Have i lost the spark?

[xiiijojjo]

So i started riding in 2016 and in the beginning i was probably riding at least 1-2 hours every day and i wanted to ride even more but was restricted by battery size/charging speeds of that time. 

That same year i started using the euc for work and rode even more, but even with all that riding all day on the job i still wanted to ride more in my spare time and my euc was literally always either charging or riding. This trend persisted until late 2019 when the pigs took it. 

October 2020 i get my new euc after ~1 year and since then i've only really used it for utility for things like transport or shopping(700km total)... I had a short burst of being reinterested in riding 1-2 weeks ago or so when @mrelwood helped me out with some tips to create the perfect riding experience i was looking for. That made me go out and do 150km in 2 days for testing and enjoying my new settings. I have not ridden since though...

I don't feel motivated to ride recreationally anymore which is kinda bothering me. Hell i'm not even motivated to ride for going shopping and i used to welcome any excuse to get out there and ride. When i ride i don't go exploring as much as i used to, it's more a to b riding now. I don't know what to blame for this change in my euc behavior.
I tried rationalizing that it could be due to me moving to another country, covid, working from home rather than traveling to work, generally not being a busy individual anymore, or the 18 inch form factor feeling less preferable to me even after having fully optimized the euc for my liking. 

 

But honestly i feel like i have lost that spark of excitement, and now it's no longer a fun machine that can make the world so much bigger.
It's become a small, one person car with no luggage destined for doing a to b runs to the supermarket.

What is happening to me? I fear i am becoming a " grown up " with a dead stare in my eyes seeing only grey, not seeing the fun in things but rather boiling them down to their level of utility? No offence to people older than me on this forum y'all have some youthful spirits.

Edited April 18, 2021 by xiiijojjo

[Tawpie]

Maybe another EV? Trails? Ride with friends? Could be just a phase, or you might be moving on... just be sure to keep your eyes open and try the next thing that looks fun. Whatever you do, get some spark back. Life is too short.

[Rawnei]

Maybe there are other reasons, how do you feel other than that? Do you enjoy other things? I'm thinking there might be a depression of some kind lurking there and that will take the joy out of most things, give it a serious thought if you have a depression it can be solved and you can feel good again. I've been there myself and know people who has been as well.

[mrelwood]

For me riding to become “boring” would definitely require falling to a deep depression or other illness... But for you it might indeed boil down to not having a similar challenge or the general riding experience you used to.

If you are a 16” (or so called 17”) rider, you simply need to have such a wheel. A new wheel would surely boost up the interest for a while anyway.

 Another thing could be accessories. I don’t remember what the tip I gave to you was, but for me, studded honeycomb pedals and (DIY) pads make the wheel feel much more like a natural extension to my body. Definitely something that makes the rider feel much more fun!

[xiiijojjo]

Thanks for the concern and suggestions guys but i have been depressed for more than a decade and have learned to live with it so it's definitely not that. 

I am for sure getting a 16 incher next time as i really miss that nimble experience every time i ride. I felt more in control.

and yes @mrelwood i really need to get some studded pedals as i really don't feel secure on this terrible gotway griptape that has already mostly deteriorated. 

[.....]

Could it be that you used it in a utility fashion for long enough that it has now become an object viewed as such? Its no secret for me that when I enjoy something and then begin to push myself to get better or begin to rely on it, it looses its value. Have you taken up any other hobbies to replace the time you spent on an euc? If not, perhaps you are just simply feeling some depression. One mustnt look too hard to find a plethora of reasons for that this past cpla years. Maybe its just time you get an mten and a bicycle? Ride the bike to work and go back to using the euc for fun.

Edited April 18, 2021 by ShanesPlanet

[litewave]

I can definitely understand. I came to realize that unless you are riding in a group and have a bond with other riders, that riding an EUC is very much a solitary, even isolating experience. Also, I have discovered in my many relocations since becoming an EUC enthusiast that most riders don't want to get together for small group rides, which makes me kind of sad for them.

As someone who has relied on an EUC as you do, it was so cool to receive the positive attention from motorists and others ... at first. But once the novelty wore off for those I would encounter frequently, that positive became neutral or even negative (probably their jealousy).

After a while I came to acknowledge the positive attention without really caring, except on a humanitarian level, that I might be contributing to a slow, inevitable, positive evolution in personal transportation.

