3x or 4x frame

[rhyfelwr]

I have been an ice skater for many years and switched to inline last year.

I now have a pair of long wheelbase 3x125 marathon style skates which were an upgrade from my "fitness" short wheelbase 3x125.

Outdoors, I will always default to my marathon skates but I'm finding that the 125 wheels are a struggle on small indoor skating surfaces (converted badminton courts). As a result, I'm planning to go to either a 100 or 110 size wheel but I'm struggling with frame type...

I like speed and, although I don't own dedicated speed skates, I'd like to optimise my fitness skates for a fast, indoor experience so do I...

1) Go for an agile 3x110 (or 3x100)
2) Opt for more of a longer racing 4x110 frame?

I'm quite tall and find that most of my time indoors is spent doing quick cross-overs so the shorter frame seems ideal; however, I'm still trying to assess the benefit of a longer 4x110 setup.

Anyone got any advice or pointers?

Thanks

Richard

[nickajshelden]

As a fellow ice skater, I have gravitated towards rocker skates, particularly 3 wheel. rockers don't tend to be the best for speed/fitness though. a good compromise is hi-low skates. some frames can be all of the above. my go to are the reign hockey skates, which have a trinity mount frame that can be fully adjusted from flat to high-low to rocker (half and full). The drawback is price. They are really expensive.
There are other skates out there. I have found that the slightly rockered 4 wheel "freestyle" skates with 80mm are able to conquer most roads while being very manouverable. You can learn to ride anything with a bit of practice. I have been known to occasionally race on my hockey skates with a full rocker setup. My best times? no, but still fast? sure.
Now, to throw a big wrench into the gears of the question....have you considered quad skates? a well set up quad can go outside and inside easily with maybe just a swap of the wheels.... they are also manouverable but fast.
all said and done, if you have skates you like outside, then buy a pair of skates for inside only. I personally prefer 3 to 4, but the angle/size of wheels will make more of a difference than the number.

[rhyfelwr]

Originally Posted by nickajshelden

As a fellow ice skater, I have gravitated towards rocker skates, particularly 3 wheel. rockers don't tend to be the best for speed/fitness though. a good compromise is hi-low skates. some frames can be all of the above. my go to are the reign hockey skates, which have a trinity mount frame that can be fully adjusted from flat to high-low to rocker (half and full). The drawback is price. They are really expensive.
There are other skates out there. I have found that the slightly rockered 4 wheel "freestyle" skates with 80mm are able to conquer most roads while being very manouverable. You can learn to ride anything with a bit of practice. I have been known to occasionally race on my hockey skates with a full rocker setup. My best times? no, but still fast? sure.
Now, to throw a big wrench into the gears of the question....have you considered quad skates? a well set up quad can go outside and inside easily with maybe just a swap of the wheels.... they are also manouverable but fast.
all said and done, if you have skates you like outside, then buy a pair of skates for inside only. I personally prefer 3 to 4, but the angle/size of wheels will make more of a difference than the number.

Thanks for that; some really interesting points there and I fully understand the liking for a rockered setup when coming off ice.

As it happens, I've just about got used to having the whole "blade" in constant contact with the ground and I suspect I'll get better power transfer that way.

From what you've said, I may well move to a Trinity 3x100 or 3x110 rig - maybe on their Elite MG frames. (I have 3 Powerslide skates - two with Trinity mounts).

My last consideration has to be if I want to do indoor racing... but then I guess I'd have to consider a true racing boot...

Decisions, decisions!