Noob Question on cruising on flats.

[laio]

Guys(noob q here), i bought my 1st longboard last week.

A Landy Wedge-Flex, Colton's Paris, Reds and 7-o's.

today i took it to the beach and started just cruising on the sidewalk. But, i had to push quite a bit, more than i planned.

i took a look at pavedwave, some Pumping things, but anyway, i was just thinking if there is anything else into i, or maybe even my wheels are not spinning that good (is there any video of someone spining a wheel in the air to compare?).

so after today i thought "yeah, i need some hills, at least very small ones" but i would like to enjoy more on flats also.

anyway i did fall down the friggin first time i steppend on it on the beach, go really pissed. but it was just this first time, then i hanged around the beach for about 1 hour and everything went ok. but i'm still pissed, i don't know yet how it happened.

[SundaeSkates]

If you want to pump, try wedging your front truck and de-wedging your back about 10*. Also maybe switch to some 75mm wheels if you don't like pushing a lot. they'll hold their speed and roll over obstacles better. On the off chance you got sand in your bearing, and that's hindering your spin, give em a cleaning (check out post 6). Also something to consider is that if you're not running spacers your nuts might be too tight.

[rollinmukti]

Practice makes it better. I get better at it all the time and look forward to continued improvement.

When I push, I shift my weight back, turn my now unweighted front foot towards the front, squat down on my front foot, kick one or more times with my back foot, put the back foot back on the board, shift my weight to the back foot, reposition the front foot sideways, even out the weight. Each step has to be smooth and can rob momentum when it is not.

Key is trying to stay relaxed and ballanced, so you are not wobbling or making an unintended carve, and focused pushing. Ballance comes with skating. You can also practice standing on one foot when you are waiting in line, doing onelegged squats or using a variety of ballance trainers. When you push, try to focus the push most, if not all, of your force is directed straight back, instead of to the side or down into the ground. I find myself kind of pushing my front foot forward at the same time my rear foot pushes back. I have seen some people post that they roll their foot, heel to toe, along the ground but my pushes seem more efficient when just the toes hit the ground. If your foot hits the ground on the heel in front of your center of gravity, you would be braking for a split second before you push. That is why sprinters run on their toes and their feet hit the ground behind them.

If you use the search function, you will likely find better answers than mine from more experienced skaters.

[laio]

Practice makes it better. I get better at it all the time and look forward to continued improvement.

When I push, I shift my weight back, turn my now unweighted front foot towards the front, squat down on my front foot, kick one or more times with my back foot, put the back foot back on the board, shift my weight to the back foot, reposition the front foot sideways, even out the weight. Each step has to be smooth and can rob momentum when it is not.

Key is trying to stay relaxed and ballanced, so you are not wobbling or making an unintended carve, and focused pushing. Ballance comes with skating. You can also practice standing on one foot when you are waiting in line, doing onelegged squats or using a variety of ballance trainers. When you push, try to focus the push most, if not all, of your force is directed straight back, instead of to the side or down into the ground. I find myself kind of pushing my front foot forward at the same time my rear foot pushes back. I have seen some people post that they roll their foot, heel to toe, along the ground but my pushes seem more efficient when just the toes hit the ground. If your foot hits the ground on the heel in front of your center of gravity, you would be braking for a split second before you push. That is why sprinters run on their toes and their feet hit the ground behind them.

If you use the search function, you will likely find better answers than mine from more experienced skaters.

That's exactly what saw happening, the "split seond break before the push", i surely need to get better pushing skills. but i already do that thing of put the front foot straight while pushing, but i def need to unweight more the foot that i leave on the board and concentrate on really pushing...

If you want to pump, try wedging your front truck and de-wedging your back about 10*. Also maybe switch to some 75mm wheels if you don't like pushing a lot. they'll hold their speed and roll over obstacles better. On the off chance you got sand in your bearing, and that's hindering your spin, give em a cleaning (check out post 6). Also something to consider is that if you're not running spacers your nuts might be too tight.

i will check about the spacers... but i also think 75mm wheels i guess i would get wheelbit from my board.

i will check the cleaning stuff also! thx a lot.

i of course will keep on pushing, it is still fun even doing it awkwardly.

[macdad]

In addition to checking your nuts and getting some practice, I find that bearings need to be broken in over a session or two before I get that endless spin effect.

[laio]

In addition to checking your nuts and getting some practice, I find that bearings need to be broken in over a session or two before I get that endless spin effect.

that would be great to be true on my case!

