You can make your roller skates faster by applying several techniques along with undergoing endurance training.
Upgrading the wheels, frame, and bearings of your roller skates also give you a faster-paced performance.
Roller Skate Upgrades
Many skaters do not realize the importance of upgrading their roller skates. Just like other kinds of sports gear that give you a better performance when you upgrade them, roller skates are no exception. Upgrading your skates will make your skating session more enjoyable due to the performance and speed it brings out in your roller skates. There are three main components of your skates that you can upgrade:
- Wheels
- Bearings
- Frame
Let us dig into each component in detail and see how it can affect the speed of our skates.
Wheels
The wheels of your roller skates can be classified into two main categories – indoor wheels and outdoor wheels.
Outdoor Wheels
The outdoor wheels of your roller skates are relatively softer and have a higher rebound rate as compared to the indoor wheels. Make sure you check the wheels and see if they are for the right indoor/ outdoor purpose for you. If you plan to skate both indoors and outdoors, it is better to either get both wheels and switch them around depending upon the place you are skating, or if this is not possible, go for the outdoor wheels. Though it may sound hard to switch between indoor and outdoor wheels, it is pretty easy to do so.
Indoor Wheels
In the case of your indoor skating, the indoor wheels come in different levels of hardness, referred to as Durometer ratings. These hardness ratings are 92A, 95A, and 97A. The lower the number is, the softer will your wheels be.
You need to know exactly where you will be skating indoors. If you plan to skate on a standard indoor surface, go for 97A. For slippery indoor surfaces, use 95A wheels. In case of a very slippery indoor surface, go for 92A.
The Durometer ratings have a different range for outdoor skates. The range starts from 78A which is the softest to 85A where you get the hardest outdoor wheel. Ask yourself how hard you want the wheel to be and then pick the one that corresponds to your required Durometer ratings.
Not only the hardness or the softness but the size of your roller skate wheels can also make a difference when you upgrade your skates. The bigger the size of your wheels is, the more roll you will obtain from the wheels with the least amount of force exerted. Not only that, but large wheels also ignore the uneven textured floors (primarily due to impurities) of the outdoors.
Typical sizes are from 58 mm to 70 mm, while 62 mm is generally the most popular among skaters.
If you are into indoor or artistic skates, you will find prefer smaller wheels for better manoeuvrability and higher precision. Having said that, such wheels are mostly recommended for expert skaters. If you are a beginner, it is better to go with larger wheels in your roller skates.
Bearings
If you want to upgrade only one thing in your roller skates, upgrade the skate bearings. If you have purchased a roller skate that is not too expensive, it will come with bearings that belong to the lower end of the spectrum, and hence your wheels will not roll as efficiently as a roller skate with high-end skate bearings. This is because a bearing that is not of great quality does not reduce the friction created between the axle and your wheels. The result is resistance towards high speed. Better quality bearings, on the other hand, roll at a smoother and hence faster pace.
Now the question is, how do you know what kind of bearings your roller skates originally come with? Most of the skate bearings are rated on the ABEC (Annual Bearing Engineering Committee) scale. The ABEC ranges are from 1 to 9 for roller skates depending upon the quality of the bearing material as well as how smooth the polish on these bearings is. The higher the ABEC number is, the faster the skate bearing will be.
There is an additional bearing rating known as the Swiss bearing which is slightly different (in terms of standards) than the ABEC ratings. No matter what bearing rating system you go for, keep in mind that once you install the required bearings (you can ask your skate shop to do that if you do not know how to) these bearings will take some time to break in. So, while the first few times after upgrading may not be the fastest you have ever been, you will soon realize that your roller skates are getting faster as your bearings become comfortable coordinating with your skates.
Frame
Another way you can upgrade your roller skates to make them faster is to change the plates at the bottom of your boots. Generally, these plates are either metal-based (mostly aluminum) or plastic-based (such as high-quality vinyl or nylon).
The metal plates are normally installed in roller skates that are relatively cheaper whereas you will find expensive roller skates with plastic plates. Metal plates are comparatively heavier than plastic ones, and their weight negatively impacts the speed of your skates. The plastic plates may be more expensive, but they are lighter in weight and hence easier to maneuver. However, if you plan to do a lot of jumping on your roller skates, it is better to go with metal plates as plastic and vinyl ones are not as strong.
If you are a rough rider, go for metal plates; but if you are into speed skating, it is a good idea to upgrade your roller skates with a good-quality plastic/ vinyl plate.
Proper Technique
Your skating and balancing techniques play a vital role in making your skating faster. Start with standing still and balancing on one skate and then alternate the skates. Then, practice balancing on one skate while you roll. What you want to achieve is to have a perfect balance while you skate fast.
Next, push one of the skates and keep the other one straight as it glides – as if you are on a skateboard. Do the same with the other foot.
Just as balancing is important for better speed, your body posture plays a vital role. Do not twist your chest or shoulders – the motion should generate below your waist area. This way, you can increase the speed with minimum effort. You can move your arms back and forth instead of crossing them over in order to prevent your shoulders from twisting.
While you stride, ensure that your strides are diagonally pushing outwards where each stride should be perpendicular to the previous one. Do not stride with your skates in a straight direction as this will absorb your energy and reduce the speed. When you stride diagonally, you get a carving motion that increases your speed.
Endurance Training
Roller skating can be exhausting (though fun) so you need to push through even when your body feels tired. It is common for many beginners to feel not only physical but mental pain in their roller skating sessions. While it is natural to feel tired due to the strides, the whole point is not to let that feeling reduce your speed and enthusiasm, conquer it, and continue moving forward.
Endurance drills help you in getting the focus you need to roller skate for a long interval. You can enroll in either endurance training programs, or do them on your own by practicing speed skating.
Set benchmarks for yourself and each time you are out skating, push a little harder and try going faster. Give yourself competition and challenges. Every time you beat your previous “best” performance, you are going one step faster and getting one step better.
FAQs
How To Make Roller Skate Wheels Spin Faster
This depends on a number of factors, such as the weight and size of the skater, the type of wheel and surface being used, and the level of grip or friction between the wheel and surface. However, there are a few tips that can help make your roller skates go faster:
- Make sure your wheels are properly aligned and balanced. If one side of the wheel is lower than the other, it will cause drag and slow you down.
- Use a harder wheel for more speed. Soft wheels provide more grip and are better for skating on rougher surfaces, while hard wheels offer less grip but are better for skating on smooth surfaces.
- Experiment with different surfaces. Some surfaces will offer more grip than others, which will allow you to go faster.
- Keep your skates well-maintained. If the bearings are dirty or rusty, they will not spin as freely and this will also affect your speed.
How To Make Roller Skates Slower
There are a few things you can do to make roller skating slower. One is to use smaller wheels – this will make your skates move more slowly across the surface. You can also try using wheels with a harder surface, which will create more friction and slow you down. Finally, you can adjust the tension on your bearings to make them move more slowly. Some additional tips to make roller skating slower include:
- Moving your body weight more towards the back of the skate
- Leaning slightly forward
- Taking shorter strides
- Rolling more slowly
How Fast Can Inline Skates Go?
Inline skating can go up to around 20 mph, but it really depends on the person skating and their experience. For beginners, it’s best to start out with around 5-10 mph and work your way up. Always be aware of your surroundings and be sure to wear the proper safety gear!
Conclusion
With proper skating techniques and endurance drills, you can skate at a greater pace for a longer duration. Also, whether it is frame, bearings, or wheels – do not be afraid of upgrading your roller skates as they bring in better speed and hence a greater performance.
