Editing Inline skates (section)

=== Speed skates ===

{{Main|Inline speed skating}}

[[File:INLINE SKATE.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Inline racing]]

Speed skates (or race skates) are purpose-built inline skates with a single goal: speed. To this end, speed skates need to enable a racer to generate the most efficient strides and to glide with the least amount of friction. The distance for a race ranges from a few hundred meters to 100 kilometers. And a race may take place indoors on tracks, or outdoors on paved roads. World records for outdoor races exceed 27 miles per hour. For instance, [[Joey Mantia]] holds the world record for the outdoor 10-kilometers race from 2009, at 13 minutes and 46.801 seconds.<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|3–9,283–318}}<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.worldskate.org/speed/honor-roll.html
|title=World Speed Records - updated 2023
|website=World Skate
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124040051/https://www.worldskate.org/speed/honor-roll.html
|archive-date=2025-01-24
|access-date=2025-01-24
}}</ref>

Speed skating differs from other inline disciplines in that a speed skater tilts her body trunk forward for up to 60° when racing, positioning her head far ahead of the skates in order to reduce her body profile with respect to air resistance. A speed skater bends her knees aggressively for up to 80° in a deep-seated squatting position, much more than other disciplines. Such body configuration requires a deep forward leaning of the shin (dorsiflexion) for proper balance. This deep squatting posture produces the most powerful push-offs, with the farthest displacement of the pushing skate.<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|5–11}}

[[File:Speedskate Hyper-bg removed.png|thumb|right|240px|Mogema M55 speed skate with three 100mm wheels and one 84mm wheel]]

Because of the need for a deep dorsiflexion, speed skates have no eyelets, buckles, or straps above middle eyelets at 45° angle which is the minimum requirement for proper heel lock. Indeed, speed skates have no shafts and cuffs commonly found in other inline skates. In order for racers to freely flex their foot around ankle bones, speed boots are cut the lowest among all inline skates, around or below the ankle bones.<ref name="powell-svensson-inline-skating"/>{{rp|17,34–36}}<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|308–311}}

A skater compensates for the lack of lateral ankle support from boots by strengthening muscle support for proper ankle movements such as dorsiflexion, pronation and supination, which are essential for [[double push]] strides with aggressive push-offs and precise transitions from outside to inside edges. The removal of shaft and cuff significantly reduces a boot's weight, a key advantage to a skater in a game where a saving of fractional seconds makes a difference.<ref name="feineman-wheel-excitement"/>{{rp|75–83}}<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|3–30,308–311}}

[[File:Roller speed skating at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics – Boys Final 39-zoomed in.jpg|thumb|right|240px|2018 Summer Youth Olympics]]

A speed skate boot is close-fitting, without much padding, and usually made of leather, carbon fiber, or other strong and lightweight composite materials. For best performance, the boot must conform closely to the shape of the foot to prevent it from moving inside the boot. Thus, most boots are custom-fitted or else heat-moldable.<ref name="skatepro-all-aspects-of-speed-skates">{{cite web
|url=https://www.skatepro.com/en-us/a12.htm
|title=Buying Speed Skates
|website=SkatePro
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125035753/https://www.skatepro.com/en-us/a12.htm
|archive-date=2025-01-25
|access-date=2025-01-25
}}</ref><ref name="welch-demystify-inline-disciplines"/>{{efn-ua|1=Refer to this video showing the production process of a speed skate with a custom-molded carbon-fiber shell (both ice and inline).<ref name="youtube-discovery-plus-making-of-speed-skates">{{cite web
|title=How It's Made: Speed Skates
|others=Video shows the production process of custom-molded speed skates, with boots that could be fitted to either an ice blade or an inline wheel frame
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjs6eC3Wd-I
|website=discoveryplus.com
|publisher=Discovery Plus
|language=en
|format=video
|date=2022-04-14
}}</ref>
}}

The frame may be made of aircraft-quality aluminum, magnesium, or possibly lightweight carbon fiber. All frames flex during skating. A stiff frame flexes very little, so it transmits power from the foot to the wheels more directly. A shorter frame navigates tight curves at smaller tracks better but may become wobbly at high speeds. A longer frame provides stable tracking at high speed and increased power transfer, useful for long-distance events.<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|311–314}}<ref name="powell-svensson-inline-skating"/>{{rp|18–20}}<ref name="welch-demystify-inline-disciplines"/>

[[File:P1030935k-speed-skate.png|thumb|right|250px|Speed skate set up with four 100mm wheels]]

The length and height of a frame determine the number and size of wheels it can accommodate. More wheels and bigger wheels increase mass, making acceleration harder and slower. But once rolling at speed, a skater can more easily maintain top speed given the [[moment of inertia|rotational inertia]]. In the 1990s, speed skaters preferred a frame with five wheels, usually 80mm in diameter (i.e. 5x80mm). In the 21st century, wheel size ranges from 90mm to 125mm. A setup with four 110mm wheels (4x110mm) is typical for competitive speed skating, and three 125mm wheels (3x125mm) for '''marathon skates''' at marathon events.<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|311–314}}<ref name="powell-svensson-inline-skating"/>{{rp|22,24,34–36}}<ref name="cadomotus-on-165mm-195mm-boots-on-ice-blades"/><ref name="skatepro-all-aspects-of-speed-skates"/><ref name="vegter-everything-about-frames"/>

Speed skates generally adopt either the 165mm or the 195mm mounting standard for securing a frame to a boot. Short speed frames for short track racing use the 165mm standard, while long frames for marathon use the 195mm standard in order to better accommodate larger wheels. Both of these 2-point mounting standards feature a built-in heel lift that pitches a skater forward, creating forward flex.<ref name="bladeville-inline-skate-frames"/>

{{multiple image
 | direction = horizontal
 | image1 = Undercover Team Blank 110mm 86A inline skate wheel with Bones REDS bearings-IMG 4971-bg-FRD.png
 | image2 = Bullet profile-striding and gliding angles-Undercover inline skate wheel-110mm 86A-IMG 6784-FRD.png
 | total_width = 280
 | footer = Bullet profile: striding vs gliding
}}

Speed skating generally adopts harder wheels than other disciplines. Harder wheels minimize energy lost to [[Hysteresis|elastic hysteresis]] when a skater's weight deforms wheels upon ground contact. Speed skaters prefer wheels with high rebound, which returns the compression energy back to the skater. Speed wheels have a pointy bullet profile that reduces friction from drags, when a skate glides and its wheels touch the road upright. The elliptical contour of the bullet profile, however, affords greater contact surface for improved traction and control, when a skate is inclined on an edge during push-offs.<ref name="naomi-grigg-2014"/>{{rp|18–19}}<ref name="miller-get-rolling-2003"/>{{rp|51–52}}<ref name="publow-speed-skating-1999"/>{{rp|316}}<ref name="powell-svensson-inline-skating"/>{{rp|24–26}}

{{multiple image
 | direction = horizontal
 | image1 = Roller skate wheel and bearing.jpg
 | image2 = Inline skate bearings.jpg
 | total_width = 280
 | footer = Wheel and bearings}}

Speed skaters pay close attention to the quality of ball bearings and their periodic maintenance. High-quality bearings with precision ratings are the minimum requirement. Regular cleaning and lubrication of these bearings remove trapped dirt and restore them to their optimal performance, which is essential in the pursuit of ultimate speed.<ref name="fried-cassorla-inline-ultimate-guide-1995"/>{{rp|128–130}}