rollerski wheels - learnings

Figured I would post what I have learned about changing rollerski
wheels over the last week or so. Probably pretty basic for most but was
a good learning experience for me. This is specific to the Elpex F1 and
ProSki S5E model skate rollerskis which I have been playing with.
Pursuit rollerskis are very similar to S5E in terms of wheel parts.

I have found the parts and service great at these stores for Elpex and
ProSki equipment respectively:

http://gear-west.stores.yahoo.net/elro.html
http://www.webskis.com/home.php?cat=56

Wish I had known about Rolerskishop.com Pursuit rollerskis earlier.
They also have a lot of the rollerski parts mentioned below at great
prices:

http://www.rollerskishop.com/



- if you rollerski, it is worth figuring this out. Will save you $ and
time. It is a lot easier than I had originally thought and I should
have explored it earlier

- each complete wheel is made up of the wheel itself, a bearing spacer
in the middle of the wheel assembly, 2 608 bearings attached to wheel
with bearing spacer inbetween, 2 wheel spacers (between wheel and
frame) and the axel+nut (6mm wide)

- get a _metal_ bearing removal tool. Most inline skate and skateboard
stores will have a number of options to choose from (Y looking tools).
Plastic ones IMHO are a waste of $, break way too easily. This will
allow you to remove the bearings + bearing spacer from your old wheels.
Can also use a screwdriver or T-allen wrench. Axle is 6mm for both F1,
S5E and Pursuit models.

http://www.blackdiamondsports.com/Ro...Tool_p/384.htm
http://www.skatelog.com/bearings/bearing-tools.htm

- the 608 bearings are a standard size used in a lot of inline skate
and skateboard wheels. A number of purchase options are out there (most
inline skate and skateboard stores will have 608 bearings which you
could use). There are even ceremic bearings out there if you really
want to lose a lot of skin to the road. Not really sure how often these
warrant replacing since a slower wheel leads to a better workout (vs.
inline skating need for max speed). Figure will replace them with the
wheels since they are pretty cheap.

"Most inline skates use 608 series bearings. The 608 tells us that the
bearing is from the 600 series. The "8" in the 608 specifies that the
inner diameter (the width of the hole, i.e., internal bore) is 8mm. The
"6" in the 608 specifies the difference between the inner diameter hole
radius and the radius of the out side edge. 608 bearings are also the
standard size for skateboard bearings."

http://www.edsbearings.com/faqbearings.html

- 100x24mm wheels will work with both the F1 and S5E. Rollerskishop has
a great deal on these wheels right now ($15 each!). The
rollerskishop.com 100x24mm aluminum wheel is the exact same stock wheel
on the S5E. They also last a lot longer than the F1 Elpex wheels (which
I have found to be extremely short lasting, motivating this wheel
exploration). They also sell Pursuit rollerskis which looks like a
really great deal.

http://www.rollerskishop.com/parts.php

ProSki S5E specifics:

- the bearing spacer with the 608 bearings are flush with the wheel. So
most 608 bearings+6mm bearing spacer+wheel spacer should work fine
(rollerskishop.com ones work well). Can also re-use the original S5E
bearing spacer + wheel spacers without too much trouble.

Elpex F1 specifics:

- the bearing spacer protrudes a little from the wheel and the wheel
spacers are designed to fit with the bearing spacer small lip (it is
not flush like the ProSki and Pursuit rollerskis). I would recommend
reusing the F1 wheel spacer + wheel spacers if you change wheels (or
bearings). You could use bearing spacer+wheel spacer which are flush
with the wheel (like the Pursuit or S5E), but you need to make sure the
axle+bolt are real tight to make up for the extra wheel/spacer/axle
slack. I am re-using the F1 bearing spacer+wheel spacers since that
seems to be best / safest.

So replacing ALL the wheels on a pair of my rollerskis will now cost me
~ $60-70 total, which is a big improvement over the $40-45 per wheel
that I have been paying. More happy training!

Clayton Keim is the owner of www.rollerskishop.com that sells the Pursuit
models. He is also a college student, entrepreneur and one of the many good
people in this sport. This summer he helped start the Duluth Duathlon
(www.duluthduathlon.com) and this winter is taking on being the race
director of the "Boulder Lake Ski Race", which is held just north of Duluth,
Minnesota. I've done this race the last two years and it has been a fun
event on a nicely groomed course. A very low entry fee of only $25 before
December 23rd.
He recently e-mailed this message:

"Thanks for the email. You metioning the prices stuck in my mind, and so I
wanted to make it the best value possible, and hope with low early
registration, the numbers will be higher making up for it. This year a lot
of
extras have been added as well: chip timing, 1st place in each age division
get
a $35 pair of Sinisalo rollerski/nordicwalking gloves (rollerskishop.com now
sells Sinisalo so I was able to do this), over $1000 in door prizes!, and a
10x20" heated tent at the venue. I'm hoping the ski den and tent will be ok
to
hold people over until the awards, which I'm thinking about having outside
there and doing them really fast since out in the weather. The bar and
grill
last year was at capacity, so I need more room. Print marketing goes out
Tuesday to 24 ski shops in MN WI. Hoping to get close to 200 racers, and
hoping for snow and not to cold.

