pavedwave longboarding

LovethePump · Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 15

Would love to meet up with some like-minded local pumpers. But it seems like everyone who's anyone in this community is on the left coast. Hoping that someone will prove me wrong--Be in touch!

P.S. If you're within Greyhound-bus-range of the DC metro and want to ride, I can come to you, too.

Nam · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 16

I have a skate crew down here in Southern Maryland (check out the website) which is, unfortunately, outside the DC Metro area. We try to have weekly sessions with many beginners in addition to our veterans. Ah, but before you go assuming, it's not a distance-dedicated group. It's a general longboarding club. Distance riding is my favorite discipline though, and I've been meaning to get out and find some good trails. Drop me a line, and we'll see if you can't come down for a session or two.

There's a pretty nice place to ride called the Millennium Trail in Rockville, MD. It's a 10.6 mile trail that opened a couple of years ago. Nice and wide, smooth pavement, and when I've gone, hardly any pedestrians.

You may also want to hit up the East Coast Board Co in Northern Virginia. Over the summer, I know a bunch of them do weekend sessions Friday and Saturday nights. From my assumptions, a bunch of them still ride, but it's not as formalized. If you're near the Tyson's Corner area, it'll be worth swinging by and asking them. They're a great group.
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peppermint rhino · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Posts: 57

I'm from the Annapolis Area and I'm trying to learn I'll hit u up sometime. Where would we go to board though?

scooterdad · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

Have you tried the B and A Trail yet? That should be pretty close to you.

Nam · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 16

The college is about an hour away from Annapolis. Basically, follow 2, 4, 235, 5, and you're there. We're currently working out some internal issues with our leaders graduating, etc. I've been told about a flat bike trail nearby, and will let you guys know if it turns out to be good for LDP.

Where's B and A Trail?
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scooterdad · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:04 am Post subject:

Nam,

Here's a link to a descriptive site.

http://www.traillink.com/ViewTrail.aspx?AcctID=6016034

I have only been on a short stretch of the trail when I was test riding a bike there last fall (I know boo..hiss...) The short section I did was pretty sweet. Someday I'd like to start early and go the lengthof the trail then tie into the BWI loop for a 36 mile trip.

The cross island trail is nice (on Kent Island) but is only about five miles long. Here is a link of many rail trails in Maryland. I'd be curious about other local trails that may not be on the list, such as the Millenium Trail you mentioned.

http://www.traillink.com/TrailSea...px?tn=&st=MD&ct=&sp=N

LovethePump · Joined: 06 Oct 2008 Posts: 15

With a little under a month to go before Ultraskate VI, the DC/MD/VA LDP contingent kicked off practice with a sweet 42 mile ride around the Baltimore-Washington International Airport and the Baltimore & Annapolis trails.

It took us about 4 hours in sum, which means we were averaging about 10 miles an hour.

For me, it was the furthest I've ever gone by my own power in one session. A marathon and a half ain't bad!

Charlie on the left and Scooterdad on the right. Notably, Scooterdad's introduction to longboarding was LDP. Before discovering Pavedwave, he was a long-distance runner! Charlie has been skating since he was a pup!

There's me on the left, with Charlie and Scooterdad. I've been skating since I was a young Cali kid, too, starting out on Gravity boards, riding Loaded in my college days, and today using any number of my way-too-many boards to go to ride to work/pick up groceries/etc. out here in D.C. I've got a Mermaid in my hand but you can't see it. Major props to Pavedwave for introducing me to this radically new way to approach longboarding and distance travel!

If you're in the area and want to ride with us come March 21, PM me!

930chas · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 7

Zach, nice write-up. It was great meeting you Thursday, and definitely a fun trip. Really looking forward to March 21st!! I also have to give big big props to Landy, aka scooterdad, for pumping/pushing 42 miles with a broken big toe. That is dedication.

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

How did I miss this! Great shots of the crew and trail. Just stoked to see you guys out there charging it, and the running-skating crossover. I'm sure the sight of you cranking down the path must stop some people right in their tracks!

That toe has gotta toss a challenge in, it's tough enough just keeping your feet happy in general when you get past 2-3 hours on foot or board.

Also did a 40-something miler here Saturday in parallel with you, and gotta admit, I did feel it a bit the following day. Biking is keeping up my cardio nicely but the muscles are insanely different. Might just have to do more rain-skating again after all. Topped off the ride here on a carbo-load trip to the brewery with 'Panda' Dave, and I think that may just have to become a tradition.

Cheers fellas, looking forward to the daylight savings time just around the corner I'll bet!

scooterdad · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:25 am Post subject:

Good thing we got that ride in when we did, as this is the scene today...

One thing that was very different from long distance running, is that I felt able to eat a lot and continue riding soon afterwards. We stopped a little more than halfway through the ride to eat at a Mexican restaurant, and I enjoyed a full combination plate, plenty of chips and salsa and two large Cokes. No messing around with energy gels and cliff bars! When we got back on the boards to ride there wasn't the sloshing up and down that comes with running on a full stomach. I can get used to that!

My toe hurt a bunch, but not as much as my forward foot(left) thigh and the right side of my lower back. There was way more pushing involved than I am used to due to some significant hills, notably some steep overpasses to cross major roads. I can hardly push at all regular, let alone with the other foot, so that is something I need to work on over time.

It was a good time, and hopefully a sign of good times to come on future outings and Ultraskate. Now if only the snow would melt quickly so we can get back at it. Wink