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| Wheel Reviews (7944 Posts)
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pitching pennies
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On 8/28/2006 Steve Collins
wrote in from
United States
(65.91.nnn.nnn)
Dirty swirls: Happens to green wheels too. Never caused me a problem. Doesn't seem to happen to reflex.
Dan, no sweat, I'm sure my lack of skill played a bigger part than the wheels, but thanks. I should try the HotSpots. Maysey seems to like them a lot.
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Marbalized
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On 8/28/2006 Geo
wrote in from
United States
(64.207.nnn.nnn)
What causes the "marbalized" color in the white 3dm/Siesmic wheels after you ride them? Is it the way they are poured? I had some older grey Turners that did it also, now my Speedvents... just wondering.
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Psychadelic
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On 8/27/2006
fitz
wrote in from
Australia
(211.31.nnn.nnn)
what about pink or green av's? or would that be stirring up a bee hive :)
after taking a number of slams on all different types of wheels I find it's a tetchy learning curve getting used to each type. you gotta push the boundry to find out where you stand or unfortunately where you fall.
have fun riding people.
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Psychedelic blue Avalons
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On 8/27/2006
Daniel Gesmer - Seismic
wrote in from
United States
(71.211.nnn.nnn)
Sounds cool! Blue has always been my favorite color. (And my sign is…)
And Steve, sorry to hear about those slams. The Hot Spots, which we introduced about a year ago, feature the thicker lip geometry that obviously works best for your style.
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white av's?
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On 8/27/2006 Jonesin'
wrote in from
United States
(69.14.nnn.nnn)
80a's dont HAVE to be white...all matters on what color you want them to be....if you really wanted, they could be psychedelic blue....
if you really wanted
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predictability - different take
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On 8/27/2006
Steve Collins
wrote in from
United States
(68.105.nnn.nnn)
I think Avalons are great wheels with amazing grip, but I took all of my worst slams while riding them. I was completely out of skating for months following a slam at the last La Costa while riding Avalons. I also took a few slams at my local steep-and-deep GS spot on Avalons. After examining the wheels each time, I concluded that the thin lips had folded under, resulting in a sudden high side. When I switched to Manx, with the thicker lip, I was able to ride out the same situations with much more confidence, scrubbing if necessary, but never pitching. In retrospect I think the culprit was more my form than the wheels, possibly having something to do with my somewhat rear-steering surf style. For the way I skate slaom, Manx (and now ZigZags) have been a big step up in both predictability and speed. [Keep in mind that better riders than I rip on Avalons with no distress, this is just my personal experience.]
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Predictability
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On 8/27/2006
Daniel Gesmer - Seismic
wrote in from
United States
(71.211.nnn.nnn)
Geezer, with all the work you've put in to revving up gear for elite racers, you're the last guy to deserve slams like that! I hope there was no lasting damage.
Thanks for the props, too. With our urethane formulations, we're all about predictability, durability and classic performance.
(P.S. After reading these posts about skaters slamming on Manx, it seems ironic that a recently-published interview with Chicken accused the Avalon of being dangerous!)
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Predictability
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On 8/27/2006
Geezer-X
wrote in from
United States
(70.21.nnn.nnn)
PSR speaks the truth. I bought a duro-run of Manx when they came out, and had 2 wicked slams using the 80s on the rear. Not the "I'm sliding but catching it" kind, but the "I woke up and dude who'd been way down the hill is asking me if I'm OK" kind. I'm sure they're good for something, and I've seen some very, very fast people rip on them, but for me there was no predicatbility in how they broke loose.
For me, trimmed Avalons can be trusted. I'm not racing this season, but it seems everyone is on Retros or a Seismics or a mix.
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One more thought - Coned wheels
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On 8/27/2006 Same Guy as Before
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
Also, I always make it a point to have some wheels coned a smidge before a race, more coned in the back wheels than the front wheels. Coned wheels DO have more traction than non-coned wheels and on a really difficult techy course traction will be a big factor in how confidently you punch around an offset cone. I have my everyday wheels for slaloming, and my choice sets of "coned to perfection" wheels in each brand that only get used for the "big" races.
Also, naturally coned wheels will have worn in to the shape of best traction, if you "pre-cone" your wheels on a belt sander(yes, some peaple do this), you will get a true cone shape but that will leave you with wheels with some strange traction/slide habits(and a different coning profile) than a wheel that has naturally coned down from use and intentional/unintentional sliding around cones or free riding turns.
