Feb 26, 2008

Should I skate on 110mm wheels? - Part 2

4- & 3-wheel skates

So, picking up from where I left off in Part 1, the widespread use of larger-diameter wheels on the 4-wheel platform meant frame lengths (particularly for junior and smaller skaters) could be reduced to more manageable sizes without any loss in rolling performance. By 2007, at World Championship-level a wide range of 4-wheel frame lengths from 11.9- to 13.2-inches were being used, and at the beginner end of the sport, 3-wheel platforms emerged to bring further length reduction to 90- and 100mm skates.

With so many lengths available in the 3- and 4-wheel formats, there is a length to suit everybody, and together with larger-diameter wheels, a fast skate proportional to the size and ability of any skater.

Fundamental differences

But today’s ‘big’ wheels have different properties than their 76-80-84mm predecessors. 100- and 110mm wheels are capable of higher top-end speeds, but require more energy to accelerate to those speeds – as well as higher levels of technical discipline to make the most of those characteristics. A stronger skater with good technique can leverage their strength and power to accelerate large wheels up to their top speed, and take advantage of their ability to maintain that speed. A weaker skater may fatigue themselves trying to accelerate the larger wheels, and so not achieve the resultant speeds the wheels are capable of.

Comparing properties

To broadly compare ‘larger’ and ‘smaller’ wheels directly:

Larger wheels:

  • Higher potential top speed (if you have the strength, technique, conditioning to reach it – perhaps repeatedly as necessary)
  • Harder to accelerate
  • Reduced footspeed
  • Increased weight
  • Increased height = more movement to achieve a given angle with the road
  • Larger footprint (contact area with road) = more potential grip, more resistant to turning sharply

Smaller wheels:
  • Lower potential top speed (but easier to attain)
  • Easier to accelerate (acceleration from low speeds is more rapid, and repeated accelerations mid-race are easier)
  • Increased footspeed
  • Reduced weight
  • Reduced height = less movement to achieve a given angle with the road
  • Smaller footprint (contact area with road) = less potential grip, easier to turn sharply

What immediately comes to mind when looking over the above points of comparison, is what the requirements of different types of skating, or event, are. Where some require short-to-medium efforts of sustained high speed, others require extended skating at a variety of tempos with regular accelerative intervals. Depending on the type of skater you are, and the type of skating you do, your choice of larger or smaller wheels can affect whether you find the going tough, or have it easy.

Something to think about

Likewise, it is worth considering (perhaps the subject of another post) what effect, for example, just one skater in an event on 110mm wheels will have, versus what effect half of the field being on 110mm wheels will have. Just as top speeds have increased and times have dropped in recent years, the ‘shape’ of a race can be very much a product of what the skaters can do with the skates they have on. A points-race on a small track may have an up-and-down tempo and pace with a field full of 5x80mm skates (because those skates were suited to such a situation), but if half of those skaters were on 4x110mm – expect a set of frontrunners who want to wind the pace up and hold it there as long as possible, with far less dramatic bursts of acceleration.

…and remember, the speeds achievable on larger wheels are just that – achievable. Skaters need to be able to accelerate up to, and hold those speeds to make use of the skates. It is highly likely that a ‘threshold’ speed exists for each skater on larger wheels. If they skate for too long below that speed, the benefits from their heavier, taller wheels are negated and they just work themselves harder.

...back to Part 1 of 'Should I skate on 110mm wheels?'



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Every thing is changing with technologies,so as these wheels.

alexbeltran said...

Really good research. I´ve been looking for some information about this topic for months, and finally i found it at your blog

Thank you.

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