pavedwave longboarding

ZapZang · Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 32

Compared to the distances a lot of folks on here are doing, this doesn't sound like much - but man, I was happy to do 20 miles yesterday evening.

The trail is on an old railroad bed and runs along a river valley through gorgeous scenery, away from roads or cities. Smooth paved trail, kept well-maintained by the "wheel pass" fees they charge ($3 a day or $20 a year):

http://www.cannonvalleytrail.com

Since it is slightly downhill in one direction, we parked a car at either end and went the downhill way. Maybe next year I'll want to do 20 uphill and 20 back down, but for now 20 one way was plenty.

My new board (a Subsonic Pulse I bought myself for my 31st bday) absolutely kicked ass, although the pivot cup started getting squeaky the last 7 miles or so (I'm gonna have to find a better pivot cup lube, I don't think mink oil is made to hold up so well as a lubricant, even with graphite powder added lol).

Had a friend on a bike with and one on a Loaded Dervish with 180mm trucks - we swapped boards for awhile in the beginning cause she was having such a hard time keeping up.

Once I figured out a couple ways to keep that slow-turning-truck flexy sucker pumping (the bounce is totally the key) and she watched me do that for awhile, she was able to pick it up herself - and by the end of our trip she was pumping up hills - not as easily as me, but was still impressive, especially considering her skills going into the ride and the non-pump-friendliness of her board.

We saw some deer on the path, rabbits, chipmunks, a couple of great blue herons, stopped and explored an abandoned shack in the woods, and dodged a ton of the black and brown furry caterpillars that herald the autumn here (since it's obviously bad luck to kill with your board. Smile

)

Anyway - was my longest ride to date, and somehow much more satisfying to do linearly than the loops around lakes ...

I wanna get back and hit it again, but leaves are starting to fall here and I know the path is going to be slippery with leaves and littered with acorns and such ... and then a long cold winter to wait til spring comes, then time to get back into shape etc ... I think I might have to pick up snowboarding this winter as a seasonal cross training. Winter is just too damn long to let my body atrophy ...

LD skater since 1971 · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject:

Very cool rail to trail run . To cure the pivot squeak order some Khiro hard pivot bushing. Stoked skateboards charges only $0.71 cents for shipping on 2 of them. I paid with paypal because the shipping just looked to cheap compaired to what other companies charge.
Here the link:
http://www.stokedskateboards.com/khskpr.html
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Terry

ZapZang · Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 32

huh, I didnt realize they'd fit in a Bennett, cool news cause I already have a couple I think, they came with that Khiro Bushings Kit. Will try, thanks!

Crake · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 17 Location: St. Paul, MN

Wow, that looks like a brilliant trail. I live in St. Paul, and there are tons of trails to get lost on. If ever Im in that neck of the woods Ill be certain to hit that trail. Thanks for the post.

Crake
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http://crake.skatefurther.net/

ZapZang · Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 32

Cool, I'm in Mpls, lemme know if you find anyplace really sweet out your side of the river ... you know, once it's above zero again. Smile

bluebugbuster · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 51

you know, that looks like a trail i would want to hit this summer some time. i live in grand forks, nd. it's a shorter trip than going to the west coast.

heyburt · Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 7 Location: MN

Click to see full size image

Wow - Need to hear about the push down the Cannon Valley Trail. I was out on cross country skis today to do some scouting for a push down the trail in the spring/summer. I have biked it many times, roller bladed but never skated it. Hoping to hold an event on the trail for our group http://www.mnlbc.com

Would be great to hear the full details from someone who has done that already.

One of my photos from today.

ZapZang · Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 32

Sweet, I've been a member of the MNLBC facebook group for awhile now, but never hooked up - (I'm more into the pump than the downhill) - if you guys set it up I spose I'll actually meet you guys.

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

Man I hope you guys get a chance to thaw by mid-March! I snapped a snowy shot on my cel phone yesterday morning but it's not quite as white as Burt's...

Crake · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 17 Location: St. Paul, MN

Yah Im a member of the MNLC facebook thingy too. I havent met up with them ever though, I have a hell of a good time riding alone.
I should probably be more social.
The rain the last couple days has really cleared the snow up here in St. Paul.

Crake