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How to Ride a Cruiser Skateboard? [Detailed Guide]

In the world of recreation, cruising around the city with a skateboard is a very popular activity. No matter the age group you are in, you will find cruiser skateboarding fun and practical for running small errands.

But a lot of people seem to have the wrong idea about how to ride a cruiser skateboard safely and effectively. Well, all these will change as we will cover ins and outs of riding a Cruiser skateboard today.

If we summarize the process, riding a cruiser skateboard boils down to five things.

Take-off
Balance
Maneuver
Accelerate
Brakes

As long as you have good control over the above points, you have nothing to fear. These are the basic mechanisms for skateboard riding regardless of the skateboard style. Every rider knows these. With a little bit of patience and practice, all these will become your muscle memory.

What Is A Cruiser Skateboard?

Before we jump right in, let us give you a proper understanding of what a cruiser Skateboard is. From the manufacturing standpoint, cruiser skateboards are pretty unique. Usually, they come in small form factors ranging from 22 inches to 32 inches in length.

The widths of these skateboards are also narrow around 7- 9.5 inches according to length. Though you see many shapes from different manufacturers, penny boards are the most popular. They are the smallest variations of the cruising skateboard. Their lightweight construction and nimble riding style welcome all spheres or riders, be that are professionals or beginners.

Read: Can You Do Tricks on a Cruiser Board?

Notable Features Of Cruiser Skateboard

Cruiser skateboards come with specific sets of features and they perform differently than other skateboards on the market. Apart from the different sizes, these boards are made up of plastic or wood material. Usually, the cruiser skateboards have 7-8 plies in the deck which can carry around 330 lbs.

One thing to note, longboard cruisers are not a high-performance skateboards. So, you can’t jump on a downhill track or show cool trick moves in Skate Parks comfortably. Cruiser skateboards are mainly intended for use on paved flat roads.

In short, here are the features you will enjoy with cruiser skateboards.

They are easy to carry around
Very agile and easy to maneuver
Manageable deck sizes are available
Beginners get used to them quickly
Come with large wheels with lots of grips
Perfect trucks, suitable for city travel
Best for short rides and running errands

Hope this clears out why professionals often suggest cruisers for beginner skateboarders. And if you are looking for more diverse and high-performing skateboards, check out our reviews on top rated skateboards for all.

How To Ride A Cruiser Skateboard?

When it comes to riding a skateboard, there are a number of ways you can follow. But mastering the basics is very important as it will keep you safe and get the most out of your cruiser. This applies to every skateboard riding as well. So if you plan to switch up in the future, don’t worry.

Remember, cruisers have a low center of gravity. So it’s very normal for a cruiser to be agile. Furthermore, due to the soft grip on the wheel, they are only suitable for flat roads. You can still ride your cruiser skateboard over some cracks and holes, but don’t go off-road. Don’t forget your safety gear. Gloves, helmet, elbow pad, knee pad these are the essential safety gears for skateboarding.

Here are the steps you need to master for chill cruising around your neighborhood.

Proper Take-Off

This is the first step which includes the foot placement and initial launch maneuver. There are no absolute rules for this step. After you have a fair share of your experience this will hardly matter. But for beginners, this is very crucial.

First, make a rough guess, which one is your dominant foot. For most people, it’s the right foot. If your left foot is dominant, that’s also fine. If you are not sure, make your friend push you and see which foot comes up first to balance. That’s your dominant foot and it will be on the front of your skateboard.

Now, place your dominant foot vertically on the board. It should be right over the front truck. After this, try to push yourself with the other foot. It should slide nicely and easily. Do a bit of practice to familiarize yourself with the initial motion and footwork.

Keeping The Balance

After the initial launch, take your other foot and place it on the board perpendicularly. Then change your dominant foot placement the same as the other one. This should look like a “W” stance. Now for balance, keep your eyes forward and knees bent. You can widen your elbows for additional balance.

