The wonderful thing about longboards is the various wheel options. They dramatically determine how well the board will roll on a particular road surface. Also, most longboards have soft wheels with better shock absorption.
But the question is, how do you longboard rough ground? Do they perform well on gravel or bumpy roads?
Longboarding over rough ground is complex and requires a lot of skill. The best way to longboard in rough terrain is to find smoother paths and not to rush. A great option is getting a board that can cope with rough terrain.
Longboards were designed for carving and speed, and riding on the rough ground will cause the grip tape to wear off and make the trucks harder to keep under control. To keep things in good shape, you need to choose the right board and know the hacks (that we’ll discuss below) to control it better.
Can You Longboard on Rough Ground?
Yes, you can. We have all been there. You are riding along, having fun on your longboard, and then suddenly, you hit a rough patch of road and see your longboard speed wobble like crazy. So, if this has happened to you, it might lead you to ask the obvious question: can you longboard on rough ground?
From all indications, rough roads and uneven pavement are often no match for a longboard. Most longboards are just as capable of handling broken pavement, gravel paths, and grass as smoothly as your everyday sidewalk.
However, you can longboard on rough ground as long as you have a good set of bearings and a good quality longboard. If you ride on rough ground, the most important thing is to take care of your bearings and make sure to keep them lubricated.
Furthermore, you might have nothing to worry about if you get yourself a longboard that is specially designed for rough ground. These longboards are durable and come with a shock-absorbing system that glides on tough terrain.
How Do You Longboard Rough Ground?
Longboarding rough ground is never going to be easy and fun for you. It might be a smooth movement if you have a longboard for rough ground, but if you do not, you should follow the instructions below.
Ride Slowly
The higher the speed you are going, the more uncomfortable and unstable you will be on rough ground. You should reduce your speed when moving away from a smooth path to rough ground. Failure to reduce your speed will make the longboard unstable and make you fall off.
Get a Suitable Longboard
Rough ground is often seen as the enemy of longboarding. However, if you have a suitable board and learn to ride on the rough ground safely, then you can use the rough ground to your advantage. You might be shocked at how you can find your movement pleasant on rough ground with a quality longboard.
Responsiveness
You can ride on rough grounds by adjusting your wheels, position, and riding style. A smoother ride can be achieved by making the wheels larger or softer, leaning the body and the longboard more forward to create more weight on the front wheels, standing closer to the wheels for stability, and using a slalom style to avoid bumpy parts.
Wear Safety Gear
Wearing safety gear will help you stay safe while longboarding and enjoy it more. Wearing a helmet is the first and most important thing because it will protect you against head injuries, which can be serious if it happens.
In addition, elbow and knee pads are also essential because they will protect the joints when you lose control of your board. Finally, try to find some good, comfortable shoes.
How Fast Can a Longboard Go on Rough Ground?
Longboards are so popular that more and more people buy them every day. They look cool, are a lot of fun to ride, and have a lot of features that make them reliable and easier to use. However, not everyone knows how fast a longboard can go on rough ground.
A longboard can hit 10 mph over rough ground. This speed is attainable with a few factors: rider weight, wheel quality, type of bearings, type of board, and length. On flatland, faster speeds are achievable because friction is not as big as an issue compared to rough ground.
Safety Tips While Riding Longboard on Rough Ground
Riding longboards is fun. So is riding it on rough ground. But at some point, you are bound to face a nasty fall or accident. You need to know how to protect yourself in such cases and make your ride as safe as possible. Here are some safety tips while riding on rough ground.
Use your safety gear.
When riding, be sure to use protective safety gear like:
- Helmets: Always wear a helmet. It is that simple. Helmets will prevent serious head injuries if you fall, slip or crash. Even though you might be an experienced rider, it is always safer to wear a helmet. Your chance of falling off from the longboard is high, and that is why you should always use your helmet.
- Knee Pads: Knee pads are an absolute must-have safety gear when riding on your longboard, especially when you take rough slopes. Be willing to invest in knee pads that fit well and offer good protection. You never get to see the importance until you find yourself in a situation where you need one.
- Wrist Guards: Wrist guards are important protective gear for longboarders. They protect your palms and wrists from injury when you fall. Also, wrist guards are available at most sporting goods stores and from several online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and some local stores. Just get a quality one, and then you are safe.
- Choose a Quality Longboard: The choice of the longboard is very important. Cheap ones can break and fall off while riding on the ground full of stones, tree roots, and so on. To avoid such unpleasant situations, when choosing a longboard, you need to especially pay attention to the quality of the deck and wheels themselves.
- Deck Design and Size: The right deck design and size are important to your longboarding experience, especially on rough ground. You need to stay as comfortable as possible, and a good deck will always help keep you stable and convenient as you should.
- Wheels of the Longboard: The longboard wheels should be at least big enough that you can roll over even the most difficult road hazard you are likely to face on your path. Choosing the ideal longboard wheels for rough road will prevent you from falling. The stability of the longboard depends on the wheels too. If your wheels are small, you will have less control over them while riding on rough ground. If you choose between larger and smaller wheels, choose bigger ones.
- Ride at Slow Speed: Set a decent speed and keep your ride slow. It is not recommended to ride at slow speeds, especially on rough ground. Ride slowly and keep a watch on what you are doing. Slow speeds make rough riding easy, so nothing to worry about.
- Practice Riding on Rough Road: First, you need to practice riding on rough roads. It can be done in all sorts of ways. One example is going on a longboard ride to the beach. The beach will have many different types of rock and sand that you can practice before going into this longboarding skill. Practicing will prepare you for days you will run into a rough road, and then you will surely find it easy to move around without any issue.
Conclusion
The best way to dominate rough grounds using a longboard is to do so in the stance that you are most comfortable with. The uneven movement from the rough road can affect your leg, especially if the terrain is a long one. However, there are many ways you can ride and stay comfortable.
Now that you know how do you longboard rough ground, you should also beware of the safety measures that you should never overlook. You should get a specially designed longboard for rough roads to reduce your worries and make sure you have your safety gear on.
