bleu9mm Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Hello everyone,I took possession of my brand new Ninebot One E+ this afternoon. I'm 49 and I live in Trois-Rivières, Canada. In order to facilitate my learning, I also bought the little wheels.Before to buy, I watched videos and read many things about EU. There were two reasons for such an amount of reading and watching: First, I wanted to find the best machine for my needs and... capacity! Second, I'm not an athlete. So, I watched a lot of videos in order to visualise how the thing actually worked before to jump on it.First impressions: Was easier than I taught !! With the little wheels on, you can easily jump on the "beast" without any strange kick. The position of feet is very important. Not too forward. Once I mastered the "still position" (sorry for my english, I'm french spoken) I gently left my body go slightly forward. The wheel started to move gently. No problem. Then, I put my body backward. The wheel went back very very smoothly. At low speed, it's easy to turn simply by twisting your body. However, at medium speed, I don't yet understand how to turn. If someone can help ??All in all, I'm very happy with my wheel and will take my time to master it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmethvin Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Bienvenue!At low speed, it's easy to turn simply by twisting your body. However, at medium speed, I don't yet understand how to turn. If someone can help ??It is like a bicycle, you need to lean into the turn a little bit. That is very hard to do with the training wheels attached! So your next step will be to learn how to balance well without those little wheels. Then you can lean.Also, the French-speaking forum is at http://trottinetteselectriques.heberg-forum.fr/forum52_ninebot-one.html so you might want to see if there is anyone in your area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpong Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Congratulations bleu9mm! Awesome! I think the training wheels are really to help you understand what the machine does when you lean forward and lean backwards. Some people have trouble with that (and the same thing happens with Segways.) I do not think that turning is accomplished very much in the training wheel stage. Although I have seen people remove one training wheel while keeping the other one on. Then they can practice turning away from the side with the training wheel - while still having the one training wheel to depend on. I did not use training wheels. Instead I worked indoors and stood behind the couch and held onto it, trying forwards and backwards. Then I tried little experiments where I tried to go forwards without holding on to the couch (sofa). Then I tried little trips to go past the couch, where I was not holding on. Also people use a wall to hold onto. Whatever works for you. Here is a link to a playlist that is embarrassing to me, but I made it for others to see what it was like for one person (me) to progress over time. I made a video every week for more than 6 weeks to see what progress I made. I was hungry for anything to watch on YouTube to see what it is like, and I figured others might be too. I wasn't the best rider, and I had some problems that stunted my development. The number one was I tended to lean forward at the hips, instead of standing up straight and actually leading with my hips. I was leading with my head and upper torso. Took me a while to get over that and adjust.I congratulate you on your purchase and wish you the best. These more advanced guys will certainly give you good advice!Oh, and probably tape on the bumper pad material I should think! Be safe![The most helpful advice I received in the learning stage was one sentence: Steer with your hips.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 Bienvenue!It is like a bicycle, you need to lean into the turn a little bit. That is very hard to do with the training wheels attached! So your next step will be to learn how to balance well without those little wheels. Then you can lean.Also, the French-speaking forum is at http://trottinetteselectriques.heberg-forum.fr/forum52_ninebot-one.html so you might want to see if there is anyone in your area.Thanks fot the link but I rather prefer to pollute the place with my bad english rather than go on a forum with only french spoken peoples on. Bleu9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpong Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 English yours good is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 English yours good is. Danke !! LOLOLOLOLOLOL Bleu9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 @dpong Your videos are really cool and inspirational !!!!!!!!Bleu9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esaj Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 As others have already mentioned, tight turning/leaning while using the training wheels won't work, a wheel will always hit the ground.I did manage to shoot my very first minutes with an EUC in my garage, but then the battery on my camera died, and I didn't record until my 3rd day (and let's just say that the camera has had some "minor" problems since). This was filmed on my 1st and 3rd day, don't know if it's much help in teaching anything to anyone (except maybe be careful when coming down from speed bumps? ): In total I've had 4 falls, three of which occurred with the 14" generic, on the 1st and 3rd day, one a week or two later (riding gravel/sand uphill at top speed