Gear madness support thread

[Sedition]

Ugh. My madness has returned. I had it quelled for quite awhile, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Skated vert ramp a few weeks ago for the first time in awhile. It made me want to start skating bigger transition again, but felt like my 8.25/144s was way too small for that. Set up an 8.75/159s...but then found there were a few street things I loved on the 8.75 that suddenly seemed harder on the 8.25 (e.g. Smith grinds). The madness came rushing back in, and now I have no idea what kind of skateboard I like any more.

Moral: Stay away from vert ramps, as they only bring on existential despair, gear alienation, and more inane "madness" Slap posts.

[LebowskisRug]

What id do is just always bring 2 boards and when you wanna do smiths just tell ur friends you have to run to your car and get your smith board and then do one and then run back to get ur regular one.

[rocklobster]

Ugh. My madness has returned. I had it quelled for quite awhile, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Skated vert ramp a few weeks ago for the first time in awhile. It made me want to start skating bigger transition again, but felt like my 8.25/144s was way too small for that. Set up an 8.75/159s...but then found there were a few street things I loved on the 8.75 that suddenly seemed harder on the 8.25 (e.g. Smith grinds). The madness came rushing back in, and now I have no idea what kind of skateboard I like any more.

Moral: Stay away from vert ramps, as they only bring on existential despair, gear alienation, and more inane "madness" Slap posts.

Or: middle ground 8.5 setup?

[Schinken]

Ugh. My madness has returned. I had it quelled for quite awhile, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Skated vert ramp a few weeks ago for the first time in awhile. It made me want to start skating bigger transition again, but felt like my 8.25/144s was way too small for that. Set up an 8.75/159s...but then found there were a few street things I loved on the 8.75 that suddenly seemed harder on the 8.25 (e.g. Smith grinds). The madness came rushing back in, and now I have no idea what kind of skateboard I like any more.

Moral: Stay away from vert ramps, as they only bring on existential despair, gear alienation, and more inane "madness" Slap posts.

Almost the same situation for me. I've been riding 8.25 for the last 5 months. Recently I've skated a mini vert ramp and rode my 8.6 again. Afterwards madness creeped in and I tried several different setups. From venture to ace to Indy to thunder then back to venture... It got to the point that I have to get used to a different setup almost every session and nothing felt right.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I disassembled every setup(except rain/cruiser setup), grabbed myself a medium steep 8.38 with 14.5wb and put some ventures with 56 f4 radial fulls on it. I can see it's slightly hot rodding but I don't want to measure if it's 5.8 or 6.1

I hope I'm done with madness

[SaySo]

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Ugh. My madness has returned. I had it quelled for quite awhile, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Skated vert ramp a few weeks ago for the first time in awhile. It made me want to start skating bigger transition again, but felt like my 8.25/144s was way too small for that. Set up an 8.75/159s...but then found there were a few street things I loved on the 8.75 that suddenly seemed harder on the 8.25 (e.g. Smith grinds). The madness came rushing back in, and now I have no idea what kind of skateboard I like any more.

Moral: Stay away from vert ramps, as they only bring on existential despair, gear alienation, and more inane "madness" Slap posts.

[close]

Almost the same situation for me. I've been riding 8.25 for the last 5 months. Recently I've skated a mini vert ramp and rode my 8.6 again. Afterwards madness creeped in and I tried several different setups. From venture to ace to Indy to thunder then back to venture... It got to the point that I have to get used to a different setup almost every session and nothing felt right.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I disassembled every setup(except rain/cruiser setup), grabbed myself a medium steep 8.38 with 14.5wb and put some ventures with 56 f4 radial fulls on it. I can see it's slightly hot rodding but I don't want to measure if it's 5.8 or 6.1

I hope I'm done with madness

Sadly, I don't think most of us are ever truly "done."

...we just go through periods of remission...

[rocklobster]

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Ugh. My madness has returned. I had it quelled for quite awhile, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Skated vert ramp a few weeks ago for the first time in awhile. It made me want to start skating bigger transition again, but felt like my 8.25/144s was way too small for that. Set up an 8.75/159s...but then found there were a few street things I loved on the 8.75 that suddenly seemed harder on the 8.25 (e.g. Smith grinds). The madness came rushing back in, and now I have no idea what kind of skateboard I like any more.

Moral: Stay away from vert ramps, as they only bring on existential despair, gear alienation, and more inane "madness" Slap posts.

