How to Make a Street Luge Faster
Street luge was born in hilly Southern California, and is a close relative of downhill skateboarding. This extreme sport combines mechanical elements of long boarding--wheels and metal axles allowing for sharp, precise turning--with the flat riding position of traditional luge. The speed of a street luge board is determined by two factors: the skill of the rider and the precision of the equipment. Use the provided steps to clean and revamp your board's most integral parts. The result will be a faster, smoother ride.
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Things You'll Need
- Adjustable spanner wrench
- Razor blade
- Solvent
- Small bowl
- Old toothbrush
- Clean towel
- Bearing lubricant
Instructions
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Cleaning Your Bearings
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1
Using an adjustable spanner wrench, remove the axle nuts that secure all of your board's wheels. Locate the bearings, which are the circular metal devices seated in both sides of the wheel.
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2
Place the innermost part of the bearing against the edge of the axle. Use the leverage provided by the axle to pry the bearing out of the wheel. The motion used here is similar to prying a cap off of a bottle. Repeat for each bearing in all wheels.
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3
Using the edge of a razor blade, carefully lift the rubber seals off of each bearing. This allows access to the inner bearing races.
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4
Soak the bearings and their rubber seals in a small bowl of solvent for 2 to 4 hours. Using an old toothbrush, clean the bearing races thoroughly. Discard and refresh the solvent as it becomes dirty.
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5
Place the bearings on a clean towel to air dry. When the bearings have dried, apply two drops of lubricant to each bearing and replace the rubber seals.
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6
Re-seat the bearings in the wheels by placing a bearing, with its seal side down, onto the axle. Bring the wheel down over the bearing and forcefully push down. Lift the wheel off of the axle, place another bearing over the axle, and push down once more. Repeat for each remaining wheel.
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7
Replace the axle nuts and tighten them with your spanner wrench. The wheels should be able to spin freely once the nuts are tightened.
Selecting New Equipment
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8
Purchase larger, softer wheels the next time you replace your equipment. Large, soft wheels allow a rider to cover more ground and roll smoothly over debris. Luge wheels range from 80mm to 100mm in diameter, so a set in the 90mm range will suffice. Soft wheels, generally with a durometer (hardness) of 70-85a, will make rough patches on the pavement less noticeable.
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9
Choose bearings with a high ABEC rating. A rating of ABEC 5 or higher designates a precise, efficient bearing capable of smooth operation at very high speeds.
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10
After cleaning new bearings for the first time, apply a low-viscosity, bearing-specific lubricant. Lubricant helps protect the delicate parts of the bearing and reduces metal-on-metal friction.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (full coverage helmet, leather body suit, gloves and shoes with reinforced soles) when participating in street luge.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
