Hipster Skateboard advice

Forgive me but I want to get a retro skateboard.

As in the type with a pointy end and single kick-tail. This sort of thing:

This decision is not completely hipster driven though, the fact is I dont do tricks and having not one but two kick tails seems somewhat superfluous. I like to roll about, and if feeling confident do an ollie. Having really big wheels would seem to be something that aids in the rolling about criteria, it will add cushioning and stability right? But Ive had goes on long boards and they sucked, I hated the way it was difficult to kick turn - useless for anything but big empty roads. But I 'imagine' one of these boards would have all the benefits without that big negative. Lastly I simply think they look 'rad'

Anyhow, was wondering if anyone actually has experience of riding them? How do they compare to a modern board? Are they as fun as they look/is it comfortable to ride really fast? Are they difficult to ollie? does the lack of concave make kickflips a total impossibilty?

Also, where is a good place to buy one? - How do I avoid the unipack equivalents and get the 'real deal' ?

zip zinger.

The ones ever so slightly wider than the one pictured are fucking wicked for transportation needs, Hard to ollie though as the big wheels add weight and the tail isn't as curved so you get less pop.

they are called cruisers, and were all the rage in new york last year.

you could always go the longboard route for epic transportation needs. Although they are quite big.
also a chance to throw in a shameless plug for a couple of friends of mine
http://www.marmaladelongboards.com/

just get an 8" board and stick some 56mil's on.
does the trick, unless your in it only for the hipser look...in which case boooo!

get an Alva board

I've got one with big squishy wheels which is great for roads and pavements that aren't very smooth. Fine to ollie, though weirdly it's actually easier using the flat, pointy end than the rectangular kick.

No idea about kickflips as I can't do them. Imagine difficult though because they're wide, as well as concave. But for what you want it for, I recommend.

I stole the idea from a surfer friend. His board had longboard trucks, with the kingpin going through the truck. Made it easy to steer at any speed.

Get one.

(Or you could go the "narrow" route and get one of those little polyprop boards, but they're a bastard to ride).

zip zinger.
fully agree :)
most fun board i've ridden though i canny afford one of my own

Treflip, are you in Edinburgh? Edinburgh Council are responsible for me buying a fishtail, I was skating between Marchmont and King's Buildings every other day and the pavement / road surface is diabolical.

Tunnel make a nice little deck, 70s shape but with a subtle concave. There's no concave on the Alva boards. Tunnel Rocks are great soft wheels as well. Trucks: Tracker or Bennett.

Treflip, are you in Edinburgh? Edinburgh Council are responsible for me buying a fishtail, I was skating between Marchmont and King's Buildings every other day and the pavement / road surface is diabolical.
aye fuckin nightmare hate edinburghs surfaces
really need a board now i'll stick with my year old death deck :)

You can't go wrong with Sector 9. they make some nice little cruisers. https://www.sector9.com
And FibreFlex (Gordan & Smith) make some awsome boards. http://www.gordonandsmithskate.com/
Both are readily available in the UK. You should get yourself to Brixton Cycles, they sell all sorts of boards for the "older rider", as they like to call us.

i dont really do tricks any more, but this what i use for just cruising around on....

Jay Adams Z-Flex with Trackers and Abec11 wheels.
I love it.

I've got a few longboards too... but don't really get out too much on them these days.

i ride a cruiser board with longboard trucks and wheels for speed and comfort. i gave up doing tricks a while ago. i like rolling around on it to the shops when its not worth the hastle of riding the bike, and it gives me somthing to do with my body when im smoking a joint. also use a blank cruiser deck as my indo board. got mine in new york when i saw a bunch of people rolling them and thought it looked fun.

longboards are a fucking pain in the arse. loads of my mates in cornwall were well into it, but to be completely honest i got bored of walking up long hills just to fly down them in seconds. alot of peole got really hurt, but then clearly pretended to still love doing it. i really wasnt into it. as you say theyre useless for anything other than rolling down empty wide roads.

if brooks make skateboard...;

Lushlongboards are the popular choice, personally I prefer sector nin. but the 531 of longboards is this:

http://driftwoodskateboards.com/

Nick

Sorry this isn't a thread of its own, I need verification before i can do that-

**FOR SALE - Vintage 'Dogtown' Style 70's Skateboard
**
This is a skateboard i put together from vintage deadstock parts all sourced seperately. This means it is brand new but with old parts that have been sitting in a warehouse for 30 years..

It is great for cruising around in the summer, the soft wheels and narrow trucks give it an awesome loose 'surfy' feel, and it is smooth on almost all terrain. I don't think you could ollie it comfortably but it is great for slides/berts, cruising down to the shop, bombing a hill etc.

I'm selling it because its one of 3 skateboards I own and i could really do with some money!

It's put together as follows

Swilken Deadstock Deck- Original 1970s 8 ply deck. It was so fresh when i bought it i had to drill the trucks on myself! All properly done, straight as anything, no worries there. Original Swilken factory grip tape job on top too, looks beautiful. I bought it for £90... Only wear/tear are 2 tastefully placed stickers and a bit of tail schralp - nothing substantial though.

Bennett Vector Trucks - High quality 1970s deadstock trucks, all original parts apart form fresh rubber which i put in for obvious reasons.
I payed £40

Tunnel Rocks Wheels - The only part that isn't deadstock, but a re-issue, meaning the rubber is brand new but molded from a vintage design. Awesome, amber coloured, like the cadillac wheels in the Dogtown Movie. I payed £30

Bolts and Bits all new, philips head perfect length.

Bones Swiss bearings - One of the highest quality bearings on the market, super fast, super smooth, and super reliable.

Ideally I would like £120 or more for this skateboard. If there is enough interest I will sell it to whoever gives me the highest offer.. Otherwise PM me and we can sort something out.

I am in Central London, pickup would be ideal, but can post/paypal if you cover postage.

Will

nice, but 120 is a bit tooo steep for a no-graphic deck, even if the parts are 70's originial

70-80quid is a reasonable price i say, no offence

Fibreflex Kicktail, trackers mids and 70mm raised letter Kryptonics. Done.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3311461652_36bd6debdd_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/3310630841_811cf8dffa_o.jpg

Also www.loadedboards.com for downhill. Slidey.

They're Tracker half-tracks not mids.

Pig deck FTW! I skated as a child and this was my dream set-up back then, put this together a few years ago out of reissue bits (couldn't find any cream 70s Accelerators, or reference to them, anywhere... 60mm OJs were the closest thing I could find)... Only been out on it a few times and I can barely stand up on it, great for doing tic-tacs in the street tho'...

If you look closely it's dusty as fuck... Gonna go out on it this summer tho'... Fuck yeah! :D

They're Tracker half-tracks not mids.

Well spotted, Mids was a recommendation for DFP's new ride.

Pig deck FTW! I skated as a child and this was my dream set-up back then, put this together a few years ago out of reissue bits (couldn't find any cream 70s Accelerators, or reference to them, anywhere... 60mm OJs were the closest thing I could find)...

The wheels you were looking for are Excellerators.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310111949994

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/3310739517_53e3c4b2d9_o.jpg

My Pig deck. A Macho Gordo with Lazer 8s and Benjyboard Benjy Boots.
Plus a couple of 70s slalom boards: G&S, Santa Cruz. Lazer, Tracker, ACS trucks. G&S Yoyos and Wonkers, Oj, Blue 60mm Kryptonics, Sims Snakes wheels.

The wheels you were looking for are Excellerators.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310111949994

That explains everything, I was spelling it wrong... I was only 10 at the time tho'...

Those wheels are hot!!! Thanks for the tip... :D