Mom's Ride

So it’s been what? Two or three weeks since I discovered the unreliable fast gear on my Bamboo Series two, all terrain board. I still haven’t heard back from Evolve. I guess it isn’t the biggest deal in the world.

But I was going to take off the big wheels and see how it skated orthodox. Until my mom begged me to ride it. So last weekend, I let her give it a spin. I was kind of scared, because she’s big and slow. But to my surprise, she was able to ride it around her block without any trouble at all. Slowly, for sure, but without any trouble. She really enjoyed the smooth ride it gave. She wants the board.

So in a way, I might change my official stance on the board. Because I used to think that those cheap Chinese boards were the best for beginners. In a way, it’s still accurate to say that they’re slower and safer than the Evolve board. But if my Mom can ride the big wheels Evolve board, I feel comfortable saying any can.

That same weekend, I took a picture of my Snubnose being held together with duct tape. It was my most popular Instagram picture ever. It even got the attention of Evolve, who offered a new casing.

While I’m happy for the offer, it’s something I’m going to decline. First off, I’m already on my second case. What’s a third going to do? It’s going to last a few months, and then break, just like the others did, that’s what. I mean, I already used silicone to seal the screw holes. I spent hours trying zip ties, velcro, and finally duct tape, to hold the damn battery on.

But I really like the way the duct tape make the board feel. One of the most common questions I get asked when riding my electric boards is, “Did you make it?” Usually I’m honest and say no, but potential is there to lie and act like I’m some kind of engineering god. The duct tape means that in a tiny way, I’m not lying if I say yes. Maybe I didn’t make it, but I certainly repaired it enough to call it my own.

The other reason why I like the duct tape is because it sticks out. Without it, the board is easily mistaken for an orthodox skateboard. But with the duct tape, any layman can see and easily understand that I’m riding something new, something they’ve never seen before.