Article Surfing Archive

Firstly, I'd just like to point out that roller skating in the rain is not advisable (but you've got to try it at least once in your lifetime). Not only can skating in the rain be detrimental to your health but excessive skating in the rain can also damage your bearings.

If you're unlucky enough to be caught out in the rain and have no other option but to continue skating (you don't have any shoes, or you're nowhere near a shelter for example) then keep your strides short, skate much slower than usual and stay on the pavements wherever possible. Keep your wheels as vertical (on the center edges) as you can because this makes for better traction.

Did I mention that rain makes surfaces super slippery? Keeping this in mind, always take corners and turning in general on your rollerskates slowly, avoid skating on road markings (these are extremely slippery when wet, especially when spattered with diesel), oh and watch out for those flipping leaves!

Give your bearings a rub down with a dry towel when you get home and unless you've been skating through deep puddles I wouldn't worry to much about greasing the bearings either. On the subject of bearing grease, please DO NOT spray your bearings with WD40, why? because WD40 will not only disperse water, but it will also dissolve the grease leaving your bearings vulnerable to damage from grit. Only use WD40 if you intend on leaving your rollerskates in storage for a long period of time, the WD40 will help prevent the bearings from rusting, but you will need to grease the bearings before wearing the skates outside again.

In short: Keep your strides short, skate and turn slowly, keep your skates vertical for good traction, stay away from road markings, leaves and other slippery-when-wet surfaces. Most importantly, always avoid skating in the wet wherever possible.