For beginners, it’s natural to break the balance. That’s why you need to practice the take-off repeatedly. Give a small push and coast with both feet on the board. Do this as long as you need to feel comfortable rolling at a slow speed.

Maneuver

While you are cruising at low speed try to turn the board for a small maneuver. The easy way to do that is by slightly tilting the back edges of the board. Gently press with your back foot to do a turn maneuver. If you press the right edge of the board, the board will turn to the right. Press the left edge to go left.

Accelerate

Assuming you have learned the above steps, let’s add some speed to your cruiser. This is relatively easy when you have good balancing going on with your dominant foot. Do not try to accelerate before you have mastered the balancing.

So to gain speed, you have to push yourself with the other foot as quickly as possible. Do the kicking 4-5 times or until you reach the desired speed. Remember; do not try to turn your board at high speed especially, if you are still new to skateboarding.

Brakes

There are many ways you can slow down your skateboard. You will see professionals using sliding, board tail, foot, and hands (with gloves) to slow down their skateboard. For the beginner, the foot brake is the perfect way to slow down your board.

The foot brake works by friction. While cruising, lower your back foot on the road and let it slide gently. Push it harder for an effective brake. Remember to lower your body and keep the braking foot close to the board.

Conclusion…

Hope this article helps you understand the basics of how to ride cruiser skateboards. Always wear safety gear and practice whenever you can. After a while, you will see the difference in your riding style and confidence. Happy cruising!

Skateboard Helmet Vs Bike Helmet | What is the Difference?

Amelia Reed Leave a Comment

In both biking and skating, falls are more or less inevitable. Hence, head protection is an absolute necessity, and that’s why we wear helmets.

But are skateboard helmets and bike helmets the same?

Besides the apparent discrepancy in their looks, skate helmets and cycling helmets are pretty different in terms of safety and functionality. Manufacturers design them differently based upon their intended use.

Some of these differences are visible in their shapes, ventilation system, visors, and style, while others are internal. And those internal factors play a more crucial role in their protection system. As the level of effectiveness of each helmet varies, consumers must select the appropriate helmet according to their purpose.

So, consequently, the ‘skateboard helmet vs bike helmet’ dispute gradually arises when choosing one over the other. Keep reading to find a detailed explanation of the differences between bike helmets and skateboard helmets and whether you can use them interchangeably.

Skateboard Helmet Vs Bike Helmet

Impact Resistance System

The comparison between skateboarding helmets and bike helmets has most to do with their resistance system. While skateboard and longboard helmets can be both single and multi-impact, their biking counterparts are typically single-impact headgears.

A multi-impact helmet might seem great on its face, but it’s hardly the whole story. You may always spot damages to the outer shell, but it can be difficult to tell whether the protective foam is still intact. Also, if you already suffered a few soft blows to the head, you can’t be sure if the helmet can withstand another hard impact. Nevertheless, it’s always better than not wearing a helmet at all.

That’s why choosing a single-impact skateboard helmet or bike helmet is your best bet, although it’s not very popular with skateboarders. The foam on single-impact helmets is more rigid and doesn’t reinstate after a severe blow. What happens is the foam gets crushed on one powerful impact. However, a few soft knocks won’t require you to get a new helmet. Unless the inner foam gets cracked, you’re good to continue with it.

How to buy the top-quality longboard helmets?

Safety Standards

Secondly, you’ll want to know how skate helmet vs bike helmet compares based on safety standards. Helmets fall under different regulations depending on their type.

Concerning the safety of products, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) have established several sets of standards. The standards can either be mandatory or voluntary. You can determine which regulations apply to your helmet by looking at its label.

Because skating is a sport that can sustain more than one impact, skate helmets are often designed to withstand multiple impacts. Falling several times is common for skaters who perform increasing amounts of complex maneuvers. However, skate helmets aren’t always certified, and neither the law requires them to be. These helmets provide a certain degree of protection, but it isn’t always guaranteed.

