Big front wheel skates rule for rough street skating

[John Doe]

Did a 12 mile skate on rough streets today... including broken
sidewalks, no sidewalks, rocks, dirt, lots of grass, up and down
hills. Once again, the 140mm front wheel with four 80mm trailing
wheels did the job.

Besides the usual benefit of in-line wheels, the reason big front
wheel skates work well for rough street skating goes something like
this. Small trailing wheels do tend to catch on obstacles but only
when skating slowly. The faster you skate, the obstacle attack angle
decreases. At fast speeds, obstacles cannot get up between the small
trailing wheels. Obstacles can trip you at slow speeds when it makes
little difference. Obstacles cannot trip you at high speeds when it
matters most. However, a large front wheel is important because no
matter how fast you go, high obstacles can trip you. The idea is
complex like (surprisingly) much of this in-line skating design stuff
is. Simply put, for rough street skating a larger front wheel is more
important than larger trailing wheels.

Having all large wheels is nice in theory, but its problematic in
reality. Small trailing wheels allows for the benefit of in-line with
a very low center of balance. And, so far, I just haven't found
anything that beats in-line skating (three or more in-line wheels).

I don't get as many compliments as when wearing fancy looking red and
white 100mm wheel speed skates (Rollerblade Lightning TF), but I
frequently get asked "What is the big front wheel for?". That's fun...
I've started replying with "Guess". Most of them already have the
idea, today's questioner did.

By the way. Still working on electric motorized skates. Currently
planning to power the rear wheel of my leading skate, hopefully
driving only one wheel won't put too much stress on it.

[John Doe]

By the way.
Small trailing wheels provide a low stance. But I wouldn't rule out
100mm trailing wheels with a 140mm front wheel. The benefit would be
smoother rolling at slow speeds. I might try it someday given suitable
frames.

[K***@aol.com]

Post by John Doe
By the way.
Small trailing wheels provide a low stance. But I wouldn't rule out
100mm trailing wheels with a 140mm front wheel. The benefit would be
smoother rolling at slow speeds. I might try it someday given suitable
frames.

Thanks John while I was blade-ing today I was thinking that I should
ask someone what wheel size I should use for the street.

[B Fuhrmann]

Kafertoys wrote ...

Post by K***@aol.com
Thanks John while I was blade-ing today I was thinking that I should
ask someone what wheel size I should use for the street.

Ignore his nonsense about skating. The main skill he shows here is calling
people names.
The idea of adding a lot of weight in front of the toe will not make for a
good skate.

Street skating is more about good technique than wheel size. Larger wheels
will ride smoother over rough surfaces but aren't critical for going over
bumps.

In general, you want to push through the heels instead of with the toes. It
is more efficient when on smooth surfaces and will let you go over bumps.
Keeping only a little weight on the toes while pushing helps prevent you
from tripping over bumps while striding.

For larger bumps or rougher surfaces, use the grass stop. Scissors your
feet (the heel wheel of one skate ahead of the toe wheel of the other), bend
your knees, shift your weight to the heels and to the trailing foot and go
for it. How wide of an area you can cross depends on how fast you are
moving and how soft it is. Gravel roads can be crossed without stopping.
If you do this on the level on grass, you will stop.
If you do this downhill on grass, it is a fun ride.

For individual steps, like misaligned sidewalk sections, you can flick the
leading toe up and let that skate ride over it then pick up the trailing
skate to clear it. Once the step gets over 2-3", it is easier to just step
up. A competent street skater should be able to slow down slightly and step
up a curb without stopping. It just takes practice to get used to the
timing.

Practice on curbs where there is no grass along them. Start by skating
parallel to the curb and step up with the nearest skate. That way, the
timing required is minimal. After doing it a few times, start doing it
exactly at a mark you choose, then at an angle, working to the point where
you can come directly at the curb.

I generally don't recommend wheels less than 80mm, even for beginners on
trails. Anything smaller is sluggish and will be hard to replace with
quality wheels in the future.
A beginner with good balance or a competent skater should be able to use
90mm wheels.
100mm gets too tall for some people, the foot sits significantly higher off
the ground and requires more support by the ankle. Most people who are one
100mm wheels are using them for speed on flat, smooth surfaces.

