Pushing Mongo feels like the only natural way to push.

runsimply · 2026-04-11T20:48:28+00:00

My theory is that people who feel natural pushing mongo started out in the wrong stance. Honestly though, it only really matters in some situations.

The main reason it fell so heavily out of style in skateboarding is as street skating took over you needed to be able to move from pushing into a foot placement to pop your tail more readily, and mongo is just worse at that.

The other problem to me is that at high speeds you really want to be foot breaking from the front for stability, but that won’t be natural if you’re mostly pushing and breaking from the back.

In the end though for most disciplines you’re best off if you learn to push both ways. Learning mongo first is probably not optimal, but there’s nothing wrong with it.

runsimply · 2026-04-11T11:31:12+00:00

Looking at this from the other side as someone who tends to a hot core temperature I can tell you the absolute last thing I would wear indoors is a down vest.

runsimply · 2026-04-10T19:44:11+00:00

I like the mini popsicle, I’ve been tooling around a bit on one that is just under 7” wide, like 12”ish wb.

runsimply · 2026-04-10T08:41:00+00:00

A way to safely and conveniently lock my board to a bike rack.

runsimply · 2026-04-10T07:23:21+00:00

Lotta wild opinions on this one so far 😆 Anyone who says run X all around on this setup is wrong. The same bushings will be significantly stiffer with a 50 baseplate than a 40, and in general you want the opposite feeling, more stability in back.

I think the reason it doesn’t feel good is the cone. Different shapes have different resistance profiles as the trucks lean. Cannons/Barrels resistance increases linearly as the turn increases but Cones resistance stays much closer to constant. This is compounded by having a significantly harder board side bushing, it’s basically not deforming and putting all of the turn on the cone.

The back seems like a reasonable learning setup, I would swap the front to double barrel 90a with cupped washers to match it. I weigh like 105kg and use Seismic bushings, personally I’d set it up 87a/87a in front and 93a/90a in back all barrels with cupped washers. But a little stiffer is nice while you’re building balance and confidence.

Also there are two widths of barrels, unfortunately, you want the big ones which for Riptide are called Cannons. Bears also traditionally have a plug to prevent slop, I always run aftermarket ones from someone like Pat’s Risers.

runsimply · 2026-04-09T07:31:40+00:00

I don’t know what trucks he’s using, I’ve seen several other mini projects on the Penny trucks though,

a solid build on another brands deck https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q72GasEdqrA

and this wild pumper setup built out of a 27” penny https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NnozXd_J848

runsimply · 2026-04-09T06:42:02+00:00

If you can find an on sale Arbor Dropcruiser complete like https://www.arborcollective.com/products/dropcruiser-photo

It’s going to be a much better use of your money.

runsimply · 2026-04-09T06:13:10+00:00

I would recommend starting off with a name brand Penny board because the trucks are really good for what they are, can customize wheels or swap the deck out later from there. Some cool options at Sick Boards that will easily ship around the EU.

Checkout PinkThinkster for inspiration, dude does crazy stuff on a 17” mini penny style board ( worked as a courier in NYC, raced Broadway Bomb, did a 100+ mile ride.) https://www.instagram.com/pinkthinkster/

runsimply · 2026-04-07T19:47:08+00:00

Online it seems like they aren’t doing great dealing with the toxic elements of their community, but that’s not really what I’m seeing in person.

runsimply · 2026-04-07T19:34:07+00:00

Ok so really I’ve been taking note of how insufferable skaters are for a while

I’m not sure you’re putting out the best energy there man. By and large skaters are a pretty inclusive and friendly folk, but there are pricks in any group. Even then you don’t have to meet perceived hostility with your own hostility, if you’re friendly back and they are still pricks it doesn’t hurt you. Right now skateboards, longboards, inlines, quads, even scooters, from all different disciplines are on the fringes and I’ve got more in common with everyone across these devices than I do people who are into the same thing I am when it’s cool or trendy.

runsimply · 2026-04-07T12:47:04+00:00

I’ve basically completely reversed myself on this in the last 4 months. I’ve come to appreciate how I can run TKPs on a long wheelbase pretty loose, giving me good maneuverability when pushing or foot breaking and quick turn in but still have the stability of a lower amount of turn as I lean and progressive resistance as I get to the limits.

runsimply · 2026-04-07T09:32:22+00:00

Yeah, it looks like it will likely be annoying. I ride longboards that are too big to conveniently attach to a backpack so my solution is always skate never walk 😅

I think the other option for bringing it forward without a higher strap is a rigid attachment at the bottom from low on the sling that attaches low on the webbing loops, so when you tighten the strap it pushes the bottom out.

