Thanks to all of the people that post regularly in this thread and the set up thread, hearing others opinions is helpful, and entertaining. BMC, and Clamy, you are correct: I am crazy. These several threads help me to look slightly less crazy at the local shop, as I can read up here, and not ask the shop guys about anything more than width (shop I go to is super rad, they have just watched me mumbling to myself as I measure multiple boards only to stalk out of there with nothing/or everything to no effect on my skating. Thanks again for the info and laughs (fang: I bought ventures for a set up for exactly the same reason awhile back...I had to drive around to some not legit shops and buy some hideous p-rod colorway that I've tried to scrape off...couldn't put the board together with the 'incorrect' truck, embarrassing)
I understand your pain. Part of my Venture choice is nostalgia. When Independent went to Stage 9, I freaked out, I STILL don't like the shaved down hanger. I skated Indys almost exclusively from 86-03 (except for a few months on those glorious Venture featherlights in the BPSW era and the early Royals in 1999 or 2000 for a few months). Anyway, I watched the filming of my friends and I around this time, and saw all of my "best" stuff, I was using Ventures. (My answer to stage 9 was to use Venture Lo's) So, that, combined with my sick obsession with Girl Goldfish and Mouse, made me buy some Ventures. And I am enjoying them/skating better on these than I have on Indys in a long time.
But my OCD/anxiety also have me questioning "What are
MY trucks?". I have all these Indy hoodies/posters/t-shirts etc due to my former loyalty. I just can't skate them the way I did prior to stage 9 (and they're two stages past that). I am pretty aware that it is all in my head, but that doesn't make it any better. When I'm not skating good, I'll curse the individual that changed the Indy hanger.
I've fumbled back and forth for 13 years here. Hence, my Thunders info thread. I guess I am a commitment-phobe. I am totally enjoying these Ventures, but I am pretty curious about those Thunders, and oddly the Hi's (as I mentioned in that thread, I've always used standard Indys, but in any other brand - lows always, AND I don't know why at all). It's sort of like, I broke up with a girl and I'm trying to find my new one, but there's a few varieties and I'm scared to commit! I'm like "Indy ... I miss your big hanger, you hurt me". And "Venture, we are pretty good together, indeed." And "But Thunder, you look like we could hook up...soon." And even "But alas, those newer Royals look enticing too". (P.S. My Royal curiosity is based on the fact that all those guys skated Ventures [and even Thunders prior] in their heyday, so my assumption is that they're pretty similar or based almost exclusively off them).
I actually spend a lot of the down time at my job, going through these phrases:
"Dude, you know you'll go back to Indys eventually..."
"No! I cannot kickflip the same with thy shaven hanger!"
"Yes, these Ventures are skating good, just enjoy them, it's the right choice!"
"But those Thunders, maybe... they could be the ones, look at that team list too, whoa" (yes sometimes I think about that)
"Royals.... Mariano, Carroll, Rudy.... those are your dudes, they MUST be the ones"
And then I have a different "this is REALLY my decision" every day of the week. I suppose part of it, is I used to use the same setup for years. Alien Workshop 7.625 with Indy 126s, Shorty's 7/8" , Swiss and Spitfire Bighead 52's. For soooo long. And I'm still trying to get used to wider boards (I don't get to skate much, I have a 2 year old, wife and 2 dogs that need 99.9% of my attention). Trying to find the "me" setup. I skate Girl decks mostly now (I am a 100% sufferer of nostalgia and not letting go of eras), as I don't feel connected to the newer brands. I didn't grow up "with" these guys/brands so I'm like "I fear change" on all of that. I also didn't conform to the highwater/tight pants of the last 10 years, so I'm out of the fashion loop too. Part of me is trying to shake things up to battle my OCD, so trying to go wider/different trucks. I just rambled about nothing for 15 minutes.
I tend to go to my shop for the last 3 years and be not interested in the newer stuff, then out of guilt, buy a few stickers or a cheap dvd to make the exit safely. (I one time bought some Bones bushings that I never wanted just to get the hell out of there without just going "Uh...well...see ya"). Or just keep doing the rounds, looking at things I have no intention of buying until another customer comes in and gets attention, so I can sneak out of there undetected. How are those P-Rods working for you?