I know that some rollerski users live in rainy places. The west side of the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest is mild and rainy all winter. New England and the upper mid-west are rainy in the summer. And that may mean getting out on rollerskis in the rain, or soon after, or getting caught in the middle. But rain and wet roads present problems to rollerskis and rollerskiers.
First, the wet roads are more slippery than dry roads. Oil from cars and trucks accumulates on the road surface in dry weather and is activated when the road is wet. This makes rolling more difficult as the wheels can slip on the now slippery pavement. It is also, obviously, more dangerous since stopping is somewhat tricky anyway.
Now lets think about the rollerski Pressed Bearing wheels. Most wheels are variations on the theme of an axle that has pressed-in bearings holding the axle into the wheel. Unlike a bicycle hub, there are no seals that protect the inner parts of the wheel from moisture, and dirt transported by moisture. Also, when we think about the position of a rollerski wheel, it is only 1.25 inches off the road surface. A bicycle hub is 13.75 inches off the road surface. A classic style rollerski wheel revolves around 7454 times in one mile. A 700c bike wheel will revolve only 745 times in one mile. So those little rollerski wheels, close to the road, are spinning fast and often and if they are wet, there is ample opportunity to transport dirt into the inner parts of the wheel. The pictures show a wheel that was brought to the shop that had stopped turning, seized up. It had been used for 5 months in the Seattle area.
When I started to take apart the wheel to see what was wrong, the wheel looked dirty with dirt pressed into every nook and cranny. There was obvious wear on the outer seal of the bearing. With difficulty I was able to remove the bearings, and the seal fell outof one before the bearing came out. When I got the bearings out, the inside of the wheel was filled with moisture and dirt. The inner needle bearing, that allows the classic wheel to offer kick, was damaged by the dirt and small pieces of this came out with all the other stuff. The wheel was a mess.
If you are going to roll on wet roads, there are some basic maintenance practices that you must do. You will first have to become familiar with the skills and tools used to take apart the wheels. There is a video on our website that shows how to remove and install the axles and bearings. Once the wheel is apart the needle bearings should be cleaned. This can be done with a dilute spray of a mild cleaner such as Simple Green, or a mild citrus solvent. These are products found at most bike shops. Another tool to use here is a soft, small toothbrush. Try to brush the needles in the bearing. Put your finger in and try to turn it in the needle bearing. This will bring dirt out from behind the inside of the bearing. Spray, brush, turn and repeat. When there is no more dirt coming out and the needle bearings are moving well, apply some light grease or heavy lubricating oil to the axle. Now insert the axle into the wheel to make sure that it turns in one direction, but not the other. Now remove the axle and get ready to install the outer bearings. Next insert a spacer into the wheel and a cleaned or new 608 bearing into one side of the wheel. As per our video, use a vise to press the bearing straight into the wheel. Now slide the axle in from the other side with new, clean grease on the middle. Another spacer is inserted and the last 608 bearing is pressed into the other side of the wheel. Check again to be sure the axle spins freely and that the needle bearing is working keeping it from turning backwards.
Until rollerski wheels are made with a gasket or seal behind the bearings that keeps water from getting inside, this will be necessary regular maintenance if you roll in wet weather.
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