Ideas for a pegless luge

**bpz** · 06-16-2006 08:57 PM

Yeah, so I'm intrigued by it all and I want to build a woody. My buddy who originally got me into longboarding built a "luge" a few years back, it was some super shady wood screwed together riding on the crappy trucks that S9 sells with their completes. He had tons of fun on it and wants to work on a decent one with me that we can ride.

We're about the same size, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds.

I think I'm going to go with the traditional rail design, but go pegless because I've heard good things and because transportation is an issue. I plan on following the woody directions at Lugeforce with a few modifications.

I'm hoping to end with a luge that looks like this...

http://lugeforce.tripod.com/assets/images/woodlg.jpg

...except:

1. Go pegless - chop everything in front of the front truck off.
2. Beefier seat, a more rectangle-like shape.
3. Carry the seat up the front gusset at a 45 degree angle, and put a bit of plywood over the front truck. This is so I have something to rest my thighs on and make up for the lack of pegs.

Is there anything wrong with my idea for "continuing the seat" and putting some thigh supports over the front truck? In the picture above, it seems like there would be no support for your legs once you chop off the front rail.

I have the design all in my head and figured I should pick up some 2x4 and plywood and just go for it. I was considering sketching everything out in Adobe Illustrator, but if I go slowly and keep Lott's Survival Guide around, I figure I'll do alright working from my head.

Should I go with Randal 180s or Indy 215s? I want to mess around with double trucks in the front eventually, but I'm not sure where a good place to start would be. Are 70mm wheels like Grippins or Flashbacks good for luge, or only buttboarding? Should I just mess around with the 78a Gumballs I have on one of my other boards?

Feedback? Ideas? Suggestions?

**WalkTogether** · 06-16-2006 08:59 PM

Tripod and Angelfire don't allow direct linking.

**skatardude10** · 06-16-2006 09:08 PM

That is exactly what I did. I didnt make the extended seat pan up the gausets... It would seem to me like that would get in your way a bit. The plywook over the trucks to support your thighs is a must. It works great for me.

**bpz** · 06-16-2006 09:09 PM

Tried to fix it.

**bpz** · 06-16-2006 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by skatardude10

That is exactly what I did. I didnt make the extended seat pan up the gausets... It would seem to me like that would get in your way a bit. The plywook over the trucks to support your thighs is a must. It works great for me.

Picture this: you take the plywood that's over the front truck, and the plywood that makes the seatpan, and kind of connect them with another piece of plywood that lays at 45 degrees over the gusset. I think it'd look silly with a piece of plywood just laying over the front truck. I'll definitely experiment with shapes and ideas while building, though.

Did you use wood screws or bolts? I'm not sure which would be safer. Just want some general feedback on stuff like that to make sure I do it right.

**Bushman** · 06-16-2006 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by Sofa King

Picture this: you take the plywood that's over the front truck, and the plywood that makes the seatpan, and kind of connect them with another piece of plywood that lays at 45 degrees over the gusset. I think it'd look silly with a piece of plywood just laying over the front truck. I'll definitely experiment with shapes and ideas while building, though.

Did you use wood screws or bolts? I'm not sure which would be safer. Just want some general feedback on stuff like that to make sure I do it right.

i would personally use very high qaulity bolts, washers under the bolt heads, nylock nuts (and loctite) and washers under the nuts.

looks good, got your PM, just DO IT!!!!

**ToxicBro3** · 06-16-2006 10:26 PM

Sounds like you have a good plan going.

You deffinately want to use wheels bigger than 70mm for luge. Gumballs are good but I prefer flywheels. Im lighter, 150lbs and didnt like the way the gumballs get up to speed. I think 83mm flys are the best for luge IMHO.

**bpz** · 06-17-2006 09:09 AM

I have some 83mm 75a Fly's on one of my speedboards. Also have the Gumballs, some 76mm GOS, and 77mm Strikers. My buddy has a crapload of DH wheels as well, we probably won't even have to buy a set if we don't get super into it. I'll be sure we try 76mm's and up.

Any opinions on Indy's vs Randals? We also have craploads of Randal trucks, which means if we ever wanted to 6 or 8 wheel it up, we'd have extra baseplates and hangers. Might have to get some RII's just to check out the new baseplates MHMark has.

**ToxicBro3** · 06-17-2006 05:12 PM

Well if you have some cash and can afford Randal luge trucks, go for it it. If not, RIIs or Indys are fine for what you are doing. I know that some people run RIIs on their sleds and they work just fine. If you run RII's youll probably want to run some harder bushings .

Post up some pics when you get it done.

**sean c** · 06-18-2006 12:39 PM

If i had to build my first luge all over again knowing what i know now, i would use these http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...umber=081-1075 instead of washers and nuts for everything (except the trucks of course).

there's nothing wrong for your idea of a fender over the wheels, just watch for wheel rub. you may need to sand in some wheel wells.

good luck and be safe.

sean c