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Roller Derby Forum Discussions about banked-track and flat-track roller derby events, teams, skaters, and training methods. |
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#1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 14
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Hey have been lurking for a bit trying to read up on wheels as I want to get a set next pay day to replace my radar camens which suck. Basically I'm new to derby but am finding these wheels slip a lot, we skate on a wooden floor but it can be pretty dusty and slippy, and would like something with a bit more grip. One of the refs suggested swapping out 4 of the wheels for something grippier now and then replacing the camens later when I had more cash.
Just wondering if you guys had any suggestions for good combos with the camens? Alternatively if I just ditch all the camens now is there any other combos people think might work well. oh and I'm about 140 pounds ![]() |
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#2 |
CERTIFIED ANTI CRONIE!!!!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Frozen Tundra..
Posts: 3,848
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I would suggest skating on only 4 wheels.. and leave the caymans out of the picture..
Yes.. they ARE that bad. Wheels are not that expensive.. used stuff is plastered all over Skatelog.. and the internet.. youll find something.. If you need ideas.. look no further then your fellow skaters.. and whats working for them.. will work for you. Enjoy ![]() |
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#3 |
Krissy Crabapples
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 63
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I have the same wheels as you...and yes, they suck. I don't understand the suckage, myself. My derby skates have radar caymens (95A); my art skates have powell bones elite (101A)... according to everything I've read about the hardness factor, my arse should be sliding all over the place in my art skates moreso than my derby skates...if I'm reading the info right.
There's a post quite a ways down where everyone recommends Atom wheels. When money falls from the heavens, I'm taking the advice of the more experienced!
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Stand and deliver, or the devil he may take ya. Last edited by panthergirl5182; June 21st, 2010 at 07:35 PM. Reason: Adding a sentence |
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Morristown, NJ, USA
Posts: 707
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It's pretty simple. They're cheaply manufactured so that the packages they're sold with (like R3s) can hit a $100 price point.
Atom wheels are very good, they're not the only brand out there (there's also Sure-Grip, Radar, Backspin, Heartless/B'zerk, etc.) but Atom's catalog is very useful: http://atomwheels.com/Quad/catalog.html http://www.atomwheels.com/Quad/pdf/Catalog.pdf Towards the end of the catalog there is a wheel performance chart which will help you out. Look up your weight and type of floor you're skating on, that will give you a durometer range (that number followed by an A) to shoot for when trying out new wheels. This "magic number" will help guide you to a set that gives you a good combo of grip and roll. Don't be afraid to experiment. |
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#5 | |
Sweet Slice Ham
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville Ky
Posts: 2,663
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DayMan. Fighter of the NightMan. |
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#6 | |
Has Too Many Skates
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: 410.
Posts: 2,194
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BOAT ANCRE Enthusiast, Puggle Sparkling Beacon of Fabulousness |
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#7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,231
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Red Revenges stick like glue. justskates has them for $65, and if you enter the code rollerderby12 at checkout, you will get an extra 12% off.
![]() http://www.justskates.com/Backspin-R...by-Wheels.html |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,382
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get either a soft or hard set of witch doctors. Being light as you are you can get away with the softer set and they will not break the bank. Since your floor could be slippery, I would recommend the softer wheels(93a to 95a max). You can upgrade later to more expensive wheels. I will be selling a set of sure grip power plus wheels in a 93a hardness soon. They are red but dyed black. Too soft for me(210 lbs).
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#9 | |
Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: KY USA
Posts: 2,359
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In a nutshell that is why Caymans are around $15 a set and Stilettos are 10 times that even though they have about the same durometer. Good urethane and hubs cost more. |
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#10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,231
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#11 |
Krissy Crabapples
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 63
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See? Experienced peoples clearing things up!
Now, I want pink wheels...
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Stand and deliver, or the devil he may take ya. |
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#12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,382
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i used the orange ones. I feel since the surfaces described are vastly changing, the orange ones would not grip as good for you. I skate on a good rink floor(coated) so they worked great on it. Still have them and won't part with them, blues would not roll as good for me, I am too heavy and they would bog down on me. 95a is my lower limit, unless the rink I am skating at has a terrible floor. Then I have some really old Barrettas that stick to anything. If you are going to go fast, you need good roll(hardness) but you also need traction(good urethane) in the turns and it is a balancing act with whatever surfaces you skate on. Hope all this helps
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#13 | |
Teenage Dream
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 739
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I sent this to my league a few weeks ago because I knew folks didn't know what to look for in wheels. I'm gonna copy it here, but this is very specific to our surface. Then again, I think it may help you out.
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#14 | |
Krissy Crabapples
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 63
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![]() I know when I bought my art skates, they came with some cheap wheels, not to mention the flash from molding wasn't removed before the bearings were installed... want to talk about grip??? I couldn't move! The rink owner's son happened to be there and helped me out with the art wheels. The derby thing is new in the area; no one on the currently forming league can really answer wheel questions. I'm on hiatus due to non-derby leg injuries... so I have plenty of time to research. I am SO not giving up on my cheapass new skates; I like the feel of the shoe, just not the wheels.
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Stand and deliver, or the devil he may take ya. |
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#15 |
Sweet Slice Ham
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville Ky
Posts: 2,663
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Bingo Duong! The balance between stick and slide, and the application to your particular surface is where all wheel answers lie. I would say that all skaters serious about derby need about three sets of wheels to keep in the arsenal. If that sounds outrageous, ever fished?, hunted?, played golf?, cooked a meal that required true culinary skill?, worked on a car? There is no one wheel, there is no one tool.
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DayMan. Fighter of the NightMan. |
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#16 | |
Krissy Crabapples
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 63
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Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever tried derby on the wooden wheels by SureGrip?
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Stand and deliver, or the devil he may take ya. |
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#17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Morristown, NJ, USA
Posts: 707
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#18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,382
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You don't want wooden wheels in derby.....no traction at all. 92a to 95a like jimduong said is what you are after. Last night I skated on some Sure Grip Power Plus wheels. They did not compare to the Anabolix wheels at all. But really, no one wheel does it all. You may have to have more than one set to adapt to different floors. Look over your skaters and find out who is skating good with control and find out what is working for them. I don't think you will have to spend a lot of money on wheels to get the job done. You may have to go to a hard outdoor wheel to get a grip on some of the surfaces.
You may have cheap skates, but wheels and bearings will bring new life into any skate. Later you can upgrade your gear and still have the wheels you use to get it done. Wheels are the important thing in any skate. |
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#19 |
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 14
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Cheers for all the help guys
Was looking into getting witch doctors but being in the uk there a little difficult to get (same with the atoms) and shipping from the US was doubling the price so I think I'm going to go for sure grip fugitives think about getting a pink or red set and the grey pushers what do you guys think? I know I'll prob need to get a few sets eventually but hopping I can get a bit more speed in the corners with some grippier wheels ![]() |
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#20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,382
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I didn't realize you were in the UK. You will have to go with what is working and available in your area. Someone will be using what you are looking for. Going for what works now may save you some money in the long run. We have "wheel testing" sessions here in the Houston area. That may be a thing to consider, getting together with others and having a test session by borrowing wheels during a skate session or practice. Lots of wheels to try on any given weekend. Wheel hunts are a really important thing everywhere skaters are. Noone wants to spend money for a wheel that don't work. However nearly everyone has lost money on it at one time or other. I have several sets of "junk" good for nothing wheels. Some are very expensive too.
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