pavedwave longboarding

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

With the Seattle Century going on rain or shine, I was wondering if anyone had any tips on riding in the rain. As much as i would like to set up a carbon fiber rollsrolls with giant rain wheels, i have neither the time nor the money to do so in the next two days. Ill be riding my subsonic pulse as much as i can manage. I was thinking i could switch to some softer wheels (bigzig pinks up front, softest avilas in back) but im not sure thats really gonna add any grip in the rain. How do people handle hills in the rain? Im pretty sure i wont have the grip to carve off speed and im sure the effectiveness of footbraking will be dimished. Do i just have to bomb everything and hope for the best? Honestly, im a little freaked out about doing the burke gilman in the rain, especially since i havent trained for long distance pushing and dont have a good pushing setup.

(and yes, i know there are other posts about skating in the rain but i chose to start a new one anyway, sue me <3 )

dustm · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Raleigh, NC

I don't know if your pavement is any slipperier than mine when its wet (perma-moss?), but I have found that I can pump on wet ground reasonably and safely with a fast-cadence and gentle back and forth (say, 6-8mph). In big pumps you change the direction your mass is traveling, with the pump i'm describing the only thing realy moving back and forth is your legs with a bit of torso pivot... You don't want to try to grip any turns, carves, or pumps at any speed. There is a larger gap between static and dynamic friction coefficients when the pavement is wet and loss of grip in is sudden and complete. Footbraking is diminished but I think its all you got except for jumping off or sitting down. I've never had too much luck pulling controllable slides in the rain except on straight, non-crowned surfaces. Its hard to get that grip back and if the road slopes off to the side you will follow. Ride like you were driving on snow. I wouldn't bomb and hope for the best unless there is a low chance of anyone/any thing popping out in front of you and there are no serious turns before some sort of runout.

On a long ride in the rain I'd still expect to fall at some point, and would wear at least a front knee pad and wrist guards in addition the the quintessential helmet. Crash pants would be a good idea, it always seems like I am sliding out heelside straight down to the hip when I fall in the wet. Waterproof shoes might be a good idea on a long ride like that too... Your feet will not be happy soaking for that long and doing all that work. Ever tried to run around in a pool? Know how it shreds up your pads... i can imagine something similar.

As for wheels I think narrower, harder, and more coned would be a good choice. The wider the wheel is the more water it has to push out of the way. Especially if there is a lot of water on the pavement it can slow you down a lot and makes an impressive spray. It has always seemed to me that harder wheels grip better in the wet but it may be that they just feel more controllable. I'd say there is a more defined grip limit, and you can feel it better... I can't say why exactly but it could have to do with contact patch size and hydraulic force of the water underneath. A soft wheel's relatively large contact patch could trap water in the pavement's texture and the water pressure would reduce the force on the portion of the urethane contacting the pavement (peaks). A harder wheel will have more space in between peaks and a smaller patch of pavement to push water off of. Coning too will help by shortening the contact patch in the middle and by putting more pressure on the lips... The edges of the lips do a lot for grip and a soft edge will move out of the way easier than a harder one... Edge grip can be increased by adding edges; you can groove and/or sipe the wheels, and groves obviously give water somewhere to go besides to the side and underneath.

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

Hey I think james has two rolls rolls and knowing him he would be happy to lend one to you and he doesnt have those 83 flys that should work great. and if you cant get a rolls rolls you can prob find some kinda drop deck and put those wheels on it.
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The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

Yeah, all good suggestions, thank you. James has offered me a pusher deck but i havent trained for that sort of event, im pretty dedicated to the pump. Hopefully the skies will clear and all this worrying will be for nothing. Hopefully.

blake · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 198 Location: Seattle

yeah it is not that hard to push and if the skies dont change i would take him up on the offer and just push as much as you can at greenlake.
_________________
The concrete is our canvas, our wave, our playgound, our catalyst for growth. When you feel it, flow with it, live in the moment; and shred it like you'll never skate again, everytime.

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

Dustm, while i respect your argument for smaller, harder wheels, it makes a lot of sense and i have no deductive argument to refute it, my personal experience has led me to believe that softer wheels perform better in the wet. When i switched from bigzig limes to 73a avilas in the rear i had many fewer problems with slideouts on damp pavement. Im still not sure what im gonna do. still thinking it over and waiting to see what the weather does.

dustm · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Raleigh, NC

your personal experience on it is way better than my theoretical technical banter anyway. I spout off a lot...

how long is the event? would you run if it was constant rain? or hoping for spotty?

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

Its the ultraskate, so originally 24 hours. Unfortunately the weather isnt looking cooperative here and were tentatively cutting it to 12 hours or 100 miles, whichever comes first. Im going to stay in it as long as i can, rain or shine. If its nice and dry the whole time, i dont see any reason not to take it to the full 24 hours. If its pouring from the get go and doesnt let up, well, thats a different story. My biggest concern is 'big momma' a steep but short hill that comes just before a sharp right turn. Even when its nice and dry it maks me pretty uncomfortable and i generally footbrake it. Only time will tell i suppose.

I tried my softest wheel combo last night for about 3 miles just to get an idea. It was mostly dry but spotty in places. Having the pinks up front was noticably slower than limes. The avilas in the rear felt good and gripped well. Ill prolly leave the wheel decision to the very last second.