[close]

Almost the same situation for me. I've been riding 8.25 for the last 5 months. Recently I've skated a mini vert ramp and rode my 8.6 again. Afterwards madness creeped in and I tried several different setups. From venture to ace to Indy to thunder then back to venture... It got to the point that I have to get used to a different setup almost every session and nothing felt right.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I disassembled every setup(except rain/cruiser setup), grabbed myself a medium steep 8.38 with 14.5wb and put some ventures with 56 f4 radial fulls on it. I can see it's slightly hot rodding but I don't want to measure if it's 5.8 or 6.1

I hope I'm done with madness

[close]

Sadly, I don't think most of us are ever truly "done."

...we just go through periods of remission...

[Ride it to dust]

Truck madness is creeping back a little….
Im on Thunder 148 team hollows at the moment but i’m thinking of sizing up to 149 standards for a bit more grind space. Mainly skate 8.25/ 8.375 with the occasional 8.5 thrown in if im feeling saucy. Always 14.25 wb but would maybe like to increase this slightly to accomodate long legs.
Is there much difference in weight between those two trucks feeling wise? Aware its only like 30 grams or something but also aware it can feel more on a lever, especially with the increase in wb of Thunders

[LebowskisRug]

Funny you bring that up. I just did the same Thunder swap. I ride 8.38 mostly with the DLX 8.25 (measures 8.38) thrown in. I figured why not be on 149? More grind space is real. I switched from worn down 54 Classic Fulls (34 wide, 24 contact patch) to 52 Classics (31 wide, 17 contact patch) and there is about 1/4" more per side.

Unfortunately I did lose some flip trick consistency recently and now I'm blaming the truck switch. Objectively speaking I noticed zero increase in stability/wheelbite/turning. I think crooks pinch a little easier.

[LebowskisRug]

My recent madness was I stupidly impulse bought a Girl 8.375x14.4 deck I had been wanting to try. Nearly the same measurements I ride. Rode it the other day and hated it. Couldn't figure out why it felt so massive and long.

I own contour gauges (thinks Schmidt uses on the 9 club) to make symmetrical woodworking projects. Put one on each kick and measured distance between to measure the total flat. 21.875in. Then I did that on my 8.38/14.5 DLX and 8.38 BBS go to. The former was 20.8 and latter 20.75.

So each kick has .5" more flat before the kick then a steep kick. Flat concave means no real pocket.

Setup an Alltimers 8.38 I got on sale and just not willing to put up with the learning curve yet.

[IpathCats]

Truck madness is creeping back a little….
Im on Thunder 148 team hollows at the moment but i’m thinking of sizing up to 149 standards for a bit more grind space. Mainly skate 8.25/ 8.375 with the occasional 8.5 thrown in if im feeling saucy. Always 14.25 wb but would maybe like to increase this slightly to accomodate long legs.
Is there much difference in weight between those two trucks feeling wise? Aware its only like 30 grams or something but also aware it can feel more on a lever, especially with the increase in wb of Thunders

If you increase your WB, truck width, and truck weight at the same time and you have enough madness to be posting in this thread, you're def gonna notice it. Why not get 149 team hollows? Or 149 hollow lights with 1/16" risers? Lot's of people ride 8.25 with 149s, but personally i dont like it, I want at least 8.375/8.38

As a tall skater, I deff recommend a longer wb though. I'm 6' 4" and never skating under 14.5 again, I have one last dlx twin with a 14.4 wb left that might be the exception if i dont sell/trade it. I rode someones AH BA peacock deck with the 15" wb and it felt SO GOOD, until i tried to 360 flip it or anything that flipped and spun at the same time.

[Ride it to dust]

Thanks @Lebowskisrug & @Ipathcats, lots of food for thought to mull over. No doubt i will be back here soon 😂

[IpathCats]

Thanks @LebowskisRug & @IpathCats, lots of food for thought to mull over. No doubt i will be back here soon 😂

We are here for you in the madness support thread. We know your pain, I'm currently in a remission stage, feeling completely content with my setup, we'll see how long that lasts.

I would be curious to try thunders on a 14.5 wb, but i just had a bout with thunders and hated the wheelbite/bushings/grind (vs indys) and I never quite conquered adjusting my nose/tailslide technique to compensate for the short baseplate. So i really dont think I'll be going down that road.

