Tuning your skate
You can optimize your hydroskate configuration to match your speed and comfort preferences by fine tuning your Hydroskates to your specific circumstances. The main properties that can be tuned are the hydraulic pressure and the rounding of the wheels.
Tuning the Hydraulic Pressure
Adjust to your weight
Your weight impacts the pressure in the suspensions system. From the factory the skates are configured for a personal weight of 165 to 175 pounds.
- Heavier Skaters should increase the pressure (turn clockwise) by about a quarter turn per 10 pounds
- Lighter Skaters should decrease the pressure (turn counter clockwise) by about a quarter turn per 10 pounds
Predominant Road conditions
The standard skate setup is suited for all road conditions but if you predominantly ride on a specific surface you can tweak your settings by:
- Increasing the pressure for smoother surfaces (turn clockwise)
- Lowering the pressure for rougher surfaces (turn counter clockwise)
Wet roads
When the roads are wet you can still hydroskate but it is recommended to lower the pressure by about one full turn. Softer wheels will further increase the grip on wetter roads.
Riding on wet roads is for experts only and is not recommended for beginners and intermediary riders. Breaking becomes harder and the roads are simply more slippery. Keep in mind that most skate wheels are not manufactured with wet roads in mind.
Adjusting the Rounding
You can rotate the wheel axels to adjust the rounding of the skate. A rounder skate is recommended for courses and paths with lots of tuning (your local midnight skate) A flatter skate is recommended for long distance riding and race events.
Riding
Good skate techniques means getting the maximum speed and the longest glide out of each stroke.
Going forward
When going straight move your center of gravity slightly behind the center of the skate, just between the middle 2 wheels. This body position generates the most speed and the longest strides. The suspension system also works best when good skating technique is applied.
Turning
The further back you lean the heel of the skates the shorter the turning radius. The suspension system will ensure maximum grip and minimum loss of speed during turns so getting you back up to cruising speed sooner than conventional skates.
Protection
Always wear a skate helmet and protective pads
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