheel will have a rim on a tire, a skate will have a core that contains the hub and spokes. Contained within the hub are the bearings and spacer. The purpose of the core of a skate wheel is to prevent the wheel from coming in contact with the bearing. Additionally, it acts as an internal stiffener to help the wheel maintain its shape when under stress. To help you better visualize the placement of the core and the hub, please review the following illustration:

The core of an inline skate wheel is typically made of nylon or plastic. This will keep the wheel weight at a minimum, and help keep the overall weight of the skate at a minimum as well. A wheel that does not have a hub will deform around the bearing, slowing the wheel as a result.

Wheel cores will vary depending on the type of skate the wheel is designed for. An aggressive skate wheel core is more than likely going to consist of a solid plastic, no spoke design. Comparatively, a racing wheel will typically have a super-light plastic design with many spokes. This design, which is also found in other variation on fitness and recreational skates, is used to make the wheels lighter and allow maximum air flow. As a result, speeds are greater and more air passes through the bearing, allowing it to cool. Keep in mind however that the core design of a speed, fitness, or recreational wheel requires less rubber to compensate for the larger core. This means that the wheels will not last as long, and requires increased attention to wheel maintenance.

Inline Wheels: Maintenance

When it comes to skating, wheel maintenance is an often overlooked practice. Many skaters simply believe that wheels and bearings are replaceable; therefore, they do not need to maintain their wheels. While it is true that wheels and bearings are replaceable, this does not mean that you should neglect your wheels. In fact this should indicate the exact opposite. Wheels and bearings are going to go through a lot of wear-and-tear over their lifetime. Whether it is dirt, rocks, water, or just rough terrain, wheels and bearings will take a beating. The less you maintain your wheels and bearings, the more money you will have to spend to replace them.

When maintaining your wheels, the most important item to look for is wear. As was discussed earlier, softer wheels wear faster than harder wheels. Therefore it is of the greatest importance that you understand the type of skating terrain your wheels are designed for and you skate on that terrain.

Inline Wheels: Maintenance: Rotation

Wheel rotation is a necessary practice regardless of the type of wheel you have, and whether you are using your wheels on the proper terrain. Wearing down of your wheels is completely normal, but can cause you major issues if it is not handled properly. What is meant by this is that you can rotate your wheels to help distribute the wear evenly. This will increase the longevity of your wheels and make your skating experience much better.

Wheel rotation on your inline skates is similar to the process of rotating wheels on a car. The process consists of removing your wheels and then positioning them in a different spot on your frame. You are welcome to re-position your wheels in any manner that you like, but the following guidelines are highly recommended to insure your wheel wear is even.

For 4-Wheel Skates: 1-3-2-4

For 4-wheel skates with wheels that are all the same size, you will want to utilize the 1-3-2-4 rotation. This method is known as the 1-3-2-4 because it requires the 1^st and 3^rd wheels on the frame to be swapped, and the 2^nd and 4^th wheels to be swapped. Additionally, it is recommended that you flip the wheels so that the side that was facing out is now facing in. To help demonstrate this rotation method, please review the following illustration:

For 5-Wheel Skates: 1-3-5-2-4

Skates with 5-wheels will be a bit tricky, so please pardon the confusion that you may have, as we will try to explain as best we can through text and illustration. To rotate wheels on a 5-wheeled skate, you will reposition the wheels in spots 1, 3, and 5. The best way to do this is to move position 1 to position 3. The wheel that was in position 3 is moved to position 5, and the wheel in position 5 is moved to position 1.

After re-positioning wheels 1, 3, 5, you can now re-position wheels 2 and 4. Swap the positions of wheels 2 and 4 in the manner illustrated below:

It is also recommended that you flip the wheels when rotating. The side of the wheel that was facing to the outside should be facing inside after rotated and flipped. This will keep the wear even and increase the longevity of your wheels. Furthermore, it creates a smoother ride. Here is a complete visual of the rotation process for a 5-wheel skate:

For 4-Wheel Hi-Lo Skates: 1-2-3-4

This rotation process is most common on roller hockey skates, as they are typically the only skate style that utilizes a Hi-Lo frame. Hi-Lo frames require a different rotation process than other 4-wheel inline skates because the wheels in the back of the skate are larger than those in the front. As a result, the wheels in the back cannot be swapped with those in the front. To rotate wheels on a Hi-Lo frame, you will use the 1-2-3-4 rotation. The wheels in positions 1 and 2 will be swapped and the wheels in positions 3 and 4 will be swapped as well. Here is a visual to help you with this process:

Inline Wheels: Maintenance: Replacement

At some point you will have completed all of the rotations that you can on a set of wheels. At this time you will need to replace your wheels. The real question is when is that time? How worn do your wheels have to be in order to be replaced? This question is one of many answers because wear is different from skater to skater. The best answer we can provide you is that once your skates become difficult to skate on and they no longer sit flat on the surface it is time to consider replacement. Also, if see a very noticeable angle on your wheels, it is probably time to replace your wheels.