is not a good idea ), and the last one that happened with the Firewheel about a month ago when going too fast over deformed asphalt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDL Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Congratulations and welcome to our strange little club! I will second the statements to skip the training wheels. Use a wall, railing or couch to help you get going. It took me about 3 hours of practice just to get on and off and go a few meters without losing balance.As for turning, I'm still not that great although speed is your friend. I turn much sharper at higher speeds than at slower ones although fear usually kicks in and I end up slowing down. Use your hips, bend your knee in the direction you want to turn, and let the magic happen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobby16 Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Thanks fot the link but I rather prefer to pollute the place with my bad english rather than go on a forum with only french spoken peoples on. lol ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpong Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 I did manage to shoot my very first minutes with an EUC in my garage, but then the battery on my camera died, and I didn't record until my 3rd day (and let's just say that the camera has had some "minor" problems since). This was filmed on my 1st and 3rd day, don't know if it's much help in teaching anything to anyone (except maybe be careful when coming down from speed bumps? ):In total I've had 4 falls, three of which occurred with the 14" generic, on the 1st and 3rd day, one a week or two later (riding gravel/sand uphill at top speed is not a good idea ), and the last one that happened with the Firewheel about a month ago when going too fast over deformed asphalt.Thank-you for sharing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esaj Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Thank-you for sharing that. No problem, actually the start of my riding-"career" has been pretty well documented here:http://forum.electricunicycle.org/topic/294-newbies-first-day-on-wheel/The thread has just been buried a few pages backwards, as I haven't posted there for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 During my practice, tonight, I noted that even when my feet were symmetrically placed on pedals, I tend to be "lefty". I know that my left leg is 0,5cm shorter than my right one. If this is the cause of my left tendency, how do I correct it ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpong Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 During my practice, tonight, I noted that even when my feet were symmetrically placed on pedals, I tend to be "lefty". I know that my left leg is 0,5cm shorter than my right one. If this is the cause of my left tendency, how do I correct it ???Move your hips a little to the right. I found this visualization helpful, especially in the beginning, and it is the meaning of what I took from the sentence: "Steer with your hips."Imagine your center of balance as a single point in the middle of your hips, inside your body. Maybe think of it as a marble. Imagine a circle drawn around your foot-stands, parallel to the ground. In your mind's eye if you look down, you can imagine where your 'center of balance' (marble) is in relation to the circle that represents your foot-stands. To go forward move the marble forward. To go left, move the marble left (forward and left). To go right, move the marble to the right. [All the while standing up straight - *not* leaning forward, nor left, nor right *from the waist*. ] While standing up straight, push your hips forward - push your hips towards the right - push your hips towards the left. Now you can think of your center of balance (the marble) as a little joystick - the marble is at the top of the joystick. You know how to work a joystick right? Easy. Move the marble around by moving your hips around. Anyway, this visualization helped me because my balance was not so good. It helped me to begin to *feel* my balance better. I hope this may be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Cool Dpong !!! Thanks, this is one good visualisation trick. I actually have a "little joystick" and two marbles in this area... I'll put them to contribution !!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLNote to myself: Wear boxers !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpong Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 Yes, this has occurred to me as well. [Also, when a French speaking Canadian says he leans to the left, why I am not surprised. ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Yes, this has occurred to me as well. Are you talking about the "balance outfit" ???? Come on, you still have it. Don't lie to U !!!! Bleu9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriull Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 During my practice, tonight, I noted that even when my feet were symmetrically placed on pedals, I tend to be "lefty". I know that my left leg is 0,5cm shorter than my right one. If this is the cause of my left tendency, how do I correct it ???i assume the easiest solution is to double the sole of your left shoe for the additional 0,5 cm. Then you can stay quite straight for going straight - should be more relaxing then standing with the hips moved to one side all the time?or maybe some ortopedist, chiropracticor or whoever is specialist for these topic has a better idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 