Is an EUC for me?

[LadyPug]

Hey everyone,

I’m new to the forum and am here to explore whether an EUC could be a fit for me even though I have hip replacements and don’t want to fall, pretty much ever.  I discovered the EUC by accident when I was out walking my dogs and a young man zipped by me on his wheel.  IMO, he was traveling much too fast for the bike path we were on and zipped by so fast I couldn't even tell you if he wore protective gear, but as a former motorcyclist, I was intrigued about this mode of transportation and wanted to know more.  

I've watched a ton of videos and read a number of posts, checking out the different EUCs.  I’m intrigued by the few EUC’s that offer a seat and wonder if riding seated offers a slight degree of additional safety in bringing the center of gravity down as well as allowing both feet to be put down quickly in the event of an emergency stop.  I notice also that those EUC’s with seats are generally the highest power options and generally not marketed as beginner wheels.

I’ll be a conservative rider.  I won’t be pushing the speed limit of the wheel as I don’t want to risk injury or dislocation of my hip replacements.  So basic question is: do you experienced people think I can learn from the get-go to ride seated?  I realize there are devices out there that are specifically a seated unicycle with a fat tire and handle, but I don’t like this set up as they seem too big to walk into a store with such a device which is what I’d do with an EUC rather than leave it unattended outside.

I’ll also add that I plan to learn to ride standing with ‘training wheels’ sort of.  I have a bike trailer/stroller that I use when I walk my dogs.  I tether the dogs to the stroller so the stroller absorbs any pulling by them instead of it torquing my hips.  Eventually, it would be nice to use the wheel to ‘walk’ them in this setup so we could zip along a little faster, but in the beginning, I could just use the trailer/stroller as my ‘moving rail’ to help with balance as I learn.

So, thoughts? Should I pursue learning to ride an EUC, a large one with the seated option, or would you say it’s not advisable under the circumstances?   Btw, I’m mid 50’s and female.

[Planemo]

As much as I would never turn anyone away from wheeling, I have concerns about your comment that you don't really want to fall - ever. I am kind of the opinion that a fall is almost inevitable at some point on an EUC, and with a replacement hip I do wince at the thought of you damaging it. That said, I don't really know how much 'weaker' a replacement is, if any?

Maybe @Rehab1 could assist you with this as he has good knowledge of joints.

I'm also not sure that you could go straight to riding seated without having some degree of skill at standing first. I think it might be tricky to find someone that has actually done it. I don't see why not, but the learning curve might be even steeper.

[Unventor]

First off I have not yet been testing seated EUC riding. That said from what I gather it is not at all like sitting on a mc (not ridden that either).

I started myself due to rheumatic conditions in mt knee, lower back and shoulders/neck area. But it spread further. I were so bad I couldn't stand on one leg to wear a sock or put on a shoe. But learning to ride was hard but after 5-6 training sessions of 10-15 min I got the basics. Now 1 and 3/4 years later I have like 2300 miles all together one 4 different wheels. 

If you pick up EUC riding, I think you will find a new level of transportation freedom, but you need to accept the risk too, as accidents can happen. And if they do, you might not have much to say in what happens. Some of the biggest injuries posted about happened at standstill or very low speed as people got caught out by surprise.

I think in a poll made some time ago we saw average age is about yours so that is not an issue. I think you will find the ridding is fairly gentle as long you don't go fast. mainly since you stand on both legs and in somewhat static pose. I can't walk on tilted terrain. But I can ride my EUC both up and downhill without an issue. Once you get the basic covered, you find it is very similar to skiing, but not limited by going from up to down, but going anyway you choose between A to B. 

I got a lot better very fast (I am in less pain, and can move a lot more now), but that is not the same for everyone. Everyone at my work said that it was an crazy idea to do, but these days all of them are happy for my achievement and how it changed me. 

I can only say riding seated you are in a lower position but also locked in and much harder to react for an accident or act it you hit a pot hole. I would personally not recommend this.

I hope this was helpful, despite I can't give a yes/no answer to you.

Note: I slipped my wheel on Friday due to winter season here, icy patch on pedestrian passing, while braking and turning. I hit my elbow but since I were fully geared up I only got a slight bruise and a tiny scrape mark. 

 

[atdlzpae]

Riding seated offers less safety - you have way less control over the wheel and it's impossible to "run off" a crash. It's also way harder to ride slowly.
Seated riding is an advanced and dangerous technique that very few of us use.

