pavedwave longboarding

beachrunner · Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 2

Hi all brand new here...

I am not into pumping yet, although I am trying but I have a question about long distance longboarding.

I'm pretty new and have gotten all kinds of responses to this question on another forum but since this forum seems a little more focused I'll try.

I'm looking for a long rolling wheel for rides of around 10 miles or more. Something that will be fast on flat roads. I've heard to get skinny wheels, fat wheels, 70mm, 90+mm, hard, soft etc Shocked

I ride mostly asphalt if that helps.

Thanks in advance!

Sheldon · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 23

As with every thing it will depend on your preference.

I was going to type a long winded explanation of things you've probably already heard, so to save both of us the pointlessness.

-Are you thinking of trying to eventually pump, or push most this distance?

-How rough is the distance would you say?

-What you riding now?

beachrunner · Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 2

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

To be honest, your 78a 76mm Gumballs (and 75mm Avilas) were the "go to" wheels just a couple years ago. They're pretty much perfect for any journey. You could stick with your Gumballs and you'd be set up just fine for 10 mile commutes until retirement.

In general, going down to 70mm gives you more agility but limits your potential top end flatland cruising speed-- you can teach yourself to maintain a faster clip when you ride in the 76mm size all the time. 75mm BigZigs and 77mm SpeedVents have slightly better rebound characteristics in the urethane, and that range of size is a kind of "sweet spot."

Up past 85mm++ and if you have to stop and start a lot, your speed starts to suffer from the slower acceleration off the line, but you get into some smoothness over the roughest of terrain that can't be argued.

Hanael · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 71

^
I thought using wheels over 85mm will be overkill?
I understand the point of having cushier wheels that will carry more momentum..but isn't the board gonna be really tall?

Nicholas Jackson · Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 29

For pushing long distance I really rate the purple seismic speed vents 85mm (can't remember the duro). I ride these on my drop truck dervish and on the rubbish uk roads and pavement they roll forever and are really fast. Theoretically large wheels accelerate slower and this should be a disadvantage in a stop start environment but compared to 75mm gumballs I am not sure I noticed a great difference, this could be as the wheel is not that heavy due to the large core. Allot of guys here in the uk really rate the big purple vents for distance, the black ops formula is very very good.

Having said that I am currently riding the orange orangatang (75mm in heats). These are a very fast and smooth wheel but with the bumpy uk pavements I think the 85mm vent is more suitable a better ride for distance. Rob also finished his epic ride across china on the old purple vents switching from the Abec 11s.

Dan at seismic has a great formula with his wheels a I am really looking forward to trying his smaller speed vent on my pumping board.

As James said if you have the 75mm gumball this is a great all round wheel and perfectly good for all round riding.

I'm not so familiar with the supercharger but if it is a top mount deck I would not like to ride a wheel larger than 76mm as the deck will sit to tall to push comfortably. On a drop truck 85mm wheels are fine perfectly comfortable long distance. You can even lower a drop truck further but you need to be careful of the bolts fouling the hangers.

Choosing the hardness and size of wheel depends very much on terain and application. It's also due to personal preference and experience. I love wheels can't get enough of them, you can never have enough.