I also think that the community (here and elsewhere on the Internet) of EUC riders has somewhat devolved into a materialistic, even profit-driven competition of who has the most wheels, newest tech, biggest schwanz, the most daily posts, latest insider knowledge, or the coolest video, which for me is a turn-off. It strikes me as narcissistic and self-aggrandizing. I do appreciate the entertainment value and sharing of perspectives though, and have no issues with others trying to make an honest dollar on YouTube or even a side-hustle selling guiding tours or accessories, as long as they are transparent about their motives.

In the end, I am more of a solitary, independent person anyway, a trait which most of us share.

[RetroThruster]

Heck, if you don't want to ride, don't ride, I think Shane brought up a good point, if you used your wheels for utility work so much that it took the fun out of it is entirely possible.  Just sounds like time to try something else, maybe keep a wheel around for when you do want to ride.

I'm no doctor but the best thing I've done at age 48 was to get my hormones checked, they were way out of whack, even guys in their 30's can have an imbalance, now 2 yrs later, I'm on hormones and feel much better.

[OldFartRides]

9 hours ago, xiiijojjo said:

What is happening to me? I fear i am becoming a " grown up " with a dead stare in my eyes seeing only grey, not seeing the fun in things but rather boiling them down to their level of utility? No offence to people older than me on this forum y'all have some youthful spirits.

Let’s hope you don’t have that “dead stare seeing only grey” till you’re 99 1/2 ! 
I’m 61 definitely feeling like I’m on the downhill old age slide, but having a fun new pastime has raised my spirits. I too have suffered depression and when I was young, suicidal and self destructive tendencies. One thing I have learned taking care of my parents until they passed as well as being around aunts and uncles who aged and died is that life seems very VERY short when you come to to the end of the road. 
 I also get hot for this or that for a time, then lose interest. It happens with toys, collectibles, hobbies. So the wheel turned into a tool for you. That’s ok. Maybe one day you will rediscover the simple joy and be amazed at the tech that allows us to quietly glide across the landscape like flying low in a dream.....

ok, I’m starting to wax poetic...sorry.

has riding backwards also become humdrum ? Speaking of which, the sun is out, the roads look dry, and it’s almost noon here, and it’s time for me to take a ride !

Best,

[Scottie]

9 hours ago, xiiijojjo said:

I fear i am becoming a " grown up " with a dead stare in my eyes seeing only grey, not seeing the fun in things but rather boiling them down to their level of utility?

Something made me feel like it is my duty to respond to this.

You did not mention your age, but your comments sound like something a '30-something' or a '40-something' year old would say (although I am not making any assumptions that you are around that age). I can remember those times as being very much like what you describe.

In our youth, most things we get interested in seem to have a magic, sparkle, or mystique about them ... often because we are not able to enjoy or get close to the things we admire or are interested in. Then as we age and do get involved with whatever thing, the newness, novelty, and mystery wears away.

Then, combine this with that 30 to 40 something stage of life. In those years, we are in the middle of our work-a-day years and have distance from our youthful enthusiasm, and a distance from old age. Things seem to have lost their luster. You can honestly wear the "Been There - Done That" t-shirt. We become much harder to impress. And, we still have our health ... usually ... just like we've always had, so even that loses value ... being taken for granted. And we know we have many years of work ahead of us. There are bills to pay, jobs to do, and so we take on that utilitarian view because we feel like we are becoming a utility ourselves. In a way, we are at that age; being the back bone of the work force. So, all this can create that strange state of mind of middle age.

9 hours ago, xiiijojjo said:

No offence to people older than me on this forum y'all have some youthful spirits.

As we age, and our health fades (which seems to be happening way too fast for comfort), we are scared into action. We realize there is no more time for "bull-shit thoughts" (pardon my language).  The old, worn out saying "Life is too short" takes on a much stronger meaning and importance. If we are going to get some more enjoyment out of life while we still can, there is no time to waste. We purge all the junk out life and recapture that youthful exuberance, because we have to.

I hope I did not make it worse for you. That is not my intention here. I am just trying to point out that life is indeed too short. Sure, everybody knows that with their intelligence. But as a 30 or 40 year old, we don't really feel it. 

[redsnapper]

how`s the spark for the rest of your life? is the bad voodoo feeling general or specific to EUC? maybe try hooking up with other riders? or try another very different wheel? or try something completely new ( onewheel, pogo stick,etc...). one counter intuitive way to maybe re-ignite the spark - take a shower every morning and at the end, slowly ease the hot water to zero ( cold only ). it will feel very unpleasant initially but don`t stop - take the time to work through it. start with 1min of cold exposure then build from there. breath deeply and forcefully while you are getting the cold shock. when you get out of the shower, you will feel very alive and this feeling can persist. sounds crazy but cold water might just re-ignite that fire. try it for a week and report back!

i hope you can relight that spark...

