Originally Posted by
JoeyBike
If you take it easy, avoid sharp turns, hockey stops, and fast starts - and you rotate the wheels regularly - they will last a few months (assuming you skate regularly)
Physics.
One last reason why inline skates are more practical for commuting than quads, skateboards, or longboards. Because all four or five wheels are in a line on the frame, the frame acts like a bridge when crossing expansion joints, cracks, train tracks, whatever. You could roll over a 4 inch expansion joint gap and not even feel it. With quads and skateboards both front wheels are going to drop into that expansion joint and send the skater flying. Also quads and longboard wheels are WIDE, so they are more likely to hit some debris and stop short, again sending the skater flying.
OK...hope that helps.
The Doop Skates sell a model with inline wheels that are larger and it has just three wheels. Would that be ideal for lower friction and at the same time being large enough to not be affected by pebbles and small debris on the roads?
Inline skates can bridge gaps but wouldn't a gap with the far side being higher than the lower side cause the skate to bounce once per wheel too?