Evolve Bamboo Series

So after waiting all this time for my new Evolve board, it comes. While I’m away on vacation. Can Fed Ex hold it for me a few extra days? No. So I drove from Orlando to Gainesville, just to pickup the board. Which I kinda wanted to do anyway, since I’d lost the Boosted Remote, and wanted to ride.

My first chance to ride it was at night. If you follow me @maulakai on twitter, you might have seen the post. I actually put my helmet on for that ride, along with a flashlight and brake light. Then I rode to StarBucks. By the time I got there, I realized, I didn’t need coffee. I was already on an adrenaline high. The board carves as well as my Snubnose, which is just how I like it. But it rides much smoother, and higher off the ground.

I’m famous for saying that skateboard wheels are like lipstick for men. They all have clever names and slightly different colors, but in the end they’re pretty much the same. Not so with these Kegels. Or is it the overall board design? I don’t know for sure, but this board rides smooth. There are several rough streets that my Snubnose didn’t like to roll over. The new bamboo series doesn’t care.

The motor is in the back now, what I’ve always called the optimal position. At least when you’re trying to go over cracks in the ground. But it also has a disadvantage. It makes the board a little long, a little taller. I’m used to picking my board up from the front. But with the motor sticking out, I’ve had to lift her from the middle. Still, despite being more awkward to hold, I’m happy to have the motor in the better place to ride.

When I tried to leave the coffeeshop, I noticed that my hands were shaking. So much so, I had trouble using the newer, tiny remote. But not enough to stop me. This new remote is familiar enough to have no major problems using it. I especially like the wrist strap, as you’re probably going to need that hand when you pick up your board later.

Which reminds me of a few other details I really liked. Remember when I got the Carbon series, and found all the parts thrown into a box willy nilly? Well Evolve has lived up to their name, and gotten better. This time, everything was in what we might think of as traditional packaging. They included the tools you’ll need to service your board (after I just bought a new set). They include all the cables you’ll need. Remember, the new remote charges with USB. But mini, not micro, USB, so you’ll probably need that ever so slightly differently sized cable from the one you use with your phone.

The wall charger was nice to see. It has a fuse this time around. Which I hear can prevent fire, and damage to the battery. Strange, but when I plugged it in, I heard the sound of its fan. It’s loud, about the same as a power supply on a computer. So you know that battery is hardcore.

This morning, I took the board for another ride. Just so happened to be the first day of school. Best show off session, ever! I got to ride by scores of kids, holding the remote in my hand just so that they could easily see I was riding a next gen board. How many kids had to go to the torture of school, knowing they’re missing out on the next big thing? I like to think I’m sowing the seeds of a new generation to use a new form of transportation, every time I show off like I do.

Before I had the board, I had resolved to put on the all terrain wheels. But the kegels ride so good, I haven’t wanted to take them off. Yet. Because I know I’ll want them in Gainesville. It’s almost torture that we’ve had rain every day. Leaving only a very narrow morning window to skate in.

The first time I took it to the beach, a bikini girl at the surf shop asked me about it. I guess what I’m saying is, I’m in love. With the longboard, not the bikini girl.