Wheels for bumpy terrain

**Ackybono** · 04-29-2007 08:06 AM

My town has terrible sidewalks full of huge cracks and uneven pavement slabs. If I hit one that's an inch or more the wheels won't go over it. Are there wheels that are better suited for this that would hop over stuff like that without me having to watch every inch of sidewalk?

**Xgecko** · 04-29-2007 09:15 AM

I have found that Retro Zigs in either size seem to roll over everything, same for Hotspots, Flywheels not so much, but the 77mm Hawgs are "THE WHEEL" for me when I want to roll everything in sight

**wombat boarder** · 04-29-2007 09:28 AM

3dm avilas are steam rollers

**Paipo Jim** · 04-29-2007 09:35 AM

I've run Avilas and am currently using 77mm Hawgs. Both of those wheels are terrific for running over debris and really bad pavement.

**andrew_cruise** · 04-29-2007 09:35 AM

yup avilas dont stop.
also IMO its a bit over kill but you could just get larger wheels like85mm+ with deep urathane.

**Slim** · 04-29-2007 09:59 AM

Or you could get a board with a tail on it...so you could lift the front wheels up - if you unweight at the right time you'll catch a little air. Or you could learn to ollie and get over the cracks that way.

But yeah, big wheels like Avilas rock for rolling over stuff.

**whiskeyhill** · 04-29-2007 11:24 AM

what about the flashbacks? are they any good?

**Crimpshrine** · 04-29-2007 12:17 PM

83mm Flywheels work well, but might be too big for your board. Not sure though, since you never mentioned what it is.

**karrot** · 04-29-2007 12:26 PM

72a 83 flys, grippins 81a, lime zigs

**SCTR9Gold2** · 04-29-2007 01:12 PM

try some Gumballs 76mm 78a

**BetterSense** · 04-29-2007 02:05 PM

My 97mm 78a flys roll over everything. I can even go over railroad tracks.

**afi dbs a7x** · 04-29-2007 09:56 PM

90 mm flys, any duro, or kryptos... any larger wheels will be great for bad ground.

**xEquusx** · 04-30-2007 12:28 AM

I live in an area with crappy pavement, too. I just started boarding, so I am moving a little slower on my board than the rest of you

and I am paranoid about cracks and uneven parts. The first time my board hit one, it came to a dead stop, but I kept going. Would getting a different wheel help me out? My board came with Super G 72mm 80a duro wheels on it.

Thanks!

**leadfoot** · 04-30-2007 12:56 AM

Originally Posted by xEquusx

I live in an area with crappy pavement, too. I just started boarding, so I am moving a little slower on my board than the rest of you

and I am paranoid about cracks and uneven parts. The first time my board hit one, it came to a dead stop, but I kept going. Would getting a different wheel help me out? My board came with Super G 72mm 80a duro wheels on it.

Thanks!

Those wheels should be good. I actually prefer the road tho. Sidewalks ARE too uneven. Plus you get some more momentum up to get over cracks and next thing you know you come to a part of the sidewalk that is all gravel, missing a drain cover or a car backing out and you've gotta bail. I only use the sidewalk when the roads are too busy or some jerk is coming up behind you way too fast. Seems to me like the sidewalk is MORE dangerous than the road in a lot of cases.

**SteveC** · 04-30-2007 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by leadfoot

Seems to me like the sidewalk is MORE dangerous than the road in a lot of cases.

Yeah that's often the case here too. Not always of course.
You usually get way more warning on the road. Some people drive out of there houses like pedestrians don't exist.

For example...
I stomped to a halt one time. barely avoiding having the front of my board run over.
And had to use my hands on the side of the car to finish stopping.
The driver had screamed out of his driveway, watching the road on the other side...
He winds his window down and proceeds to yell at me.
I let him go for a bit. pick my board up. Then say.
"If I was a 6 year old on a scooter and you'd smashed me onto the road, would you still be yelling like that?"
He looked at me for a second with a look of, oh f##k he's right.
Wound his window up, and drove off.

I don't like footpaths...
and I drive like a granny when I have to cross them.

**xEquusx** · 04-30-2007 02:31 AM

Originally Posted by SteveC

Yeah that's often the case here too. Not always of course.
You usually get way more warning on the road. Some people drive out of there houses like pedestrians don't exist.

