Wheels and Bearings for Inline Skates

Question
Hi Lezly,

I was wondering if you could guide me in selecting wheels and bearings for my inline skates (4 wheels) that would be most appropriate for the type of skating that I do. I've posed the question to sales staff at a number of stores and really haven't felt comfortable with the advice I've been getting.

I'm currently skating (barely) on a 78 mm 78a wheels and ABEC 5 rated bearings. I say barely, because over the course of an hour to an hour and a half skate, the insides of the front wheels get shredded down, pretty much to the core.

I'm a fairly proficient skater (played a lot of hockey) and I typically skate on winding, rolling asphalt paths, which in some sections are course and grainy. While nice to skate on, the course paths, and in particular the inclines, where I have to exert more pressure on the wheels to push off, are the source of most of the damage to the wheels.

As a result, I'm looking to find a wheel that will stand up to the type of skating that I do and the duration (I typically skate 2 - 3 times a week for 1 - 2 hours in duration). I'd like a wheel that is more durable and longer lasting but doesn't sacrifice too much on comfort and grip. I'd also like improve the rolling resistance. Even when they were new, I never felt that I was getting very good performance out of the 78mm 78A, 5 ABEC combination.

I'm currently looking to step up the size of the wheel to 80mm. That's the maximum size that will fit in my skate, but I'm not sure about the hardness. I'm considering an 82A and an 84A, but I'm really at a loss here. I'd really appreciate your feedback. And regarding the bearings, should I be going to an ABEC 7, or even something else. Is there that much of a difference between a 5 and a 7.

Any help you can give me Lezly, would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Mike.

Answer
Mike,
I have to tell you that I have never heard, in all the years I've been skating & teaching, someone say that over the course of an hour to an hour and a half skate, the insides of the front wheels get shredded down, pretty much to the core. I can't imagine what you are doing to accomplish that.
However, let's move on from there - Going up to a 80mm wheel will of course make it last longer & also give you a bit longer roll than what you've been using. As far as the durometer is concerned, the harder the wheel, the less resistance you will have - the durability will increase, but of course you will, as you go harder, sacrifice some comfort & grip. I wouldn't go higher than 85A & it would be wise to go up in small increments starting with 80A or 82A. If you wear wheels down as quickly as you say, you can take a small increase in durometer every time you have to change wheels till you find the right hardness for you. Ask your skate shop if there is any difference in the wearability of one brand over the other.
As regards the bearings - ABEC 7 is great if you are skating at high speeds, however, it is my understanding that the difference between ABEC 5 & 7 is only apparent if you are racing. You don't max out the 7s potential till you hit high speeds. Like a car that has the capability of going 200 mph, if you never drive it over 80mph you won't get any better peformance out of it than you would from a car that has a top speed of 120mph.
I hope I've been of some help to you.
Roll on!........... Lezly (Lezly Skate School - NYC)