pavedwave longboarding

fuzzydeer · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 66

I have always loved LDP but I have yet to justify using it in lieu of wearing running shoes and pushing really really fast.
I know technique has something to do with it. My technique is the bastard child of the pumping style of tight slalom and the short - long distance wigglings on my downhill racing boards (like 1 kilometer max usually). I even did a few hours crossing south america LDP style! I toss the baby quite a lot. It's how I pump most of the time. but I find bouncing more helps a bit when at higher speeds.
I've been watching the videos and I am trying to adopt a more efficient and faster rolling style.
Now the real question is with my gear!

I am using a Rayne timeline made of aspen wood (recycled snowboard core with fiberglass, the wheels mounts are about 28 inches apart) its very flexy and rather short. I really like the boards feel with the rare aspen material.

I use Bennett 6.O's
15* wedge in the front
a 15* de-wedge in the back (I though it felt faster then a ten degree de-wedge)

for bushings I am running a blue venom conical in the front on the top and a khiro orange cone and white barrel in the base.
for my back trucks bushings I run a tall blue venom conical with some spacers as the base and a yellow 85a venom barrel on the top.
The bushings are lively as hell, tons of rebound, and they are soft. Blue venoms are 78a I think, the softest venoms, yellows are 85a.

My wheels are Plasma wheels, 7Omm pocket pistols slalom racing wheel but with a very orangatang esque style urethane.
: I want to get some blue black ops avilas as my next wheel for LDP.

What can be changed to turn my 13 mph into 17? I am very fit that is not an issue. Is it all technique or is my wheelbase too short?
Could I de-wedge the nose a little, possibly running only 1O*? is the tail over wedged?

Another possible problem I have is that I almost HAVE to ride Rayne longboards as I am sponsored by them... I can ride other boards but I can't use them in races or at ultra skates (I hope I make next years)

Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks a lot, much love from Canada,
-Paul Kent

fuzzydeer · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 66

I'm not at all concerned with pumping up hills. I just want to fastest top end speed I can get pumping on flat ground. I can push uphill like the dickens! I have never been beaten up a hill by anyone not even Robskey. I'll just push. I want my rig to be dialed for fast flat land pumping. most of my local terrain is flat with the exception of the nearby rocky mountains. 9 percent of the hills I encounter I could simply roll up if I can gain enough speed before hand.

fuzzydeer · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 66

Oh one more tidbit, I am 165 and I will be 155 by the time rogue race happens. (my weight follows my training phases)

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

You're limited by the shorter wheelbase (26.5"), but you can tweak the setup. Less wedging is a good start as that deck is flexing you past 15 degrees. My flexy Mermaid has only 8 degrees of wedging in front.

If you're using a Bennett in back, maybe try a dedicated rear truck like a Seismic Stable-Turn as that will maximize your wheelbase.

My first makeshift LDP deck was a topmounted Hustler (28.5" wheelbase). I don't know much about the Rayne line, but I'm sure you can find something that can work.

fuzzydeer · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 66

I can make a board out of a pug (one of raynes boards) with longer holes drilled in it, its actually the same mould as the hustler but it has less taper and its a top mount.
I'll keep practicing and I'll try to squeeze what I can from the timeline then in a month or so I'll get a longer board.
What wheel base would you recommend? what are the fastest guys using?

Would you say the wheelbase is my biggest problem?
is my speed of 22.5 kph or 14 miles per hour is respectable with my current board setup?

I have only been riding a board wedge for proper LDP for 2 days now. I think I have the rudementry technique kinda figured out but I am definitely clumsy. everything else has been either unwedged trucks, Tight slalom setups, or downhill stuff.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

I think a longer wheelbase is worth an extra MPH or two, depending on the setup. It's usually harder to get going with a longer wheelbase, but I don't think it's harder once you get up to speed. It's definitely a higher gear.

Depending on how much your deck is flexing, that could also affect the top speed. A flexy deck is not necessarily slow, but it could be taking away some power from your pump.

I'm not sure how you determined your speed, but keep experimenting and tweaking your setup to get the best out of it. A set measured course and stopwatch is the best way to compare.

Your speed of 14 mph is definitely respectable. Maybe 16 mph is attainable on that setup for short bursts. Many say that they can pump @20, but if it's accurate it's either wind or grade aided. I"d say 17-18 mph is the highest attainable speed on the flat with no wind benefit and 16-17 mph is probably the highest sustainable speed for most people with the current setups. With experimentation of new equipment and new riders to LDP coming out and testing themselves the speeds will increase.

fuzzydeer · Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 66

My gps is pretty darn accurate. The new forerunner is equal to the edge. I also have the distances between obstacles on my local pathways figured out so I can referance. I also check stuff on motion base which corrects it.

I plan on trying out the concrete velodrome in the area soon too!

Thanks a lot for your advice.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227

My fastest setup is almost 34" from axle to axle. I'm giving you that measurement because from baseplate to baseplate it can vary depending on the wedging and truck style. My favorite "go-to" deck for all-around LDP comes in almost three inches shorter from axle to axle, even though the decks are almost identical in length. I'd say it's worth about 2MPH top end speed.

RiPPer · Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 53

stocago what are the decks you referenced above? How many LDP set ups do you have and what are they?

fuzzydeer you might want to try the Rayne Vice as an LDP set up. I know Erin used to use a Vice. Also maybe just keep experimenting with
wedging/dewedging and bushing combos. How much do you weigh?
I think your bushings might be on the soft side, particularly in the back.
I think you'd get more speed and power out of more stable less turny rear truck also. Either the seismic as stocago mentioned, or a tracker rt-s, randal 125 or airflow. Or maybe Virages LDP's.

The specs are close to the Roe Mermaid LDP, although I'm sure the feel of the board is quite different.

Rayne Vice Specs:
Length: 40" (101.5cm), Width: 9.5" (24.1cm), Wheelbase: 28", Center Camber, Light Concave

Paved Wave Gear Page Deck Recommendations:

* A deck that is wide enough in the nose to enable the full width of your foot, to transfer more subtle movements directly over and down into the front truck's pivot

* A wheelbase in the range between 26" to 31".

* Some degree of subtle flex in the board. Not a soft noodle, and not stiff as a rock.

stocago · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 227