Training wheels don't help in learning. You have to learn some subconscious reflexes to ride a unicycle and training wheels negate them.
I didn't faceplant during the learning phase, only later. So it's absolutely possible to learn to ride without faceplanting. But with 50 "ran-off" crashes. ;-)

EUC's are not for you! You're not fit enough. You can't run off a crash. You will faceplant at some point.
I can't imagine riding without fully functional legs.

Maybe try an e-bike? With additional wheels to keep it stable?

Edited December 3, 2019 by atdlzpae

[Unventor]

1 minute ago, atdlzpae said:

Riding seated offers less safety - you have way less control over the wheel and it's impossible to "run off" a crash. It's also way harder to ride slowly.
Seated riding is an advanced and dangerous technique that very few of us use.

Training wheels don't help in learning. You have to learn some subconscious reflexes to ride a unicycle and training wheels negate them.
I didn't faceplant during the learning phase, only later. So it's absolutely possible to learn to ride without faceplanting. But with 50 "ran-off" crashes. ;-)

EUC's are not for you! You're not fit enough. You can't run off a crash. You will faceplant at some point.

Maybe try an e-bike? With additional wheels to keep it stable?

I agree this is something you need to evaluate before setting your mind to this. None of us here know what you can or cannot do right now or later. From what I know of replacement joints, is you could move almost like normal, or it can be a struggle. 

[Justin Boivin]

I would not suggest riding an EUC with said limitations, especially if you don't want to run the risk of ever falling. Minor tumbles are expected when you're learning, but the ability to recover from a tumble and have it not turn into a 'fall' depends greatly on your mobility and ability to react. Riding an EUC isn't all that strenuous, but feet/legs/knees/ hips are all necessary for balance, shock absorption, and control.

[Nothereanymore]

I tell this to anyone considering any PEV.  if you are not ready to go all out and accept the consequences, they are not for you.  Hesitation can and will get you seriously injured or killed.   Not owning/mastering your ride is dangerous.

You have to WANT to ride it, not KINDA SORTA MAYBE.  Own it or leave it alone.  The same goes for anything "extreme/dangerous". 

[RockyTop]

 Where is @Rehab1 when you need him?! 

My first thought is that EUC’s are a bad choice for you. However, several people here have used them to replace a wheelchair. They have become stronger and more capable. Riding an EUC is a fun way to build core muscles. Building core muscles makes most people stronger and less likely to get hurt when they do fall. I am not sure that core muscles would improve a hip replacement. Unfortunately everyone ends up hitting the ground at some point. 

  I have a great deal of respect for  @Unventor and several others ( you know who you are) that have chosen the more risky solution to freedom.   In the end I am NOT going to suggest that you choose the EUC. 

Best wishes, 

 

[Rywokast]

you will fall, its a fact.. if you ride on any sort of a regular basis its inevitable.. how badly depends, but mid 50s with hip replacements im going to have to assume your reflexes and athleticism arent that of a 20 year old.. i wouldnt say you shouldnt do it, just dont expect it to be perfectly safe all the time.. and no, seated riding is not safer, far from it its much more dangerous and more difficult than riding standing.. as other have said, training wheels will only hinder you they are completely pointless imo. honestly, i think a much better choice would be an electric scooter, an euc seems like a poor fit, though with enough dedication its possible for anyone to ride one well so if you have some money to blow you could try one out and see what you think, perhaps there is somewhere that can rent one out instead of having to buy one? or even somewhere that offers lessons?

[LadyPug]

Thanks for all the great feedback.  There’s too many of you to quote but I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said.  I DO want it, despite my reservations.  I am not fit per se, meaning I am not able to run, but I have otherwise complete use of my legs, including good reaction and body balance.  If you saw me walk, you wouldn’t know I had joint replacements unless I told you.  I do think EUCing (is that a word?) can help build my core muscles and overall help my strength and mobility in the long run IF I train cautiously using an aide like the stroller in a way an ebike can not..  Incidentally, I had an ebike, but we have a lot of bicycle theft in my area, so my interest in pursuing the EUC would be to return to a more freeing form of transportation (get out of the car) that has the flexibility of coming with me to meetings or in stores so as not to be left unattended outside.  I agree with ‘accept the consequences’, which is why I sold my motorcycle...I felt too vulnerable at speed with distracted motorists around me on their cell phones, etc. and counted my blessings from logging many miles and never suffering a crash.   I get that those motorists are still very much there.