Edited April 18, 2021 by redsnapper

[Guy]

Hi guys. I was super depressed after dropping my Nik+ in the ocean a couple of weeks ago. I'm 63 and have always felt and acted younger than I am. My new EX arrives in two days from EUCO. Can't wait to be on a wicked wheel again. My old V8 is still fun, yet not wicked. I wish there were other riders around here. Yet not. I rode my Nik as if it were a car or motorcycle. With a big backpack, I went everywhere around here. I rarely drove. I hope to be that way soon with the EX. I never had my desire, to ride, lessen over the last almost three years of riding EUCs. I've always been worried of a fast crash. Not with the V8, but the EX will happily bring back that possibility!  I'll still limit the top speed to around 35 mph. I mostly cruised around 25-30 on the Nik. I guess I'll do the same on the EX. Hopefully, with suspension and a seat, my rides will be longer. Even better! Only negative thing of late, is I haven't figured out how to carry my 61 key digital keyboard with a full backpack digital music studio/laptop running MainStage and Logic, on the wheel. I'll spend a morning playing around with synths and DAWs while in a cafe. That, and the wheel, make for a good day! No parking problems. Traffic either. See, I don't live my age and never will. Yes, I am unusual. Perhaps a freak, as some have told me. I'm that and much more. Peace fellow EUC riders from Maine!

[slowpoke94133]

It happens. I get that way with MTB'ing. I'll lose interest or won't be motivated for while. Then I'll get back into it a few months later. Same with motorcycling. Breaks are good.

[OldFartRides]

I did something utilitarian with my wheel today. I needed to get my 48” walk behind mower across town, so I put that puppy in high gear and rode behind it. I usually mow in second. Fifth gear books along around 5 mph. Did some mowing and rode back.

Was fun. Left the mower there. Did some B.W. Practice on the return sunset trip.

Best,

[GoGeorgeGo]

For me personally, the actual riding is only a piece of the puzzle. The wheel represents a conduit to new experiences i wouldn't have without it. Whether its shooting a fun video, hanging out with friends, exploring a new area, trying a new restaurant. The wheel itself is not necessarily what is fun, it is a conduit to get me to the fun. The amount of things i have seen and done in the past 2 years that i otherwise would have never considered going or doing is absolutely astounding. 

Maybe you just need to find a new outlet for the machine to bring you to. Try riding to a new restaurant you have never been to and ordering something wierd off the menu you wouldn't normally eat. Or maybe start a little vlog to share your trips and experiences with friends and kind internet strangers. Drive your wheel to a state park and ride it to the top of a mountain. The wheel itself is just the most convenient conduit to fun, its not necessarily the fun itself.

I hope you find your joy again, but if not thats okay to! Im sure you will soon find something new that brings you the same joy as the unicycle once did. Until then, keep your eyes open! 

Edited April 19, 2021 by GoGeorgeGo

[VikB]

On 4/17/2021 at 10:47 PM, xiiijojjo said:

But honestly i feel like i have lost that spark of excitement, and now it's no longer a fun machine that can make the world so much bigger.
It's become a small, one person car with no luggage destined for doing a to b runs to the supermarket.

What is happening to me? I fear i am becoming a " grown up " with a dead stare in my eyes seeing only grey, not seeing the fun in things but rather boiling them down to their level of utility? No offence to people older than me on this forum y'all have some youthful spirits.

To me it's irrelevant if you want to ride an EUC or not as long as you are passionate about something in your life. If you are not excited about anything at all...well that's a problem and could be a sign of depression or some other issue...which would not be shocking at this particularly stressful moment. If you are excited about other things and just not EUCs that's fine/normal. Things change and the more you do something the easier it is for it to get stale.

If some other activity/hobby/sport is generating a lot of interest for you right now go for it! Use the EUC for transport as required. See what happens. 

[OldFartRides]

Well I just had a big little adventure. Rode about seven miles out of town to an old Inn to make a reservation for a B-day dinner for the DGF and I. It’s not a restaurant per se, but they’re a French couple who “do dinners”. I’ve never eaten there, but I thought it would be a nice thing to do for her, as we don’t go out much anymore. Trip out was nice except for a school bus that  passed me in a blind curve with *surprize*,  oncoming traffic.  
 Had met them briefly a couple of weeks ago when I dropped off an old French ten speed that I got at the dumpsters a few years back that I’d never gotten around to fixing up. I was told he fixes old bikes, so it was an introduction. I wanted to inquire about dinner in person, thus the ride. We had a nice chat and they were impressed with the wheel and the fact that I had ridden all the way out there.

