To longboard to work?

[GreyCritic]

DW worries a lot about what other people will think.

I turned 33 and was appalled at the state of my fitness. Ditched the car, ditched the heels for nice trainers, and started walking to work and everywhere else. A month and a half ago I bought a longboard. I used to be an avid snowboarder in my teens and this longboard has honestly been such a good purchase as I not only feel fitter but also actually find myself looking forward to the morning commute!

DW hates it. She thinks it's childish and that I should get a bicycle like "a normal adult". AIBU to longboard to work? I have no interest in bicycles and I don't see how long boarding to work is "too try hard".

My old boss canoed along the Thames to work on the City for years. A longboard seems pretty tame in comparison.

I'm genuinely intrigued by the exercise element though. Are they better exercise than walking the same distance? That would surprise me as I'd assume the wheels would do much of the work. But then again I've never skated.

I’d be a combination of thinking you were a bit of a dick, while being jealous I couldn’t but at least people can hear you coming so I say go for!

@StirringUpHatred I lived in a city where someone did commute by unicycle and yeah all I thought about them was attention seeking dickhead!

My daughter surf skates (google it) to school… she’s 10.

I play about on it. I’m 40

They stop a complete stranger and ask them to drive their car?

Round here you wouldn't see your car again!

When you said longboard, I associate that with surfing as Dh is into surfing. I thought you did the morning commute via the sea 😅

My (back then when I was working) 50+ boss was skateboarding all over London and he was known as the cool boss. I see nothing wrong with skateboarding

Gosh that’s creepy

I am a very senior female executive at a big London ‘firm’. I longboard every day when I’m in the city. I wear Vans. I rarely change them actually. I’m in my thirties. It is brilliant and so much fun. And very green. Anyone who wanted to mock me could give it a go, I really don’t give a shit.

I would find DP doing this so cringey.

Honestly I would think kudos to you. Rightly or wrongly I would presume that this was your only mode of transport and you were getting yourself out there to work having followed the old, albeit misquoted, advice of Norman Tebbit and 'got on your bike'

There is a man in the area I work that rides on a scooter, we do not know where he works or where he lives, but he is seen at various points along a route and it is probably significant miles (10+). I think he is a good example to many.

You are only 33 and even if you were 53 once you are capable of doing it then why not and it is great fitness and will also lift the mood. Go for it and tell your husband he sounds like an old man putting you down. I think it is great for you and why should we have to give up on things we enjoy.

I say go for it, as long as you feel confident using it (my best friend got a long board a few years ago and broke his wrist the first day he used it for his commute). I'm planning on getting a scooter for my commute as I'm jealous of my toddler and primary age child getting to school quicker than I can walk with them

In London though I would think you wanted longer in bed, caught a later train and needed to get to the office as quickly as possible.

I'm on Team Longboard! Would do it myself if I was a) skilled enough and b) had a commute to talk of!

Go for it!

Who gives a fuck what judgemental dicks think.

It's fun and it's protecting your health and the environment - fuck what people think! Enjoy your skate!

You could think anything you like.

OP is a ‘she’, not he!

Seriously? Londoners are not this judgmental.

Right? No one would ever guess what I do from seeing me skating along with my headphones on. I really enjoy that.

OP you can ONLY do this if you blast 'Power of Love' by Huey Lewis and hold onto the back of cars and trucks while going through the town centre. Oh and wear an orange gilet!

I saw someone on an electric skateboard today. All I thought was I'd never seen one before and how I'd fall off if I tried. I used to want a big scooter (like they sell in Decathlon) to do the school run but thought I'd look ridiculous, now everyone has an E scooter and it's not seen as odd! I should have gone for it! Maybe I should get one now.

I say go for it!

Another one who thought you meant surfboard and wondered how that worked with a commute.

I think you should worry only about safety and not about what people think. I feel like there are easier commutes (bike?) which have more appropriate surfaces that don’t involve weaving around pedestrians though. I don’t think it’s more accepted because it’s more adult, it just the infrastructure supports bikes. (I think the same about scooters and roller blades. It’s not just skateboards). Unless you work in Brighton maybe and can longboard along the front where there might be space.

When I lived in Brighton there used to be a bloke who went to work on a longboard. Nice suit and tie. He’d stand on it all nonchalant with his briefcase on the front.