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7. Skate Maintenance
Wheels are defined by two attributes - diameter
and durometer. Diameter represents the height of
the wheel in millimeters. Most wheels come in diameters
of 72mm and 76mm. The smaller wheels are quicker in starting
and manoeuvrability while a little slower in overall glide
speed. Your skating style will determine which size is best
for you. If you generally take short quick strides, a smaller
wheel might work better, whereas long strides will work
better with a larger wheel. Durometer represents the hardness
of the wheel. Generally, the harder wheels are faster and
the softer wheels grip the surface better. Another thing
to remember is that while soft wheels will give you a smoother
ride, they will also wear out faster. 78A or 81A is a good
middle point for either indoor or outdoor skating and are
the durometer wheels that come with most new skates. Softer
wheels are great indoors but will get chewed up very quickly
on rough surfaces. So if you plan to play hockey on rough
concrete or ashphalt, it is best to use 81A to 88A.
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76A
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à
à à
à à
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81A
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à
à à
à à
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88A
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Softer
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Standard
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Harder
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Learn how to rotate your wheels! You will
find that your wheels wear down on the inside edges. Eventually,
this will have an adverse effect on your skating and turning,
and will destroy your wheels. By rotating your wheels regularly,
you can skate more safely, with better technique, and extend
the life of your wheels at the same time. To rotate your
wheels, move your front wheel to the rear of your skate.
Then move the other wheels forward one space. As you do
this, flip each wheel around so that the worn edges face
the outside of your boot. Ask a more experienced player
to show you how to do this the first time! This will demonstrate
that you are serious about the game too!
Bearings are rated by their precision, or
Annular Bearing Engineering Council (ABEC) rating. Bearings
for inline hockey generally come in ABEC ratings of 1,3
and 5 with 5 being high-performance. The difference between
an ABEC 1 and an ABEC 5 bearing may not be greatly noticeable,
but will depend upon the distances you travel without stopping.
Axles are required to support a player's weight and to keep
the bearings separated, and are made of plastic, aluminium
or stainless steel. By upgrading your axles to aluminium
or stainless steel, a reduction in friction will be noticed.
The difference can be demonstrated by conducting a simple
spin test. Cradling one of your skates upside down, spin
a wheel with your thumb. There should almost be a doubling
in spin time.
- If wheels are not tight, tighten with an Allen wrench.
- If wheels move from side-to-side, replace the bearing
system.
- If wheels do not move freely, clean your bearing system.
- Rotate or replace wheels when they are worn.
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