bearings and wheels question $$$$$$

[gem]

Bearings haven't changed much over the past 5 or so years. There aren't enough skaters to justify the R&D into faster bearings.
Tru dat, since ceramics have been out der 4 a while and while they seem a lil better then metal and combined with the $ only a smal % out there buy them so Y would any company do the research to better bearings. Now wheels there is fierce competition and new models are showing up all the time along with a higher price.

For the wheels, you can snap up some really great bargains on anything smaller than 100mm, but even the old 100mm wheels are holding their value pretty well because the new wheels are more expensive. Yea, funny how newer allways cost quite a bit more, sort of like in Publix it cost more not to put salt in a can f soup.

Paying more for bearings doesn't mean they will last longer. It sounds like a $30 set will do you fine. [color=#4000FFMy SG7's have lasted for a long time but I do routeine maintainence and theylok like they will last a long long time. Now when I do buy my next pair, I think I will get ILQ 9 bearings. I really can't justify buying ceramics.[/color]

alx

[chaosdsm]

interesting read, i guess id rather spend some $$ up front and buy bearings that will last a long time instead of replacing bearings every 7 weeks, my skating is recreational only, on the street, mostly dry (california)

what have been the most popular wheels and bearings 2006-2007 that i might pick up cheaper somewhere?,

as everyone now wants 2008-9 models

i wonder if a 'high end' bearing and wheel from 2006, would out perform an entry level set from 2008?

Bearings & wheels are generally considered "disposable" though good bearings can last 10+ years, rolling thousands of miles. The only reason I bought bearings in bulk is so I don't have to clean as often... in a good year, I put over 1,500 miles on my skates, & with the trails I skate, the bearings get dirty pretty quick, even the best bearings. So instead of cleaning them as soon as I hear/feel the dirt grinding away inside the bearing, I just swap with a fresh set of bearings, & about once a year clean all the dirty ones at once.

There are plenty of places online to get good deals on wheels here are just a few...
inlinewarehouse.com
skates.com
adamsinline.com
netskate.com
nettracing.com
danger-racing.com
skate-buys.com

You can also get good deals at vendor booths during various race events.

[R6Richard]

Alright, I've got a different sort of bearing question.

If you have an assortment of bearings (some new, some a bit worn, some higher quality), is it best to put the fastest bearings on the front wheels?

I ask this in part because my skates have developed some instability at speed and I'm not sure if it's wheel or bearing related. Eight new wheels are on the way -- yay! -- but I'm not replacing all of my bearings. Perhaps the problem will be gone once the new wheels are in but I won't be going with nice bearings until spring, after the rainy weather is mostly passed.

[Jim White]

Generally it doesn't matter where you put bearings becasue all wheels turn the same speed and distance. However, if an individual skater's technique is to use the front wheel more than the others, then that's where the best bearings should be. Other skaters may press harder on the heel.

[R6Richard]

Jim, the smaller wheels turn faster. My skates have 90's and 100's.

I was wondering, though, whether the slight instability might relate to some dynamic involving more resistance with the poorer borne wheels. Isn't it logical to have them at the rear?

My technique is heel strong. I used to push with the toes more; as a result I have extra wear on two of my wheels; those two are now in the second position. That wouldn't seem to account for the instability however because immediately after I rotated my wheels, the skates worked great. The instability arose later.

Ideas?

[Jim White]

Yes, smaller wheels do turn faster (if a skate has two different sizes). My comment was basically in response to the issue at hand, front vs back. Usually the first and last wheel are the same size. Whatever.

From your last comment, it seems you've rotated the first wheel into the second place, which would imply that you have hi-lo frames (90, 90, 100, 100) which I don't ever remember hearing of with 90 and 100, except for claps, which would be a major consideration. Whatever.

All this supports the thought that probably your best solution is for you to find yourself. We don't know your skate configuration, your technique or the condition of your bearings or wheels, so any response we'd give would probably be imperfect. You can try various combinations of bearings and wheels to experience for yourself which is most stable, then you'll have the perfect answer.

[R6Richard]

Jim, thanks for your ideas.
The skates are Moto Extremes: hi-lo with 9o/l00mm.
I'm puzzled by the slight instability and would love to figure out its cause. Close inspection has revealed a small amount of play in two wheels but it doesn't seem significant. I have one bearing with a slightly bent shield. Four bearings are unhappy with their experience in the rain. The wheels are not extremely worn, at 97mm. My second wheels are smaller than my front wheels, thanks to rotating them.
Soon I will be putting on wet weather wheels and cleaning/lubing(/replacing some) bearings. Probably that will eliminate the issue. Still, I'd love to have better understanding of what's happening now.

[chowley]

For what it's worth, I've spent hundreds of dollars on ceramics and swiss in the past four years. Both feel great to skate on. Both wear out over time due to my own neglect (I like to put them in and forget about them.) I just did my best time ever at NSIM on a set of $1 bearings from Bont. $16 vs. $100+. I'm starting to fall into the camp of "it's not the bearings it's the technique". Focus on training - flow, speed, form - and save yourself a boat load of money by staying with steel. My $.02.

[sxevegan]

FWIW Northshore was also my fastest marathon ever (1:05) and I was on the $1 bont bearings and yellow matter wheels (the old "broken" kind)

[R6Richard]

FWIW Northshore was also my fastest marathon ever (1:05) and I was on the $1 bont bearings and yellow matter wheels (the old "broken" kind)

Hey,

You're vegan? Cool, me too.

Today I did maintenance on my stock bearings and installed new wheels. The small amount of play that was there is now gone. Good. Tomorrow I'll see how the new setup works. I did have to replace almost half of my bearings (with modestly priced ones) thanks to having skated in rain. There was a lot of black crud and the ILQ9 Classic dust shields have proven less than perfectly effective.

Enjoy the summer while it lasts.

[R6Richard]

The new setup works well, I am pleased to report.

I packed in lots of Campy grease to get me through the coming wet weather so my skates are not as fast as when I used oil but they're good enough for this season.