What makes EUCs so enjoyable?

[Jag_Rip]

Oh, happened today, I was passing a horde of children with their teacher walking somewhere and the shouts and fingers pointing towards me, all the WOW and COOL made me smile for the rest of my commute

[Shad0z]

Only thing that doesn't add up is that it is harder to learn to ride a bike than an euc. But euc is way more fun. Likewise comparing it to regular unicycles, 

What i think makes eucs so enjoyable is the lack of effort, and super intuitive controls, if not the most intuitive. Your body automatically leans where it wants to go. 

With an euc you have the least amount of stuff between you and a reaction. No handlebars, no remotes, no wheels to follow the front wheel. Just a wheel.

[Blueblade]

On 9/24/2015 at 2:20 PM, MrBump said:

Who buys milk by the gallon except restaurants and hotels? 

Ah, you live in the UK...it is pretty commonplace in the US to buy a gallon of milk, to last the family for the week (also common for many to eat a bowl of cold cereal with milk for breakfast).  Also common to make a larger grocery trip once per week, than many smaller/daily stops to grab something for that night. Yes, we have big refrigerators, and refrigerate a lot more items than UK folk do (like eggs, soft drinks, ...)

[Circuitmage]

For me, it comes down to these 4 things;

1) Fun. Learn to ride something new, that many people are not doing. It reminded me of learning to ride a bike as a kid. And learning to ride a motorcycle. It is very much more like riding a motorcycle IMHO.

2) Smooth ride and feeling of speed. It is really a blast to ride. Before this I was into 2 wheel scooters, but could not get the speed I do with these.

3) Portability. Being able to take it to work, go on short vacations and being able to throw this thing in the trunk, or carry on a train makes them really easy to use in a variety of situations. It's the best speed to size ratio. Can ride across open ground, sidewalks or streets, or even wheel into stores, giving me the option to go pretty much anywhere.

4) Often keeps me off the streets. Most of the time I ride on sidewalks, sometimes on streets.

[Retrovertigo]

 It's one of those things that is really quite hard to explain to somebody that hasn't ridden one. There is huge satisfaction as you learn the nuances. The quick acceleration and almost silent running is like nothing else. At least with my Z10, not sure if all wheels are quiet?

 But there is something so serene about just gliding along a few inches off the ground, but you feel like you are much higher. I guess it is like being on a magic carpet, albeit one with an altitude restriction  

 A big part of it, for me is....no one I know personally has one. When I ride around my area, I'm riding something that nobody else has. And while I'd love to see them become more widespread, the fact that you feel like you are in a unique club, is a great feeling  

[M640x]

I agree with many here that there seems to be a great satisfaction in overcoming the learning to ride process.  The learning really never stops at least for me. I started my journey with balance devices on the Onewheel.  I still love it and ride it but don't get near the enjoyment as I do on an EUC.  I was hooked on the Onewheel but I can say I'm addicted to my EUC's.  😆

[Scubadragonsan]

I just want to respond to someone who said riding EUCs has no exercise value. If you just stand on a treadmill, there isn't much exercise value either. A machine/tool/toy's value is what you can do with it. When I am riding my EUC for exercise, I can dance, do squats, perform tricks... they can make me break out a sweat. If you don't think riding EUCs have any exercise values, maybe you haven't really explore the things or exercise you can do on it that will make you sweat.... Any exercise suggestions on EUCs out there???

Edited October 23, 2019 by scubadragosan

[Retrovertigo]

There has to be some exercise value, or people wouldn't be getting aching feet and legs. I guess the closest thing would be skiing? Seeing as you are using your legs as suspension. Watching guys here going off-road, it definitely looks like a workout  

[mrelwood]

While this thread was started half an eon ago, I think it’s a good one. As commented by others, the learning steps that one gets to conquer feel extremely rewarding, still 3 years and 18000km later.

But I think I get the really magnificent kicks from something else. We used to ski up to my teens, and I had ridden the mountain bike up until my illness forced me to stop sometime after 30 yrs of age. Riding an EUC is like skiing and endless slope, that I can even decide how steep it is! Uphills disappear, the same effortless magic takes me anywhere I want, as fast as I dare.

And then the off-roading... That’s where my heart, body and mind still lies. And I can ride my EUC in most places I would go with a mountain bike!

And then there’s the distance. Every time I’ve upgraded my wheel to a faster and more stable one with bigger batteries, I’ve had to re-work the sense and perception of distance. It used to be amazing that I can stroll around at 20km/h for almost 15km! That was a long distance. Then I got the 16S and suddenly my daily ride extended to over 30km. That used to be a distance way too long to practically pedal a bicycle, now it was a trip I did every single day with as little effort as I wanted.

Then I got the MSX, and now I don’t take the car even if I have to visit a speciality store 30km away. And I’m always eagerly looking forward to those trips!

On 9/23/2015 at 2:26 AM, Tom said:

I'd be interested to know how riding an EUC 'feels' in comparison to skating/longboarding/blading/motorbiking, is the sensation of weight balancing and speed the same?

Except that they all go forward and can be steered, not in the slightest. EUC is a magic skiing carpet, there is nothing else even remotely like it in the world. Motorbikes are somewhat fun, but in all different ways and reasons. To me the rest are pointless.

 

18 hours ago, scubadragosan said:

Any exercise suggestions on EUCs out there???

Just one: Off-road! My torso is always sweaty after a proper ride, even when it’s +4•C outside.

[M640x]

I recently "got out of" the motorcycle hobby that I was into for about 16 years. Not because of an accident or getting older or anything like that but simply because I felt it was time. And while I loved my motorcycle hobby, I never felt the rush that I feel when I'm riding my EUC.  After 30 minutes of riding the motorcycle I would be ready to stop. After 30 minutes of riding the EUC I am just getting warmed up.  

I can see me continuing with this hobby for many years to come and I'm interested in seeing the next style and innovations that come from the EUC companies.

Edited October 24, 2019 by Senior Coffee

[Retrovertigo]

 Something else occurred to me. The amazement on people's faces when you explain how it works, how it self balances.....then the real kicker - speed and distance.

The look on people's faces when you tell them some wheels can go for 60 miles plus and do up to 40mph is just fantastic. And to be honest, when you look at the size of an EUC it is incredible to think what they are capable of

But yeah, skiing is the best comparison. I've always fancied skiing but never had the chance, so an EUC is a great alternative. I've also always fancied snowboarding and I guess a single wheel board would be the closest to that.

I met the first person who actually knew what an EUC was yesterday, and amazingly he has just moved into the flat above me. He is a weird bloke, but as soon as he saw it he got all excited and stood outside just to watch me take off  

[Retrovertigo]

You know what else is great? Those guys who are "too cool for school" and pretend like they haven't noticed you, or don't care. But once you pass them and look back, you can see them staring at you