Regular roller blades go way back, relying on a number of wheels mounted in a line and relying on regular bearings. [The Q] came up with an altogether more interesting design by handcrafting some tall skates with two hubless wheels apiece.
The build eliminates the hard work of creating the shoe part of the skates. Instead, an existing pair of roller blades was used, and modified to run the alternative hubless setup. The hubless wheels themselves were built by essentially wrapping a few large ball bearings with foam tires from an existing scooter wheel. The ball bearings have a large internal diameter, which creates the hubless look. They’re then mounted to a replacement steel frame that was mounted to the original skates.
Are there any benefits to hubless wheels in this application? Probably not, other than aesthetics. These skates are far heavier than before, and with poorer rolling resistance. However, we will note that the softer foam tires and large rolling diameter would probably offer some benefits on rougher surfaces. They even appear to work on hard-packed dirt, which is pretty impressive.
In any case, it’s always neat to see oddball designs that challenge our perception of what can and can’t be achieved on a mechanical level. These things don’t always have to make sense from an efficiency standpoint to be fun.
They look dope! I’d be worried about my ankles, though.
These arn’t hubless in the same sense as real hubless designs, it is essentially just a wide hub
I fully agree, thought the same.
Why is it even called 4×4. 4×4 means all wheel drive. There is no motor. It is more like 2×0.
When he drives over uneven terrain it looks like regular wheels. No benefit at all.
Ugh.. 🙄
What’s the distinction? I’m curious. Is it that this essentially has one oversized coaxial bearing with a hollow axle, and true hubless designs have a rotating rim with some kind of discrete rollers supporting it?
I mean, discrete rollers just means it’s become a roller bearing. There is no distinction except vibes. It’s fair for anyone to draw their line based on personal feelings, but my judgement calls this hubless.
Hmm I’d like to say that only this
https://www.startupselfie.net/2023/12/17/penn-e-farthing-hubless-wheel-penny-farthing-ebike/
type of construction is a hubless design and most of these
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ftsa&q=hubless+wheel&iax=images&ia=images
are merely hollow hubs but doesn’t look like the “definition” is this strict.
(Forgot the text explanation)
Hubless = large part of the wheel is turning freely (there are no stationary parts connected anywhere for >50% of the wheels circumference).
As in – the wheel is only hold in place by rollers that are placed “around” less than half of the wheels circumference. The rest is moving only
Hollow hub = the wheel can be held in place all around its (inner) “circumference”.
His videos are always so aesthetically pleasing!
However, I’m afraid these won’t last long – the grease inside the bearings is there for a reason.
+1
They only need to last as long as it takes to shoot the video, then it’s into the trash.
about 5 seconds of actually riding them, most spend on trying not to break his ankles :)
Modern Doom wheels / Coyotes
Looks like awesome project to create and have unique item but real usage is fail.
1. The “off-road” action in the video is something you would be able to skate over with normal wheels, just with speed and moving your weight to your heels
2. The frame height is too high for it to be safe and convenient way to skate
(Skated more than half of my life)
Need some electroluminescent tape lights and integrated motors…. And a Trom jumpsuit to complete the look
Some reason, I spent over half the article thinking these we were hub-motors instead of hub-less. Now I want to see someone make some motorized skates with a battery backpack!
Huh! Never mind, it seems they already exist, in several different implementations! (Not with a backpack that I’ve seen yet, though)
That is really cool. It’s too heavy, sure, but it’s cool that it’s home made. I want to buy new skates if I can find some that fit. Back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s I used them every day. I went to school on them, I was on the skatepark doing stunts, did long distance riding. Had a blast on them. I want to get back into it. I wish they still made the same style as back in the days.
One small thing:
“Regular roller blades go way back, relying on a number of wheels mounted in a line and relying on regular bearings. ”
That is incorrect. Roller blades have 4 weeks with two axles. So you have two rows of two wheels. Roller blades are designed for dancing. Roller disco’s use roller blades usually. This article isn’t about roller blades, but inline skates. Different product. I’m very good on inline skates, but don’t make me ride roller blades, I’ll break every bone in my body.