Fast Or Pretty – Choose Your Game When You Choose Your Roller Hockey Skates

By Terry Price

Inline hockey, which is played on inline or roller hockey skates, is a bit different than regular ice hockey. You’ll find that just about every piece of equipment is a bit different from the sticks, which are often made of aluminum to the skates, which are on rollers instead of on blades. Usually you’ll find that the cost of the equipment is a good bit cheaper than gear for ice hockey, but you’ll still pay a decent price, starting at about $100 for the right skates for the game. Before you start playing, there are a variety of different things that you need to know, so here is some relevant information that you need to be aware of first.

One of the first things that you need to know is that there is a difference between roller hockey skates that are used for outdoor and indoor use. Of course, you’ll find that most things are essentially them same, but you’ll find that the outdoor ones are going to have wheels that are a whole lot softer. They are designed in this way to help you make sure that you can get a good grip and they also keep you upright even when you skate over pebbles and cracks as well. Usually the indoor wheels are quite a bit harder, since they don’t usually have to go over cracks or pebbles and you don’t need the grip as much indoors.

Another thing that you need to consider is the difference between quad and inline skates when you’re making your choice. Basically this all comes down to personal choice, since some find that quad roller hockey skates are easier for them to balance on. Others find that inlines are a whole lot faster. So, you’ll have to check out both to decide which ones really work the best for you. Who knows, you may even end up liking both styles and enjoy using them both from time to time.

So, as you can see, it really can make a difference when you’re making your choice as to whether or not you are planning to plan outside or indoors. Make sure you get the right skates for where you are planning to play. Also, you’ll want to figure out whether you are more comfortable with quads or inlines as well before you buy. With this information, you’ll be better equipped to purchase the right roller hockey skates for your needs and comfort.

Terry Price is a regular contributor to HockeyEquipmentSticks.com which is an informational website offering many exciting new Hockey Sticks NHL Hockey Cards and great hockey advice.

The 2009 Atlanta Trade Show and NEW GEAR

The 2009 Atlanta trade show was in full swing on Monday and Tuesday of this week and we were there getting the low down on all the new gear coming out in 2010. The event is hosted every October by Southeastern Skate Supply. If your wearing skates, most likely these guys made it happen. They’re the largest skate supplier in the country and they really now how to host a party.

Sure-Grip, Vanilla, and Pacer were among some of the elite showing off their killer new designs for the upcoming year.

Sure-Grip decided to focus their efforts on making the Flame and Rebel skates even better. The Flames have been some of their best sellers in the last 2 years and with the new additions to the family I’m sure it’ll stay that way.

Some of the new models this year are the Red with Black Flame. This one’s a deep red boot with an all black flame and it’s all tied together with the new black/red Twister wheels. The Green Flame is a great addition to the original Flame color scheme. Personally, I think the green looks the best of all the colors.

The new Pink with Black Flames model is more than just a new color choice. Sure-Grip purposely set out to make a skate that represents surviver’s and fighters of breast cancer. It was nice to see some of the bigger names in skating stand up for this great cause. These pink beauties won’t be available until the beginning of the year but we’ll be keeping you up to date on any arrival dates.

Overall, the trade show was a lot of fun and we met tons of new folks in the roller skating world. We got to share our ideas and listen to others.  We came home with a ton of info to share and even few interviews with folks like Vanilla. I’ll be posting those soon along with all the new 2010 skates and gear.

How to Clean Inline Skate Bearings

By Layla Dean

Clean bearings roll smoother, are faster and will last longer than dirty bearings. Grit and sand can cause small pits in the balls and create an uneven rotation. Below are instructions on how to clean a bearing with a removable shield. If the shield on your bearings are stationary, ignore the steps which are directed to removing shields.

If you clean and lubricate your bearing often they should last you a long time. Always avoid getting your bearings wet, and keep them free of sand! Clean and lubricate skate bearings immediately if they become wet.

Tools You Will Need:

Small bowl or metal pan

Straight pin

Bearing cleaner

Small cleaning brush such as a toothbrush. Soft or medium, nothing too hard!

Clean towels

Paper Towels

1. For removable shields: Insert the end of the straight pin into the end of the C-ring which holds the shield onto the bearing body. Very gently pry the C-ring up and towards the center of the bearing, working your way around the circle. Remove the shield slowly, always taking care not to damage it.

2. Place bearing in container or bowl and flush with bearing cleaner to remove contaminants. Citrus cleaners work well. Use the small brush or toothbrush and remove larger pieces of dirt and grime. If your bearings are particularly dirty, you may have to repeat this step. Be sure to change your solvent with each rinsing.

3. After you have cleaned the bearing, pat it gently dry with a clean, lint free towel. Place on a paper towel and allow it to air dry. Make sure that all water has evaporated and dries out completely before proceeding to the next step.

4. After the bearing has completely dried, apply 1 to 2 drops of quality lubricant to the inside of the bearing. A little lubricant goes a long way. Rotate the bearing slowly to work the lubricant in to all of the moving parts. Make sure the balls are completely covered in oil/grease.

5. Replace the shield by placing it on top of bearing and slipping the C-ring into the groove next to the shield. Then work remaining length of C-ring slowly and gently around the fitted groove until it snaps back into place.

6. Put your freshly cleaned bearings back on your skates and spin them to insure oil/greases is evenly distributed and wheels are spinning smoothly.

Warning: Always use extreme caution whenever working with any cleaning solvent. Bearing Cleaner is a toxic chemical and should be washed off skin immediately.

About the Author: Layla D. is a contributor to http://georgia-dog-friendly.blogspot.com/

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Layla D.

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