Soft/Hard/Rain Wheels?

[axolyxion]

Hey there,
i have read many articles on wheels and heard from many people, and in the end i get many contradicting ideas about wheels.

Heres what i know:
Hard Wheels are good for sliding. eg.Seba 85A Wheels
Soft Wheels are good for Slalom eg. Gyro Wheels

Please correct me about the wheels thing and suggest some brands too!

Also what wheels are good in the rain, i wanted to try sliding in the rain but its hard to pick up speed in the rain, since i cant push off easily. (or is there a way to speed up in the rain? )

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks =)

[Doug]

Hard wheels:

• Longer lasting;
• Faster;
• Harder ride (less forgiving on rough surfaces);
• Less grip

Soft wheels:

• Softer ride (absorbs bumbs better);
• More grip;
• Slower;
• Wear out quicker

Heres what i know:
Hard Wheels are good for sliding. eg.Seba 85A Wheels
Soft Wheels are good for Slalom eg. Gyro Wheels

The A rating is the general hardness of the wheel. It varies per manufacturer, but on the whole a higher A rating makes a harder wheel.
For recreational outdoor skating you'll want something in the 80-86A range, indoor 76-78A (IIRC).

Harder wheels are generally used for sliding because they are less grippy & won't disintegrate after a few slides. Softer wheels can slide well once warmed up, but they'll wear out quickly.

Also what wheels are good in the rain, i wanted to try sliding in the rain but its hard to pick up speed in the rain, since i cant push off easily. (or is there a way to speed up in the rain? )

You can get wet weather wheels, but they're expensive & if you slide in them or use them in the dry, you can wear a set out in a single session.
Just learn to skate in the wet. Don't edge too much & use a short stride.

[axolyxion]

Thanks doug for the VERY informative reply.
Everything i needed and hoped to know is all there, sounds like i need to skate more in the rain =)

I'll save these in a .txt file for future reference!

[Doug]

You may not call me by my first name until you either earn another cup, sufficiently deride Naomi or are courted by Quentin/Bry.

[axolyxion]

WHAT ITS A FIRST NAME? oh my......

anyway thanks alot!

[Bella83]

ignore him. he's only 12

[Doug]

A full stop? Well done!

[ephillips]

Also what wheels are good in the rain, i wanted to try sliding in the rain but its hard to pick up speed in the rain, since i cant push off easily. (or is there a way to speed up in the rain? )

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks =)

You'll just slide more easily in the wet so should need less entry speed to get the same slide distance. I normally switch to a bit of an under push to get up more speed in the wet as well as a shorter, choppier slide - I picked that up whilst sprinting away from a security guard at Canary Wharf in the damp.

[Cedy]

Quick info:
New Matter wheel for indoor, could be good in the wet too
http://powerslide.de/2010/powerslide/ps ... y&nav=n_wh

[shinumi85]

You may not call me by my first name until you either earn another cup, sufficiently deride Naomi or are courted by Quentin/Bry.

Yet, I'll always call you Douggie without the 'u'

You should choose a set of wheels that feel good for you for what you do most of the time (if you slalom more than you slide then buy soft, etc) and adjust your skating to them more or less and buy a special set for special occasions when the usual set bothers you or you're not willing to ruin your usual set by using them in those occasions, because, be realistic, you're not going to change your wheels every 10 minutes when you're practicing a different kind of skating.
(Yet, if you're going to do indoors I recommend having a special set for indoors... coming from someone who learnt it the HARD way that hard wheels do not grip well indoors)