After years of bushing madness in all trucks, I'm never riding anything other than stock bushings or something harder/softer from the same brand as the truck. Which almost completely rules thunders out, because their bushings are so bad (blow out fast AF). Mixing duros/brands, sanding bushings, and mixing washers was like peak madness for me, I was all fucked up. not doing that again.

[Ride it to dust]

Dont blame you, sounds like a trip!
Ive been very fortunate with bushings, had the same stock whites that came in the 148’s from new and although each side is stripped from the top washer they feel great

[IpathCats]

Dont blame you, sounds like a trip!
Ive been very fortunate with bushings, had the same stock whites that came in the 148’s from new and although each side is stripped from the top washer they feel great

When i was on those thunders i mentioned previously the bushings started going almost immediately  but i rode them for a few weeks until they really blew out. I got thunder replacements and literally cracked the rear bottom bushing completely through from top to bottom on the first session. Junk.

[Ride it to dust]

Im 6ft but pretty skinny and light , (like 10 1/2 stone) so dont know if that plays any part in it. Ride them..medium i’d say. I mean, i can turn relatively easily without having to tic tac. It has been on my mind what i’d do if they blow before the hangers axle. Dont wanna enter the vortex of shaving/sanding down cones

[LebowskisRug]

Ya I'm 6 foot 3, 163lb, and ride Thunder stock bushings flush. I have ridden Thunder most of my life and never blown out a bottom bushing. I've cracked a couple tops from tons of slappy pinch variations but DLX just sends replacements. Thunders are the best stock bushings for me. The new Indy stocks are noticeably softer and too soft for me. Venture tops don't last unless I put in a flat top.

Thunder on 14.5 feels just as nimble and easy to flip as Indy standard on the same. I love nose manuals on that setup they're super easy and stable. Any 14.5 I have to skate faster but the effective WB arguments don't play out for me.

[IpathCats]

Im 6ft but pretty skinny and light , (like 10 1/2 stone) so dont know if that plays any part in it. Ride them..medium i’d say. I mean, i can turn relatively easily without having to tic tac. It has been on my mind what i’d do if they blow before the hangers axle. Dont wanna enter the vortex of shaving/sanding down cones

Just replace them with thunder aftermarkets, if you can get your kingpin nut on/off

[Ride it to dust]

Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

[IpathCats]

Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

I've never seen a skate tool with a kingpin sized re threader. I have considered getting a kingpin sized rethreader for a while now.

[Richard Skidder]

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Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

[close]

I've never seen a skate tool with a kingpin sized re threader. I have considered getting a kingpin sized rethreader for a while now.

Ace has a kingpin rethreader nut that comes on a carabiner with an axle rethreader nut as well. It will fit inside any skate tool.

https://www.warehouseskateboards.com/ace-trucks-mfg.-re-threader-dies-axle--kingpin-multi-purpose-skate-tool

[Ride it to dust]

Thats a good point, would have to be a die maybe or like the ace rethread kingpin nuts maybe

[Ride it to dust]

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Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

[close]

I've never seen a skate tool with a kingpin sized re threader. I have considered getting a kingpin sized rethreader for a while now.

[close]

Ace has a kingpin rethreader nut that comes on a carabiner with an axle rethreader nut as well. It will fit inside any skate tool.

https://www.warehouseskateboards.com/ace-trucks-mfg.-re-threader-dies-axle--kingpin-multi-purpose-skate-tool

Beat me to it 😂

[IpathCats]

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Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

[close]

I've never seen a skate tool with a kingpin sized re threader. I have considered getting a kingpin sized rethreader for a while now.

[close]

Ace has a kingpin rethreader nut that comes on a carabiner with an axle rethreader nut as well. It will fit inside any skate tool.

https://www.warehouseskateboards.com/ace-trucks-mfg.-re-threader-dies-axle--kingpin-multi-purpose-skate-tool

Nice! haven't seen this.

[hiljentaa]

I think I need to sell my other trucks and just commit to Independent.

Got a set of 5.6 V-Hollows, 5.2 Hi, and 5.5 Maglites (w/ Mag baseplates) sitting around.

Keep my Ti 144 & 149. Have hollow and mid 149s too for mellow or steep boards.

I'm too old and shit at skating to try and mess with my setup. Takes too long to get used to other stuff and not worth the dicking around when I've got a finite amount of time to skate.