Cycling, on the other hand, is relatively accident-free once one masters the fundamentals. Therefore, bicycle helmets are most likely to survive one severe crash. Bicycling helmets sold in the US must comply with the CPSC standard. Hence, you must always check whether yours does or not.

Read: How to Look Cool Wearing a Skateboard Helmet?

Inner Materials

The two types of helmets mentioned above are intended to protect from different kinds of accidents. Their materials inside explain how they serve the protection.

Ideally, helmets for skateboarding use a rubbery foam that gently bends back into shape after an impact. Typically, they use Expanded Polypropylene foams (EPP).

On the other hand, bike helmets often feature an inner lining made of Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS). Perhaps you were familiar with it as Styrofoam. However, Styrofoam is merely one of many of this material’s brands.

In contrast to EPP, EPS is crumbly and cannot regain its natural form following a hard blow. In other words, you’ll have to replace your bike helmet if it has suffered a significant impact.

Is it against the law to ride a skateboard without a helmet?

The Outer Shell

A skate helmet’s outer shell is typically sturdier than a bicycle helmet. Often, they are made up of carbon fibers or fiberglass that is reinforced by para-aramid fibers. In addition to their high tensile strength, these fibers are stiff and lightweight. Meaning, skate headwear is less likely to crack even throughout repeated collisions.

In bicycle headgears, the exterior is considerably lighter, with their shell merely being a thin plastic enclosure. The EPS foam performs most of the protective work in these single-impact helmets. It’s because cycling emphasizes speed more than anything else. Bicyclists can go faster when their gear is lighter.

Read: How to clean a white helmet?

Design and Head Coverage

No matter what skating sport you are involved in, helmet shapes are pretty similar, whether you’re riding a skateboard or a longboard. They are round and smooth in shape, covering the dome of users’ heads from their forehead to all the way down to their nape. The lower back part of these headwears has a unique design for protecting the wearers against frequent backward falls.

In contrast, bike helmets differ depending on the variety of cycling sports.

The elongated shape of road cycling helmets does not extend down to cover the rider’s neck. Track cycling helmets have a further streamlined, ventless design with a smooth surface, while mountain biking helmets resemble full-face motorcycle helmets having a spacious ventilation system.

And although BMX involves riding a bike, it shares cultural and technical similarities with skateboarding. While laying dirt jump on BMX bikes requires wearing a mountain bike helmet, skate helmets are the go-to choice for BMX freestyling.

Read: What size skate helmet do I need?

Visor or No Visor?

A skateboard headwear doesn’t feature a visor. It’s because skaters rarely deal with conditions that would require any. Usually, skateboarding venues are controlled environments and are not hostile.

The same is true for road-cycling helmets; a pair of sunglasses usually suffices for their eye protection.

Mountain biking helmets often include a visor, however, since they’re full-face helmets. It protects against the sun, rain, wind, bugs, and dirt from the track. The headgear of track cyclists also has an integrated visor, even though they compete indoors. Here, the visor serves as an aerodynamic optimization device.

Ventilation

Except for track cycling helmets, bike helmets have more ventilation holes than skate helmets. This is because road cruising and mountain biking are both physically more demanding than skateboarding.

Speed doesn’t matter so much to skaters as it does to cyclists. They also rarely perform for as long a stretch as cyclists. That’s why bike helmets feature an aerodynamic dome that provides superior ventilation, whereas skate helmets typically only have six to eight vents.

Read: Why Adults Are Choosing Kick Scooters Over Bikes for Commuting?

Style

The term skatewear often describes an entire daily fashion style. Helmets may not be a prominent style element, but the skate culture places a great deal of importance on clothing and accessories. Consequently, there are many patterns and colors on helmets nowadays. Skate helmets with rounded vents and smooth surfaces have become popular for decorating and customizing.

