How can you make your roller skates’ wheels spin faster? You have come to the right place.
This guide will show you how to make your roller skates’ wheels spin faster. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or pro roller skater, these tips will benefit you.
Read on to find out more!
How to make roller skates wheels spin faster!
Roller skates with fast spinning wheels are fun and thrilling to use. By using them for commuting, you’ll get to your destination on time.
It is efficient and requires little energy to push or glide. The reason for this is that roller skating can be intense, and in order to maintain your energy level, you need to conserve it.
That’s not all! When your roller skates are slow, it can be difficult to skate efficiently and smoothly. As a result, you will be forced to push yourself harder.
There’s no doubt you’ll arrive late at your destination. But this can be avoided by making your roller skates’ wheels faster.
You don’t have to worry about how to do it, I’ve got you covered. This is why I’ve created this guide for you.
Having said that, let’s get right to it!
1. Loosen the axle bolts
A simple and cost-effective way to make roller skates faster is to loosen the axle bolts. All you need is a roller skate wheel-changing tool like the Reflex Utili-Tool Skate Tool.
It won’t cost you any money if you already have one. In any case, if you don’t, you can always get one from a roller skating buddy. As a side note, you should start making friends if you don’t have them yet.
To loosen the axle bolts, rotate them anticlockwise with the Reflex Utili-Tool Skate Tool. Make sure you don’t over loosen the axle bolts.
During high-speed skating, your roller skate wheels may come out. There is no point in letting that happen because it can result in a disastrous event.
Although Doing it yourself can also be a challenge. For those who are uncertain about what they are doing, seek assistance. Nobody wants to mess things up.
2. Use Hard Roller Skate Wheels
Roller skate wheels come in two types: soft and hard. A soft wheel is slower because it has more friction and traction.
Compared to soft wheels, hard wheels have little friction and traction, which makes them faster. It is for this reason that you should use roller skate wheels that are hard.
How do you know if you’re dealing with a hard or soft wheel? It’s probably something you’re wondering about.
The durometer determines the hardness of a wheel. The durometer scale ranges from 74A to 106A. Wheels with a higher value are harder, and wheels with a lower value are softer.
Typically, hard wheels start at 85A and go up to 106A. You can therefore choose any hard wheel within this range. A higher durometer value will give you more speed.
3. Change your roller skate bearings to fast-rolling ones
What is a roller skate bearing? I’m sure you’re wondering. In roller skate wheels, there are silver circular metal rings called roller skate bearings.
In roller skates, there are three types of bearings: ABEC, Swiss, and Ceramic. An odd number such as ABEC-1, ABEC-3, or ABEC-5 signifies the level of precision and quality of ABEC bearings.
When an ABEC rating is high, such as ABEC-7 or ABEC-9, it means high precision and more roll-out. They’re faster than low ABEC ratings like ABEC-1 and ABEC-3.
To make your roller skates faster, you might consider getting high precision ABEC bearings.
Alternatively, you can use ceramic and Swiss bearings instead of ABEC bearings. Overall, they’re stronger and have more roll-out. Despite being expensive, they’re well worth it!
4. Use roller skate wheels that are large in size
Wheel diameter is one of the factors to consider when purchasing roller skate wheels. What is the wheel diameter? The diameter of a wheel is its height. Wheel size of the wheels is determined by it.
Wheels with small diameters are considered small wheels, while wheels with large diameters are considered large wheels.
There is a range of diameters between 45mm and 65mm. For larger sizes and greater roll-out, you should go for 58mm and larger diameters. As a result, your roller skates will be faster.
5. Make Longer Pushes During Propulsion
The technique of your roller skates can also be improved to make them faster. Double pushing is one of the best techniques to use.
The technique is more advanced than regular roller skating. But with more practice, some intermediate skaters can do it too.
For more information about the double push technique, check out this YouTube video.
6. Clean and lubricate roller skate wheels and bearings on a regular basis
For faster roller skates, you should also regularly clean and lubricate your wheels and bearings.
It is common for roller skate wheels and bearings to accumulate dirt and grime, especially if you skate outside. Wheels and bearings don’t like dirt and grime. Therefore, you can be slowed down by them.
You should clean your wheels and bearings regularly to prevent dirt buildup. If you do this, you will have more roll-out and less resistance when pushing.
7. Use plastic roller skate frames instead of metal ones
Roller skates usually have metal frames, which are a little heavier than plastic frames. A heavy frame may require more effort to propel and may be slower to move.
Therefore, you should switch to plastic roller skate frames, which are relatively lighter. Even though they are more expensive, but they are often worth the cost.
8. Make sure the roller skates are properly fitted
Roller skates that are properly fitted are neither too tight nor too loose. They’re a necessity for a hassle-free skating experience.
Roller skates that are too loose can cause feet to wobble and can make skating uncomfortable. There will be a drag on you as a result.
In contrast, too tight roller skates can also cause ankle and foot pain when skating. You may be unable to skate as fast when you suffer from pain.
9. Strengthen your muscles through endurance training
Last but not least, you should make sure that you have enough strength for propulsion. The muscles in the legs, thighs, and butts are the ones that are most involved in roller skating.
So, you want to build them to speed up roller skating. Here are some exercises you can do;
- Back squat
- Front squat
- Romanian deadlift
- Good mornings
- Walking lunges
- Reverse lunge
- Lateral lunge
- Step up
- Glute bridge
- Hip thrust
FAQ : How to Make Roller Skates Wheels Faster
1. Why are My Roller Skates Wheels Spinning Slow?
There are many reasons why your roller skates are slow. Let me give you a quick rundown!
- Wheels that are too tight.
- Wheels that are soft.
- Using slow-rolling bearings.
- Skating on a small wheel.
- Failure to push hard enough.
- Rusty bearings and dirty roller skate wheels.
- Roller skate frame made of heavy metal.
2. Do roller skate wheels need to be tight or loose?
You should tighten roller skate wheels if you want them to be slower or looser if you want them to be faster. In the end, it all depends on what you’re looking for and where you are in your roller skating journey.
For beginners, tight wheels do not harm, since speed isn’t required. Conversely, pro and intermediate roller skaters are well versed in their craft and are capable of going fast. So when it comes to going fast, it is crucial to have relatively loose wheels.
3. How often Should You Clean Your Bearings
There is no definite time when you should clean your bearings. When it makes sense, you should clean them. You can do this once or twice a month, depending on where you skate and how often you skate.
Conclusion : How to Make Roller Skates Faster
It is fun and thrilling to use fast roller skates. If you don’t know how to make your roller skates faster, it can also be a challenge.
The good news is that you have this complete guide to help you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Enjoy your roller skating and cheers!
