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Author Topic: Would longer ROH be much faster?  (Read 2009 times)

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Offline Query

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Would longer ROH be much faster?
« on: February 06, 2016, 06:31:33 PM »
I currently sharpen my blades to 3/8", because that is the ROH of the sharpening kit that I bought, and I've always loved strong edges.

Has anyone played with ROH enough to figure out whether the speed and glide improvement from switching to 7/16" (which is the most common ROH around here), 1/2" (somewhat common), or 3/4" (only a few people do this, and I'm not sure I could stand it), would be noticeable.

Any rough idea how much % improvement in speed and glide length?

Thanks.

Offline AgnesNitt

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Re: Would longer ROH be much faster?
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2016, 07:00:44 PM »

Speed no.
Glide extent yes.

I've been 3/8", 7/8",1/2" (now), and 3/4".

However the ROH depends also on the temperature of the ice.

I've found 1/2" to be a nice balance between freestyle and figures.

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Offline sampaguita

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Re: Would longer ROH be much faster?
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2016, 05:54:10 AM »
I prefer a deeper ROH because I can get on an edge faster. In theory, a shallower ROH allows for a greater glide, but that advantage (in my case) can be offset by poor balance.

I use 3/8" and used to skate on 1/2" and 7/16". I switched to 3/8" when I started doing swing rolls -- and wow, did that help my edges.

By the way -- on cold ice, it's very hard to stay on an edge with a shallow ROH.

Offline icedancer

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Re: Would longer ROH be much faster?
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2016, 01:08:16 PM »
LONGER ROH? 

Don't you mean deeper or shallower?

It all probably depends on the skater and the ice surface quality and temperature.

Offline tstop4me

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Re: Would longer ROH be much faster?
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2016, 02:17:00 PM »
LONGER ROH? 

Don't you mean deeper or shallower?

It all probably depends on the skater and the ice surface quality and temperature.

Technically OK.  ROH = radius of hollow.  Radius is characterized by a length.  Though "larger" and "smaller" are probably more common terms than "longer" and "shorter" in this context.  It is the hollow itself (not the ROH) that is shallower or deeper.

"longer (larger) ROH" --> shallower hollow; "shorter (smaller) ROH" --> deeper hollow

<<Edited for further clarification.>>

Offline icedancer

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Re: Would longer ROH be much faster?
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2016, 02:21:12 PM »
Technically OK.  ROH = radius of hollow.  Radius is characterized by a length.
"longer ROH" --> shallower hollow; "shorter ROH" --> deeper hollow

Exactly.  That is why I was questioning the original poster's title for this post. 

Offline Query

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Re: Would longer ROH be much faster?
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2016, 10:44:11 PM »
"Longer ROH" means longer radius of hollow = less curved = shallower.

Longer is supposed to be faster. Flat faster still, according to the speed skating community.