want to start but need A LOT of help

splodyhead · want to start but need A LOT of help

ok so ive been thinking about wanting to start longboarding for a while but felt it would be too similar to sk8boarding and im tired of that, then i saw this whole LDP stuff and REALLY want to start now! Ive been researching as much as possible about this stuff but still have trouble thinking of a beginner setup because of how much detail goes into risers and angles and truks and BUSHINGS and all this stuff i never really worried about before, than theres decks; big flex, no flex, SOME flex! its all really confusing since im just trying to get a really good beginner setup. ive looked at loaded boards and from them i would want the pintail or the fish but just dont understand how easy it would be to pump them or not or which flex to get OR should i just buy either deck and setup everything else. ive seen sector nine boards and those seem cheaper but again i dont know how easy it would be to pump on them or which series is best for it. i wouldnt want anything huge either like something 36" and under would be awesome...i could use help basically in every aspect for this so all advice is GREATLY appreciated Very Happy

pavedwave

get your trucks, bushings, risers, hardware, and wheels separately from the deck. and remember that a 39"--41" deck isn't really that much bigger than 36" -- what you really want on distance is a decent size wheelbase, and extra width. the s9 trylam does work as a compromise, but you need to weigh about 180lbs or more to make the flex work...

the khiro riser kit seems spendy, but it takes out a lot of guesswork later. totally worth the investment. the khiro bushing kit, maybe not as much, since there are a few sets of really hard bushings you may never use, unless you ride parks.

check out the sk8kings list thread, and the pavedwave.org GEAR page for deck ideas, and check back!

splodyhead

well thank you for that information and i think im going with carver cx's since they seem to be a typical favorite. i see some people with different trucks setup in the front and rear and i just want to know why and what the most typical setup for that is? and now i could just use some advice for a good deck since i cant really make up my mind with anything Very Happy

splodyhead

so i saw a deck from landyacthz called the bamboo stout and it seems to have just about everything a good pumping board needs its just that it has a stiff flex and i remember reading somewhere that with a stiff flex i would need really turny truks and im thinking of going with the 4.3 bennetts and the 129 RTS Tracker for the rear truk. also would i need angled risers for this setup? i could still use some help and suggestions for the decks.

Hanael

...bamboo stout for pumping?

woah.
unless you weigh 250++, it won't flex on you.

bluebugbuster

Okay. I'll admit, I'm a noob to the whole LDP thing. I've been longboarding for a while now, and sk8boarding forever. I am piecing together a Roe Mermaid for my first LDP deck. Bennett 5.0 front, Rt-S 129mm rear, on a 72mm 78a wheel. Trucks wedged accordingly. I have yet to get the deck.

I have a few questions, though, as any noob would.

First, am I making a mistake getting a Mermaid as my first LDP rig?

Second, What is with the bushing mounted to the top side, front of the deck for?

Third, What about a good LDP bearing?

I know i'm a noob, but come on, we all gotta skate, right?

pavedwave

Welcome, I predict, your noobhood will be short lived Smile

First thought that comes to mind... in 7th grade, Dad bought me a top of the line, Bach Stradivarius B-flat trumpet, when he realized I was seriously into music -- and of the several other horns I've picked up in the last 30 years, that one has remained my main axe. A lifetime investment.

The other thought... I just bumped into an awesome woman at Greenlake two weekends ago, and we've since been out sessioning around the lake several times. She's no noob to skateboarding, having competed when she was in high school, but LDP is completely new for her, and she's picking it up like crazy! She's been on several of my boards, demos, etc., and after a week of actually riding and testing some loaners around the lake (mostly the Walkabout), she is settling on a Roe Mermaid -- not from any of my babble, because I actually don't talk much at all when we ride -- but purely from her impressions and comparisons.

Now obviously, there is a touch of bias between myself and the Mermaid, given it took years to develop and has been my main ride since 2006. But, assuming you get the flex that "fits" you right away, the first time, it could be the only LDP board you'll ever want. This is not always the case for people, but if it clicks, you'll know it.

The bushing on the top is a toe stop, which helps you not only have a little more leverage on your pumps, but also tells you exactly where your front foot is planted. Also, when you're really going extra long distances and happen to zone out, it can keep you from inching off the nose of your deck and eating asphalt.

Bearings... I really don't theorize or scrutinize much. And my commute times don't vary much if at all based on bearing changes. Just clean, properly lubed and properly spacered bearings are the ticket. Like Michael Dong says "Ceramics on race day, otherwise, they're all pretty much the same..." I do like Abec11 Biltins just because you don't have to mess with spacers, or speed rings, just pop 'em in and go. But some people think they draw in dirt faster, because they're not shielded on the inside. So, anything like Bones Reds, Pleasure Tools, or RockinRons are great too. I just pick up something in the $10--$20 range.

bluebugbuster

Hey p.w., Thanks for the input. I ordered alot of the key items today, and can't wait for them to arrive. I really wish I'd have known about the whole LDP thing a long time ago, like before the end of the season.

I live in a pretty gnarly part of the country as winter is concerned, so you could only imagine my disbelief that I may not get to ride the Mermaid before the snow hits the ground, and the temp drops to well below -20* f.

But hey, more time to build decks, right?

Thanks again!