To help you better determine if your wheels need replacement; please review the following diagram of skate wheels at different angles:

Here is a breakdown of the illustration above:

A.) Perfectly new or relatively unworn wheel will look similar to this. At this point you do not need to do anything.

B.) Early stages of a wheel with uneven wear. Consider rotation and flipping at this point. This will help to even out the wear and increase the longevity of your wheels.

C.) Advanced stages of a wheel with uneven wear. The wheel has been rotated and flipped several times and is beginning to show wear on both sides, indicated by the sharp tip being created in the middle. Should consider replacement if skating is becoming difficult.

D.) Severely warn wheel that needs to be replaced. Skating is surely difficult at this point and skating any longer may result in the core and hub cracking.

Compare your wheels to the images above to determine your best course of action. If it is time to replace them, determine the size and Durometer you need and follow the simple steps for replacing outlined below:

* Unscrew the axles with the proper tool (typically an Allen Wrench/Hex Key)

* Pop out the bearings and spacer from your old wheels (while these are out, it may be a good time for a little bearing maintenance as well)

* Put your bearings and spacers into your new wheels

* Reattach the wheels with the axles

To help you with maintaining your skates, please feel free to print off the Inline Wheel Rotation Worksheet provided below (click image for enlarged/printer-friendly format). This will allow you to keep track of the maintenance on your skates and, ensuring that your wheels reach their maximum life span.

(click image to enlarge)

What is the difference between inline skating and rollerblading?

 

Inline skating is the official term for the sport commonly known as “rollerblading” or “blading”. Rollerblading is the commonly misused term for the sport due in large part to the inline skate manufacturing company Rollerblade. Contrary to popular belief, Rollerblade was not the first company to manufacture inline skates. They were however, the first company that managed to popularize inline skates and the sport. Their success in the market was so great that they were the only company in the inline skate industry for a long time. With a lack of competition, Rollerblade was naturally the market leader. This ultimately led to the generic use of the term “rollerblading” when referring to the sport of inline skating, despite the entrance of other manufacturers to the market years later. Similar examples of its generic use would be the use of Kleenex, Coke, or Xerox.

 

I have learned how to slow down, now how do I go faster?

 

The key to going faster is to continue learning how to slow down.  You know how to slow down, but the faster you go, the more difficult it is going to be to stop. Therefore, you must learn new techniques while continuing to refine those that you already know. Until you can fully master slowing down, your mind will limit how fast it will let you go on skates.

 

One great way to learn new techniques, of both stopping and skating is to watch experienced skaters. Upon your observations you will quickly notice that they rarely have both skates on the ground at the same time. Independent leg action is something you’ll master over time, but it is one of the key components to skating faster. You can practice independent leg action by simply seeing how long you can glide on a single skate. Once you can glide on a single skate for more than 30 seconds (both left and right legs, not just one!), you will be well on the way to skating faster.

 

In addition to independent leg action, you will also notice via your observations that almost all of the side-to-side motion is happening below the waist. If you can eliminate any twisting motion in your shoulders and keep your shoulders square to your direction of travel, you will find greater balance, increased confidence, and faster speeds. If you must move your arms, move them forward and back. Crossing patterns with your arms will, in all likelihood require you to twist your shoulders. Relax the muscles in your lower back to allow your upper body to remain quiet.

 

Finally, observe the stride of experienced skaters. You will notice that the stride is pushing almost exclusively to the side. You will want your stride to do the same. Observe and critique your own stride. Are you pushing more to the side or to the back? Where do you set your skate down at the start of your stride? Is it shoulder width? If it is, try setting your skate down on the centerline of your body. Once you are comfortable with that you can start setting your skate further in beyond your centerline. Lastly, do you flick your toe at the end of your stride? If so, stop. Instead, drive your heel out at the end of the stroke. This will increase your speed as well.

