Best Longboards for Different Riding Styles

Gullwing Sidewinder trucks are attached to a drop-through deck, providing great stability and maneuverability at high speeds. Since the size of the axle is only 180 mm, the turning radius is rather small. The 70-mm wheel diameter is sufficient for any even surface because of 80A hardness and what’s more, it helps pass rubbles and potholes on the road. The Sector 9 is equipped with ABEC 5 bearings which are good for cruising and freeride. Yet, if you prefer sliding down the hill at high speeds, you may want to consider longboards with ABEC 7, 9 and 11 bearings.

First of all, we do know that everybody has their own comfortable stances and moves developed with time and practice so what we are saying here is a mere suggestion, not a must-do order. But it might help. The second thing we want to say is this: before you try to gain speed get used to slow riding, find your balance, and learn to stop and hop off your longboard. Third: please, please wear protective gear at least while you are learning. That's it. Now to the accelerating.

Kicking your longboard means adjusting your balance to take one foot off the deck and push the ground with it but every time you do it you slow down a little. That's inevitable. When you are ready and willing to go faster than usual, here's what you can do. To make fewer kicks, you will need to make each kick longer. Take your pushing foot (back foot generally or front one if you push mongo) off the deck and put it further in front of the board, optimally somewhere around front wheels, then push it all the way before you put it back on the deck; add the effort to the kick to acquire velocity. This way, you will build momentum and speed better without the need to push too frequently. Try to keep your body relaxed when you do it, though, as frigid stance makes it harder to balance.

That's it. You'll need some practice to master it so choose a large flat surface at first then move to some low hills when you've got a hang of it.

Electric kick scooter is another great option for commuting, fast, environmentally friendly, and easy to use. And they are somewhat safer so perfect for your kids before they master a longboard enough to ride to school.

This longboard has a drop-through truck mounting and the trucks are 180 mm wide. Thus, the unit is lowered and, what is important, fantastically balanced. The 75 mm PU wheels with 85A hardness provide for better sliding down the hills. Therefore, they offer nice sliding while you are performing stunts. These wheels are durable and give a smooth ride on rough terrain. Also, we should say that you will be able to achieve impressive acceleration thanks to the ABEC 11 bearings that allow this board to move as fast as 100 km/h (~62 mph).

There are three most popular ways to stop when you ride a longboard:

1. Footbraking. This one is the first way to stop many riders learn as it is best suited for slow riders. To put it simply, you do the same thing as when you push but instead of, well, pushing and getting both feet back on the deck you just drag the foot flat on the road surface. Don't try to stop abruptly, take your time to slow down.
2. Jumping off. This is probably the first thing a newbie rider would think about when the speed is too high and it gets scary. This is not the most recommended way of stopping, though, as it has high injury rates. If you jump off the deck, you will need to run for some time still, and you may lose your board. That is if you succeed in not falling. If you don't, pray you have your protective gear on, otherwise, you might end up in quite a pain and with a couple of broken bones. Try practicing the right way to fall beforehand.
3. Coleman slide. This is the safest option to stop your longboard at high speed but it will require practice. Also, you will need sliding gloves in addition to your standard gear. You can find step-by-step instructions on the Internet but basically, sliding means you squat carefully, lower your pushing leg knee to center on the board, and with a gloved hand on the pavement and the other hand swinging you turn your longboard sideways. The speed drops dramatically and it is easy to stop completely.

When you are practicing hard or you are simply in a hurry, you might have no time to stop and eat. To get some strength, carry protein bars with you and have a snack without stepping off your longboard. Just don't forget to eat properly when you get home.

What we should emphasize about this long skateboard is its low drop-through suspension. It has a 245-mm axle that provides a good balance for downhill riding and, in addition, it prevents swaying at high speeds. As for riding at a low speed, cruising in the areas with intensive road traffic may be rather inconvenient due to the small turning radius. By the way, the wheels are made of urethane and their diameter is 70 mm. Also, the bearings are ABEC 9 - great for high-speed riding.

Longboards are generally good with riding down hills but there are recommendations to be followed. It is better to choose the hills that end with smooth slopes, they make it easier to slow down and stop. Or you can use a turn into some alley or empty lot. Walk down the hill beforehand; you will feel more relaxed and calm when you know what awaits you at the end of your downhill ride.

Another thing to take into consideration is the surface quality. Although a longboard with large wheels like Atom Drop-Through will handle even bumpy road to some extent but you will still feel the difference between quality surface and a not-so-quality one.

And the last requirement: for speedy rides like these please select the hills with minimum pedestrians and vehicles. This is your own safety and the safety of those around you, don't take it lightly.

To ride longer distances and a variety of terrains including grass and sand, consider buying a cruiser bike. It is made in a way to be the best choice to commute with utmost comfort.

This longboard features suspensions with reverse kingpins which make it more stable if you speed up. The suspensions themselves are 178 mm wide. This is in order to make the board easier to maneuver as the radius is not large. Due to the ABEC 5 bearings, the Quest Skateboards Super Cruiser Longboard may not speed up as fast as freeride boards do, but it does keep the speed well when you reach the desired one. The 70-mm polyurethane wheels ride so smoothly you will never notice the road unevenness. Riding it is a lot of fun!

Protective gear, as 'uncool' or 'inconvenient' as it may seem, is a must, even more so if you are an inexperienced rider. Not to be grim but you won't be cool when you end up with crutches (in a best-case scenario) after a nasty fall. And with a variety of designs offered on the market, you will definitely find the pieces convenient for you personally. Even pros wear protection, follow the best example. So, you will need the following:

• Helmet
• Flat-bottomed shoes
• Protective pads for knees, wrists, and elbows (recommended)
• Gloves (if you intend to learn Coleman Slide and extreme riding)

Aside from the gear, remember one important rule: always ride with a speed you can control. Your riding speed shall not exceed the speed you can run at, at least not much. This way, if you happen to jump off the longboard, you will have better chances at doing it without falling.

Electric bikes are a good option for those who ride uphill a lot, they require less effort and they are eco-friendly. Take a nice ride to enjoy the view without getting fatigue and sore muscles.

The drop-through truck mounting makes this long skateboard fantastic for freeriding. As for the trucks, they have 180-mm axles. This kind of suspension gives you full control over your board and ensures excellent maneuverability. The wheels are made of urethane, a material considered to be the safest one for longboard wheels. The hardness and diameter of wheels are 78A and 75 mm respectively, they provide good sliding while performing various freeride tricks.

Bearings are important when it comes to skate- and longboards, and to prolong their life, you will need to check them regularly and perform maintenance. When you start to hear noise from the bearings or the wheels start to rotate at different speeds, it is a sign you need to clean the bearings. It is also highly recommended to clean the bearings if you happened to ride on a wet pavement as it may result in tiny parts being stuck inside and wearing the bearings out. To clean the bearings, you may use alcohol or some special solvent. From time to time, it is required to lubricate the bearings. A sewing machine lubricant will suffice.

Before you start either cleaning or lubricating the bearing of your board, dismount the wheels and take the bearings out. If you try to do any maintenance without it, you might damage it.

Unicycles are still a sight we are getting used to but there are more and more of them on the roads. They are a creative and fun way to move, and the latest models are equipped with everything you may need for an easy and comfortable ride.