Solowheel • Hacker News Board

Re: Solowheel

#21

Post by monsterix » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:10 PM UTC

This is interesting but then again the price point doesn't seem to help break the do-I-look-like-a-dork image[1]. Also without the handle wouldn't it feel that you're not in control of the machine? To me it would. At least the Segway has a handle.

Then again, I'd rather see this product through the lens of tomorrow. When we'd have more Teslas and Segways out there these unicycles too will find more acceptance. Fossilization of fossil fuel ones should kind of pave way for this type of hardware. Good luck to the guys building it!

[1] http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html

Re: Solowheel

#22

Post by TylerE » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:10 PM UTC

tirant wrote: post #14

Why are people wearing a helmet? It only gets up to 16km/h (10mph), and it just adds like 10cm to your height. Humans can run up to 44 km/h and Ive never seen them wearing a helmet. It really makes the product look dangerous.

I bet it's classified as an electric bike....and lots of places require helmets for bike riders.

Re: Solowheel

#23

Post by stewbrew » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:11 PM UTC

Looks like a GausWheel for people who don't want to move in order to move.

Re: Solowheel

#24

Post by carlob » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:12 PM UTC

24 lbs?! How does the girl in the video lug it so effortlessly in her office?

Re: Solowheel

#25

Post by josephpmay » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:13 PM UTC

casca wrote: post #7

This seems to have come out over 2 years ago so the price may be far too high. I do wonder whether it would have been far more successful if they'd created a snazzy Kickstarter video and required people to pre-pay for it.

A few months ago, the company had a Kickstarter for a follow up product that doesn't require the balancing.

Re: Solowheel

#26

Post by Dewie » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:16 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #15

jgrahamc wrote: post #5

According to the documentation it balances front-to-back and not side-to-side and the rider is responsible for maintaining that balance. I wonder how easy that is (especially with any load like a backpack). I think I'd rather spend the $1,800 on a really good bike. But I bet this is fun to mess around on.

> I think I'd rather spend the $1,800 on a really good bike. For city transportation purposes, a solid, but crappy bike is much better: it's far less likely to be stolen, and a lot less stressful.

This seems like I can lug around inside buildings and whatnot, unlike a bike. I don't trust biking to a lot of places, because cretins will take whatever they can: the wheels, the steering wheel, anything that isn't bolted on, really.

Re: Solowheel

#27

Post by rplnt » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:17 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #15

jgrahamc wrote: post #5

According to the documentation it balances front-to-back and not side-to-side and the rider is responsible for maintaining that balance. I wonder how easy that is (especially with any load like a backpack). I think I'd rather spend the $1,800 on a really good bike. But I bet this is fun to mess around on.

> I think I'd rather spend the $1,800 on a really good bike. For city transportation purposes, a solid, but crappy bike is much better: it's far less likely to be stolen, and a lot less stressful.

Maybe he meant e-bike? Because my city bike was under $100, can't imagine paying more. It's not especially crappy, it's just featureless and old. $1,800 would get you mid-range road bike. (or fancy singlespeed)

Re: Solowheel

#28

Post by Dewie » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:20 PM UTC

ars wrote: post #9

jstanley wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since the wheel doesn't roll side to side, I imagine it's much the same as balancing a bicycle. Also, since the wheel doesn't roll in that axis, it would also (I think) be impossible to auto-stabilise, since there is no steering capability. Perhaps it could have weights slide around to try to balance it, but I can't see that being particularly effective.

> Since the wheel doesn't roll side to side, I imagine it's much the same as balancing a bicycle. A bicycle moves. A stationary bicycle is impossible to balance (for most people anyway). I don't see how this would be any different. As soon as you stop you fall off? If it were me I'd add two small wheels (training wheels? :) on springs + shocks on either side. (Make them fold in to maintain portability.) You'd have to…

They show a woman being able to accelerate forwards, then slow down enough to drive backwards, all the while without having to put one of her feet down.

Re: Solowheel

#29

Post by ajju » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:20 PM UTC

I like the 10 mile range, but the 24lb weight makes it difficult to lug around.

Boosted Boards, by comparison, weighs 12-15 lbs and has a 6 mile range.

Re: Solowheel

#30

Post by msandford » Thu, Aug 01, 2013, 2:23 PM UTC

I'd much rather spend that much money on an electric bike where all the tubes are slightly oversized and have li-ion batteries inside them and a fairly well hidden/disguised electric motor somewhere. Nobody thinks twice about being seen on a bike. Plus there's the "I can pedal a very small amount and double the range" factor.