 

How do I skate backward?

 

For some, the idea of skating backward is an intimidating one. However it does not have to be. Skating backward requires a certain degree of confidence and of course some coordination. To gain a feel for the process of backward skating, stand in one place and roll your skates back and forth from center edge to inside edge. What this will allow you to do is gain a feel for the edging you need for pushing backwards and moving backward. From an inverted V-stance, push your skates out and back on their inside edges, coming back up on center edge as they come together in a V, heels touching. Stop, and then roll forward on inside edges until you return to your original inverted V-stance. Repeat until you are comfortable.

 

 

Once you are comfortable moving from edge to edge in a backward fashion, you can then begin experimenting with the most comfortable way to gain speed and also make turns while skating backward. In all likelihood your skating technique will naturally adjust from a repetitive bulge (illustrated above) to a wavy-type skating style.

 

When should I rotate my wheels?

 

Wheel rotation is a very important aspect of inline skating, so we cannot emphasize enough the attention you should pay to your wheels and the overall maintenance of your skates. Wheel rotation schedules will vary depending on the type of inline skating you do, as well as the frequency of your inline skating excursions. As a general rule, rotate your inline skate wheels whenever there are any signs of uneven wear. Uneven wear of your wheels not only makes the skating experience less enjoyable, but it shortens the life of your wheels. For some skaters the wheel rotation schedule may be every two or three months. However, if you skate frequently, several times a week each month for example, your rotation schedule may require wheel rotation more than once each month.

 

What is an ABT brake?

 

ABT brakes are one of the many innovations that have come from inline skate leader Rollerblade. Designed for beginner inline skaters, the ABT brake was developed to assist new inline skaters with braking. Unlike most brake systems for inline skates, the ABT system was developed so all four wheels of the braking skate would remain in contact with the ground.

 

ABT brakes work like this: the cuff of the skate is connected to a braking arm that is pressure sensitive. When pressure is applied on the cuff the connected arm is pushed downwards, initiating contact between the brake and the ground. Applying pressure to the cuff is done by simply sliding the braking skate (typically the right skate) forward. This applies rearward and downward pressure on the skate cuff, initiating the ABT braking process. ABT brake systems are a great asset to beginner skaters due to their simple design and ease of use.

 

Am I too old to skate?

 

Well, define old…just kidding! Absolutely not! While this may be a frequently asked question, it hardly qualifies as a question in our book. Skating is everyone sport. It doesn’t discriminate, nor does it playa’ hate! Inline skaters are represented by a vast age range, from toddlers to grandparents, blue-collar workers to retirees. If you are savvy enough to have used the Internet to find this guide, you are more than capable of lacing up some inline skates and hitting the road.

 

What is Aggressive Skating?

 

Much like inline skating is a variation of roller skating, aggressive skating is an extension of inline skating. Yet despite being an extension, aggressive skating is not for the faint at heart. Aggressive inline skaters often perform dangerous skating tricks on ramps, quarter and half pipes, rails, and anything else they deem suitable. Aggressive skates are heavier, more durable, and have a grind plate located in the center of the skate chassis between the two front and rear wheels. While aggressive skating doesn’t discriminate or playa’ hate on age either, this sport is certainly popular with the younger crowds. Skaters in this category are very experienced and have come to terms that they will fall…and fall very hard often times.

 

Are there any health benefits to inline skating?

 

Most definitely! Inline skating is the perfect recreational fitness activity, offering you all of the cardiovascular benefits of running or jogging, but without the painstaking toll on your knees and joints. Whether you are simply working your legs, or you are continually swinging your arms while skating to gain a maximum workout, inline skating provides significant health benefits. It should be noted that to gain the absolute maximum workout you must keep moving. If you elect to coast, it will diminish the cardio benefits of inline skating.

 

In addition to the vast number of cardiovascular benefits you gain from inline skating, you also gain from the exposure to fresh air and sunshine. Inline skating is the perfect excuse to get outside and become active. Sure, you can go outside and just sit on the deck, but why not strap on some skates, get in some exercise, and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of the outdoors?

 

What equipment, aside from my skates, do I need for inline skating?

 

Protective equipment is strongly recommended when inline skating, to prevent the potential of injuries that may prove unavoidable. Before hitting the pavement it is recommended that you invest in – and wear – a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards. These items are relatively inexpensive and will save you physical and monetary anguish in the long run.