Most of my street skating has been on 80mm wheels. That includes downtowns
in Minneapolis, Madison, Miami, Manhattan and many marathons (they tend to
be better surfaces).
My current skates are 84mm (really just an interim size that was created
before 90mm became popular).
I happen to like the stability of long frames and have been on 5 wheel
fitness skates for quite a few years.
My next skates will probably be 90mm, especially if I can find some with
frames at least 12" long.

[John Doe]

Post by B Fuhrmann
Kafertoys wrote ...

Post by K***@aol.com
Thanks John

You're welcome. Unfortunately, I'm the only person who posts about
in-line skating these days. This sport is ripe for invention, and at
least for me it still a blast. Some of the bygone era regulars
(lonely and disgruntled mentors who no longer have followers) hang
around in the shadows waiting for anything that looks alive here,
then they come out and take a bite.

Post by B Fuhrmann

Post by K***@aol.com
while I was blade-ing today I was thinking that I should ask
someone what wheel size I should use for the street.

Ignore his nonsense about skating.

If you weren't just trolling, Fuhrmann, you would simply agree that
large wheels are in fact good for street skating, with or without an
oversized front wheel.

I'm pretty sure that an ordinary large wheel skate is what Kafertoys
was referring to, and he's right.

Post by B Fuhrmann
The main skill he shows here is calling people names.

That's because you act like a disgruntled mentor with no followers,
Fuhrmann. You act like a self-appointed gatekeeper and guardian of
the sport. But in fact, you're just a has-been participant.

Post by B Fuhrmann
The idea of adding a lot of weight in front of the toe will not
make for a good skate.

Too bad, Fuhrmann, that you cannot accept not only a good concept,
but an idea that has been implemented and practiced in real life.

Replacing the front wheel with a large wheel won't necessarily add a
lot of weight, depends on the wheel. Even though my 140mm front
wheel (a Razor Cruiser wheel) isn't the lightest possible, it has an
extremely light fork made of aircraft grade aluminum pieces.

It doesn't feel like a lot of weight to me, in actual real world
practice, and it does a good job on rough streets.

Post by B Fuhrmann
Street skating is more about good technique than wheel size.

That depends on the streets. Someone who skates regularly like I do
cannot always be prepared for every bump or crack.

Post by B Fuhrmann
Larger wheels will ride smoother over rough surfaces but aren't
critical for going over bumps.

That depends on the bump, Fuhrmann, unless your head is so big that
you think you can change the laws of physics. Someone who actually
skates like I do cannot always be prepared for every bump. Saying
otherwise means live in a fantasy land, Fuhrmann.

Post by B Fuhrmann
In general, you want to push through the heels instead of with the
toes. It is more efficient when on smooth surfaces and will let
you go over bumps.

That depends on the size of the bumps. The bigger the front wheel,
the better able you can go over bumps. No matter how hard you try,
Bill Fuhrmann, you just can't change the laws of physics.

Post by B Fuhrmann
Keeping only a little weight on the toes while pushing helps
prevent you from tripping over bumps while striding.

Doesn't matter how far back your weight, Fuhrmann, a small front
wheel will be stopped by bigger bumps. It's the law.

Post by B Fuhrmann
For larger bumps or rougher surfaces, use the grass stop.

Another method is to use an oversized front wheel, like the 140mm
front wheel on my big wheel street skates, then you might not have
to stop.

Post by B Fuhrmann
How wide of an area you can cross depends on how fast you are
moving and how soft it is.

It also depends on how big the bumps are versus how big your front
wheel is, Fuhrmann.

Post by B Fuhrmann
If you do this downhill on grass, it is a fun ride.

Ditching into the grass with a big 140mm front wheel is more fun
these days.

Post by B Fuhrmann
For individual steps, like misaligned sidewalk sections, you can
flick the leading toe up and let that skate ride over it then pick
up the trailing skate to clear it.

That's nice in theory, Fuhrmann. In fact a skater doesn't always
know when he (or she) is going to hit a bump or rise. We cannot
always be prepared for every obstacle. That's especially true when
we are concentrating on really important issues like cars and/or
when we are skating on unfamiliar terrain. That's why having a 140mm
front wheel with 80mm trailing wheels is good for rough street
skating.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/***@N04/3056505603

Try it, Fuhrmann, it might even be fun enough to help remove the
corn cob from your ass.

