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Solowheel

solowheel.com

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Re: Solowheel

#41

Post by Piskvorrr »

herge wrote: post #36
mike_esspe wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

BTW, for short-length city transportation (5-10km) folding kick scooter is better, than bike. You can always fold it and bring it inside. And you are still 2-3 times faster, than pedestrian. I think kick scooter was my best purchase this year :)

5km is quite a long time to be on a kick scooter.

It's feasible, with some training. The first time I have done this, I thought my legs were going to fall off the next day - kick scooter riding is more tiring than riding a bike. After about a week, I was able to do a 6 km commute on a scooter without a problem.

Re: Solowheel

#42

Post by zainali »

corin_ wrote: post #40
benvd wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people couldn't stand on one foot? Really? Am I that out of touch with reality? Not even being snarky.

It's not that people can't stand on one foot, it's that if you stand on this wheel with only one foot, then you'll fall sideways before your other foot has a chance to hit the ground. Well, that's my assumption, anyway. Get on a (normal) bike, ride along, then stand up on it so your weight is on the pedals through your feet. Come to a stop, then try and get off it, from standing, without supporting yourself with hand…

man they got this girl riding around in circles on one foot, you can't do that?

Re: Solowheel

#43

Post by Piskvorrr »

corin_ wrote: post #40
benvd wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people couldn't stand on one foot? Really? Am I that out of touch with reality? Not even being snarky.

It's not that people can't stand on one foot, it's that if you stand on this wheel with only one foot, then you'll fall sideways before your other foot has a chance to hit the ground. Well, that's my assumption, anyway. Get on a (normal) bike, ride along, then stand up on it so your weight is on the pedals through your feet. Come to a stop, then try and get off it, from standing, without supporting yourself with hand…

I've had an opportunity to try this contraption (or something remarkably similar) and this problem is academic: it's very much unlike a bike, but you'll learn how to stop and dismount without falling off, very quickly (haven't really tried whether I could stop w/o dismount, as I've played with it for a few minutes at most). It's similar to unicycles in this respect (note how in the videos, users ride back and forth a little bit, instead of coming to a complete stop).

Re: Solowheel

#44

Post by corin_ »

Piskvorrr wrote: post #43
corin_ wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that people can't stand on one foot, it's that if you stand on this wheel with only one foot, then you'll fall sideways before your other foot has a chance to hit the ground. Well, that's my assumption, anyway. Get on a (normal) bike, ride along, then stand up on it so your weight is on the pedals through your feet. Come to a stop, then try and get off it, from standing, without supporting yourself with hand…

I've had an opportunity to try this contraption (or something remarkably similar) and this problem is academic: it's very much unlike a bike, but you'll learn how to stop and dismount without falling off, very quickly (haven't really tried whether I could stop w/o dismount, as I've played with it for a few minutes at most). It's similar to unicycles in this respect (note how in the videos, users ride back and forth a…

OK fair enough, I've never tried anything like it - was just explaining why it wouldn't be quite as simple as "can you stand on one leg".

Re: Solowheel

#45

Post by freehunter »

nwh wrote: post #33
freehunter wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Under $250?! I'd say around $500. I don't know if I'd trust it if it were under $250, not with the manufacturing technology I know of today.

It's a microcontroller, a hub driven motor and a lead acid battery. You could probably churn these out quite cheaply if you so desires.

The whole is more than the sum of the parts. The first Mustang off the line costs millions of dollars, but not because that car has millions of dollars of parts in it rather because making the car is more than just bolting the steel together.

These guys didn't grab an Arduino from Amazon and wire it to a pawn shop unicycle.

Re: Solowheel

#46

Post by mike_esspe »

herge wrote: post #36
mike_esspe wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

BTW, for short-length city transportation (5-10km) folding kick scooter is better, than bike. You can always fold it and bring it inside. And you are still 2-3 times faster, than pedestrian. I think kick scooter was my best purchase this year :)

5km is quite a long time to be on a kick scooter.

That is around 30 minutes of leisure pace kicking, 20 minutes if you are in a hurry. The key is to change kicking leg every 5-10 kicks.

I drive 200mm wheel scooter, so one kick sends you a long way, if you are on a good and plain pavement.

Re: Solowheel

#47

Post by rdouble »

apendleton wrote: post #31
Dewie wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You could get a decent folding bike (a Dahon or Brompton) for way less money than that, and folded, they're not much bigger than this thing. Plus they're street-legal in most places, likely unlike this thing, and you get the exercise benefits of riding.

I agree that a Brompton is a better choice. It folds up to about the same size as this uni-wheel thing. However, they are pretty expensive. Mine was pretty close to $1800. I think the cheapest one (1 speed, no lighting system) is $1000.

Re: Solowheel

#48

Post by sdoowpilihp »

mike_esspe wrote: post #35
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.

BTW, for short-length city transportation (5-10km) folding kick scooter is better, than bike. You can always fold it and bring it inside. And you are still 2-3 times faster, than pedestrian. I think kick scooter was my best purchase this year :)

Longboards are also a nice, compact option for short distances around town.

Re: Solowheel

#49

Post by ars »

Dewie wrote: post #28
ars wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

There are people who can do that with bicycles, and other feats of balance too.

That doesn't mean most people can do that.

Re: Solowheel

#50

Post by tlb »

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.

A backpack is possible, but a messenger bag swings around too much.

I prefer this electric unicycle, with a seat: http://focusdesigns.com/

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