I will try the sole. As a kid my parents spent money on the "classical chiro cycle": Big promisses big money big fail !!Bleu9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bwuce Wee Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 i have to ask, is it not even a little bit like using a Wii balance board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esaj Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 i have to ask, is it not even a little bit like using a Wii balance board?If you mean the Wii Fit -board, a little bit maybe... I'd say more like these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_board With an EUC, you don't need to balance (much) forward and backward, but sideways it's you keeping the wheel up, especially at slow crawl speeds. It takes a while to learn how to balance, with faster speeds it's easier. Nowadays I can ride at sub-walk speeds in crowds no problem (not that I like to do it, but I can), but in the beginning that would have been next to impossible to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleu9mm Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 This morning, after having installed the protection cushion tape on the beast, I tried to stand on it without the little wheels. OMG !!!! My lower right leg is soon painful that I immediately stopped the maneuver. Will try again later this afternoon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esaj Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 This morning, after having installed the protection cushion tape on the beast, I tried to stand on it without the little wheels. OMG !!!! My lower right leg is soon painful that I immediately stopped the maneuver. Will try again later this afternoon...Getting going without the training wheels seems pretty impossible at first, but after some practice, isn't that hard. What I did was first ride around in the garage with the training wheels for maybe like 10-15 minutes or so, and then headed outside. My girlfriend walked beside me so I could hold on the her a bit while riding in the street, but ended up getting her ankle banged when a training wheel hit the ground and the wheel swerved to side, the pedal hitting her ankle. I then removed the training wheels completely, and proceeded to continuously jump on and off the wheel for some time (20 minutes?), before I could get it going and keep my balance. After that, I pretty quickly got it going longer and longer without having to stop/jump off (Somethin like 1m, 2m, 5m, 50m, 100m...). Somehow it just suddenly "clicked" and I could get on the wheel most of the time on the first try. Getting your foot on proper place after lifting it to the pedal from the get-go takes more time, I still sometimes have to adjust my left foot a bit after getting going, but stopping & remounting hasn't been a problem for a long time.Some people use the "skateboard kick" -start, where they push the wheel moving forwards with their foot on the ground, and then lift it on the pedal while the wheel is moving. I personally have found it's easier for me to lift my foot from the ground on the pedal while the wheel is stationary and then pretty much immediately start leaning slightly forwards to get the wheel moving, so I don't have to balance stationary but for a split second. With the skateboard kick -method, I don't usually get my left foot (my right foot is always the one already on the other pedal) in proper position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chriull Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 This morning, after having installed the protection cushion tape on the beast, I tried to stand on it without the little wheels. OMG !!!! My lower right leg is soon painful that I immediately stopped the maneuver. Will try again later this afternoon...the beginning is quite hard and interesting how the muscles can ?brace? themselves! Blood sweat and tears ? but the body and the brain gets used to it quite quickly.I startet out in the cellar of our block of flats - a straight corridor about 20m long and 1,5m wide, so i could comfortably let my fingers brush the sides - after 2-3 times fifteen minutes i could drive in the underground garage from pillar to pillar ? (fortunately no videos exists from embracing the pillars?) the downside of this approach is, that now i have to learn mounting the wheel without holding onto something.... regarding your different leg sizes: once i had a pilates trainer who went all the way with pilates, because she had different length too and this exercises helped her to resolve her probs - could maybe help you too, and if not, its a nice fitness exercise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuts Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 The training wheels are good for understanding the basics of the wheel but once you start training without its almost as you are starting all over again. The pain you are going to feel in the morning will be glorious but wear it with pride knowing everyone here has gone through the same thing learning to ride an EU.With regards to turning you might want to try this out. For shallower long turns twist the top of your body to face the direction you want to turn. As if by magic your lower half will follow and come into alignment with your torso. Advance turning for tighter angles will require you to lean into the direction too but better to master the simple stuff first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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