By Jim South
Rumors abound that certain members of TeamNJS prefer rollerskiing to the “real thing.” Regardless of whether this statement is true, it’s clear that we love rollerskiing. Recently, Topher Sabot launched an interesting series of rollerski reviews on his FasterSkier.com website. Today’s installment featured models from Ski Skett (click HERE for the full review).
If TeamNJS had an official rollerski provider, it would probably be Ski Skett. Andy fell in love with their super-fast Cobra racing model, and then he talked me into buying a pair of Sharks. More recently, Andy bought a pair of Pursuit T6002 rollerskis from RollerskiShop.com that follow the same basic formula as our Ski Skett models (one-piece aluminum frame, 100mm wheels, standard “608” bearings).
Andy's super-fast Cobras. The K2 poly wheels in this photo
replaced the Ski Skett originals (which all contained ratchets).
A lot can be said about the virtues of rollerskis with 100mm wheels. Almost every rollerski manufacturer produces a model following this basic theme, and they tend to be quite inexpensive. This is because the basic hardware is shared with other, more common products. For instance, in-line skates and the popular “Razor Scooter” use virtually the same 100mm wheels and “608” bearings. Additionally, “608” bearings are found on skateboards and a wide variety of industrial applications. This commonality keeps costs down, and the huge selection of different wheels and bearings allows rollerskiers to perfectly dial in speed preferences.
I have three sets of wheels and bearings for my Sharks. For training, I use “medium” speed rubber wheels and resistance bearings. For fun, I use harder compound “fast” rubber wheels with maintenance-free bearings from RollerskiShop.com. For racing, I use K2 polyurethane in-line skating wheels (85 durometer rating) with super-slick “Red Bones” skateboard bearings (seen in the photo below). Best of all, my total investment in all of this hardware is about the same as what it will cost me to purchase a new set of wheels for my Swenor Carbonfiber classical rollerskis (which, like most other rollerskis, use unique and expensive components).
My Sharks prepped for racing with K2 wheels.
The bottom line is that after considering factors such as utility, versatility, and cost of ownership, it’s hard to beat 100mm rollerskis. There are some drawbacks, though.
A common criticism is that the aluminum frames used with most 100mm rollerskis tend to transmit harsh vibrations when used on rough surfaces. This is true to some extent, but in my experience, the wheels are more to blame than the frame. Since 100mm wheels are quite narrow (between 20mm and 24mm wide), they simply do not contain a lot of “tire compound” to absorb vibrations. However, I’ve found that the softer rubber compounds found in most “training” speed wheels do an admirable job of soaking up vibrations. On the other hand, harder polyurethane compounds can be punishing on rough surfaces.
A new generation of 100mm rollerskis with carbon-composite frames is now available. The carbon-composite frames promise a buttery and compliant ride while maintaining the overall versatility of the basic 100mm formula. These cost more than aluminum 100mm models, but are competitively priced when compared to other rollerski brands (such as V2 or Marwe). However, the use of inexpensive 100mm wheels and bearings should result in a much lower cost of ownership.
I think that Topher’s impression of the Ski Skett Shark was spot-on. He even noticed the weird non-linear feel of the Shark’s OEM resistance bearings (annoying at times, but this oddity actually forces you to ski efficiently to stay within the bearing’s “sweet spot”). I'm looking forwad to Topher's next review...
Toper Sabot's video review of the Ski Skett Shark.