I’ll go back and reread/take to heart all your advice.  The good news is that I still have all my safety gear from the motorcycle in the event I decide to give it a go, I’ll be prepared in that department.   Thanks again.
 

 

[LadyPug]

One more thought... I think you/EUCs are on the cusp of a transportation revolution.  It’s exciting to see all the options for personal transportation that gives people the freedom of mobility that is not dependent on a car, including EUCs, escooters, one wheelers, electric skateboards, etc. and to see all the options that have come to market in just a few short years.   A single wheeled self balancing electric vehicle may not be the best choice for someone like me, but perhaps the innovations happening in the market will lead to something more feasible for folks like me.

[Darrell Wesh]

I would recommend a Segway Mini or an e-bike. From how it sounds from your post, an EUC can fairly easily ruin your life with debilitating injury and medical expenses. 

As everyone has said, seated riding is far more dangerous than standing and the two wheels that you can do it best on (Ks18s and Monster) are a real struggle to go slowly while seated. As in, if you think you can learn seated riding first then not only your wheel but you will fall A LOT as you will need more speed than standing and you will not be able to run off anything. 
 

 

Edited December 3, 2019 by Darrell Wesh

[Marty Backe]

Sad to agree with everyone else, but given your concerns you absolutely should stay far far away from EUC's 

Riding our wheels is a contact support. I don't care how careful you are, eventually you will hit the ground, and hit it hard. It just comes with the territory. If you don't have some fall(s) while learning (hard to imagine) you will eventually as the miles add up.

[Unventor]

One thing to keep in mind, most here ride medium to very fast. If you ride at 10-20kmh the risk is there but not as high. It is like cycling, you need momentum to stay balanced. 

My comfort zone moved from 45kmh to 30-35kmh on open cycle lanes. It is all about taking calculated risks. 

Anything you do have this, like walking on a winter day and falling on slippery ice. At least if you practice always all gear you have some protection.

Btw thanks @RockyTop it warms with a comment like yours. 

[Rehab1]

@LadyPugSorry for the late reply. Family issues. I’ll now donn my rehab hat. 

HIPAA alert questions:

1) You are extremely young to have total hip replacements. Are there any underlying diagnoses or just hereditary?

2) Did you have one or both hips operated on?

3) How long post op are you?

4) Were there any surgical revisions required due to complications?

5) Have you discussed your interest in riding EUCs with your orthopedist? Would a fall impacting your hip(s) compromise the prosthetic implant? 

6) Total hip surgery can affect balance. Has your therapist conducted any static balance tests?  Postural control can be an issue due to post op muscle/ sensory nerve damage and residual pain. Some patients experience decreased proprioception and neuromuscular function which can significantly diminish balance and stability. 
 

I’ve treated patients with total hips and spinal fusions with rods and they have traditionally returned to normal life activities after a year post op. Only your surgeon can answer “what is normal activity” for you. 
 

If your physician gives you an ‘all clear’ to pursue riding an EUC ( my physician told me no) then I would give it a try. Maybe find someone near by that would provide you with some practice sessions to gain a better appreciation of the sport. 
 

Best wishes!

 

 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2019 by Rehab1

[Nic]

I also agree with everyone here ... EUC should not be your first choice for personal transport, but you can certainly buy something small like an InMotion v5 to play around on at low speeds where you can step off if something goes wrong. For personal transport something like a Xiaomi M365 eScooter is better and also will cost less than half the price and is easier to repair due to cheap parts availability. A scooter is fun too and with less risk even if something fails. Once you have experience riding a few years you will know if its safe to upgrade to a larger EUC without taking on too much risk.

Edited December 3, 2019 by Nic

[Meserias]

if these scare you (keeping in mind your hip replacement) you should stay away from EUC's
falls are eventually unavoidable...

https://youtu.be/AKI-4IgqfwM

 

[Mono]

A related but much more common question, hence the answer is most likely out there (but I don't know it by heart):

Would we discourage someone to start learn skiing in this case? Or to pick up skiing again or to continue skiing?

[Unventor]

17 minutes ago, Mono said:

Would we discourage someone to start learn skiing in this case? Or to pick up skiing again or to continue skiing?

I think it is a fair point, but most skislopes are not asphalt hard or scrapes in the same way if you fall. It might no be soft. 

