Dear Diary: A bit of an update

Just while the weather is poor and I'm waiting to really get out to do some miles again, here's a bit of an update for y'all...

Day 25 Training - Thursday 5th July: 6.5 miles
First days training since 18th June and since coming down with a virus a couple of weeks before. Aimed to do just 5 miles after work to get me going again. Ended up doing just over 6.5 around the seafront. Felt good to be out onboard again. Problems? Just the one. Got stung by a wasp on my back, while changing my shirt at the end! Hurt like hell!. Aaaaarrrrrghh! Good job I took advantage of the weather to get some miles in, because the next day the torrential rain was back...all day...with a vengeance.    RunKeeper: Day 25 Training: 6.52 miles

 

Saturday 7th July.
Did something I've been struggling to find time to do. Swap my Bear 852 trucks for the Paris 180's J&R Sports sent me! Now, this may sound something and nothing to you experienced longboarding guys but, this is my first 'drop-thru' deck and I've never had to seperate the hangers from a set of trucks to mount them before, so it probably took me a tad longer than it should have, but it was time well spent. It gave me chance to try and sort that 'shifting' griptape problem out, add some shock pads (small rubber pads that go between the truck baseplates and the deck) and of course, get the Paris trucks mounted.

Result? REALLY like the Paris trucks! I wasn't sure I was going to like the standard 'gun metal grey' of the baseplates after the black baseplates of the Bears, but I actually do! And after a brief first ride they seem just as responsive as the Bears, allowing me to pump just as well as I could before, but less 'twitchy', which should be a good thing. The Paris have a 50 degree baseplate angle as opposed to the Bear's 52 degree, so maybe that makes a bit of a difference.

So I'm pretty sure my set-up for starting off on the 100 mile Long Push 2012 will be:

LANDYACHTZ -'Switchblade' deck (2011)

PARIS 180 trucks with 90A Divine bushings

ORANGATANG 'In Heat' aluminium core wheels. 80A (hardness) 75mm (diameter)

LOADED 'Jehu' bearings

 

I'll be setting up a back-up board that can be brought out to me, in case of disasters. I'll post that up when it's done.

First full test of the Paris trucks coming soon....

Monday 9th July
Today was a HUGELY positive day! Started with our latest CAF meeting (Common Assessment Framework), the meeting where all the different agencies and departments who are supporting Steven (and us) meet to discuss where we are up to...or not, as the case may be. Todays meeting was really well attended and went really well, no little part due to the huge leaps and bounds in improvment of Rachael's health. She was on top form. Very proud.  We are remaining cautious but hopeful of receiving some good news by the end of the week. Best not say anymore until we have heard but, as I said, very encouraging.

From the CAF we went to be presented with a cheque for our biggest donation so far. I'm itching to tell you all, but I'll hang on because we are hoping to get it in the press. So I'll hang on and give it it's own seperate post either once it's in the media, or by the end of next week, whichever comes first. Suffice to say, it is amazing and we are all massively grateful to all concerned.

Watch this space....

The day ended with my own personal dilema. Grey skies, threat of rain...St.Annes Bike meet on the Triumph or...longboard on the seafront? I took a chance and got the bike out, and made it back before getting wet. Result! Good day all round. But now I really DO need to get out on the board the next chance I get. If I could manage to get a 10 mile push in this week I'd be happy with that. Next week I'm off work all week, and hoping to do a full dummy run of Day 1: SOUTHPORT to FLEETWOOD, delivering posters and handing out flyers anywhere and everywhere along the route. But with the UK's current weather issues, it's more of a hope than a plan! Fingers crossed.

And finally of course, thanks as ever, to THE LONG PUSH 2012 sponsors, www.bigwoodys.co.uk  www.uk.dcshoes-store.com  www.sporting-sails.com  www.orangatangwheels.com  www.jandrsports.co.uk  and to all who have donated and supported me in any way so far.

Chris