Transportation that happens to be fun, for when walking is the enemy and your car is too far away.
Cruisers serve a specific purpose – getting from point A to point B without the hassle of tricks or the judgment of pedestrians. They're not trying to be street boards, and they're definitely not trying to be skateboards for people who can't actually skateboard. Quality cruiser setups feature shorter wheelbases than full longboards but maintain larger, softer wheels that roll over the kind of rough pavement that stops standard wheels dead. Deck construction varies wildly depending on intended use – flex for carving, stiff for transportation, and everything in between for specific riding preferences. Truck selection matters more than most people realize, with traditional kingpin providing responsive turning while reverse kingpin offers stability at speed. Wheel size and durometer directly impact how the thing rides, with softer compounds smoothing out rough surfaces and larger diameters maintaining momentum better. Richmond's varied terrain makes cruisers particularly practical – downtown's smooth concrete to the Fan's historic brick streets require equipment that adapts rather than fights the environment. Complete setups work for most people, though experienced skaters often prefer building custom configurations that match specific needs and local conditions.
