| Sometimes, especially on trails longer than 20 | | | | conversely, maximize the time you spend rolling |
| miles, and in high heat in the middle of the | | | | on only one skate, which in turn serves to reduce |
| summer, you may start to fatigue due to | | | | the rolling friction. |
| dehydration or if your caloric burn has exceeded | | | | Longer refers to a greater amount of time for |
| your caloric intake for the day. Under these | | | | the striding part of the maneuver, as well as a |
| circumstances, it's good to have a way to | | | | greater distance for the gliding part of the |
| conserve your energy until you reach the end of | | | | technique. Let's see how it all works. |
| the trail. | | | | To skate using longer strides and glides: |
| One approach is to use longer strides and glides. | | | | |
| Let me explain! | | | | 1. Make four or five normal strides to pick up |
| The Three Forces | | | | speed. |
| There are a number of forces that act on an | | | | 2. Push outward to your left side as far as |
| inline skater while he or she is in motion including | | | | possible using the inside edges of your left skate. |
| the following: | | | | 3. Hold your left skate in the air and out to the |
| - Rolling friction | | | | side for 2 to 3 seconds. |
| - Wind resistance | | | | 4. Balance and glide on the right skate. |
| - Gravitational force | | | | 5. Circle your left skate back under your body |
| When skating longer distances, we're primarily | | | | until it returns to the home position on the |
| concerned with rolling friction and wind resistance. | | | | surface of the trail. |
| Let's tackle the frictional force that's developed | | | | 6. Quickly push outward to your right side as far |
| when your wheels roll over the pavement, and | | | | as possible using the inside edges of your right |
| leave wind resistance for a future article. | | | | skate. |
| Reduce the Rolling Friction | | | | 7. Suspend your right skate out to the side for 2 |
| Rolling friction is defined as a force which opposes | | | | to 3 seconds. |
| the motion of any body which is rolling over the | | | | 8. Balance and glide on the left skate. |
| surface of another. In our case, the body is the | | | | 9. Circle your right skate back under your body |
| inline skater and the surface is the trail itself. The | | | | until it returns to the home position. |
| frictional force is applied against the skater's | | | | 10. Continue to make long strides and glides using |
| wheels when they come in contact with the | | | | steps 2 through 9 above for a mile or so. |
| surface of the trail. | | | | Key Benefits of the Maneuver |
| In addition, this force is in the opposite direction | | | | This technique affords two, key benefits when |
| and hence opposes the force exerted by the | | | | skating on longer trails. First, it reduces the rolling |
| skater to move him- or herself forward. The | | | | resistance since you're now spending most of |
| greater the rolling friction, the more force the | | | | your time on only one skate, either the right or |
| skater needs to apply to overcome this | | | | left skate, but not a lot of time on both skates at |
| resistance. What would happen if the skater were | | | | the same time. This means you're conserving |
| to reduce the rolling friction? | | | | much-needed energy, because you're doing less |
| In this case, he or she would need to exert less | | | | work to travel the same distance. Second, you're |
| force to move forward. Since work is equal to | | | | giving your leg muscles a break by keeping one |
| force times distance, it follows that the skater | | | | leg suspended in the air followed by the other leg. |
| needs to do less work to travel the same | | | | Trust me, even these short breaks feel good |
| distance. The skater conserves energy by doing | | | | after 20 miles on the trail. |
| less work. So, how does one reduce the rolling | | | | Summing Up |
| friction? Good question, let's find out! | | | | Use the above maneuver when you need to |
| Enter Longer Strides and Glides | | | | conserve energy and maintain a fluid style on the |
| You can employ a technique dubbed, Longer | | | | return leg of a trail that never seems to end. Until |
| Strides and Glides. The idea is to minimize the | | | | next time, good luck and get fit on the trails this |
| time you spend rolling on both skates, or | | | | summer! |