pavedwave longboarding

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

It's really hard to compare the two, since the Randal is a bushing truck. I've been running Seismic S-T rear trucks on my LDP decks since last summer. A couple of months ago I set up one of my decks with a Tracker RT-S just to compare. Although I enjoyed the smooth and quiet feel I just couldn't get it to grip enough, no matter how much I dewedged, or how hard the bushings were. Although I've only been riding the Randal setup for about a week, the traction is more than adequate. It's quite impressive actually. I'm not even using particularly grippy rear wheels and I'm getting all I need. To be fair, I have not tried the Tracker on the Mermaid, only on the Pulse and Slippery Skates LDP decks. I plan to test the Randal DH on my long wheelbase Pulse within the next couple of weeks and can report back.

Ian the Groove Worshipper · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 79 Location: Largo, FL

I've been really curious at how the Skandal performs as well, and super impressed by Stocago's Randal. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that he is running the rear wheels flipped, which makes the hangar roughly equal to a 150mm hangar with non-flipped wheels. I know Barry has a Skandal on one of his slalom setups, too, as well as RandalPink. You guys definitely need to bolt them up to your LDP decks and start a thread in the truck forum with your observations. My initial impressions are that the Randal gets quite a bit more traction than the RTS, and even rivals the Seismic in traction.

The one thing that needs to be considered with the Randal, or any reverse KP truck for that matter is that it puts the axle way closer to the center of the board, thus shortening your effective WB quite a bit and making your board noticeably stiffer. I have been on a "longer WB is better" kick which has prevented me from experimenting further with the Reverse KP trucks, yet I am pretty intrigued with the idea of getting a Cross Step (31.5 & 32.5" WB) to be able to experiment with some reverse KP trucks and have an effective WB of about the same as my Mermaid with the Bennett/Seismic on longest WB.

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

randalz (and gullwing chargers) iz all we used ta ride... i still dig 'em

seelie · Joined: 05 May 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Orlando FL

so...I got the opportunity to buy a used Mermaid and I jumped at it. It's currently en route from the "Great North West." But, I didn't ask what the flex was on the board before I pulled the trigger...I'm an impulsive little bugger! How bad is this, I weigh 165 lbs and the flex is stiff? Recommended setups?

Thanks in advance.

seelie

LDPanda · Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 418 Location: Seattle, WA

I run a very stiff deck for my weight, i think a lot of it is a personal choice. I prefer a stiffer deck for stability on downhill and good top end speed. A flexier deck is a little more comfortable on rough terrain and maybe a little more efficient around the 8-12 mph range (just my opinion). If youre using a bennett up front i dont see that it should be a problem but using a virage or splitfire up front might be more difficult with a very stiff deck. Even so, the mermaid 'stiff' still has a ton of pop and shouldnt feel dead or inflexible under your weight.

Ian the Groove Worshipper · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 79 Location: Largo, FL

Seelie, you'll be pleased to find that even a Stiff Mermaid is pretty flexy, compared to many other boards.

You'll want to squeeze as much actual wheelbase (measured from axle to axle) as you can out of the board given your weight is quite light for a Stiff Mermaid.

I drilled an extra WB in my Mermaid, 1 inch in front of the front truck mounting position. This mimics the Pulse which comes with 2 front mounting options. It worked perfectly, and there is still plenty of real estate for the front foot. I must warn you though that drilling truck holes is not as easy as it looks so measure carefully so they come out evenly.

You'll also want to stay away from reverse kingpin trucks, the Carver CX, Airflows, or Splitfire trucks as they will shorten your actual wheelbase. You need all the WB you can get to squeeze flex out of that board. If you go with a Bennett and Seismic or Tracker setup, you'll have as much WB as possible.

It is amazing how much an inch of WB will add to the flex of this board. I think if you set it up with the custom drilled long WB, a Bennett and a Seismic, you'll have a very fast setup, with good flex too.

seelie · Joined: 05 May 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Orlando FL

great response guys! the board is due in next week, I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

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

I'm pulling a couple quotes off another thread stocago just posted to, some more feedback on Mermaid flex. As noted before, I'm 165 and ride a Light, so my preference for max flex is pretty obvious.