{"id":1190,"date":"2013-05-02T22:59:46","date_gmt":"2013-05-03T02:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pappp.net\/?p=1190"},"modified":"2013-05-02T22:59:46","modified_gmt":"2013-05-03T02:59:46","slug":"learning-to-ldp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pappp.net\/?p=1190","title":{"rendered":"Learning to LDP"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve wanted to learn to LDP (Long Distance Pump) since before I started skating. Every summer, I spend some time trying to learn to pump, and make minor adjustments to my setups to make it more practical, and for my efforts I could impart<\/em> energy, but my setups have always been sufficiently sub-optimal that I only managed sustain speed with a pump a handful of times, and never accelerated. <\/p>\n

\"LDParts_md\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This summer I decided do it right. I bought the classic inexpensive LDP truck set (A Bennett Vector and a Tracker RTS, I picked the 5.0 and 129mm variants respectively), modded them for LDP, and installed them on my suitably sized deck with suitable bushings and wheels. <\/p>\n

Distance skating attracts the best sort of crazies – It’s something of an equipment sport, so they tend to obsessively purchase and modify gear. It’s remarkably physically demanding, so there is a lot of the classic solo endurance sport mentality. It also has carryover from the “raah hardcore” skate world. Fortunately, the internet has brought together the appropriate crazies at sites like Pavedwave<\/a> and skatefurther<\/a>, where the discipline has been developed from its roots in the 70s. <\/p>\n

Designed-for-LDP decks (Subsonic Pulse, LBL Walkabout, RoeRacing Mermaid, etc.) are boutique items and tend to cost in excess of $150 for the bare deck, so I wanted to ease in financially in smaller steps since I’m not sure how capable I’ll be. Most sources say 26″ to 31″ is suitable for an LDP wheelbase, and my Pakala III is around 25.6, so it is manageable if a little tight-pumping. <\/p>\n

The mods for the trucks are pretty interesting, I implemented a number of the suggestions from this excellent thread<\/a> on the pavedwave forums.<\/p>\n