[dhk33]

that would be great to be true on my case!

developing confidence and good pushing skills takes some time. everyone does it a little bit differently. hang in there, once you get it youll be fine. just try not to get frustrated

[laio]

[Bryant@BCLongboards]

In addition to checking your nuts and getting some practice, I find that bearings need to be broken in over a session or two before I get that endless spin effect.

Macdad that is one hell of a pic you got! +1 rep for you sir!

[GKK]

You should use bearing spacers in between each wheels bearings as mentioned previously. They position the bearings perfectly on the axle shaft and you can tighten the nut without affecting the wheel speed.

Most skateboard shops will have the bearing spacers and they might even give them to you for free. Also, use high quality wheel bearings which will greatly improve your wheel speed.

I would stick with the 78A durometer if you're also, planning on riding on the street as a harder durometer will slow you down on rough pavement.

[roadrashwizard]

Gave up after only 30 min cuz ur muscles burned!? Weaksauce is all i gotta say about that.

What i found to help me in the pushing department is to not even put the back foot back on the board after the push. Instead, i just let it hang off the side and i ride one footed. Then when its time to push again, my foots right there, no picking the foot up off the board and yada yada. This will really help with your balance plus you can tweak your one footed skillz! Sometimes i will go down a hill in a tuck and stick my backfoot straight back and ride one footed, straight gaper style

[laio]

Gave up after only 30 min cuz ur muscles burned!? Weaksauce is all i gotta say about that.

What i found to help me in the pushing department is to not even put the back foot back on the board after the push. Instead, i just let it hang off the side and i ride one footed. Then when its time to push again, my foots right there, no picking the foot up off the board and yada yada. This will really help with your balance plus you can tweak your one footed skillz! Sometimes i will go down a hill in a tuck and stick my backfoot straight back and ride one footed, straight gaper style\/\/

last time i spent one hour and a half pushing, and strangely, i felt some very specific parts of my foot and leg sore (a single calf part, not the whole of it, and some tendons that connect the smaller toes). today it just burned in no time.
I go to the gym everyday, and often lift a heavier weight than my own weight when trainning. i know it's just a snap to get orthopedic problems if you don't go slow(i have some knee problems). it can show up as cronic pain and as weak tendons that will strain easily. I'd rather go slow on this one.


And i really don't have bearing spacers, i will look for some, i saw a shop nearby who had one sector nine and one Brazillian Made longboard (that looked very strange) maybe they have it (i know Crail sell a kit of spacers for 8mm axels)

Bearings are bones Reds, it's not super but seem to work great for me.

Thanks a lot for help!

[Bookworm]

reds are great.

[R]

In addition to checking your nuts and getting some practice, I find that bearings need to be broken in over a session or two before I get that endless spin effect.

I have nothing to add right now cuz I'm laughing at this guy's avatar!

[beef]

last time i spent one hour and a half pushing, and strangely, i felt some very specific parts of my foot and leg sore (a single calf part, not the whole of it, and some tendons that connect the smaller toes). today it just burned in no time.
I go to the gym everyday, and often lift a heavier weight than my own weight when trainning. i know it's just a snap to get orthopedic problems if you don't go slow(i have some knee problems). it can show up as cronic pain and as weak tendons that will strain easily. I'd rather go slow on this one.


And i really don't have bearing spacers, i will look for some, i saw a shop nearby who had one sector nine and one Brazillian Made longboard (that looked very strange) maybe they have it (i know Crail sell a kit of spacers for 8mm axels)

Bearings are bones Reds, it's not super but seem to work great for me.

Thanks a lot for help!

reds are great, just make sure you use your lube.

[vntripper]

Guys(noob q here), i bought my 1st longboard last week.



today i took it to the beach and started just cruising on the sidewalk. But, i had to push quite a bit, more than i planned.

i was just thinking if there is anything else into i, or maybe even my wheels are not spinning that good (is there any video of someone spining a wheel in the air to compare?).

so after today i thought "yeah, i need some hills, at least very small ones" but i would like to enjoy more on flats also.

anyway i did fall down the friggin first time i steppend on it on the beach, go really pissed. but it was just this first time, then i hanged around the beach for about 1 hour and everything went ok. but i'm still pissed, i don't know yet how it happened.

hahahaha, are you kidding me? you're such an idiot noob, i don't even think that a little kid would have as many problems as you riding a friggin longboard

[Blix]

hahahaha, are you kidding me? you're such an idiot noob, i don't even think that a little kid would have as many problems as you riding a friggin longboard

[laio]

hahahaha, are you kidding me? you're such an idiot noob, i don't even think that a little kid would have as many problems as you riding a friggin longboard

yeah probably not...

nice post btw!

Oh btw, got the spacers. gonna put them later and try out.