This article is about whether our longboards are supposed to bend. Longboards are designed for long rides, traveling, and curving at fast speeds. For quick and lengthy rides, firm handling and stability are essential.
That being said, did you ever notice that when you lean forward for some speeds, the board slightly bends?
If yes, then you might’ve wondered, are longboards supposed to bend? Well, longboards include a bending characteristic to help with stability, balance, and control.
Bending can be of different types for various riding needs. If you are to know in detail, this article got enough information about this.
What Does Longboard Bending Mean?
How much a longboard bend is one of the critical measurements of a longboard.
Basically, a longboard bend or flex indicates the rigidity of the board deck. How many shocks a longboard can absorb, its steadiness at different speeds, etc., are also linked to the bending ability of the board.
Now, this bend can be of different types. Depending on your skills and expertise, you need to choose a board with the most suitable bend for your longboarding preferences.
If riding at high speed and stability are what you need the most, you will need one type of bend. Whereas, if it’s for shock-absorbing purposes, there are other types of longboard bend for this.
Types of Longboard Bend
Longboard bends are of three types. Each type has its distinct characteristics for specific riding needs.
Longitudinal Bend
This bend type focuses from the nose to the tail of a longboard. Because of its design and characteristics, when the rider tries to bend the board, it tends to go deeper into the center.
If you are familiar with the rating system, professional riders give bend or flex ratings on longitudinal flex. Now, if you are tempted enough to get one of these, be sure to check this longboard out.
Lateral Bend
When the board bends from the left to the right side, know that it’s a lateral bend. So, for example, whenever you’re bending your board sideways, you perform lateral bending.
This longboard is an ideal example of a lateral bend board.
Torsional Bend
In simple words, it’s the combination of the longitudinal and lateral bend. It’s important to remember that hard carving and sliding test the board’s torsional flex quality. A firmer board will return to the center faster or regain its regular shape.
If you think this is your bend type, this longboard can be the right pick for your style.
Different Levels of Longboard Bend
Longboards have different bend levels so that you can choose according to your preferences and skills.
Soft
Longboards with soft bends are not sturdy as other levels. Yet, it has an incredible shock absorption ability, giving you a smooth experience on rough roads.
Medium
This level of bend provides an overwhelming sense that offers driving energy to push. Moreover, it gives an effective absorption of stress while riding on rugged roads.
Stiff
This is the best bending level for high-speed riding. Also, it is excellent for slopes and high-speed free rides.
Why Do Longboards Bend?
As I’ve already said, the main reason for longboard bend is to give you enough strength and balance over the board. Also, it makes sure you don’t fall while cruising or carving on the ride.
Moreover, different types of flex levels will give you different riding experiences. For instance, at high speed, you’ll have a smoother ride. Furthermore, it has a bouncy push which helps to maintain the ride’s flow.
Are Longboards Supposed to Bend?
This is the most asked question about longboards. Well, longboards are supposed to bend. But interestingly, most longboards user don’t know why it has the potential to do so.
The main reason for the bending is to make the long rides even more comfortable for the users.
Now, you may ask why it has to be more comfortable. When you ride on a longboard for traveling, downhill racing, or long-distance sailing, you need to have complete control of the boards.
If you aren’t comfortable with the ride, you cannot control the board swiftly.
Consequently, while sailing on the board, you’ve to balance; otherwise, there’s always a risk of an accident. Also, you can maintain a good balance if the shock-absorbing quality of a longboard is decent.
This is one of the main reasons longboards are supposed to bend, which is to have proper balance while riding.
As longboards have three types of bend, as I mentioned earlier, you can choose one as per your riding style, skills, and riding requirements. With the right bendable board, you can enjoy a stable and well-controlled ride at high speeds.
After knowing why longboards are supposed to bend, you may wonder maybe expensive boards will give you this facility. However, regardless of whether inexpensive or costly, longboards are designed to bend depending on the flex type.
How Much Flex Does a Longboard Need to be Comfortable to Ride?
In most cases, the most recommended size for beginners is 33′′-38′′. Cause boards of this size range are easy to manage and control.
Besides, you can use a less than 33′′ longboard if you wish to ride on a small cruiser. But, make sure it isn’t too short for the rider.
However, how much flex a longboard needs will depend on your riding style. Also, which surface you’re riding has equal importance on how much flex it needs.
Is Curvature Necessary on a Longboard?
Longboards must have a concave shape to function well. Longboards with a concave form provide the rider with more grip or traction than a regular board. Furthermore, it allows more ease in sliding, drifting, and turning.
Is Bending Well for Longboards?
For your surfing longboard deck, flex is undoubtedly something that should be taken into consideration. If the board bends, you can go for a long ride without worrying much about comfort. The added flex will absorb shaking pretty well, which is something you cannot get with a non-flexible board.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you got a total understanding of whether our longboards are supposed to bend or not. But simply put, longboards are designed to bend to bring you the much-needed stability, balance, boarding skills, etc., for riding.
So, whenever you want to buy a longboard, remember to choose one according to the flex level and type. In that way, you can get the most out of it and enjoy it.
Hi, my name is Gabriel. I am completed my MBA from private university and my subject was IT (Information Technology) and also I complete my graduation form South East University and Department from CSE (Computer Science & Engineering). I am author and blogger of this website who loves to write about different topics that are related to the board sport. From beginner tips to intermediate advice, I want to offer you quality content that will help improve your skill set and make you a better rider. Thanks for checking out my site!
