My wheels are falling apart! What now?

[jfpuck]

I'm a 61 year old guy - former runner, swimmer, cyclist, triathlete - first time inline skater. I decided to give inline skates a try as an alternative to running/jogging. I'm 6'2", 190lb. I bought a new pair of size 12, Nike carbon skates (plus the recommended protective gear) on eBay. My first outing (on a local rail-trail) was two days ago and it was rather awkward. I found myself wondering if perhaps skating was not for me? I went out again this AM and it was much better. It was smoother; I was more confident and I went twice the distance of my initial outing. However, about 1.5 miles out I noticed that my skates were not rolling as freely as when I started. Upon inspection, I discover that the rubber tire was rolling off the hard-plastic hub of the front wheel on both skates. I had to abandon my workout.

For your information, the skate wheels are 76mm-78A.

My questions:

1. Is this a common problem?
2. What is the cause of such a problem?
a. Perhaps the rubber was too old? (I think the skates are 2006 vintage?)
b. Perhaps the wheels were not adjusted properly? (I wore the skates right out of the box).
c. Perhaps I need harder wheels for my body weight?
d. Perhaps the skates are inferior? (what is your opinion of Nike skates?)
e. Perhaps it's just the result of a bumbling beginner skater?

Any helpful insight, quidance, comment, suggestion, recommendation would be appreciated.

jfpuck

[SkateCoach]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the Nike Carbon skates, but the good news is that skate wheels come in standardized sizes and are thus interchangeable, so if the skates are comfortable you can just replace the wheels. Look on the frame, or the box if you still have it, to see the maximum size wheel that is compatible with the frame. Or just get the same size - 76mm, since you know they'll fit. FYI, though, 76mm is now considered a small, and thus slower, wheel by today's standards. 80mm is much more common.

But if you're just getting started with inline skating, you might find the smaller wheels are actually easier to learn on - they give you a slightly lower center of gravity and you may prefer slower speeds at the beginning, especially until you master the art of using that heel brake to slow down and stop!

If you have a local skate shop, please try them first. It's important that we support our local skate shops or we'll lose this valuable resource to our skating communities. If there isn't a bricks and mortar skate retailer that sells replacement wheels in your area, try http://www.inlinewarehouse.com or one of the many other "inline online" retailers!

(Last tip - if there's a Play It Again Sports or similar used sporting goods store near you, they sometimes carry barely-used inline skates dirt cheap. Sometimes you can pick up a pair of these for less than the cost of a set of new wheels!)

[jfpuck]

Dear Kathy,

Many, many thanks for your helpful reply. Without a local
skating community, nor a reliable skate shop nearby, it's
wonderful to have access to such helpful information.

Thank you,
Jim

[skate DAD]

It's really good to hear about your outings. The problems you have accrued are not normal!
I have new wheels sizes range from 80mm to 90mm I even have some 76s ,,, I also have k2 five wheel frames with hyper 84mm wheels new ,,, pricing very low , It would be nice to know somebody was able to make use of them as they are just setting in a box now

good luck
Billy
909-213-0861

[jfpuck]

Hi, Billy-

Thanks for your reply. I will record your phone number for future
reference. As for my immediate need for new wheels, I followed
Kathy's advice and found 80mm-80A wheels at the local Play It Again
Sports that will fit my skates - $14.

Warm regards,
Jim

[Robert]

1) No, this is an unusual problem.
2) Cheap wheels or wheels that are so old they are falling apart

I am sorry to hear you bought Nike skates. Nike made skaters for a few years ending in about 2003 or 2004. The skates they made were poorly designed. They didn't have a hinged cuff to allow for flexing of the ankle.

You can buy them cheap these days because they were never popular and Nike made too many of them and flooded the market.

But you can still learn on them (although you might do better with quality skates made by Rollerblade, for instance). But you will need new wheels. Check on the frames to see if it gives a maximum wheel size. Then replace the wheels. ... You should be good to go ... at least for a few months, at which time you should get yourself some better skates.

Let us know how you do.

Keep rolling!

[bldegle2]

/ \

^^ = this means look up,

you are a new skater, you probably toe hard with your push, plus you are no lightweight...

the stuff at the beginning is prolly the pronation of the frames, and combined with toeing, puts ungodly stress on everything, in particular, the front wheel..

do this, go out and skate a bit, pay attention to your push and the frame vertical, then report back...

training, some minor adjustments, maybe a few wedges, you are flyin'

laterzz....................

[jfpuck]

Dear Robert & bldegle2:

I am a beginner, a first-time skater. There is no local skate shop nor
is there a skate community here to draw upon (there is an excellent
rail-trail! - The LongLeaf Trace). So, rather blindly, I plunged. I had
no idea of the quality of the Nike skates I purchased on eBay and no
live "how to" (and "how NOT to") skate coaching. In addition to the
wheels "falling apart", the Nike skates rubbed sores on both inner
ankles. I was prepared to surrender and then I got the new wheels -
80mm-82A. The difference was striking (but the Nike skates still don't
fit well). Zero rolling resistance (at least comparatively). I flew down
our rail-trail. On the basis of the experience, and with the encouragement
and insights provided by messages such as yours', I have concluded that
perhaps inline skating is an activity that I can learn to enjoy, safely.

I've found a skate shop outside of New Orleans and I plan to visit it
in the near future.

Thank you,
Jim (jfpuc)

[chaosdsm]

Glad you've decided not to give up!

Poor quality skates & wheels are a big reason that a lot of people give up on inline skating. The Nike's are better than the generic skates a lot of parents & first timers buy at Target, Wal-Mart, & the like, but definitely not up to the quality of K2 & Rollerblade's better products.

If you decide to replace those Nike's, don't skimp, but you don't have to spend a fortune either. Here are a few good options that you may be able to find localy:
Rollerblade Astro 50
K2 Moto Performance
Rollerblade Zetrablade
Rollerblade Crossfire II

Two notes about the skates above:
1> though you can probably find the Astro 50's locally, you'll probably find them at double the price. You can try them on locally, see how they fit, & get the right sizing, then order them from Inline Warehouse. I've orderd many times from Inline Warehouse in the past, (to the tune of about $2500 in various goods )& highly recommend Inline Warehouse even though they don't have the biggest online product selection.
2> I hesitate to mention the Crossfire II because they use 90mm wheels. They'll be inherantly faster than what you're using, & also raise your ankle further off the ground making you a little less stable. However since you've already purchased new 80mm wheels, you could put the 80mm wheels on the skates until you get proficient with the new skates at which time you could then, if you so desire, put the 90's back in for a bit more speed.

[jfpuck]

Dear Caosdsm-

More good, clear, skate-specific guidance!
Just what I need.

Many thanks,
jfpuc

[gem]

A lot of the online have closeouts on very gud models skates for a much reduced price, just keep a eye out on those sites.

[Angelina08]

If you have a local skate shop, please try them first. It's important that we support our local skate shops or we'll lose this valuable resource to our skating communities.

Angelina

Minnesota Drug Treatment