[Vintagebody]

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Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

[close]

I've never seen a skate tool with a kingpin sized re threader. I have considered getting a kingpin sized rethreader for a while now.

[close]

Ace has a kingpin rethreader nut that comes on a carabiner with an axle rethreader nut as well. It will fit inside any skate tool.

https://www.warehouseskateboards.com/ace-trucks-mfg.-re-threader-dies-axle--kingpin-multi-purpose-skate-tool

[close]

Nice! haven't seen this.

A re-threading nut seems kinda bad? If you have a tool thats got a deeper "pipe", it will just be really annoying, vs a skate tool with re-threader

[Richard Skidder]

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Might have to look into getting a tool with a re-threader, will try the aftermarkets if mine crap out soon. Thanks dudes

[close]

I've never seen a skate tool with a kingpin sized re threader. I have considered getting a kingpin sized rethreader for a while now.

[close]

Ace has a kingpin rethreader nut that comes on a carabiner with an axle rethreader nut as well. It will fit inside any skate tool.

https://www.warehouseskateboards.com/ace-trucks-mfg.-re-threader-dies-axle--kingpin-multi-purpose-skate-tool

[close]

Nice! haven't seen this.

[close]

A re-threading nut seems kinda bad? If you have a tool thats got a deeper "pipe", it will just be really annoying, vs a skate tool with re-threader

Twist the rethreader nut on by hand and use the tool to crank it down then gently reverse and back it off.

[IpathCats]

I think I need to sell my other trucks and just commit to Independent.

Got a set of 5.6 V-Hollows, 5.2 Hi, and 5.5 Maglites (w/ Mag baseplates) sitting around.

Keep my Ti 144 & 149. Have hollow and mid 149s too for mellow or steep boards.

I'm too old and shit at skating to try and mess with my setup. Takes too long to get used to other stuff and not worth the dicking around when I've got a finite amount of time to skate.

Deff a huge downside of madness. godspeed brother. I circled back to indy myself after like 2-3 years of trying a bunch of shit. Ti hangers, cast plates <3

[goodatmeth]

Is it reasonable to buy some supercheap wheels in order to keep riding trucks that are slightly bent? Don't wanna cone good expensive wheels.

Currently super happy with the ventures I bought and will keep riding them until the deck is done. But I still have some other decks around that I wouldn't skate with these, but preferably with my all time favorite thunder titaniums, which are bent.

There's a crazy sale at blue-tomato.com, a whack zumiez like shop. More than 50% off on SML, primitive, HAZE and Bronx wheels.
Are any of them worth it? It's really stupid cheap. I want some really hard wheels that slide

[Sedition]

Expand Quote

Ugh. My madness has returned. I had it quelled for quite awhile, but I knew it was only a matter of time. Skated vert ramp a few weeks ago for the first time in awhile. It made me want to start skating bigger transition again, but felt like my 8.25/144s was way too small for that. Set up an 8.75/159s...but then found there were a few street things I loved on the 8.75 that suddenly seemed harder on the 8.25 (e.g. Smith grinds). The madness came rushing back in, and now I have no idea what kind of skateboard I like any more.

Moral: Stay away from vert ramps, as they only bring on existential despair, gear alienation, and more inane "madness" Slap posts.

[close]

Or: middle ground 8.5 setup?

Oh, that has absolutely been happening/in the mix. I just touched upon what started my madness again, not the extent of this current "episode."

[Mbrimson88]

Is it reasonable to buy some supercheap wheels in order to keep riding trucks that are slightly bent? Don't wanna cone good expensive wheels.

Currently super happy with the ventures I bought and will keep riding them until the deck is done. But I still have some other decks around that I wouldn't skate with these, but preferably with my all time favorite thunder titaniums, which are bent.

There's a crazy sale at blue-tomato.com, a whack zumiez like shop. More than 50% off on SML, primitive, HAZE and Bronx wheels.
Are any of them worth it? It's really stupid cheap. I want some really hard wheels that slide

Just keep an eye on the coning and shape of the wheels and rotate as needed, same as any other board, only those ones might cone a bit more quickly on the one side, compared to on other trucks with straight axles.

As long as you do that, any wheel will still last the same amount of time, as you are wearing out the inside edges more than the outside if they are really bent but still skateable.

Whatever wheels you currently have might be better than buying second rate cheap wheels that may not perform as expected or get flatspots before you are done with them.