Suspension and Shock Absorbers. Current Options.

[Jean eRide.ie Community]

I have seen a few videos of electric unicycles with prototype suspension mechanisms.

While those unicycles are invented and developed, here are some options I have found which can currently be used.
Please share any other options you find bellow!  

Shoe suspension or shock observers. They may not be the best option, but they may help!
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on how well you believe they would work.

Enko Shoes - Not cheap, ~370 USD, ~320 EUR - https://enko-running-shoes.com/en/boutique/chaussure-running.php

Watch from 5:35

 

 

FP KingFoam Elite Insoles (other insoles may also be good, but these ones have a great reputation within the skating community) - 30 USD, 35 EUR (+3€ Shipping in EU) - http://www.fpinsoles.com/ (They have warehouses/dealers all over the world).
Watch from 6:02

 

Edited November 9, 2018 by Jean Dublin

[ShadowWheelin']

Interesting options.  I wear orthopedic insoles for general walking purposes, but find skate shoes better suited when EUC riding because they are often flat soled, where as most shoes have some degree of inclined heel. 

I look forward to EUCs with dampened suspension.  Shocks would greatly reduce spring recoil and fatigue on the rider's knees.  With EUC capable of doing 60KM/h nowadays, riding over pot holes would be less of a concern with suspension.

[Girth Brooks]

@Jean Dublin those fpinsoles are fantastic! Highly recommend. 

[ShadowWheelin']

It just occurred to me that sports cars use magnetic ride suspension with a polling frequency so high, the driver doesn't feel the body roll during cornering.  With EUCs being electrically driven, magnetic dampening suspension just might be the best solution to provide both stability and dampening while maintaining rider control over the EUC.   Traditional gas filled automotive shocks still have some recoil, usually 1.5 oscillations before returning to static positioning..  Magnetic dampening would smoothly return to static ride height without the rider being as aware of the recoil.

Technology is awesome.  The future is awesome.  This is an exciting solution.

[Jean eRide.ie Community]

11 minutes ago, ShadowWheelin' said:

It just occurred to me that sports cars use magnetic ride suspension with a polling frequency so high, the driver doesn't feel the body roll during cornering.  With EUCs being electrically driven, magnetic dampening suspension just might be the best solution to provide both stability and dampening while maintaining rider control over the EUC.   Traditional gas filled automotive shocks still have some recoil, usually 1.5 oscillations before returning to static positioning..  Magnetic dampening would smoothly return to static ride height without the rider being as aware of the recoil.

Technology is awesome.  The future is awesome.  This is an exciting solution.

Sounds great even if I can't understand it

Do they currently make shoes with something like that? haha.

[ShadowWheelin']

4 minutes ago, Jean Dublin said:

Sounds great even if I can't understand it

Do they currently make shoes with something like that? haha.

I highly doubt there are.  This is complex suspension technology.  The EUC down side would be loss of range (use of battery power) in favour of ride quality.

Edited November 9, 2018 by ShadowWheelin'

[Jean eRide.ie Community]

Another current shock absorber is the rubber under the Rockwheel GT16 pedals.
They do make it a smooth ride even on not perfectly polished surfaces.
I don't think they make much for harder impacts like going down a curb (maybe a bit) or riding over a pothole.

Aliexpress Link, 30 USD (expensive due to the express courier I guess)

[LanghamP]

Tire technology: the current air-filled tire provides both compression and dampening, and is roughly adjustable by the user via air pressure.

However, most (all?) EUCs use the much higher than 35 psi on a 2 inch wide balloon tires we see on beach cruisers, and of course that might be a measure of two vs one tire, but still much wider tires at much lower pressures must be the first suspension.

Then, we have to decide whether to put the suspension between the wheel and the shell like a car, or put the suspension under the driver like a long-haul truck driver.

In my opinion something as simple as the Thudbuster which is basically just thick rubber would work fine for the low-speed EUC.

[Flying W]

@mrelwood has a thread about different materials placed under the pedal (like the rubber strips above for the rockwheel). Gel insoles work well. I had some in an old pair of shoes. It has helped with my bad knee but is not super noticable going off a curb. Rough road, uneven concrete slabs on the sidewalk, sharp edge pavement when crossing a gutter, that where I notice it the most. Those small almost 90 degree edges were also the worst for my bad knee. 

Check out mrelwood's thread and experiment. Lots of material around the house and it's all easily reversible if you dont like it. 

[mrelwood]

The gel in the pedal hinge only really works with KingSong pedals. For the MSX I have a custom pedal top plate that is fixed only at the front, and rests on top of silicone blocks. Combined with thick spongy insoles (in the shoes) the ride is hugely more comfortable than without.

Alienrides had a short video a while back where he just glued plates of sponge rubber on top of the pedals. Didn’t see a full review, but his initial thoughts were positive.

I too am waiting to see what the markets bring up as the first solution. Meanwhile, I ride on silicone.

