Tucson's Inline Skating School
(520) 237-6312 noon-8 pm M-F
Skating in the Rain
Soggy skies and squeaky bearings got ya down? We can't fix the rain, but you can be prepared for the rainy weather. If you're skating and it starts to rain, don't panic. Though the pavement will be slippery, if you take your time when you get moving, you'll reduce your risk of a fall. The key is to take little strides and avoid pushing yourself. If you can, always proceed in a straight line. If you need to turn, go slow or your skates are sure to slide. If you have a break, allow enough time to execute the stop before you HAVE to. The wet surface will cause some sliding, so try to anticipate upcoming terrain.

Once you reach your destination, give your bearings a thorough cleaning and then place them in oil (overnight), soaking the entire bearings in 10-30 weight oil to clean out any water residue, or use a bearing oil bath as a preventative prior to skating in the rain. In the morning, remove the bearings from the oil, dry them off and put them back into your wheels. Skate on them as soon as possible to make sure they roll smoothly. Use a rag on your bearing surfaces in the wheels to make sure they are clean and dry. Water is BAD for your bearings, but with a little up-front preparation, you can manage to save your bearings from the inevitable rust that water will cause.

Switching from oil to grease is your first line of attack against wet conditions. If you know you'll be skating in the rain, you can pack your bearings with grease. This keeps the water out for quite a while. Your wheels won't roll as freely with grease in your bearings, but the grease offers better protection from water damage than oil. Also, don't forget to let your pads & helmet dry out from the rain (as well as the rest of your equipment).

SkateTucson & Fast Eddie's logos by Ann Larson, AML Design