Now do you see what I mean by these tolerances being mangled by the first few minutes of riding down the sidewalk? The pressure of you riding, along with the shocks of bumps and the cracks in the sidewalk will quickly add a lot more eccentricity to this groove, but nothing that you can truly notice at all.
These tolerances only mean something if the bearings are used in the capacity they were intended, which is high speed and precision industrial machinery. So for all that cash you threw down on some ultra machined, cryogenically treated ABEC 9 bearings, you might as well have just bought ABEC 1 bearings, because after about 5 minutes of riding, you won’t be able to tell the ABEC 9 from the ABEC 1. As far as speed goes, the only way those ultra fancy ABEC 9 bearings would begin to show you any benefit is if you were able to reach a speed of about 240MPH on a perfectly smooth surface, with 65mm wheels and grease as a lubricant.
If you want to know what things make a greater difference in regards to speed and bearing longevity, look at things like the type of seal used, as well as the materials used to make the ball bearings themselves, not to mention the precision at which the ball bearings were made. Harder bearings will last longer, and rounder bearings will roll truer, longer, and probably faster. Most ball bearings are made of either stainless steel, or chrome steel. However, as previously mentioned, you can get bearings that use ceramic for the balls from companies like Bones with their Swiss and Redz lines, and Quadline.
While there is no evidence these bearings are inherently any faster, one could come to the conclusion that they are superior due to greater hardness, and the fact they will not corrode like stainless and chrome steel balls will. They also will be lighter (though with being so small the weight savings is negligible), as well as having superior heat dissipation, for what that might be worth. They also require less lubrication that standard steel skate bearings.
Speaking of lubrication, this is one of the other methods by which you can actually make a difference in your skate speed and overall rolling distance, as well as significantly increase the life of your bearings. Teflon based oil lubricants work quite well (one article I read said Slick 50 One Lube was the trick). WD 40 can also be used, but being mostly liquid, they will offer no protection once the lubricant has been expelled. Personally, I only used WD 40 to de grease dirty bearings for re-packing. One could also use lithium based grease for longevity of the grease, while maintaining a lighter weight like oil for speed.
So there you have it, the real scoop on ABEC ratings. Feel free to educate your buddies on this stuff, or further look things up yourself for further learning.
Photo Credits: Wondershock
Originally posted 2009-09-24 03:21:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Skateboarding Lexicon 180 - This is a term that refers to a half rotation. 360 - This is a term that refers to a single full rotation. 540 - This is a term that describes a 540-degree rotation while in the air. This is equal to one and a half full rotations....... -
Best Products for Wakeboarding Wakeboarding is a sport that can actually be thought of as a combination of a number of sports: surfing along with water skiing, with a bit of snow boarding thrown in. Wakeboarding is a sport that is performed on the water surface, specifically the wake that is behind a speed...... -
High Tech Deck Skate Park Choices There is a great deal of interest in high tech deck skate park materials today as more and more people are becoming interested in the sport once again. As you watch the interest in skateboarding becoming more popular every year, there is more reason than ever for the innovations in...... -
How to Clean and Lubricate Skate Bearings Clean bearings are going to roll smoother, roll faster, and will last much longer than dirty bearings. Dirt and grime foul the bearings and can cause pitting which make rotation uneven and rough. The following paragraphs have instructions for cleaning bearings with removable shields. If you do not have removable...... -
Surf Skate Wake Board - What's Your Passion? For many people, there is nothing that they find to be more exhilarating or exciting then boarding of all types. This can mean surfing, skate boarding, wake boarding and more. For many people it may e the danger that they feel or even the endorphins that they feel coursing through......
Related Websites -
Bear Valley Mountain Resort, Bear Valley, CA Bear Valley Mountain Resort is located in: Bear Valley, CA Phone: (209) 753-2301 Website: http://www.bearvalley.com/winter/index.asp About the Resort: This is a great, all inclusive ski resort located in the heart of the Sierra's. They have a fantastic reputation as being a great place to bring the family, even if not...... -
Review: The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Tennis by Robert G. Price The Ultimate Weight Guide to Weight Training for Tennis is a tome which describes well over 80 different exercises and techniques for developing your tennis technique. These techniques span from weight training to flexibility and are used by athletes across the globe. The program that is outlined in the book...... -
More Tips for Your Tennis Game These tips should help you improve your tennis game in various ways. Combine them, or try different tips one at a time until you're happy with the results. 1 - Learn how to vary the length when you make a backswing. You need o learn how to tailor the...... -
A Liquid Wrench For Every Job Liquid Wrench, a company that's been in business since 1941, knows how to make products people really need and use. Their product line includes lubricants, penetrating oils and protectants for people who know that one product can't do everything. While some products on the market today are hyped as all-purpose...... - Ski Resorts Work to Roll Out New Rides for Upcoming Winter Season Okay guys, it's official: The ski season is upon us. Ski resorts all over the continent are looking for ways to boost their appeal by coming up with a bumper crop of brand new terrain and lifts along with other rides and attractions. For your skiing and sliding pleasure, here......
- Salomon Inline Skates Skate Shop
- Stainless Steel Charcoal Grills & Accessories Outdoor Cooking & Eating Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
- John Deer Riding Mowers Lawnmowers Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
- Snapper Riding Mowers Lawnmowers Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
- Girls Inline Skates Skate Shop
In the worlds of inline and board skating, you will find many areas of much debate. However, one of the most contested areas you will encounter is that of skate bearings. German? Swiss? Ceramic? Stainless Steel? ABEC rating? So many choices, and so many opinions on what is better and what is not. When I was in grade school and into skateboarding, most boards had one of 2 types of bearings: cheap, crappy “American” bearings universally known by their shape which could be described as either mushroom, or T shaped like the Tetris piece, or “German” bearings, which were flat in that profile. 