[Nic]

21 minutes ago, Mono said:

Would we discourage someone to start learn skiing in this case? Or to pick up skiing again or to continue skiing?

It depends on the reasons why they ski. If it is because they love skiing or idea of skiing, then they will accept risk and just do it regardless. If its just a means of transport, then there may be better safer methods available. They can choose more than one method of getting around and spread their risk also. When riding conditions are bad they may prefer one choice over another. EUCs are both fun and scary at the same time, especially in windy conditions. I don't think its wise to go 'all-in' with an expensive purchase when you might find you are happier with something much cheaper and safer. I still enjoy riding my bicycle and it keeps me fit too, but I also have a v8 EUC and am M365 scooter.

Edited December 3, 2019 by Nic

[alcatraz]

If you have a history of riding bikes/mopeds/motorcycles and consider yourself to always staying calm in traffic, prioritizing safety first, and have health insurance, then I say go for it.

It could be the best and/or the worst idea you've had. 

[BecauseFun]

Reason for deletion of original 12 paragraph, 750+ word post: overwritten with way too much information, original copy sent to OP in case anything might have been useful.

(first post in almost four years, hey,  I've got plenty of rust to shake off here)  ;-)

 

 

Edited December 4, 2019 by BecauseFun
overwritten

[jonm42]

13 minutes ago, BecauseFun said:

also have a friend to lean on as you get going, all the better.

This! I was having trouble getting going for 2-3 weeks. I got a kind soul to volunteer to help me this way and I was riding inside of another week! Cannot recommend this approach more highly!

[BecauseFun]

...

Edited December 4, 2019 by BecauseFun
Irrelevance

[Mono]

On 12/3/2019 at 1:11 AM, LadyPug said:

I've watched a ton of videos and read a number of posts, checking out the different EUCs.  I’m intrigued by the few EUC’s that offer a seat and wonder if riding seated offers a slight degree of additional safety in bringing the center of gravity down as well as allowing both feet to be put down quickly in the event of an emergency stop.

I also think sitting is a relevant advantage in case of a fall, because the body is less high to begin with. Bringing the feet down for an emergency stopping is not likely to be a good idea. To keep the feet on the pedals is still important to stay in control.

When people talk about safety in this forum, keep in mind that most of them are male and most of them go happily faster than 20mph and that's their experience and how they do their assessments. I personally also don't mind falling as long as it doesn't hurt, so I do fall from time to time and didn't hurt myself so far (I don't wear any safety gear since a long time). From this position it is kind of hard to say how a seriously risk averse person would succeed.

Quote

 I notice also that those EUC’s with seats are generally the highest power options and generally not marketed as beginner wheels.

I think the main "problem" is that the wheel must be tall (and sturdy) to make seating a feasible option with a simple modification. With a small (and hence usually light) wheel getting a comfy seat on the wheel is quite a challenge.    

Quote

I’ll be a conservative rider.  I won’t be pushing the speed limit of the wheel as I don’t want to risk injury or dislocation of my hip replacements.  So basic question is: do you experienced people think I can learn from the get-go to ride seated?

Yes, I think so. Not many people have done that, but (one of) the very first EUCs, the SBU, was actually a seated EUC, inheriting from the conventional unicycle.

Here are three other seat vids you might not have seen:

Quote

 I realize there are devices out there that are specifically a seated unicycle with a fat tire and handle, but I don’t like this set up as they seem too big to walk into a store with such a device which is what I’d do with an EUC rather than leave it unattended outside.

I’ll also add that I plan to learn to ride standing with ‘training wheels’ sort of.  I have a bike trailer/stroller that I use when I walk my dogs.  I tether the dogs to the stroller so the stroller absorbs any pulling by them instead of it torquing my hips.  Eventually, it would be nice to use the wheel to ‘walk’ them in this setup so we could zip along a little faster, but in the beginning, I could just use the trailer/stroller as my ‘moving rail’ to help with balance as I learn.

So, thoughts? Should I pursue learning to ride an EUC, a large one with the seated option, or would you say it’s not advisable under the circumstances?   Btw, I’m mid 50’s and female.

I don't think this is an obvious yes or no. You could get a big wheel with a seat, which is heavy and expensive. I am personally not a fan of heavy wheels and if you don't want to go fast (big motor) or far (big battery) you don't need a heavy wheel. You could get a smaller wheel and add a saddle, which means some sort of DIY.

Edited December 4, 2019 by Mono