Having The hardest Time With Wheels

**UncleFester** · 07-02-2007, 07:27 PM

I just cant seem to find a wheel that works well for me when playing indoor on a sport court. When I play outdoor, or on slightly grippyer surfaces I can skate wonderfuly, I can stop, and I can cut with the best of them. However, when I play in my indoor leagues, im not the same person, I can't generate enough speed, because I cant get any grip when I try to accellerate. I can't stop with out sliding and wiping out almost everytime, and I have no balance when rushing with the puck, or trying to cut on a defender, Its like im constantly skating on vasoline or something. I've tried every soft and grippy kind of wheel you can think of.. 72a hardness... Rink Rats.... ect... I dont know what else I can do to help me out. I think that a major part of the problem is that im exetremely light. I only weight between 125-135lbs. Any help would be appriciated.. I just dont know if there is a wheel that can work with my weight, and give my agility back.

**DblJ44** · 07-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Just trying to cover the obvious. Are you using the same wheels indoor and out?

**UncleFester** · 07-02-2007, 08:08 PM

No, I have seperate ones

**MotherPucker21** · 07-03-2007, 03:56 PM

at that weight, a 72a or 74a shoudl be just fine for you. It's the heavier guys that have to worry about using those super soft wheels.

Maybe just try a different wheel (Labeda,Revision, Rink Rat, Hyper all make nice soft wheels). If you are already using 72a and you are saying that lack of grip is your issue, I don't think you many other alternatives. I used to buy labeda milleniums, and while they worked ok, i had a problem with them cracking (i weight 195). However, I then moved on to Rink Rats and havent had a single problem thus far.

Good Luck finding one that suits you.

**Secondlaw** · 07-08-2007, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by UncleFester

I just cant seem to find a wheel that works well for me when playing indoor on a sport court. When I play outdoor, or on slightly grippyer surfaces I can skate wonderfuly, I can stop, and I can cut with the best of them. However, when I play in my indoor leagues, im not the same person, I can't generate enough speed, because I cant get any grip when I try to accellerate. I can't stop with out sliding and wiping out almost everytime, and I have no balance when rushing with the puck, or trying to cut on a defender, Its like im constantly skating on vasoline or something. I've tried every soft and grippy kind of wheel you can think of.. 72a hardness... Rink Rats.... ect... I dont know what else I can do to help me out. I think that a major part of the problem is that im exetremely light. I only weight between 125-135lbs. Any help would be appriciated.. I just dont know if there is a wheel that can work with my weight, and give my agility back.

All sports court is not the same. It might look the same but age and use separates one from another.

I know a guy (rink owner) who was told that pouring coca cola on the surface would actually help the skaters stick better. He actually took the advice (moron).

One of the issues with some indoor rinks is that they don't clean the floors. Having the debris left on the surface from a few days worth of hard skating won't help you.

Another item to consider is humidity and sweat. I was playing hockey this past friday night. I started complaining about the wet spots on the floor. It seamed that I was the only one complaining about these wet spots. After taking my skates off, (I skate without sox), a little puddle of sweat came out of the front air holes of my skates. Turned out that the sweat was dripping out of the boot onto my wheels, causing me to slide

good luck.

**longboarderj** · 07-08-2007, 09:04 PM

I was having a hard time with my wheels until I got some from revision and used their wheel matrix for the proper set up, no more sliding...

**STEVENSDANEYKO** · 07-09-2007, 11:52 PM

I weigh about 145-150 and use Labeda Grippers. They work great for me. They are called x-soft which I guess is supposed to be even softer than 72a. Check them out on sites like hockey monkey. I got my whole set for under $20 and they are great.
Also I heard that spraying the wheels with hairspray makes them stick better, but I wouldn't suggest getting the spray on your bearings. Not sure if it would affect them but who knows.

**MotherPucker21** · 07-10-2007, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by STEVENSDANEYKO

I weigh about 145-150 and use Labeda Grippers. They work great for me. They are called x-soft which I guess is supposed to be even softer than 72a. Check them out on sites like hockey monkey. I got my whole set for under $20 and they are great.
Also I heard that spraying the wheels with hairspray makes them stick better, but I wouldn't suggest getting the spray on your bearings. Not sure if it would affect them but who knows.

ya know what....i guy on my team does the hairspray thing, and it seems to work. I've just always been skeptical about little tricks like that.

**Secondlaw** · 07-10-2007, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by MotherPucker21

ya know what....i guy on my team does the hairspray thing, and it seems to work. I've just always been skeptical about little tricks like that.

The problem I see with this technique is that once the spray dries, it creates a shell around the wheel. The hairspray trick might work for a few minutes but once the stickiness of the spray collects too much wheel dust, it's useless. The best thing to restore your wheels is warm soapy water.

I also purchase these windex wipes so when I don't have time for soap and water, I take one out and clean the wheels off with that.