Cycling fashion, meanwhile, places a high value on efficiency and performance. Although bike helmets don’t have a smooth surface, their excessive venting scheme makes them an excellent medium for creating exciting optical effects. Also, skate style bike helmets are becoming increasingly popular with kids and teens.

Durability

Is there a difference between a bike helmet and a skateboard helmet in terms of durability?

Well, trying to compare plain durability between single-impact and multiple-impact headgears seems rather unfair.

A skateboard helmet can handle more blows than a bike helmet, of course. But it’s so wrong to condemn the latter just because of that since their purposes are different, and so are their constructions accordingly. A comparison of durability only makes sense from the standpoint of their interchangeability.

Frequently Asked Questions

is there a difference between a bike helmet and a skateboard helmet

Is a bike helmet ok for skateboarding?

Ans. All bike helmets are suitable for cycling, but they must also comply with the ASTM F1492 standard for use on skateboards. It ensures that the helmet is dual-certified, offering superior protection to wearers than those with only one certification.

However, wearing a bike helmet while skateboarding brings about several concerns. Firstly, it isn’t quite adaptable to skateboarding needs. It’s utterly ridiculous to wear a track cycling helmet anywhere outside the track. A full-face mountain bike helmet is kind of silly and surplus to requirements. While road cycling helmets may not obscure your vision, they often won’t cover your head’s lower back.

Are skateboard helmets safe for biking?

Ans. As we’ve addressed earlier, skateboard helmets mostly have the build to absorb multiple knocks that aren’t too severe, whereas bike helmets aim to thwart one harsh impact. So you can’t be sure if your skateboard helmet can absorb a significant hit. We do not recommend using a skateboard helmet for safe biking unless it has both CPSC and ASTM F1492 certification.

Still, there’s one downside that might be irksome when making this replacement. That is, skate helmets are not very streamlined and do not have sufficient ventilation. So, if at all, they can only be suitable for lowly, leisure rides. Taking an hour’s ride would make your head feel like an oven.

Is there a difference between skateboard helmets and bike helmets?

Ans. Sure there is. Our entire article highlights their key differences and functions, so you can easily distinguish them.

Do skateboarders need helmets?

Ans. Yes, absolutely! Every time you skateboard, you should wear a helmet for your safety. Using a helmet is solely for the purpose of protecting your head from the potential injuries you may receive when falling. Many head injuries can happen to novices, particularly if you’re trying to improve your skill.

According to American law, all skateboarders must wear helmets. The skateparks have all been instructed to require that helmets be worn on their skating rinks. The Law of California mandates that skateboarders aged under eighteen years who skate in public places or streets wear a helmet.

You should always wear a helmet, even if you’re a professional, and don’t get hurt too often since it will significantly shorten your recovery time after falling.

Do skating helmets work?

Ans. Yes, resoundingly. Let’s now look at “Why?”.

Hardshell plastic and foam make up skate helmets. They protect your head top-to-bottom. In other words, if you lose balance, trip, or collide, your head will not hit the pavement directly. You may be able to avoid severe injury with this small layer of protection.
As one of the most sensitive and delicate parts of the body, the skate helmet protects your head at all costs since it is too prone to falling when you skate. Skate helmets are designed to survive not only one but several falls. Therefore, the helmet can deal with your needs, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider.
Most safety studies suggest that an individual who wears a helmet has a significantly lower chance of getting hurt than one who does not.

Read: How Much Does A Skateboard Helmet Cost?

What’s the difference between a skateboard helmet and a bicycle helmet?

Ans. Skate and bike helmets function differently in many ways, in addition to their obvious differences in looks. The dissimilarities between the two become more apparent as you go through this write-up.

What is Low profile skateboard helmet?

Ans. Low-profile helmets are single-impact helmets having either a thinly padded inner foam or a thin-plastic outer shell. They are often exclusively for professionals who know their game and the tricks to avoid severe head injuries. However, wearing a low-profile helmet doesn’t always mean it’s dangerous; you can safely wear it as long as it has ASTM certification.

