NEW BOARD ON THE BLOCK: TIERNEY RIDES
By Jack Michaud
11/01
After the attacks of September 11th, it seemed like my impressions of a two-wheeled toy would have about as much significance and value as a collection of wadded up base wax scrapings. But then I realized what a wonderful thing it is that we live in a world where most people have the freedom, the leisure time, and the disposable income with which to pursue wholly absurd activities such as sliding down a snow-covered hill on the hairy edge of control, or similarly rolling down a paved hill in the summertime, on an over-engineered product of human ingenuity. That being said, I consider it my duty to "carry on with my normal every day life" and tell you what I think of the Tierney Rides model T-001 streetcarver.
Tierney Rides is an energetic bunch, enthusiastic because they know what a fun gadget they've created, and they want to tell the world. They've put together a top-flight website, CD-ROM, and video. They've become the official cross-training board for Stratton Mountain School, and they've even arranged an exhibition race at next year's Gravity Games.
You've probably checked out the pictures already, so how does this thing work with only two wheels and nothing to hang onto, you ask? The T-board is another remarkable example of clean sheet, think outside the box engineering, as it uses a turning mechanism never before seen on any street-going board. The "trucks" were modeled after, of all things, shopping cart caster wheels. The trucks employ adjustable and swappable elastomeric bushings that provide passive centering action. But don't even start to think that there's any possibility of speed wobbles. One Tierney expert test rider (and future Darwin-award candidate) has purportedly been towed behind a car at 70mph. Yes, seven-zero, miles per hour. Don't try that at home, sports-fans. Turning is achieved by leaning, of course. When you tilt the board, the trucks deflect outward, and the wheels align themselves along the arc of your carve. Imagine a miniature bicycle for your feet, with two-wheel steering.
Tierney has a video featuring riders carving it up, and sticking kickflips, manuals, and all that, but never mind. The board is nearly impossible to push on flat land, so as with all other streetcarvers, there's no reason to ride anything but a regular skate if you want to do a lot of tricks. But if you want to arc snowboard-like lines down a paved slope, that is what the board was purpose-built to do. When you do need to push the board to gain speed at the top of your run, you must keep your front foot across the board, as if strapped in to an imaginary binding, in order to balance the board. This proves very difficult at first, but keep trying, it comes.
Once you build a little momentum, you can put your back foot on the board and enjoy. Having only two wheels, learning to balance this board is like learning how to balance a bicycle. This also proves difficult at first, but it is also proves to be the best aspect of the board. As a cross-training tool, the balance workout is as demanding yet even more focused on the snowboarding part of your inner-ear than say, a "Vew-Do" or "Bongo" balance board. Mastering the T-board will undoubtedly hone your snowboarding balance in the off-season. You may even return to the slopes a better snowboarder than you were on your last day of the previous season.
After you get used to balancing a two wheel board with no handle, the carves start to happen easier and easier. Pretty soon you are suggesting to yourself, "okay, how about some more speed?" Of course, if you find yourself eyeing the car bumper and the water-ski rope, just make sure the organ donor sticker hasn't worn off your driver's license first. Indeed, with practice the ride transitions from wobbly to smooth, from nervous to confidence inspiring. The board urges you to redefine your limits with each run.
Just like carving a snowboard, one can't expect to be flicking the board effortlessly from arc to arc in twenty minutes, but with time you will be leaning into deep, satisfying carves, and even pulling a g or two. As is the natural progression of learning to carve, you first master the cautious cross-over leaning style. Then with practice, you will be authoritatively whipping more dynamic cross-under style turns, with greater speed and agility. Watching the pros on the CD-ROM video makes you ache to improve your skills, because they look like they're essentially snowboarding on pavement, and enjoying themselves as much.
Thanks to its ingenious speed-wobble proof design, this board has an ace up its sleeve: the ability to be ridden at speeds higher than most street-going boards, approaching what feels like actual snowboarding speeds. And thanks to the solid rubber wheels, traction is a non-issue when leaned in at max carve. They do offer a choice of urethane wheels for better freestyle/flatland use, as they allow power slides and a more skateboard feel.
But nothing is perfect; this ointment has but two offending flies. Tierney uses essentially square-profile wheels with rounded edges. You do get used to them, but they add to the initial tippy feeling when learning to tilt the board up "on edge", and probably lengthen the learning curve somewhat. I asked them if they had tried round wheels, like motorcycle wheels, for a more consistent roll from carve to carve. They responded that they had, but that the round wheels they tried rapidly developed odd wear patterns that rendered them useless. Perhaps a different rubber compound would be in order? Tierney also cited the fact that many of their test riders preferred the squared wheels, but that those riders were also interested in tricks. Having a choice of round or square wheels would be ideal.
Secondly, having a choice of an even longer deck would be best for snowboarders who crave the summer carve. Even though the board reviewed here is the longer of the two currently offered, you have to ride it with your feet right on top of the wheels. Being able to stand well between the wheels would enable the deck to flex and add that natural element of spring and pop back into the equation. However, the relatively short length of the board makes it more maneuverable, and easy to carry around, or pop in a trunk. But offering a longer deck or different wheels should be easy - good thing the trucks are already dialed.
All in all, the T-board goes a long way towards hooking you up with your summertime fix. With a warm breeze in your face as you bank carve after carve down your nearest stripe of sloped tarmac, you can actually ignore mother nature when she tells you you can't be carving your snowboard for another turn of the seasons or two.
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Tierney Rides T-001 |
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