To want to skateboard to work?

[CarriesBucketOfBlood]

I work in a reasonably 'cool' area, think lots of hipsters and alternative mums etc. Work doesn't have a dress code, and I don't have to commute with much (no laptop etc).

In the last week I've seen three different people skateboarding once they get off the tube. One of the men works in my building (although a different office) and for me it's a 15 minute walk. By the time I get to work I can see him sat down at his desk drinking tea and eating breakfast. I also see him whizz off to the sandwich shop for lunch. My break is shortened because of the walk to and from the shops.

AIBU or crazy to think that I could learn to skateboard like him? Obviously not learn to do tricks, just as a mode of transport? I am in my 20s, I have ok balance (I don't fall over when we go ice skating). I considered a scooter but it looks too big/ heavy to take on two trains before I really would use it.

His skateboard is quite distinctive (very bright colours) so I had a quick look on Amazon and found the brand. They are about £30-40. Would I just be wasting this money? I think I'd have time to learn, a couple of hours each weekend. The pavements near work are usually quiet enough that the skateboarding commuters can pass by easy enough.

I use a maxi micro scooter, but a 3 wheeler so rather smaller wheels than the one you posted (wish I'd shopped around a bit).
It halves my time on the journey between station and office, and according to my fitbit, gives me my half hour of "active" status during the day. Great for calves and core, but you must learn to switch legs. Lots of people doing it, there's an older (say 70s?) looking chap who's much whizzier than me

need something with brakes

You can use the toe stops to brake - inline skates are generally easier outdoors though.

Ok, I have been persuaded. I am going to pop into decathlon at the weekend and look for a cheapish board to have a go on!

I'm quite excited, having visions of myself doing 360° flips over builders retarmacing roads etc. I'm sure that will happen in a couple of weeks.

Will definitely try and keep you updated as to how it goes, whether I automatically sprout a hipster beard etc.

Maybe the mumsnet scarf will become the mumsnet commuting skateboard? Who knows.

patterkiller love those skates. When My DD is big enough for skates i'm getting some too. Mine back in the day were red with silver stripes. Hated inline skates, always felt odd not being able to bend knees and more clumpy than old school skates.

OP to be able to skateboard you need a natural ability that many people just don't have. Most adults who do were skateboarding kids. The guy in your office makes it look easy, because for him it is. I suspect that without years of practise you would just look a tit. Oh and if you accidently fell off on a busy high street/ public space there is a high probability your skateboard would hit someone else, break an ankle. Could you afford to be sued?

I have good balance I can roller skate and inline skate well, can even snowboard but I cannot master a skateboard.

I tried one summer and spent it covered in grazes (including a nice one on my cheek).

Give it a try but it is harder than it looks.

A couple of hours each weekend to learn? It might take months to get good enough just to go in a straight line. To actually go at speed and dodge moving targets could take years.
And skateboards are as heavy as a small folding scooter.

You can use the toe stops to brake

I would fancy using them to slow my trip down the hill!

SacredHeart i'm the same as you. Can roller skate very well, ice skate and have tried snowboarding and was ok but have never been any use with a skateboard (think its to do with not being attached to it and therefore having to control 2 seperate objects iyswim). Can't surf either.

I don't skate board, but I do roller skate. I'd definitely recommend wrist guards!

Roller skating would be a complete faff unless the OP can travel on the tube or train already wearing her skates, including going up an escalator or stairs. Finding somewhere to sit at rush hour station, taking off shoes, putting on skates (without snagging tights, maybe), stashing shoes, skating to work, sitting down, unlacing skates , putting shoes back on is more of a faff than hopping on to your skateboard and picking it up again.

Why not? Although you might find a scooter safer and easier to use. Round here skateboarding is the number 1 cause of broken limbs in young people, according to the a&e doctor who looked after dd when she broke her wrist skateboarding!

When my kids were younger, and were at the village school 10 mins walk away down a hill, I used to reduce my journey time for the school run to about 2 mins by using DD's scooter.

something else to bear in mind - you will presumably need to carry a handbag and / or a laptop - that's going to seriously mess with skateboarding - very easy with the scooter though.
I had a go yesterday on one of those electric boards with big wheels at the sides. Nearly killed myself within seconds, but I do see Young Folk around who have mastered them well. One chap near my office has a unicycle version (he looks like a twit, but a twit who's having fun, and presumably has superb core muscles as a result of his unicycle hoverboardin)
If you value your teeth, I'd go with a scooter!

My neighbour has a penny farthing. Though not the easiest to nip on and off the tube with I'd imagine.

You need this OP:

www.locoskates.com/evolution-swegway-mini-segway-board-black/p3614

I second Segway or Heelys. I want Heelys to scoot back and forth to the depot but can't drive in them health and safety spoil everything for obvious reasons. I will definitely get a pair now I know I'm not alone in wanting to scoot

Oh get a space hopper set a new trend.

Actually, I can skateboard. However, I am 51 so don't think I'm allowed .

itsall that's the thing I tried yesterday! nearly killed myself. Terrible.

You need to get one of these LADY SCOOTERS www.amazon.co.uk/Micro-Floral-Grey-Adult-Scooter/dp/B00IPLA3R6/ref=sr_1_6?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1441369740&sr=1-6&keywords=adult+micro+scooter

Go for it.
Life is way to short to give a fuck what stuffy people think - in fact, fuck the skateboard, I say you should get a pogo stick!

I was driving through Blackheath the other day (achingly hipsterish part of SE London) & saw a beardy bloke on one of these
He was going pretty fast up the hill, a fairly steep hill at that.
He had his hands in his pockets and an air of smugness about him.
I secretly wanted to ask to have a go on his wheel but I know I wouldn't have been cool enough to have been allowed to.
Would you fancy one of those op? Although they are very expensive

Expensive and they weigh a lot - 9kg is a lot to lug about on the tube / train part of your journey!

I used to have a longboard, similar to THIS

Heavenly to ride, really smooth and effortless (once you master it obviously!)

Me and DD used to have a great time cursing around when she was young (3-4 years old). She used to either stand between my legs on it or sit up the front with her knees pulled up to her chest

As she grew I stupidly thought it was time to let go of my youth and sold it I regret it so much!

Please do it! Embrace life and have fun, it's not like you get alive.

Glad you were persuaded... that excited feeling you have - that tells you it's the right decision! The thought makes you happy and excited, so go for it. So what if it doesn't work out/others think it's daft

*cruising around not cursing! How anti-social!

YANBU. Those plastic cruiser boards are really cool, I secretly want one too