I decided to come back a different way. When I got to the railroad tracks, I stopped to leak behind an electrical hut and it occurred to me that going by way of the tracks would be a shortcut. There was a dirt road beside the tracks and since it’s morel season, I thought I’d keep an eye out. Well the road petered out and the ballast was too rough to ride on, so I started walking. After a mile or so, I began to question the wisdom of my route choice. On one side was the river, the other, swamp.

 I figured I had at least another mile to go when along comes a track truck. Guy stops to ask me what’s up and what’s that thing I got. I explained and asked if he could give me a lift to the next little town. Much to my surprise he said I could ride on the back bumper. And so I was whisked along the last mile or so looking at where I’d come from feeling a bit giddy with my luck.

 There’s a little diner at that crossing with a porch swing. I was thirsty and a bit hungry, so I ate on the porch and watched a coal train go by heading east. Then I had a leisurely ride the two miles or so home. GPS indicated 16.25 mi. trip that took about three hrs. 

What fun !

Best,

 

[Xarlyle0]

Well, I only just got my EUC a few days ago, so I'm only just starting my journey with it, but I hope my reasoning behind getting it might help give some clarity.

Everything in my life has a role to play in a larger vision of how I want to live. I always want to be in a position in which I can walk to, bike to, or use a PEV to get to where I work, because I believe it makes me happier and healthier to do so. Already many of my coworkers ride on OneWheels or electric scooters. I also have a local CrossFit gym that I went to before the pandemic that I fully intend on riding my wheel to every day. I also miss going sailing at a local sailing club, where parking is difficult, and my EUC is actually the best option for getting there. I plan on inviting friends to nice bars in the area that I can use public transport and my wheel to get to as well. And I do want to go on group rides with local EUC riders if possible.

I even plan to attend local city council meetings, getting there on my wheel, since our bike lane infrastructure is already great and I'd like to be a part of further supporting it.

Basically, I got my EUC with a particular role in mind for it to play in how I want to live my life at its happiest and healthiest, and I carefully choose my work, and tailor my social life to suit that vision.

It sounds from your posts that your life is in flux right now, and maybe your euc just isn't aligning with how the vision of your own life has evolved. Things I believe don't belong in my life I usually throw away or stay away from. It's always worth reflecting on your situation and the things you have and really reflecting on whether these things make you happy. Many don't have the luxury to be able to choose things in life so freely, but from what you can control, it should always be a consideration.

[Circuitmage]

It sounds like the pigs stole your spark.

 

[redsnapper]

On 4/18/2021 at 11:35 PM, GoGeorgeGo said:

I hope you find your joy again, but if not thats okay to! Im sure you will soon find something new that brings you the same joy as the unicycle once did. Until then, keep your eyes open! 

Someone smart - maybe Proust - said: ''The voyage of true discovery lies not in the pursuit of new landscapes but rather in seeing with new eyes.'' or something like that.

2 things that help me to see with new eyes - new experiences (novelty) & being in nature (forest, rivers, beaches,etc.) likely because these help me to be in the moment (not thinking about past/future). I think EUC also helps to see with new eyes as it tends to keep me in the moment and bring me to unfamiliar places... But the gateways to new eyes are manifold and highly subjective. New glasses can also help ;-)

[EUC Sharkman]

I think the situation of having EUCs feel like a point A to point B vehicle may be causing your potential loss of interest. Before EUCs when I rode my OneWheel, I refused to have it be my utility point A to B personal electric vehicle, instead reserving my eScooter to fill that role and to only use the OneWheel for fun.

 

Now that I ride a EUC now, I do intend to use it for fun but also for going from point A to B I. Commutes or errands, so I can see where I could go down the path you took in terms of getting bored of riding it. I often just look for articles or cool places to explore or great nature views and plan trips out there as a way to get a change of scenery. So perhaps finding more ways to use your EUC to really experience interesting places for you in greater depth is the way for you to get back on the wheel. 
 

I wonder too if it is related to your newish wheel. For example, I specifically like my Tesla for being smaller, lighter, easy to pick up and carry around. Very easy for it to feel like an extension of my feet. I can imagine a different larger heavier wheel giving a different feel.