Solowheel
solowheel.com
Solowheel
1–10 of 54 posts
Re: Solowheel
#2"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself." - disappointed it wasn't this Solo; but still: seems much better than an electric scooter (for moving around in the city, at least).
Re: Solowheel
#3I wonder how stable this thing is for someone 2m tall like me?
Re: Solowheel
#4The segway was also supposed to change the world - and then it was too expensive.
I'm disappointed to see that this too is far far too expensive. It needs to be under $250 to even have a chance, but they are asking for $1,795!!
Re: Solowheel
#5According 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.
Re: Solowheel
#6According 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.
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.
Re: Solowheel
#7This 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.
Re: Solowheel
#8It seems a little bit ridiculous that they're selling this as a "greener" and healthier alternative than a bicycle. I suppose the advantage is the size?
Re: Solowheel
#9According 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.
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 make the spring force tunable for different people, but that should be possible by adjusting a screw to change the effective length of the spring.
Re: Solowheel
#10This thing was on Shark Tank. They got $300,000 for 33% of the company from Robert and Kevin. I'd link to the video, but I can't find it. It was on episode 7 of season 4.