Short Center Mount - A Rink Rat setup

amohrfeld · December 6th, 2017, 02:58 AM

I decommissioned a set of my wife's skates and decided to test an idea.

As my experience grows I find myself wanting a shorter plate for more twists and turns. I like getting on my toes. I like setting on my heels. So I wondered how short a plate I can handle. The front wheel can not go any further back than the ball of the foot. (That's what the art coaches tell me.) So the rear wheel position is a function of plate length.

So a little Frankenstein work and here we are. 151 mm plate from a size 6 boot mounted on a size 10 boot.

No rink time yet but I had fun in the hallway. I'll post updates and impressions as they happen.

I feel obligated to state: These are NOT for speed. Just goofing around and having fun.

20171204_202355[1] by Austin Mohrfeld, on Flickr

dvw · December 6th, 2017, 05:43 AM

Push those babies forward another 3/8" or so and see what kind of fun you'll have.

Your coach may be right if you're on a figure circle, but if you're just out for fun, maybe not so much.

HeBeGB · December 6th, 2017, 08:37 AM

I have a set that I skate that are 90mm axle to axle on a size 10 boot.

jotson · December 6th, 2017, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeBeGB

I have a set that I skate that are 90mm axle to axle on a size 10 boot.

3.5"??? Reminds me of a FreeLine Skate.

amohrfeld · December 7th, 2017, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvw

Push those babies forward another 3/8" or so and see what kind of fun you'll have.

Your coach may be right if you're on a figure circle, but if you're just out for fun, maybe not so much.

You make a good point point.
But for now, since I'm experimenting, I want to push it to the limit. I might end up as you suggest.

ursle · December 8th, 2017, 01:00 AM

Let me mention, I learned that the axle can move up to the outside ankle bone, or just behind it, you get the same stability as if the axle were pushed all the way to the back of the Boot, try it, and, if you put the rear axle in front of the outer ankle bone, it’s easy to go to ground on your back, there’s a balance point there, food for thought.

Putting the front axle more forward than your coach wants for figures, well, you’re experimenting, when it’s more forward, as you mentioned, better for speed, and in terms of speed, moving the rear axle forward allows you to set the skate down further under you, if you mount what’s called a sport forward, which is what it will be, great for speed and bopping around, not a figures skate, but, lots of fun.

Ahh, talking about the nuts and bolts of skate mounts.

amohrfeld · December 9th, 2017, 02:15 AM

Skated the setup and the performance was as expected.

Twists and turns were improved.
Getting on toes worked well.
Getting on heals was easier but not perfect.
Stability (balance) was sacrificed.
Hockey stops became more difficult as stability decreased.
The truck action is looser then on a longer plate.

Surprisingly I could go fairly fast on these. And fairly stable too. Defiantly not full speed, but respectable for some fast laps.

The big takeaway:
1. A shorter wheelbase improved turn-ability (duh.) But I need to use a harder cushion for a tighter setup.
2. The Snyder action is sluggish. I've been on Roll Lines for the last 3 session so this slow action is very noticeable. I wonder if other plates have the same issue compared to the Roll Lines.
3. For general session fun, I honestly prefer the clay wheels on a longer plate because of the balance issue.
4. These are a great "training" skate as it forces me to focus on balance.

December 6th, 2017, 02:58 AM	#1
amohrfeld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 309	Short Center Mount - A Rink Rat setup I decommissioned a set of my wife's skates and decided to test an idea. As my experience grows I find myself wanting a shorter plate for more twists and turns. I like getting on my toes. I like setting on my heels. So I wondered how short a plate I can handle. The front wheel can not go any further back than the ball of the foot. (That's what the art coaches tell me.) So the rear wheel position is a function of plate length. So a little Frankenstein work and here we are. 151 mm plate from a size 6 boot mounted on a size 10 boot. No rink time yet but I had fun in the hallway. I'll post updates and impressions as they happen. I feel obligated to state: These are NOT for speed. Just goofing around and having fun. 20171204_202355[1] by Austin Mohrfeld, on Flickr

December 6th, 2017, 05:43 AM	#2
dvw Secretary of Skate Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hendersonville, TN Posts: 4,383	Push those babies forward another 3/8" or so and see what kind of fun you'll have. Your coach may be right if you're on a figure circle, but if you're just out for fun, maybe not so much. __________________ Find some roller derby girls. Don't try to romance them! That don't end well. okie 10/12/2011 Royals FTW! When only the shiny will do... Doc Sk8 05/19/2012

December 6th, 2017, 08:37 AM	#3
HeBeGB Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: BrisVegas, Australia Posts: 136	I have a set that I skate that are 90mm axle to axle on a size 10 boot. __________________ I'm not fast, but I make other people faster

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December 8th, 2017, 01:00 AM	#6
ursle Street Skater Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NH Posts: 2,803	Let me mention, I learned that the axle can move up to the outside ankle bone, or just behind it, you get the same stability as if the axle were pushed all the way to the back of the Boot, try it, and, if you put the rear axle in front of the outer ankle bone, it’s easy to go to ground on your back, there’s a balance point there, food for thought. Putting the front axle more forward than your coach wants for figures, well, you’re experimenting, when it’s more forward, as you mentioned, better for speed, and in terms of speed, moving the rear axle forward allows you to set the skate down further under you, if you mount what’s called a sport forward, which is what it will be, great for speed and bopping around, not a figures skate, but, lots of fun. Ahh, talking about the nuts and bolts of skate mounts.

December 9th, 2017, 02:15 AM	#7
amohrfeld Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 309	Skated the setup and the performance was as expected. Twists and turns were improved. Getting on toes worked well. Getting on heals was easier but not perfect. Stability (balance) was sacrificed. Hockey stops became more difficult as stability decreased. The truck action is looser then on a longer plate. Surprisingly I could go fairly fast on these. And fairly stable too. Defiantly not full speed, but respectable for some fast laps. The big takeaway: 1. A shorter wheelbase improved turn-ability (duh.) But I need to use a harder cushion for a tighter setup. 2. The Snyder action is sluggish. I've been on Roll Lines for the last 3 session so this slow action is very noticeable. I wonder if other plates have the same issue compared to the Roll Lines. 3. For general session fun, I honestly prefer the clay wheels on a longer plate because of the balance issue. 4. These are a great "training" skate as it forces me to focus on balance.