Please explain different in chasis/frames...Hi/Lo vs. Straight vs. Rocker

[jasonbenjamin]

I'm a complete fool when it comes to frames on inline skates. It seems like Hi Lo is the most popular...does that mean that wheels in back are larger than the 2 wheels in front...or...does that mean that the two wheel holes up front are raised up on the frame?

What about rockers? I'm a former ice player and that's what I'm used to. Do they make frames for that, or would you just place larger wheels in the center and the smaller wheels on the ends?

If somebody could give me a tutorial on the different frames and set ups, I'd really appreciate it.

[DannyG]

It seems like Hi Lo is the most popular...does that mean that wheels in back are larger than the 2 wheels in front...or...does that mean that the two wheel holes up front are raised up on the frame?
Over the past twenty years, the hi-lo frame concept - larger wheels in back, smaller in front - have given players the best combination of speed and manueverability. Since the speed is determined by whatever the radius of the largest wheel on the line is, at least the bigger wheels = more speed is valid. Nobody is really sure if the smaller-wheels-in-front = agility part is valid.

I have not seen 'em in years, but you could buy a raised wheel in back and front chasis at one time. There were also axle pillow inserts you could get to raise or lower any given axle, particularly the front and back.

Almost every player in the world seems to subscribe to the hi-lo axle set as the best possible situation. Frankly, once you are used to the feel of it, it really is the best. All the major manufacturers make a good quality skate/chassis. I highly recommend Tour or Mission as the best, but then, I wear my Gear Stubbies proudly, and nobody on this message forum wants me to get started on that...


What about rockers? I'm a former ice player and that's what I'm used to. Do they make frames for that, or would you just place larger wheels in the center and the smaller wheels on the ends?

See above...oops, I split this quote and then answered it above...

One other note...the 80mm/72mm combo of wheels sizes is the standard. Deviation from that makes it harder to get wheels, trust me. Then, "Wheels" is a whole 'nother discussion, and you can search this forum set for past dissertations on the subject.

We are very glad to have you as a new inline player. I hope your inline career lasts forever, and I hope to skate with you some day, out on the blue floor...

[patb16]

If your an ice player coming from inline, check these out:

http://www.smarthockey.com/prod_tuuk_rocker.php

They used to come on Bauer/Nike inline skate, but they have since been discontinued. The guy who invented these started his own company called smart hockey and you can still get them from him.

In my opinion they are the closest thing to ice you can find. Some people might knock them, but I believe this is mainly because either they've never tried them or, they are mostly roller only players you have never or scarcely stepped foot on ice.

These frames allow you to do everything that you can do on ice, that you could otherwise not accomplish on roller. They give you more contact area when making strides and because they rock, provide a sharper turning radius when cornering. They also allow for different wheel size setups to provide different blade profiles just like you can have your ice blade profiled.

Hope this helps... It might be worth checking out.

[TheSnake22]

sorry but tuuk rockers are not the way to go if you want to recreate an ice hockey-like feel. Sprung frames (http://www.sprung-inline.com) are the next big thing in inline hockey and anyone who has tried them has fallen in love with them. The problem with the Tuuk frame it that you cannot ever have 4 wheels touching the surface. The sprung frame allows your front and rear wheel to flex and give you the ability to "dig in" like an ice skate, while still having all of the wheels on the ground during your stride.

I could go a lot further but it will save you and me both some time if you check out the inline section of modsquadhockey.com (http://www.modsquadhockey.com). This site is amazing to find out what is going on with the game of inline hockey and specific topics on leagues, events and gameplay, but no site can compare to what modsquad offers in terms of equipment knowledge and information.