Post by B Fuhrmann
Once the step gets over 2-3", it is easier to just step up. A
competent street skater should be able to slow down slightly and
step up a curb without stopping.

And a big headed regular like Bill Fuhrmann thinks he can change the
laws of physics. Doesn't matter how far back your weight, a big bump
will stop a small front wheel much easier than it will stop a large
front wheel.

Amazing IMO how some of the has-been mentors in here are so lonely
and disgruntled that they deny obvious stuff.

Post by B Fuhrmann
I generally don't recommend wheels less than 80mm,

As if anybody (except maybe another living dead troll like Bill
Fuhrmann) would recommend less than 80mm for street skating.

But seriously.

[B Fuhrmann]

Post by John Doe

Post by B Fuhrmann
The main skill he shows here is calling people names.

"John Doe" wrote ...

1)

Post by John Doe
least for me it still a blast. Some of the bygone era regulars
(lonely and disgruntled mentors who no longer have followers) hang
around in the shadows waiting for anything that looks alive here,
then they come out and take a bite.

2)

Post by John Doe
If you weren't just trolling, Fuhrmann, you would simply agree that

3)
That's because you act like a disgruntled mentor with no followers,

Post by John Doe
Fuhrmann. You act like a self-appointed gatekeeper and guardian of
the sport. But in fact, you're just a has-been participant.

4)

Post by John Doe
Too bad, Fuhrmann, that you cannot accept not only a good concept,
but an idea that has been implemented and practiced in real life.

5)

Post by John Doe
That depends on the bump, Fuhrmann, unless your head is so big that
you think you can change the laws of physics. Someone who actually

6)
Try it, Fuhrmann, it might even be fun enough to help remove the

Post by John Doe
corn cob from your ass.

7)

Post by John Doe
And a big headed regular like Bill Fuhrmann thinks he can change the
laws of physics. Doesn't matter how far back your weight, a big bump

8)

Post by John Doe
Amazing IMO how some of the has-been mentors in here are so lonely
and disgruntled that they deny obvious stuff.

9)

Post by John Doe
As if anybody (except maybe another living dead troll like Bill
Fuhrmann) would recommend less than 80mm for street skating.

[John Doe]

Post by B Fuhrmann
The main skill he shows here is calling people names.

As always, Fuhrmann, you started it.

A little roughness is what it takes to fight off living dead regulars
here in this group like Bill Fuhrmann who are so hell-bent on
discrediting me they even deny the obvious. That larger wheels help
with rough terrain is a well understood and a well-established fact.

[Meyer]

BE WARNED. MARIO GAVAZZI, AKA "KAFERTOYS" OF "VINTAGE WERKS
RESTORATION" IN BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA IS A SCAM ARTIST, LIAR AND
THIEF. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING:
http://www.mariogavazzivintagewerks.com/
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96792

[K***@aol.com]

Post by Meyer
BE WARNED. MARIO GAVAZZI, AKA "KAFERTOYS" OF "VINTAGE WERKS
RESTORATION" IN BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA IS A SCAM ARTIST, LIAR AND
THIEF. PLEASE SEE THE http://youtu.be/JeQ8UwWPP4Y

I'm a 42 yr old man that enjoys rollerblading, I do volenteer work and
own my own shop with more then 99% customer stasfaction the other 1%
cyber stalk me. I have no marks against me with the BBB so its only
stupid drama.

[John Doe]

Post by K***@aol.com

Post by Meyer
BE WARNED. MARIO GAVAZZI, AKA "KAFERTOYS" OF "VINTAGE WERKS
RESTORATION" IN BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA IS A SCAM ARTIST, LIAR
AND THIEF.

I'm a 42 yr old man that enjoys rollerblading, I do volenteer work
and own my own shop with more then 99% customer stasfaction the
other 1% cyber stalk me. I have no marks against me with the BBB
so its only stupid drama.

Oh. I thought he was just some out-of-place ranting idiot.

Defending your business won't help. Regardless of what Google Groups
might have you believe, most USENET users don't accept advertising.
So whether your business is a good one or not makes no difference.