Longboards and rain

**coolhand** · 05-28-2008 05:34 PM

Im getting ready to begin commuting to work via longboard a few times a week. I dont plan on riding in the rain but its always possible I'll encounter a puddle, light mist, or wet ground.

Any tips on what to do if your board or wheels get wet? Thanks!

**wardlarson** · 05-28-2008 05:36 PM

well, wipe it off and you should probably get stainless hardware
keep your bearings lubed up well.

**speshlspeclsteak** · 05-28-2008 05:41 PM

look into a flexdex deck or other all composite decks water does nasty things to wood and can mess up the deck. also if you can find or make some wheels with rain shoots they will give you more traction on wet pavement

**mikenike605** · 05-28-2008 08:51 PM

dont be afraid to ride it in the rain just clean it off when you are done and store it somewhere it is likely to dry the quickest.

**coolhand** · 05-28-2008 09:07 PM

Any particular product you recommend for lubing the bearings?

**SK1ER** · 05-28-2008 09:15 PM

Use grease in your bearings instead of a speed cream sort of lube. Grease will help keep the water away pretty well. It gets a bit messy but also put a bit of grease on your truck axles to prevent rust.

Stainless Hardware + Composite Deck + Grease = Rainproof!

**inluvwithsara** · 05-28-2008 09:34 PM

If you got the dough, there are skate bearings that are impervious to water effect...
Waterproof Ceramic Skate Bearings

**BoMbHiLlS92** · 05-28-2008 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by speshlspeclsteak

look into a flexdex deck or other all composite decks water does nasty things to wood and can mess up the deck. also if you can find or make some wheels with rain shoots they will give you more traction on wet pavement

I think that landyachtz makes some of those wheels

**SK1ER** · 05-28-2008 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by inluvwithsara

If you got the dough, there are skate bearings that are impervious to water effect...
Waterproof Ceramic Skate Bearings

Jeez after reading the testimony on those bearings, I want a set! Holy Crap!

**chrismcb** · 05-28-2008 10:32 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about puddles and stuff.
Give the wheels a good spin if they get wet, let them air dry. If you are really worried you can always give them a quick squirt with WD-40. But I've usually had good success with giving them a good spin to let them air out.

Keep them well lubed too. And keep using it.

**boarders mom** · 05-28-2008 10:57 PM

I apologize up front, but I have to give a shameless plug for my buddy Rob at [Eastside Longboards] Home He can set you up with a good commuter deck and rain wheels. He even has a board with a handle. And like the others said, just wipe it down, let it dry, keep the bearings and trucks well lubed and you should do fine.

**kaplac** · 06-02-2008 12:22 AM

DON'T EVER LUBE WITH WD-40

Wd-40 was designed to loosen up rusted metal objects. However WD-40 isn't an alcohol-based product, it's synthetic and is very prone to attracting dirt. This means it doesn't dry clean like rubbing alcohol or even water does, and it will gather up dirt and dust and stick to it.

Spraying the bearings with WD-40 is pretty much just as bad as letting them rust.
Instead of WD-40 use a fat or oil based lube specifically for bearing. They will repel water, and keep the ebarings clean.

**coolhand** · 06-02-2008 09:29 PM

I got a small bottle of "Reflex Speed Lube Synthetic Bearing Oil". Is that basically what you are talking about? Its all the local shop had.

Can you over-lube?

**wooden** · 06-06-2008 03:00 AM

yes, you can over-lube, but it's just going to attract dirt and such, not actually damage the bearings directly.

and never use WD40. WD40 repels water but it's not a lubricant, it's an anti-corrosion solvent that was made to keep things from rusting simply by displacing water.

**Robskey** · 06-06-2008 10:25 AM

I usually give my bearing a quick heat blast with a blow dryer or heat gun to dry em out while spinning them, seems to make them last a lot longer and not lock up overnight after riding.

And yea thanks Mom for the plug, but the Rain Wheels do kick ass. And they are smaller (70mm) instead of the huge Landys (85mm) that don't fit well on smaller boards for commuting like the Tabor. Anyhow thats my two cents, good Luck! And keep Pushin'!

**mc99david** · 06-06-2008 10:40 AM

i seize bearings from rain iding regularly,, just buy mini logos

also, i add a clear coat of poly acrylic regularly so th water wont delam the board

**gribsrule** · 06-06-2008 11:20 AM

I just use my rolls rolls. greatest board I have ever gotten for the northwest. Only thing I do is when I get done is dry and lube my bears everytime to keep them dry and keeping them from seizing up.

**Grahamcrackers** · 06-06-2008 02:14 PM

Not all of us have 600 hundred dollars to waste, uh I mean spend on a weird looking board. But I've ridden my drop deck in the pouring rain all winter and it is holding up great. Depending on what wheels you are using you can tape the ouside with ducktape and put a thin washer on the inside to keep the water off the bearings. Dont worry about it too much, just buy a few sets of 10 dollar bearings and then replace them as eachone siezes then spend a day cleaning all of them and start over again.

**Anti-Trend** · 06-06-2008 05:52 PM

mile high skates bearing specials

Mile High Skates

**mikenike605** · 06-06-2008 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by boarders mom

I apologize up front, but I have to give a shameless plug for my buddy Rob at [Eastside Longboards] Home He can set you up with a good commuter deck and rain wheels. He even has a board with a handle. And like the others said, just wipe it down, let it dry, keep the bearings and trucks well lubed and you should do fine.

i agree my rocky bomber is the best rainboard for me to bomb in i just wipe it off and use it later. i need to get a pair of those rain wheels. i have been meaning to do it for about a year now, it would probably be good because its still looking like january here.