Daan Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Had a blast riding my Solowheel Xtreme in Vancouver, BC. Fun video: first downtown, then the Burrard bridge, highway crossings, and off-roading at the East Canyon trail. It starts very steep where I needed the zig-zag technique to keep going, and I fell halfway -- I was really happy to have my brand new retractable kevlar safety strap; worked great and prevented my wheel to disappear in the canyon Total distance of 33km (with a 90 minute starbucks pitstop to top off the battery halfway )... and max speed of 23.9km/hr (yes I finally got the higher speed firmware -- see it in action at the end of the video)Downtown view: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jag_Rip Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 very nice tour! Wait.. Crossing a Highway?? How fast are those cars driving there? Where did you attach the leash on you? On the leg or Belt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 very nice tour! Wait.. Crossing a Highway?? How fast are those cars driving there? Well, it is not a 'real' highway (see the bike-lane), but at the same time the cars were going pretty fast due to the separated double lanes; was a bit strange to find that in Vancouver Where did you attach the leash on you? On the leg or Belt?Ah, the leash is attached to the belt -- otherwise you cannot easily step off, or carry the wheel on a stair or something. Also when you fall it is nice if you can catch yourself with both legs. The leash I linked to is retractable and pretty long (I have the 'large' 48" but longer would even be better I think) -- you can actually hear it roll-out in the video when I fall. The actual 'rope' is a thin wire but it seems very strong; I think at the force where it would break I would probably want it to break instead of me dragging along The end also has a nice clip so I can easily attach and detach; you can just see it next to my hand in the bottom photo.btw. I think the wire is strong enough to lift the entire weight of the wheel, but I didn't test yet. Best would be if it would not break even after, say, 1 meter free fall of a 14kg wheel but I think at that point the forces would be too strong. I hope somebody will test this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirGeraint Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 btw. I think the wire is strong enough to lift the entire weight of the wheel, but I didn't test yet. Best would be if it would not break even after, say, 1 meter free fall of a 14kg wheel but I think at that point the forces would be too strong. I hope somebody will test this I looked at the Amazon link you gave and I was surprised I couldn't find a weight limit. But I didn't look any further. Glad it saved your Solowheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 I looked at the Amazon link you gave and I was surprised I couldn't find a weight limit. But I didn't look any further. Yeah, it is meant for fishing gear or workman's tools. The pull is fairly strong but when I ride, I don't feel it. The thing seems very sturdy and good quality but not like it was made for 10kg+ attachments It seems to work fine though for our purposes and perhaps it is good that it will break if too much force is applied. Also, I am using it now in the city -- it would be bad to have my wheel run into the road or something and this is gives peace of mind. I also like that it is almost invisible so I can still look cool ah. I just tested lifting the wheel by the wire and the plastic attachment clip shot loose when it was just about lifting up -- so about 12kg 'force' I guess. Seems actually fine -- when the wheel would be dangling just on the rope I probably want it to detach. It is mostly meant to make sure the wheel goes flat and looses momentum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirGeraint Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Yeah, it is meant for fishing gear or workman's tools. The pull is fairly strong but when I ride, I don't feel it. The thing seems very sturdy and good quality but not like it was made for 10kg+ attachments It seems to work fine though for our purposes and perhaps it is good that it will break if too much force is applied. Also, I am using it now in the city -- it would be bad to have my wheel run into the road or something and this is gives peace of mind. I also like that it is almost invisible so I can still look cool ah. I just tested lifting the wheel by the wire and the plastic attachment clip shot loose when it was just about lifting up -- so about 12kg 'force' I guess. Seems actually fine -- when the wheel would be dangling just on the rope I probably want it to detach. It is mostly meant to make sure the wheel goes flat and looses momentum.Sounds good. I might end up buying one. (And here I thought I looked cool enough riding a 1-wheeled magical vehicle.).I find many circumstances and have many reasons where I don't want my 9B1 to run away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jag_Rip Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 in most cases the wheel will tumble over and turn off because of that but sometimes it just keeps going and I am probably getting something like that for those cases, especially if its comfy to use anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 We never got up into the forest when we were in Vancouver 20months ago. Didn't have a euc there anyway and I don't