Your wheels have such a huge impact on your Reformer experience. When they are dirty, grindy, or worn out with flat spots, you feel it. Many of my clients don’t even notice this degradation because it happens slowly over time. But once I replace their wheels, they are shocked! The Reformer all of a sudden feels like new.
Changing your wheels is, of course, just one component of a few that affects the “feel” of your workout, but it is one of the most significant. I usually recommend that my clients change their rolling wheels (and sometimes the side wheels) every 5 years or so, depending on their usage and maintenance habits.
Here are a few tips to extend the life of your wheels.
- Clean the rails weekly. At least! Be sure to get the riser side and the footbar side of the rails, moving the carriage to clean each side.
- Clean the surface of the wheels every time you clean the rails.
- Check the bolts and bearings on the wheels for hair, lint and other grime that can make its way into the wheel where you can’t ever retrieve the contaminants again!
When you start noticing the surface of your wheels getting gritty or shiny silver, it’s time to change them. Your rails shouldn’t have black marks on them! Surprisingly, a little elbow grease and soapy water can get most of that gross stuff off.
With a little effort, your rails and wheels will look and feel smooth for years!
