Gear Maintenance: How to Keep Rolling

Today, we're going through a quick overview of some resources that can help you keep your skates in good condition.

One great resources is Queen of the Rink's series of How-To videos. Though the videos are intended for fresh meat, they can come in handy for any skater who wants to brush up on specific gear-related skill-sets. Videos include How to Change Your Wheels, How to Adjust Your Trucks, and How to Clean Your Bearings.

Derby Girls Blog has a great Skate and Gear Maintenance Schedule by Veronica Hites. Intended for those skating 3-5 times a week, the schedule can be scaled down for skaters who spend less time on their quads. Divided into sections by the recommended frequency of each activity, the schedule is a great, detailed guide to when you need to take care of what.

Rollergirl has a great guide to skate maintenance including a detailed diagram. A great name in the derby world, Rollergirl operates both an online store and a brick and mortar location in Vancouver, B.C.

Finally, though you need to skate safe, you may also want to skate without getting too smelly. There are two chief ways of keeping your gear clean. The fast way, which is quicker but a hard on your gear, is detailed in this Promise of Derby post on Derby Laundry. The slow way is detailed in the post described above by Rollergirl.