OK, I guess that's about all I have to say for now. Adios-Paul
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Pauliwog's 2 Cents on Slalom wheels
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On 8/27/2006 Paul Howard
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
After years of slaloming, I've pretty much settled on 80-82a-ish in the back and 85-86a-ish in the front(Grippins seem to require "one notch" more and I find the 84a rear/88front feels like everything else in 80/85 schenario). This has a lot to do with my personal preference as far as hardness goes. I can go just about anywhere and feel like I'm doing well with that combination. Others are better suited by softer combos and others are better suited by harder combos.
However, as far as different urethanes go, I use 3DM/Seismic, Abec 11/Retro, and Manx. Different pavements seem to favor different urethanes. Also, I find that on cool days and cool pavement, I get better traction with Grippins, and when the day and pavement gets hotter, Avalons(I trim all my Avalons) hold on the best. Cement seems to favor Manx's.
I also trim all of my front wheels significantly narrower than the rear for tight and hybrid racing for quicker turning and minimally trim the back wheels if needed so there is no sharp lip to catch if I slide(I'm a slosher).
Maybe it's all in my head, maybe not.
Adios-Paul
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Lip service
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On 8/26/2006 PSR
wrote in from
United States
(69.160.nnn.nnn)
Todd, Avalons are still stickier (in a given duro) than Manx's. In thirty-plus years of skating, I had never whacked my head. 20 minutes on Manx's, and I had to get 22 stitches along my eyebrow. I went down (and they let go) so fast I didn't even have time to put my hand out, or sidestep, nothing but Slam, bounce, blood. Not that I don't like Manx wheels, I just won't ever Race on them again.(oh, and the eyebrow is fine, Despite my being an Ass and not having a helmet on yet. Doh! One example of how NOT to Coach by doing.) I still run Avalons in T.S. to G.S., though I'm digging the Zig-Zags when I can borrow Schwipp's boards.
The lip is Part of the equation, no doubt. But the Urethane is another. Cores also help in flex load compensation, but can create their own issues in resilience and load bearing. I like the overall concept behind Speedvents, as the core is bigger, but in proportion to the wheel size, and the shaping that works has been carried into this design. When I first saw Zig-Zags, I asked C.C. if that was his take on a Manx variant. After riding them, I can say that the Zigs are in a different realm, and comparisons against the clock are moot points at best. I do wonder if the Reflex formula might apply itself (in harder duros) to a modified Grippin-like wheel.
Some while back, J.G. put me on these little, scrawny Purple wheels, with worn-out Fafnir bearings that hadn't seen oil since the original Oil Crisis. I was stunned to find that they ran right along with Duane's big ol' Flywheels. John said then "just wait, this stuff will be in wheels in the near future". I've no clue if that's what is being used (even in part) at ABEC 11 for the reflex formula, but it's eerily similar.
No doubt that wheels will get better, are getting better, and that what I'd hoped for a decade ago has in fact occurred. We have Choices, and Flavors, and Colors to pick from for going FAST on Skateboards. I can park my Krypto Project II's without more than a glance backwards. The furture is going be fast, here.
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Thin lips
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On 8/26/2006
Daniel Gesmer - Seismic
wrote in from
United States
(71.211.nnn.nnn)
Dude, we sell thousands and thousands of Cambrias, Avalons and Avilas around the world! To be sure, we've streamlined the available colors and duros. But they remain extremely popular wheels, and most of the world's top racers keep some of these sharp-lipped babies in their arsenal. Classic shapes for classic grip performance.
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THIN LIPS
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On 8/26/2006 toddc
wrote in from
United States
(207.215.nnn.nnn)
I'm curious...now that zigzags, manx, hot spots and speed vents exist (all with a flexible but sturdy lip), why would anyone still buy Avalons and Avilas? Or still make them? Do any racers still use these?
I would think that a hard cambria with that lip still makes sense....but the others? Why not just discontinue or discount the old stock. They are still great wheels - recall the avalon takeover at FCR presidio? But aren't they outdated by the newer designs?
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color additives
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On 8/22/2006 herbn
wrote in from
United States
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
i believe i've heard before .there are many many things in urithane,hardness can be different, with the same color, thats hardly amazing.what is more to the point of questioning the effects of color additives is that urithanes of the same hardness but with different colors act differently,different resilience, or durability,one color 78a may be faster than another color also 78a. Hardness is often measured within a tolerence of +/- 2 or 3 so those wheels you mentioned could possibly come out of the same "pot" on differnt days ,with the same ingrediants, poured into trademarked molds and sold by differnt companies,they lable the wheels as 78a ,80a, and 82a just to appear more different than they really are.Kryptonic wheels have differnt hardnesses, i think duane has measured what each color is/was, creating wheels of different hardnesses so close together was not what kryptonics was looking to do, just make differnt colored wheels slight differnces in their hardnesses and the way their ride changed doesn'nt seem like it was at all a consideration,don't look don't tell,they're all labled 78a with a plus minus three being understood,most skaters don't notice, then there's us.
