Popular Post Wax Posted April 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2017 Got my very first EUC 3 days ago (V8) and it's a steep learning curve! Day one was rough and I was semi-regretting my purchase because of the difficulty in balancing but just stuck with for about an hour until I got up and running for about 100m at a stretch. Lots of sweat and flailing arms! No major spills but the usual slamming of the pedals against my inner ankles. My V8 bears some scratches TT, which I told myself was going to happen eventually so I have destined myself forgo the need to keep the unit in pristine condition. Day 2 and I'm able to ride about 500m before needing to take a break from the usual aches expected of a new balance sport. Maybe it's a bit easier since I do stuff like snowboard, ice skate etc. At this moment I can't do turns and uphill ramps throw me off completely. So that's something I'm looking forward to overcoming. Overall I'm enjoying it in fleeting moments where it just clicks. And then I realize I'm still a whilst away from actually using it in the urban environment with all sorts of bumps and uneven terrain navigate. Self learning is a little tricky since you don't realize mistakes until you hit the deck but I guess I will do it in 30-60min blocks daily until my brain works it all out. As long as there's progression I'm sure we will get there! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 (edited) Give your brain time to process, that's important as well. If you train one day, then wait 3 days, you'll be much better on the next attempt simply because you "learned". Edited April 7, 2017 by meepmeepmayer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Marty Backe Posted April 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2017 Just remember that everybody that you see in videos zooming around and having fun went through the same, sometimes painful, learning curve that you are experiencing now. You must persevere and have patience. I kept a log book and it took about 10 hours of riding before things were really clicking and I was feeling totally comfortable. Like anything worth having or accomplishing, you have to put in the time - there are no shortcuts. But it's worth it in the end 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Carlos E Rodriguez Posted April 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2017 take your time. Its better to do a progression and not force riding. You could injure yourself by trying to land on your feet hard while learning. Its not worth it. Just do 30 mins a day. holding to a wall and slow short forward, stopping and dismounting. The most important skill is to stop and dismount in a controlled fashion so you don't put a lot of strain in your ankles or knees. So do many tries at Mounting with wall assist, go forward with balance then stop and then dismount in a controlled fashion. Many people feel they need to hop on and hop off. Hoping is a sign you have not mastered riding yet. Don't try to go fast until you get good control at stopping and dismounting. I recommend boots or shoes with stiff bottoms. it will make it easier to learn. hand protection, knee and elbows and head protection is very important. If you land on your hands at 10 MPH it will cause a lot of damage. Learn to fall and roll. Learn to ride defensively. Always be ready to fall and dont be distracted. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanghamP Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 My god, learning to mount was just about the hardest thing I've done. Everything else including riding backwards and jumping, took just a few minutes, but mounting...that transition...I still cannot do gracefully nor easily. It's a lurch, then a desperate few seconds to gain enough speed to not fall. Kinda like an overladened Boeing B-29 taking off; everything is overheating and one's airspeed still isn't high enough. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meepmeepmayer Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 For me it's the opposite, I do 2 steps: step on wheel while it's standing still, then go. I'm not good at combining these/doing a running start (aka driving on one leg). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Marty Backe Posted April 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2017 36 minutes ago, LanghamP said: My god, learning to mount was just about the hardest thing I've done. Everything else including riding backwards and jumping, took just a few minutes, but mounting...that transition...I still cannot do gracefully nor easily. It's a lurch, then a desperate few seconds to gain enough speed to not fall. Kinda like an overladened Boeing B-29 taking off; everything is overheating and one's airspeed still isn't high enough. I learned how to do graceful starts by this simple practice method: With your one foot on the pedal, practice 'walking' the wheel. You push off with your foot and 'hop' forward a foot or so, thus 'walking' the wheel forward. You are not attempting to ride the wheel while doing this. Practicing this technique will allow you to 'hop' further and further and you will develop the muscle memory that will fairly rapidly transition to smooth rolling mounts. Try it. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasenutty Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Do you pros always mount with the same foot, or do you switch it up all the time with black magic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 10 minutes ago, kasenutty said: Do you pros always mount with the same foot, or do you switch it up all the time with black magic? For beginners , stand on 1 pedal , lean on the side of the euc and find balance , then its easy to go up and drive away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mono Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 1 hour ago, kasenutty said: Do you pros always mount with the same foot certainly not, even though I must admit that I still have a favorite even after +5000km. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post dpong Posted April 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Marty Backe said: I learned how to do graceful starts by this simple practice method: With your one foot on the pedal, practice 'walking' the wheel. You push off with your foot and 'hop' forward a foot or so, thus 'walking' the wheel forward. You are not attempting to ride the wheel while doing this. Practicing this technique will allow you to 'hop' further and further and you will develop the muscle memory that will fairly rapidly transition to smooth rolling mounts. Try it. I like this description of practice. In fact, I just went out and tried it. I blush to admit that despite this being my 3rd year of riding, and with over 2400 Miles on my bot, I still do not mount very confidently. I simply don't practice it much. I use assisted mount to get my feet in the best possible position and ride on. Two lessons for newbies from this. 1) It is not absolutely necessary to free mount to still have fun and become a competent rider. 2) Unless you practice free mounts you will not progress at this skill no matter how much you ride. I have been practicing the mount more this year, and this technique will, I think, assist my efforts. Less confidence in mounting does inhibit one's willingness to dismount out in the open, even in situations where that would be handy, like when one spots a shiny penny on the ground. LOL. Edited April 7, 2017 by dpong 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US69 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 1 hour ago, kasenutty said: Do you pros always mount with the same foot, or do you switch it up all the time with black magic? normally everyone has its strong feet...but: after getting REALLY experienced you can try and learn with the other foot also! its just no beginner thing...first get comfortable in normal riding and mounting 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasenutty Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 I've done it with both feet and neither one feels natural yet. I don't know which one is right quite yet. I liked one at first, but that leg got all bruised, so I've been using the other leg. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 1 hour ago, kasenutty said: Do you pros always mount with the same foot, or do you switch it up all the time with black magic? I don't think I qualify as a 'pro', but 90% of the time I mount with my dominate foot (right foot on the pedal). But once I mastered the rolling mount I can start with either foot and I don't have to look at my feet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted April 7, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 7, 2017 I don't know if it helps, but this little tip clicked which helped me for launches. I have my right foot on the pedal usually with the wheel at a slight lean to the left. You can give a little shove off with the left foot, and keep pressure on the wheel with the inner calf of your right leg. That increased pressure helps stabilize the wheel as you bring your other foot onboard. Before I wasn't really leaning the wheel or placing pressure against the inner calf which made things more difficult. Once on you need to give it a forward lean right away to get going. Any instabilities can be countered by twisting right and left to stay on sort of like when you ride a bike slowly, you turn the front wheel right and left to prevent falling at crawl speeds. I drew a diagram with my mouse with an arrow showing the pressure spot: 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 9 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: I don't know if it helps, but this little tip clicked which helped me for launches. I have my right foot on the pedal usually with the wheel at a slight lean to the left. You can give a little shove off with the left foot, and keep pressure on the wheel with the inner calf of your right leg. That increased pressure helps stabilize the wheel as you bring your other foot onboard. Before I wasn't really leaning the wheel or placing pressure against the inner calf which made things more difficult. Once on you need to give it a forward lean right away to get going. Any instabilities can be countered by twisting right and left to stay on sort of like when you ride a bike slowly, you turn the front wheel right and left to prevent falling at crawl speeds. I drew a diagram with my mouse with an arrow showing the pressure spot: Exactly - what he said 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasenutty Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 2 hours ago, Marty Backe said: I don't think I qualify as a 'pro', but 90% of the time I mount with my dominate foot (right foot on the pedal). But once I mastered the rolling mount I can start with either foot and I don't have to look at my feet. Of course you do, at least to me. Your videos were the first I saw! I even told my wife that the video guy who rides on the cliff trails told me good job. Hahah I've been using my non dominant foot to hold and stepping on with the dominant. I think it's easier to step on accurately with the dominant foot. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasenutty Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 ETA - love the mouse drawing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wax Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 30 minutes ago, kasenutty said: ETA - love the mouse drawing And details like grass and flowers to boot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 1 hour ago, kasenutty said: Of course you do, at least to me. Your videos were the first I saw! I even told my wife that the video guy who rides on the cliff trails told me good job. Hahah I've been using my non dominant foot to hold and stepping on with the dominant. I think it's easier to step on accurately with the dominant foot. I ride on cliff trails? What's wrong with me Per this thread, I think you are an Antipedes mounter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunka Hunka Burning Love Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 5 hours ago, Marty Backe said: I don't think I qualify as a 'pro'... Just own it Marty. Face it - you got a fanbase.... it's time to monetize your Youtube channel! People reference the great Marty Backe in their videos (looking at you @Duf and @Ombre). Better change that username to "Pro Marty Backe" and add "Pro" onto your helmet after "Gotway." Also, don't forget to get that merch out there! End your videos with "Remember to Like and Subscribe!" 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasenutty Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 I can't wait till his pro model new balances come out, I'm in for 3 pairs! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Marty Backe Posted April 8, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 8, 2017 2 minutes ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said: Just own it Marty. Face it - you got a fanbase.... it's time to monetize your Youtube channel! People reference the great Marty Backe in their videos (looking at you @Duf and @Ombre). Better change that username to "Pro Marty Backe" and add "Pro" onto your helmet after "Gotway." Also, don't forget to get that merch out there! End your videos with "Remember to Like and Subscribe!" Please shoot me if you ever see me end with "like and subscribe" But you have given me an idea to start selling advertising on my helmet. I can start by hitting up Gotway for some big bucks 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Wax Posted April 8, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 8, 2017 I found something that was useful for me: I forced myself to do the "alternate hip twist" and go from tiny movements to larger ones, this kinda makes it look like you're drawing a S or a wave at low speeds while keeping your arms relaxed and by your side and your chest facing forward and still. I kept doing this to get a feel of balance and counterbalancing without gripping my EUC with a vice grip and to ingrain my muscles to respond accordingly. After this little exercise for about 20 mins, I can now go up ramps slowly, without faceplanting and for the first time ever, no falling off the EUC in an hour of learning! Pretty happy, with myself right now Hope someone reading this will find it useful in their early-day progression. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MichaelHensen Posted April 8, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 8, 2017 I am also a new rider. Having the wheel since last Tuesday and managed to get control over it in a couple of hours, without any skiing,snowboard or skateboard experience. Now I am building up more reflexes and a better feel in the legs.. They tend to start shaking after a while.. but I already clocked a total of 38km this week, today I did the last 14km. So I am pretty happy. The biggest problem I still have is the mounting, but that is the hardest part and the more you try it the easier it gets. I use the 'triangle' method from a standstill so that is pretty unstable and indeed means a lot of hip twisting to get the balance in the beginning. I tried stepping but I couldn't get the wheel under control as it moved to the right. But now I've noticed that I need to have my toes hanging further over the footplate then I anticipated, so that the ankle is closer to the center of the wheel.. Now I manage to do little stepping without having the wheel sway away.. And then placing the non-dominant is a lot easier then the stand-still method. Nevertheless there is a lot to learn but as everybody says. I get's better and better every time you drive the wheel.. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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