Tell all your ski friends!


Clayton Keim
www.boulderlakeskirace.com"


--

Paul Haltvick
Bay Design and Build - LLC
Engineering, Construction and Information Technology Services
FSx - Fischer / Swix Racing
Ashland, WI.

wrote in message
ps.com...
Figured I would post what I have learned about changing rollerski
wheels over the last week or so. Probably pretty basic for most but was
a good learning experience for me. This is specific to the Elpex F1 and
ProSki S5E model skate rollerskis which I have been playing with.
Pursuit rollerskis are very similar to S5E in terms of wheel parts.

I have found the parts and service great at these stores for Elpex and
ProSki equipment respectively:

http://gear-west.stores.yahoo.net/elro.html
http://www.webskis.com/home.php?cat=56

Wish I had known about Rolerskishop.com Pursuit rollerskis earlier.
They also have a lot of the rollerski parts mentioned below at great
prices:

http://www.rollerskishop.com/



- if you rollerski, it is worth figuring this out. Will save you $ and
time. It is a lot easier than I had originally thought and I should
have explored it earlier

- each complete wheel is made up of the wheel itself, a bearing spacer
in the middle of the wheel assembly, 2 608 bearings attached to wheel
with bearing spacer inbetween, 2 wheel spacers (between wheel and
frame) and the axel+nut (6mm wide)

- get a _metal_ bearing removal tool. Most inline skate and skateboard
stores will have a number of options to choose from (Y looking tools).
Plastic ones IMHO are a waste of $, break way too easily. This will
allow you to remove the bearings + bearing spacer from your old wheels.
Can also use a screwdriver or T-allen wrench. Axle is 6mm for both F1,
S5E and Pursuit models.

http://www.blackdiamondsports.com/Ro...Tool_p/384.htm
http://www.skatelog.com/bearings/bearing-tools.htm

- the 608 bearings are a standard size used in a lot of inline skate
and skateboard wheels. A number of purchase options are out there (most
inline skate and skateboard stores will have 608 bearings which you
could use). There are even ceremic bearings out there if you really
want to lose a lot of skin to the road. Not really sure how often these
warrant replacing since a slower wheel leads to a better workout (vs.
inline skating need for max speed). Figure will replace them with the
wheels since they are pretty cheap.

"Most inline skates use 608 series bearings. The 608 tells us that the
bearing is from the 600 series. The "8" in the 608 specifies that the
inner diameter (the width of the hole, i.e., internal bore) is 8mm. The
"6" in the 608 specifies the difference between the inner diameter hole
radius and the radius of the out side edge. 608 bearings are also the
standard size for skateboard bearings."

http://www.edsbearings.com/faqbearings.html

- 100x24mm wheels will work with both the F1 and S5E. Rollerskishop has
a great deal on these wheels right now ($15 each!). The
rollerskishop.com 100x24mm aluminum wheel is the exact same stock wheel
on the S5E. They also last a lot longer than the F1 Elpex wheels (which
I have found to be extremely short lasting, motivating this wheel
exploration). They also sell Pursuit rollerskis which looks like a
really great deal.

http://www.rollerskishop.com/parts.php

ProSki S5E specifics:

- the bearing spacer with the 608 bearings are flush with the wheel. So
most 608 bearings+6mm bearing spacer+wheel spacer should work fine
(rollerskishop.com ones work well). Can also re-use the original S5E
bearing spacer + wheel spacers without too much trouble.

Elpex F1 specifics:

- the bearing spacer protrudes a little from the wheel and the wheel
spacers are designed to fit with the bearing spacer small lip (it is
not flush like the ProSki and Pursuit rollerskis). I would recommend
reusing the F1 wheel spacer + wheel spacers if you change wheels (or
bearings). You could use bearing spacer+wheel spacer which are flush
with the wheel (like the Pursuit or S5E), but you need to make sure the
axle+bolt are real tight to make up for the extra wheel/spacer/axle
slack. I am re-using the F1 bearing spacer+wheel spacers since that
seems to be best / safest.

So replacing ALL the wheels on a pair of my rollerskis will now cost me
~ $60-70 total, which is a big improvement over the $40-45 per wheel
that I have been paying. More happy training!