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re: pigment
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On 8/22/2006
Fitz
wrote in from
Australia
(220.237.nnn.nnn)
yeah I hear you, and fair call. But one thing that supported my belief was everyones fave slalom wheels.
trying best to not mention brands here:
cmbr's : white = 82a
avln's : white = 80a
avl's : white = 77a
all the same colour but different duro's?
it would be interesting to hear from the maker himself or would that be revealing too much haha.
Is pink a performance enhancing substance or just a metrosexual choice of decor? :)
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76mm Reflex
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On 8/21/2006 MV
wrote in from
United States
(207.200.nnn.nnn)
I just read about them on Silverfish! They look good. Who carries them?
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pigments
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On 8/21/2006 herbn
wrote in from
United States
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
in my experience, with uhmw not exactly urithane,color additives definitely effect the nature of the plastic. Florecent green(you remember that 80's color?) seemed to harden and actually toughen uhmw,something like orange tan or blue,made the plastic mushier,white undyed, was in the middle.
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76mm Reflex
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On 8/20/2006 dt
wrote in from
United States
(68.5.nnn.nnn)
i guess my post is too late, these wheels will be out sooner than i thought. Keep an eye on the races this weekend! They will have the same color and duros as the little zags. for sure the 80a and 83a. get yours while you can!
or at least when you can. heads up, i smell good thane!
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re: pinks
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On 8/20/2006
Fitz
wrote in from
Australia
(220.236.nnn.nnn)
correct me if I'm wrong but I always though the colour was just a pigment additive in the thane mix?
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race formula flywheels
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On 8/19/2006 herbn
wrote in from
United States
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
why you think there's a delay in these.The flywheels where the original race wheel, has the gumball proven to be a better size for the hills used in most races? Pink flywheels would be truely hideous ,er lovely,i think truely intimidating to someone lined up next to you , wit the nerve to run anything else.
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Sublime
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On 8/18/2006 dt
wrote in from
United States
(68.5.nnn.nnn)
Herbn,
The sub-lime pour was a limited pour that Chris has ridden and distributed to some of his team riders. Flindt, DeKyser, Wendtland. He let me use them for one of the regional races and i was impressed. its a reflex thane. i believe 80a but not the green lime 80a as seen in the zigzags. it might even be slightly harder, but in the gumball mold they feel like they have loads of grip and great rebound. He did some of his Momos in this flavor to go with his pinks. He has spoke about releasing them down the road and i anxiously await. He's run them on his GS boards and done very well (not like he wouldnt have had he been on anything else). but thats what i can tell you about them. i think it would be rad if he could put the band Sublime's 40oz to Freedom artwork on them, but it might be way too detailed to do so.plus copyright issues might be a problem.
or maybe "Abec 11's" across the top of the gumball with "80oz to Freedom" or "80a to Freedom" along the bottom. Or whatever the official duro is.
http://www.art.com/asp/search/ProductSearch-asp/_/search_String--sublime/posters.htm?filteroptions=0&isSearch=Y&RFID=054402&TKID=&CTID=&GCID=S15529x001&OVKEY=&OVMTC=&OVRAW=&KEYWORD=sublime+art&TrackID=&ui=0B097ED7C3E9412496FF8C218E76302E
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Pinks
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On 8/17/2006 herbn
wrote in from
United States
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
I don't want to even slide these babies ,i'm worried the magic might rub off,so fast so grippy... i did a secure carving 45mph on them today,totally awesome. I'm using my full face mtn biking helmet so i think i'm getting better aero too...
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Amen Gumballs 81A's / 76mm Roll On Baby
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On 8/15/2006
Chris Yandall
wrote in from
United States
(70.167.nnn.nnn)
Chris is a genius in many ways.
His wheels are helping the industry shape up! My flatland decks go nowhere without his fine fine fine smooth smooth sweeeet rollllllllllllll.
I'd love to add his wheels on my cart systems ... Chris ? y0? Can we talk bro?
cYa
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think pink
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On 8/14/2006 herbn
wrote in from
United States
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
so far i'm all good on the pinkethane, the first couple of u turn endruns they sort of out gripped my feet to grip traction,but foot position can solve that. What are sublimes?,retro's in lime?
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