Roller Ski Maintenance/Safety Recommendations
With roller ski season on the horizon it’s a perfect time to inspect your roller skis. Basic roller
ski maintenance and inspection can dramatically increase the safety and reliability of your
roller ski equipment. In general, you should inspect your roller skis:
-If the roller skis suddenly begin behaving differently or in unexpected ways
-If the roller skis make unusual noises or clicking noises.
-After any roller ski crash
-At minimum once every 50km of use
What to look for:
- Loose Bolts
Loose bolts is a common roller ski issue and is often only discovered when a bolt
check is performed. Roller skis should never be used with loose or missing bolts.
- Wheel Wear/Damage
The exact time a skate or classic wheel should be replaced depends on the condition of the wheel. Skate wheels should be replaced when the wheel diameter is between 90mm and 95mm. Any wheel should be replaced if there are signs of cracking rubber, rubber delamination from the rim, or spoke damage. Wheels with cracked spokes make an audible clicking sound and should be replaced immediately.
- Bearing Wear
Bearings that are seized, feel gritty when spun, or feel loose should be replaced.
Bearing wear is almost always hidden behind the rubber bearing seal (red or black)
and can’t be seen visually.
- Binding Issues
Check for loose binding screws and cracked binding components. Loose binding
screws should be immediately tightened and cracked binding components should be
immediately replaced. For binding screws that habitually loosen, we recommend
using wood glue on the threads of the binding screws before retightening.
- Frame Damage
Scratches, gouges, dents, and cracks all create weak points that can affect the
structural integrity of the roller ski. Roller skis are designed to withstand general use
including scratches from low impact ground strikes. Dents and cracks indicate
significant frame damage. Any roller ski frame with a dent or crack should be
immediately replaced.
Make it a habit: 60 second safety check (before each roller ski session)
-Hold the roller ski frame in one hand and one of the wheels in the other. Twist the
wheel side to side to check for excessive play or side-to-side movement. Do this for
all 4 wheels.
-Push and pull the bindings in multiple directions to verify they feel securely
fastened.
-Visually inspect each bolt to see if any are missing and/or if any appear loose.
-Spin each wheel to verify the bearings spin smoothly.
-Visually inspect each wheel for delamination or spoke damage.
When in Doubt
If you are unsure about something related to roller ski safety and/or maintenance,
contact Rundle directly or your local authorized retailer.
www.rundlenordic.com
info@rundlenordic.com
416-559-5309