do walking. We were over visiting friends in Grand Forks so flew into Vancouver and hired a car to drive there and back. Also visited the Olympic site at Whistler mountain but we're too late in the season for any decent skiing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted September 5, 2015 Author Share Posted September 5, 2015 Ah, I did my most challenging ride yesterday -- in Vancouver at the Lynn Canyon (upper trail) -- very rocky and very steep at parts; I need to often carry the wheel My shiny safety strap is good enough for city terrain I think but in the mountain it just cut loose all the time (but it did stop the wheel from tumbling...) -- I want something stronger though. Anyway, here it is:Just managed to make it back on the battery -- going just uphill eats the battery; total range 10km lol. (but max speed was 28km/hr (pedal tilt starts at 22km/hr) at some time during descent I had to let it go fast for a short while)btw. if others want to try, the lower Canyon trails are much easier and a lot of fun too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Very nice my wife and I were just in Vancouver for 3 weeks or so. While there we picked her up an electric scooter. We also did lynn canyon, the seawall (where I had my worst bail yet) and many other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Wow, that is some serious terrain! I took my IPS wheel offroad for the first time today, and found it pretty challenging even without the big rocks all over the place.EDIT: Do you know of some good trails on eastside that I could try out? So far I've just been hanging around the Marymoor Park area and going up and down the bike paths around there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 Wow, that is some serious terrain! I took my IPS wheel offroad for the first time today, and found it pretty challenging even without the big rocks all over the place.Thanks It was very tricky but fun -- lot of balancing and manouvering and falling off lol EDIT: Do you know of some good trails on eastside that I could try out? So far I've just been hanging around the Marymoor Park area and going up and down the bike paths around there.The bike trails around Marymoore are nice -- but the walking trails are not so good for a EUC (I think). Just take it easy in the beginning. Best off-road I found till now, is at Discovery park in Seattle -- however, not sure how legal it is so don't go when it is too busy lol Start at the south entrance and there is great little trails with packed earth on the 'plateau' (the main gravel roads are less fun -- from the south entrance, you go a little west to some little 'dune' and viewpoint; just north of there start two small paths next to the brushes which go there). To the north and east is nice challenging forest riding -- great to improve your skills also when riding in the city :-) Hope we can meet up some time and ride together (but I am travelling for the next 2 weeks)(disclaimer: off-road is very fun of course, but when going there your wheel will get all dirty and may break etc. I cracked already the top part of the wheel shell and part of the handle. and It gets really really dirty especially in the wet weather. on hilly terrain a safety leash is perhaps also a good plan -- not fully sure as you also want to be nimble when falling off ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Thanks It was very tricky but fun -- lot of balancing and manouvering and falling off lol The bike trails around Marymoore are nice -- but the walking trails are not so good for a EUC (I think). Just take it easy in the beginning. Best off-road I found till now, is at Discovery park in Seattle -- however, not sure how legal it is so don't go when it is too busy lol Start at the south entrance and there is great little trails with packed earth on the 'plateau' (the main gravel roads are less fun -- from the south entrance, you go a little west to some little 'dune' and viewpoint; just north of there start two small paths next to the brushes which go there). To the north and east is nice challenging forest riding -- great to improve your skills also when riding in the city :-) Hope we can meet up some time and ride together (but I am travelling for the next 2 weeks)(disclaimer: off-road is very fun of course, but when going there your wheel will get all dirty and may break etc. I cracked already the top part of the wheel shell and part of the handle. and It gets really really dirty especially in the wet weather. on hilly terrain a safety leash is perhaps also a good plan -- not fully sure as you also want to be nimble when falling off )Sounds interesting, think I'll check it out on google earth first. Give me a shout when you're back in town, and we can find somewhere to smash our wheels to little pieces together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 Very nice my wife and I were just in Vancouver for 3 weeks or so. While there we picked her up an electric scooter. We also did lynn canyon, the seawall (where I had my worst bail yet) and many other places.Yeah, I liked Stanley park too. Are you saying you did the same upper Lynn Canyon trail as in my video? With a EUC? I had a hard time doing that We never got up into the forest when we were in Vancouver 20months ago. Didn't have a euc there anyway and I don't do walkingAh, you missed out without an eWheel I really enjoyed exploring with the eWheel because it is so easy to cover a lot of