pavedwave longboarding

Sheldon · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 23

My thoughts would be that for anything on a smooth path, such as what the 24 hour rides have been done on I would stick with a top mount board. Which ever one you prefer.

But for rides that may have a good percentage of pump inefficient surfaces, excessive hill climbs etc. essentially some thing like a cross country type ride I think the Century is a great board to try. I also think that the century could be a perfect board for push races.

Of course this is all a bit untested, as far as actual rough road pump/push goes. I'd like to really test the give and take of the lowered platform in some thing like STP.

And I know like James has stated he does, some people feel that the flex of their board lowers them enough that the drop board might not be necessary, which I have never noticed in my riding style though. So that would also be another thing to consider as well I guess.

Bullwings · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 62

Second impression of the Century 2.25 inch drop. Much more functional and useful than I was originally led to believe. I'm actually very very happy with the purchase. I was beginning to think i made the wrong move selling my Pulse 40.

Anyway, a few changes were made to my setup that made it much more pump friendly.

Originally, i tried to riser it up higher to get more leverage - bad move, it didn't do much. I then started screwing around with different trucks, wedging and bushings. I've finally dialed things in - or at least to the point where it makes a great pumper.

First off, i got rid of the randal 150s (with 35 degree base plate) that i was using on the rear. I replaced it with my trusted Seismic 30 degree stable turn de-wedged at 7 degrees.

For the front truck, I de-wedged it 4 degrees (based on what Sheldon wrote up - i think the natural wedging is overkill and wedges trucks too far out of their effective mechanical movement range). I'm using a randal 125 with 42 degree base plate (i have a Bennett 5.0 that i could use, but i feel no need to try it at this point). For bushings, I was using either two Khiro white barrel bushings, or some blue Venom bushings a cone and barrel (the softest ones they have). Both bushing setups feel great so far. I think the Venoms give the truck a greater movement range and what feels like a little bit more stability (in my head - which is a great part of what stability is about). I'm sure the Bennett 5.0 will work great. I tried it out originally before de-wedging 4 degrees, and it felt more pumpable than the Randal 125. I think the 4 degree de-wedging makes a big difference.

As for the drop, once you figure it out, i think it actually makes for a nice pump. You can really use the pendulum rocking back and forth effect to get a rhythm going with your pumps. It's quite nice. The flex of the board is quite nice too, although it is a little bit stiffer than I'd like. I'd probably go to the weight range below mine if i were to order another one.

I swapped out my 73mm speed vents with some 76mm EW superballs. Those things feel great. They roll over everythign and spit them out. The plushy feel of the ride is great too, more on that in the wheel forum.

Clearance, is still great too. I think i'm going to take an eighth to a quarter inch of soft riser out of my setup. If i was running super balls on my Pulse 40, i'd be up in the sky right now with the risers needed for clearance. It's quite low to the ground and definitely much easier to push and footbrake with. Alternate foot pushing is easier too - or at least trying to learn how to do it (i'm still working on that).

Stability feels at least on par with my Pulse 40 setup. I'll have to test it out more at the parking garage i like going to.

So, overall, i'd recommend the board. It may take some time to dial it in and getting used to it. I suspect that most people will prefer the 1.5 inch drop to the 2.25 inch drop. I haven't had the chance to try the 1.5 inch, but it seems like it would be the perfect balance between the Pulse 40 and the Century 2.25 inch drop. That being said, the 2.25 inch drop is still easy to pump. I don't feel like i've given up that much in leverage and pumpability going from the Pulse 40 to the Century 2.25.

I'll report back again after i take it for some longer rides and lower it. Hopefully i'll have some pictures by then too. If not, i'll just use my crappy cell phone camera.

cappa · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 42

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

With Sheldon's and Bullwings Century reviews, this one needs a sticky!

Also, Scott's Futures page has added the RIP board of Josh Burt's with "just the right angles" front and back. Haven't been on one yet, but looks highly functional for this type of push-pump hybrid:

Bullwings · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 62

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

you're on the right track, those links just point to the page where the picture is, just one more step, right click on those pics on your page, then select "View As..." (assuming Windows) to get the direct URL to the picture. that's the link you want to put between the 'img' tags here, like this one

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Z9drQqDO_a0...A/5f7yPhkAPtM/s912/0210091541.jpg

beauty setup!!

Bullwings · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 62

lets see if this works now...

This last picture is with a 4 inch diamond file. it's leaning up against the board at an angle. That kind of gives you an idea of the height.

board is set up with randal 125 front with venom bushings. i DE-wedged it 4 degrees and added a number of risers for clearance. I should have taken a head on picture, but i have a ton more kingpin clearance than i would have with a Bennett 5.0, and it's still super easy to pump.

back is a 155mm seismic stable turn.

wheels are the old earthwing 76mm superballs - now discontinued.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

Nice photos! Thanks for posting them. I always love how those wheels look. Hey, if you want a slightly quicker turning setup try flipping your rear wheels.

Skatefurther Ben · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 17

Is it just me, or does the of that setup look awesome! It looks like you could really put some power down, im impressed with close to the nose you can get too.

Very much looking forward ot trying one of these in the next week or so.

Sheldon · Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 23

I just got my Century, and remembered why I dug the board at the last ultra so much. I have yet to play with this one too much because of the weather, but its pump is so impressive for its drop.