Scooter helmet vs bike helmet; is there a difference?

Ans. Unlike skateboard helmets, scooter helmets are not much different from bike helmets. If you’re riding a kick scooter, a bike helmet is perfectly appropriate. Often, kick-scooters are advised to wear bike helmets.

However, the same may not be applicable if you want to use a road bike helmet with your electric scooter, which demands more protective measures. In that case, you may want to wear a full-face mountain bike or BMX helmet. Also, manufacturers make mountain bike helmets keeping electric scooter riders in mind.

Final Say

Undoubtedly, no person in the entire universe would enjoy having their brain crushed when they fall off their ride. Besides wrist guards and knee pads, helmets are a must for specific sports, whether cricket, cycling, or a MotoGP race.

A helmet is essential to protect your precious head from impacts that could cause severe damages, including hemorrhage and memory loss. So, whether or not you’re torn between skateboarding helmet vs bike helmet, always remember that either one is better than not wearing one at all.

Zetrablade Vs Macroblade| 2 Different Inline Skate Series

Amelia Reed Leave a Comment

Rolling on fitness inline skates is both an enjoyable and effective way to work out and relax. They’re more breathable, comfortable, and snug on your feet than the others, making them far easier to ride trouble-free. That’s why people of all ages prefer fitness inline skates to get themselves rolling for the first time, including kids and the elderly.

And keeping that in mind, Rollerblade has brought two impressive lines of fitness skates, namely Zetrablade and Macroblade, to offer beginners and intermediate riders the experience they crave. While the first is fantastic for weight adjustment and control, the other is great for increasing speed while staying in shape.

Here’s our quick, comprehensive rundown of Zetrablade vs Macroblade, which will hopefully clarify their difference further and make it easier to decide which one suits you best.

Overview of Specifications

Properties	Zetrablade	Macroblade 80
Type	Fitness/Recreation inline skates	Fitness/Recreation inline skates
Targeted users	Beginners/Intermediates	Beginners/Intermediates
Available Sizes	6-13 (24.0-31.0) full-size only	6-13.5 (24.0-31.5)
Wheel Size	80 Millimeters	80 Millimeters (wheels up to 84 millimeters can be used as replacements)
Wheel Durometer	82A	82A
Bearing	Rollerblade SG5 (equivalent to ABEC-5)	Rollerblade SG5 (equivalent to ABEC-5)
Cuff	High	High
Frame Material	Monocoque Composite	Twinblade Aluminum
Closure Type	45º Strap, Cuff Buckle, Speed-Laces	45º Strap, Cuff Buckle, Laces
Boot/Shell	Semi-Soft Plastic	Semi-Soft Plastic
Upper Liner	Fairly-Breathable Engineered Mesh	Extra-Breathable Engineered Mesh
Brake	Available	Available
Fit	Universal	Universal
Price	Check	Check

Zetrablade vs Macroblade

Frames

The most notable difference between the two fitness skates lies within their frames. While the Zetrablade has a flexible monocoque composite frame, the Macroblade’s is robust twin-blade aluminum-made. And each build serves a specific purpose.

Because monocoque composite is more malleable, it offers more flexibility than rugged aluminum or hard plastic. It can bend significantly well according to the rider’s weight, promoting an equal distribution and more consistent control.

Twinblade aluminum, on the other hand, isn’t as malleable as the composite, and therefore, can’t aid the rider’s weight adjustment as its counterpart. However, it’s considerably sturdier and more durable than monocoque composite frames. Besides, despite its ability to withstand higher pressures, it’s much lighter than regular aluminum. Due to these characteristics, it’s a good option for fast cruising.

Therefore, the Zetrablade suits you more if you’re concerned about your weight and the troubles it adds to your control. But the Macroblade is for those seeking to improve their speed by playing it rough.

Wheel Size

Zetrablade and Macroblade are both designed to offer you the most enjoyable short distance riding experience across fitness skating, cruising around the city, and similar recreational rides. That’s why both come with 80 mm wheels, which are fairly shorter, hence easier to maneuver, allowing for quicker turns and stops.