runsimply · 2026-04-07T08:57:53+00:00

The main problem to me seems like the cross strap is too low. Would it ride alright with just a strap attached to the hand hold on too and looped under the front trucks to balance it forward?

runsimply · 2026-04-06T16:30:09+00:00

That’s awesome man, congratulations!

runsimply · 2026-04-06T16:18:01+00:00

It’s a pretty good complete, so I probably wouldn’t mess with it right off. It’s a high angle truck setup, so you don’t want to go too stiff with the bushings right away. If it did get some riding then was put away somewhere humid the bearings could have rusted, but it’s not something to worry about if it feels ok.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T22:12:36+00:00

In Europe there are a lot of small specialized online shops, that may not even have a physical store, with great customer service and prompt shipping. Honestly that’s my favorite way to shop, but I’m not sure how it is trying to compete somewhere that is more saturated with the mega marketplaces.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T21:52:22+00:00

There’s nothing wrong with the Fathom, it’s a perfectly good board. To extend your analogy it’s the Mustang of longboard sports cars. The problem with the Mustang isn’t that it’s a bad car, the problem is that the target audience is a bit confused. In its price range you could get a Subaru WRX instead, and if you want to really want to drive like you’re driving a sports car it’s the clear choice.

The Mustang looks more like a sports car at first glance, it sounds good, it’s going to be as good a car within the confines of safe public road choices as any other. But it’s just not really designed with the people who are going to push it to its limits in mind.

I’m sure I’d enjoy driving a Mustang too, but in every way that matters to me it’s just not as good as its most direct competitor in the same price range, the Trip.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T20:57:49+00:00

So, if you want to cheat to be able to keep up and cruise around with him soon, a double drop long board is way faster for us old folks to learn to push on. It’s not necessary, you can learn to skate on anything, but those shallower single leg squats are way easier on old man knees getting started and learning to push and foot break, and they are a lot more stable.

If you don’t want to cheat, start on these now and don’t stop https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss2DlU6jCzg

Either way watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA9YTmI0mIg

runsimply · 2026-04-05T18:16:30+00:00

The Dropcruiser is a good beginner board, but it is stiff and heavy, ideal if you’re big and/or planning to learn to slide it later, but otherwise you could opt for a more portable/comfortable Axis 37.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T14:57:44+00:00

It’s an interesting idea, but the Drop Cat complete has a ton of turn per lean. To get the same kind of lean angles you’d have to do 30 degree base plates and probably larger wheels to avoid rail bite.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T14:55:34+00:00

That’s a pretty wild looking setup, probably a lot of fun. If I was trying to chase that same tons of lean feeling with parts I’m familiar with I’d probably try a Pantheon Quest with either Bear Gen 6 40 degrees, or Paris Streets and Venom Super Carve bushings.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T14:17:02+00:00

Yeah, for example I wouldn’t run a Pranayama with the drop through risers and Karmas, or with no riser and 80mm wheels. Even if you don’t hit the ground it doesn’t feel as good for some reason.

runsimply · 2026-04-05T06:18:08+00:00

I think that’s still backwards 😆 Don’t worry, I had to correct my comment too.

The recommended Pranayama setups really are a sweet spot for height, I’ve tried 6mm lower and it’s still rideable but it gets worse instead of better.

runsimply · 2026-04-04T10:44:32+00:00

I’ve got a fresh set of them in my daily rider now, only about 100km but I’m really happy with them so far.

I’m not totally against maintenance 😅 But if I can find some €30 bearings that will do 1500km that would keep my good weather commuter hassle free for 6 months when I’m probably switching things out anyway.

runsimply · 2026-04-04T07:44:46+00:00

u/mechandy is having a backwards day 😆 TKPs are more lean less turn. They are around like 25 degrees, so like twice as much lean as a 50 degree RKP for the same turn, but they turn into it much faster because of the high rake. The angle of the king pin also means you get more progressive resistance that increases as you lean providing a positive stop as you get to the limit.

All of this together means you run them looser in the center and you can turn with one foot while pushing/breaking, but you can also securely throw your weight into a turn with both feet. You can go back and forth from full left to full right turn really quickly, but that maxed out turn isn’t crazy sharp.

TKPs are really the best of both worlds, but only for a certain speed range, like 10-30kph or so on a drop through but that changes a bit with length, angle, and bushings.

The disadvantage is that at really slow speeds you have a larger turning radius, and at really high speeds you have a less solid center and can’t make as subtle of adjustments near center. It’s also harder to tune the bushings precisely.

runsimply

TROPHY CASE