distance; moreover, there were so many Starbuck's everywhere that it was convenient to recharge and have no battery fear, lol. But Vancouver is very beautiful surrounded by nature -- I am sure you enjoyed it! Funny huh, walking feels kinda slow nowadays -- I hardly walk longer distances anymore; I am on sure yet that is a good or bad thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Yeah, I liked Stanley park too. Are you saying you did the same upper Lynn Canyon trail as in my video? With a EUC? I had a hard time doing that yea sir. I was pretty much forced to take my wheel with me everywhere I went. There were some places where dismount was needed and walking was required but all in all I've become quite comfortable offroad because of where I live, I go out to the mountain regularly.lynn canyon was not the only place we went that was tricky. we also went caving and I brought my wheel there becuase I thought it was funny to ride around in the cave on my wheel, (Ididn't find it so funny traversing the cave with not only my backpack but now an extra 25lbs or so ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 yea sir. I was pretty much forced to take my wheel with me everywhere I went. There were some places where dismount was needed and walking was required but all in all I've become quite comfortable offroad because of where I live, I go out to the mountain regularly.lynn canyon was not the only place we went that was tricky. we also went caving and I brought my wheel there becuase I thought it was funny to ride around in the cave on my wheel, (Ididn't find it so funny traversing the cave with not only my backpack but now an extra 25lbs or so ) Yeah, future-me hates current-me pretty often but, but luckily for current-me, future-me can't do much about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason McNeil Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 @Daan, terrain like those trails is where the 18" comes it's own , something like the King Song 800 has the motor power, but the 14" is definitely going to struggle on irregular surfaces. What's the official SW word on the increased speed limit then? Is this a one-off? special-request? Is the firmware going to be updateable via the App like Ninebot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted September 6, 2015 Author Share Posted September 6, 2015 yea sir. I was pretty much forced to take my wheel with me everywhere I went. There were some places where dismount was needed and walking was required but all in all I've become quite comfortable offroad Cool! Hope we can ride together sometime You must have been on the "Varley" trail though -- that is so fun; the upper trails (across the Lynn Loop trail and towards Lynn Peak) need a lot of hiking -- I carried the wheel in total for at least a mile especially on the switch back down to the river.Do you have some video of the cave riding? You must have been a first! @Daan, terrain like those trails is where the 18" comes it's own , something like the King Song 800 has the motor power, but the 14" is definitely going to struggle on irregular surfaces. What's the official SW word on the increased speed limit then? Is this a one-off? special-request? Is the firmware going to be updateable via the App like Ninebot? I guess so -- although I tried a firewheel (16") and it seemed to work just fine too Currently, to get the increased speed limit (which is a godsend! -- so much better!) you need to sign a release form, and you need a firmware update -- which can only be done at the factory (and perhaps some resellers -- I heard that almost all wheels in France come with the speed upgrade by default?). I happen to live closeby so I visited them at the factory and got my upgrade It looks like currently there is no way to update through an app or something, but they are planning to make that possible on future models. They are super nice people -- really great visit! and I got to see the Orbit prototype which was great fun for me.With the speed upgrade, tilting starts at 22km/hr and I can ride 24km/hr when leaning into the tilt. However, with the new upgrade I usually ride at around 20, 21km/hr naturally -- this is where the wind starts blowing in your ears and feels like a pleasant commuting speed (to me). The riding experience is vastly better for me with the speed upgrade and I would not buy a Solowheel without it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetricUSA Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I'm just glad I can now master the city boken sidewalks... Still having problem deciding between a '460 mm' kingsong or Msuper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 Cmon. You know you can't pass up the bluetooth speakers on the king song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimlet Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 I'm just glad I can now master the city boken sidewalks... Still having problem deciding between a '460 mm' kingsong or Msuper...I think you're better holding off on your decision for a while what with the expected release of the 1300W motor KS and a new M18 model due at the end of the year. Exciting times ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetricUSA Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 I need a 'winter' ride, and need to get extra tire for stud service.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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