For example...
I stomped to a halt one time. barely avoiding having the front of my board run over.
And had to use my hands on the side of the car to finish stopping.
The driver had screamed out of his driveway, watching the road on the other side...
He winds his window down and proceeds to yell at me.
I let him go for a bit. pick my board up. Then say.
"If I was a 6 year old on a scooter and you'd smashed me onto the road, would you still be yelling like that?"
He looked at me for a second with a look of, oh f##k he's right.
Wound his window up, and drove off.

I don't like footpaths...
and I drive like a granny when I have to cross them.

You're right. Most drivers *do* act like pedestrians don't exist, and it's because none of them ever get out of their cars. If they walked, rode a bike or a horse, longboarded or just generally got OUT of the car, they would have a different attitude. But our society supports hopping into the Hummer to drive 2 blocks to the 7-11 for a coffee.

In order to get my horse into the 5500 acres of woods we like to ride in, I have to cross a road with her. I can't tell you how many people come screaming down the road - past HORSE CROSSING signs, blowing the horn, expecting ME to get out of THEIR way. Uh, hello? They're driving in an area where every other house has a barn in the yard and people cross the road to ride, but they still act like they own the area.

People are dumb, and need to get out of the car more!

**Homer80** · 04-30-2007 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by whiskeyhill

what about the flashbacks? are they any good?

Flashbacks are great! I run them on my all around board 81a duro. I like them in Ditches with rough crete, on the street they are outstanding. Fast but not huge so you can do a lot of things with them. A very good wheel for a cruiser that might see some tranny and some hills.

**leadfoot** · 04-30-2007 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by SteveC

I let him go for a bit. pick my board up. Then say.
"If I was a 6 year old on a scooter and you'd smashed me onto the road, would you still be yelling like that?"
He looked at me for a second with a look of, oh f##k he's right.
Wound his window up, and drove off.

Great story Steve. What you said to him was perfect. Im going to remember that line. (I can never think of the right thing to say when Im in a situation like that)
I dont want to divert this thread from the original topic, but I had a similar experience recently going through a school crossing at 8.45am would you believe.
This jerk in a F##khead 4x4 Range Rover saw me and literally gunned it to catch up to me. He then attempted to force me off the road at the Primary school crossing and stood on his horn while driving along side of me.
I kept riding holding my ground and he wound down his passenger side window to give me some abuse.
I said "pull over" and he cut me off. I went around to his window and he starts yelling, "If I knocked you off that board it would be my fault!!" I was like really angry and just wanted to punch him square in the face, and I think he realized that.
I yelled at him and told him he was in a school zone where the limit was 25 kmph and he was doing way more than that to catch me, and yeah,.... if he knocked me off my board it would be his f*ckin fault.
Just like the guy you encountered Steve, he realized where he was, wound up his window and pissed off.
.... what a dork.

Anyway to bring the thread back on topic, I find that the big wheels are awesome for gettin over all sorts of stuff. If you have them on a dropped deck, you will be in love. BetterSense was right about the 97s, theyll go over train tracks, so the one inch cracks are also pretty much cake. At night time I've also rolled over some pretty huge rocks that I didnt see on the road. (one was about the size of three fingers curled up.)
Everyone that rides my boards with the big wheels is like, "wow this just glides."
Then they go "what kind of bearings have you got in those wheels? they're awesome." Umm, its not the bearings so much as the tall 'thane.

There are a lot of reasons to have the smaller wheels though. Depends on the sort of riding you do and the sort of handling you want for your board. Most people that race prefer the 70-85mm wheels. Plus you cant comfortably put the big wheels on a standard deck. You'll get wheelbite like crazy.

**jetkin** · 05-01-2007 10:32 AM

I find length and flexiness of your deck make a big difference in your ability to deal with pavement cracks (softer, longer = rolls of more crap). Also where you stand, and what angle you hit the crack (did I just say that?) matter a lot.

I take my vanguard (w/gummies and originals) down some busted up sidewalks near me and have a blast -- like a snowboard on moguls.

**melifont monk** · 05-01-2007 07:39 PM

must...buy....flywheels...they seem like the wheel i need to commute on it'd be nice to have that little extra roll and comfort when i'm hung over/still asleep/ seedy/ lost in my own world....i roll the...umm...10-15 minute skate to uni every day, meaning i have to go right through the centre of Hobart- until that point i'm on the road, but as i hit the centre i'm on the footpath, too many people, too early in the morning and too many morons...i like the road, i don't like the f*ckin' goons that use it.