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When a skater goes into their local skate shop this year, or just starts looking at vendors and makers on the web, they will be astounded at the selection, different wheel configurations and variety of wheel sizes out there.
How can you make an informed purchase when there is so much to choose from?
The above title tends to be the catch phrase of all manufacturers today. When a skater goes into their local skate shop this year, or just starts looking at vendors and makers on the web, they will be astounded at the selection, different wheel configurations and variety of wheel sizes out there. Using my own inventory of offerings, I, too, am amazed at how much it has changed and grown over the last two years.
From the Speedskating side of the industry we have grown from a couple of competing manufacturers carrying two different wheel sizes with the standard 6.5 inch or 195mm mounting to 4 uniquely different manufacturers, 11 different wheel configurations with 3 different mounting spaces. The same holds true when you look at the 2005 offerings of the 3 major manufacturers of recreational and fitness skates ( K2 , Roller blade and Solomon).
When mounting and photographing all the different setups for the web page, and for use in these e-letters, endless questions that skaters may have, and will ask, keep echoing through my mind.
What is the best set up for me? Are bigger wheels faster? What about the extra length? What about the weight? What about the greater heights? Should I go up to a large wheel size but maybe a 4 wheel instead of a 5-wheel frame? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of doing this? What about the different mixed wheel size setups? If I go to a larger wheel and frame and the mount is different, will I need to change my boots? Will the longer mounting setup effect my skating? Will my technique need to change and will I still be able to use a mix of classic and double push? Will I need to consider different and separate set ups for specific skating situations?
Over the up coming weeks, we will endeavor to answer many of the above questions. I have enlisted Carl Britney to co-author a number of these segments with me as his unbiased analytical approach will blend well with my sometimes enthusiastic ramblings of my latest and greatest item now in stock.
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