OT: New toy, big wheels

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BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
After not being able to skate the London to Brighton, I consoled myself with a bit of retail therapy. You could pretty much buy a Langster for this little collection. Most of the cost is in the frames, with a fair sum also in the small blue box of ceramic bearings.
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Just shows how wheel sizes are so very different between different specialisations in the sport:
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Arch

Married to Night Train
Location
Salford, UK
That bottom one, to me, looks like it ought to have a funnel with steam coming out of it on the front...

Speaking as someone virtually incapable of standing up on skates, let alone moving, I have to admire your skills, but how much did that lot cost!?
 
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BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
It looks more like an M5 highracer to me...

The top picture, about £350 with sponsor discount. The speed boot isn't included, but would be about double that. Custom moulded boot, built to a cast of my feet. It's a bit beaten up now, I've done three tough summers of teaching and a lot of skating on them.
 

John the Monkey

Frivolous Cyclist
Location
Crewe
Out of interest, what specialisations are the different sizes for?

I can vaguely remember that in skateboarding street skaters had larger wheels (to handle poorer surfaces better) whilst ramp and park skaters tended to go for smaller. Is it something similar?
 
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BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
One's hockey, one's speed, and yes exactly as you imagine. Aggressive skates (i.e. park/ramp skating) would have much smaller wheels still, around 50mm. The hockey skate has 72mm/80mm, and the speedskate 110mm.

The hockey skate has small wheels and a very short frame for maneuverability, and a forward lean on the boot to aid sprinting. Also an armoured boot to take shots from the puck. The speedskate has large wheels for a more efficient roll, a long frame for a more efficient push, and a low cut boot to better aid good technique.
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
What difference are you going to notice? I assume faster?

Where did the red wheels go... ? that tower doesn't look as tall. (Skating sounds like its far more technical and expensive than I assumed).
 
Catrike UK said:
He will be taller.

And able to "off road"
 
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BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
Lower rolling resistance over rough roads, so faster hopefully.

You're right, skating is hugely technical. Technique is the main way to go fast, with fitness coming second to that. Skaters can easily spend thousands of hours of practice working on their skills.
 

skwerl

New Member
Location
London
BentMikey said:
It looks more like an M5 highracer to me...

The top picture, about £350 with sponsor discount. The speed boot isn't included, but would be about double that. Custom moulded boot, built to a cast of my feet. It's a bit beaten up now, I've done three tough summers of teaching and a lot of skating on them.

I imagine they come form the same guy that did Kim's (colleague of mine) boots. Some bloke in Germany I think?
His skates all in were in the 1500 euro range I think
 
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BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
skwerl said:
I imagine they come form the same guy that did Kim's (colleague of mine) boots. Some bloke in Germany I think?
His skates all in were in the 1500 euro range I think


I seem to remember he had Verducci boots, mine are from Aus, and not as expensive as that, LOL!
 

jashburnham

New Member
Safe to say that you're a fan of human powered locomotion then... fairly sure I saw you on the Bent last summer, I was sat outside a pub (the Swan) on Vauxhall Bridge Road and reckon you rolled past. I nearly shouted "Oi 'Bent Mikey" but had second thoughts when I realised how that would have sounded to my drinking companion/passers by etc...
 
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