[FreeRide]

On 11/9/2018 at 9:57 AM, Jean Dublin said:

.....

FP KingFoam Elite Insoles (other insoles may also be good, but these ones have a great reputation within the skating community) - 30 USD, 35 EUR (+3€ Shipping in EU) - http://www.fpinsoles.com/ (They have warehouses/dealers all over the world).
Watch from 6:02 ....

 

This looks like the same tech as D3O, basically D3O in an insole.

Edited November 12, 2018 by FreeRide

[Roue Libre]

Maybe you won't find this a good option, but I feel much more comfortable since I strongly decreased my tire pressure.

When I started doing EUC in 2015, the risk of cutoff was so high that it was recommended to never ride below 2bars (somewhat 35 PSI) to reduce effort for the engine. Also the autonomy of the wheels at that time was quite limited. But now with a ACMs+ 1300wh there is no such cutoff/range issue any more. So I sometimes ride with less than a bar (yes less than 1) of tire pressure. For off-road, I find it quite okay. However on "hard" ground, to pass curb edges, 1 bar is minimum. My weight is around 68kg at the moment.

Do you guys have experience riding very low pressure ? Did you experience puncture ?

[stephen]

2 hours ago, Roue Libre said:

Do you guys have experience riding very low pressure ? Did you experience puncture ?

I ride at 30psi I'm 90kg i like the soft smooth feeling no hard knocks easier on the knees to.. No punctures as yet ?

[Flying W]

1 hour ago, stephen said:

I ride at 30psi I'm 90kg i like the soft smooth feeling no hard knocks easier on the knees to.. No punctures as yet ?

My riding weight is just under yours. I haven't gone that low on tire pressure yet. I'm pretty easy on my wheel, no jumping off curbs or anything like that, so I think I'll try it lower. I typically keep it at 42 psi. In weight 180lbs (82kg aprox) before gear and and a pack. 

My 16s came with the flat defender tire. The carcass is very stiff. I dont know if all the 16s's came with this tire but it doesnt need mnt bike pressure that's for sure. If I put 42psi in my mnt bike I'd bend a rim or get a pinch flat.

[Jean eRide.ie Community]

@Flying W @mrelwood
Thanks for the pedal sponges/gel tips.
I was saying similar ones at the end of my post here:

I even mentioned repelling magnets as a possible option. I am just scared or using superglue to stick magnets under my 18L's pedals to find out it's not good and having to try to remove them haha.
 

 

Many things come into play, the size of the magnets (to fit), the force they can hold before touching each other.
If used on KS pedals, the force should hold the riders weight, but not push the pedal to close it, as that could cause an accident if while riding the wheel separates too much from the rider's feet...

Edited November 13, 2018 by Jean Dublin

[Jean eRide.ie Community]

I got my FP  KingFoam Elite Insoles.

They feel good while walking, whenever it stops raining in Dublin I'll be able to test on the Unicycle. Hopefully on this Saturday's MeetUp.

I also took the opportunity to use the excess of the sole after cutting it to my size.

I put a price under each pedal, now the pedal doesn't directly touch the metal (which is a hard stop/hit), but into the insole, and once standing on it it almost touches the metal.

Here some pictures with a bit of detail.

This works for the KingSong Unicycles, but others may also have somewhere you can but a foam like this, some may not.

Let's see how it works. I don't think it will absorb much impact while riding on the road, as it is already compressed, but mostly if I ever have to go down a curb or something similar (doesn't happen often, but we'll). Anything that is removing weight and falling back into the pedals.

On the pictures I show the petal angle change from the normal to with the foam when sitting on it and when pressed (riding).

I also show how the pedal opens into that area. The screws under the petals are the part of the pedal that sits on the foam.

Too many pictures and on mobile now, so won't upload each one, here all:

https://imgur.com/a/PekmHAQ

 

Edited November 21, 2018 by Jean Dublin

[Flying W]

I'm looking forward to seeing how you like it. It absorbs a lot of vibration on cobble stones and dirt trails. 

I've been commuting for a few weeks now this way. For me it feels similar to running lower tire pressure by about 5psi without being more bouncy.  

The one important thing is to have the same amount on each side, as close as you can get it. On some of my experiments using a combo with bumper foam my densities were slightly different causing more weight on one side. 

I hope your rain stops and you have awesome weather for the group ride!

[someguy152]

On 11/9/2018 at 9:57 AM, Jean Dublin said:

FP KingFoam Elite Insoles (other insoles may also be good, but these ones have a great reputation within the skating community) - 30 USD, 35 EUR (+3€ Shipping in EU) - http://www.fpinsoles.com/ (They have warehouses/dealers all over the world).
Watch from 6:02

just wanted to bring this back up for anybody who might see this.

I have some form of kingfoams and they make a huge difference. Its actually for some reason scary riding on my KS18s, I don't feel anything.  On my 16s, comfort is a lot better but i can still feel the bumps and it's reassuring for whatever reason