However, Macroblade has a slight advantage over Zetrablade with regards to flexibility. While the former allows you to replace the wheels with any size between 80 mm and 84 mm for an added speed, the latter makes you stick to the original size.

Wheel Durometer

Wheel durometer is measured by A-numbers that indicate their relative hardness. The hardest is 100A, and the softest is 0A. In addition to shock absorption and grip, the durometer affects wear and speed. Since fitness skating demands more grip and more extended wear, the wheels must be between 80A and 88A.

From that point of view, neither Macroblade nor Zetrablade disappoints. Each offers 82A hardness, which is soft enough to enhance your grip and not too hard to affect your control. With the models also providing tweaking options, you can make them fit your needs by replacing them accordingly from Rollerblade.

Bearings

Rollerblade’s Zetrablade and Macroblade line of inline skates use the company’s very own SG-rated bearings, unlike most bearings, which follow the ABEC precision standard. However, this system uses the same ABEC number scale, with the higher number indicating greater bearing precision.

Both skates lines are on par from this perspective as well. They use a similar SG-5-rated bearing in their wheels, allowing for lesser friction with controlled, consistent rolls. Also, they employ Rollerblade’s proprietary build for better wear.

Boots and Liners

You may already know that soft boots are typically more comfortable and better ventilated, while a hard boot provides more stability and control. However, both Zetrablade and Macroblade come with semi-soft shells to keep your feet within the happy medium in that sense.

But it’s undoubtedly an all-win for you, considering their engineered mesh liners. They both come with Rollerblade’s Energy-maximizers, reinforced by 3D-anatomical stretch padding that impact shocks immediately to deliver the strength your feet need.

Nevertheless, in terms of breathability and added comfort, the Macroblade just edges its counterpart by some margin. It comes with more open and superior ventilation holes than the Zetrablade, letting in more airflow inside. As a result, your feet are significantly more comfortable and steady when you wear them.

Closure System

Like most modern-day models, these lines of Rollerblade inline skates’ closure system consists of both buckles and laces. While the buckle provides strong ankle support, the 45° lace and strap system anchors your heels in place for a secure fit that minimizes heel lift. The Macroblade has the upper hand here as well, having a sturdier urethane strap than the Zetrablade’s plastic.

But the Zetrablade wins against the Macroblade for the first time in our comparison, thanks to its speed laces as opposed to the latter’s regular laces. The fast and convenient speed laces allow you to put the skates on and take them off far quicker. In addition to keeping your shoe snug on your foot, they enable you to set the exact tightness you want every time.

Price

The Macroblade is the pricier inline skate between the two. For a costlier frame, sturdier buckle, and more comfortable liners, that doesn’t surprise much. The product line includes several models for men and women, and their price range varies within 150$-160$ accordingly. Zetrablade offers a similar selection that you can purchase for around 120 bucks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight can the Zetrablade withstand safely?

Up to 220 lbs.

Are the wheels durable on concrete?

Yes, the PU wheels have a design suitable for gliding on both concrete and asphalt.

Can you adjust the inner wheels by putting a rocker in them?

Yes, it’s possible to put smaller wheels anywhere (center two for anti-rocker, front, and rear for rocker). However, you should understand that if the rear is too small, the (removable) brake may drag.

Are the brakes replaceable?

Yes. But you must find the exact match from Rollerblade for a particular model since the frame doesn’t support anything else.

So, Which One Should You Pick?

The apparent similarities between Macroblade vs Zetrablade, coupled with their seemingly different purposes, don’t quite lend themselves to a conclusion about who wins. It doesn’t matter where that leads, though, since you always know what you’re seeking. And hopefully, our above comparative take on the two beginner inline skate lines has given you the insight you’ve been after. So, consider your necessities, choose wisely, and get yourself rolling right away!