I know the one wheel skateboard things are popular in the GA scene, I’ve seen them zip across pavement and grass and dirt fields alike

What’s the low down on these?

They are kinda expensive, but with work I’m traveling the globe and unfortunately never am given a rental car, Ubers and rental bikes and the like have their availability and timing issues, the idea of hauling one around with me gets more and more appealing when I want to go somewhere but it’s kinda out of walking range and Uber or rentals bikes are always not practical and can add up $$


Thanks

I bought one of the earlier generations with the fantasy of riding around Sun n Fun or Oshkosh. There is a brief steep learning curve that will be shorter for someone with boarding experience. It is fun and the product really does everything that the manufacturer says. The newer models are a little faster and smarter. The price for the technical marvel that it is is pretty reasonable IMO. It is smaller than an Ebike and shorter than an electric scooter. Your hands are free to carry stuff. The Pint is a similar experience and may pack a little better at the expense of some stability. You used to see a lot of urban riders of these things with people looking like they were going somewhere. They have largely disappeared so they were probably just cruising. I ultimately got rid of it because:
1. Nobody wants that zooming around their airplane
2. The big airshows do not allow them
3. It consumes a great deal of the baggage compartment with a big dirty wheel and rough grip tape that can chafe your interior
4. Charging(insert politically charged EV debate here)
5. I hit 40 and the next spill was going to be a wrist fracture
6. It is cumbersome to carry scraping your leg with every stride
I got a Brompton folding bicycle instead which is 23lb (titanium like 16) and so far like it better unless uphill.

So buy one for a toy and get it out of your system but it is unlikely to fill any transportation need.

Having fixed a lot of fractures over the years there is a date on your pilots license that may dictate two or more wheels would be more appropriate.
DENNY

DENNY wrote:Having fixed a lot of fractures over the years there is a date on your pilots license that may dictate two or more wheels would be more appropriate.
DENNY

IIRC, one of the Pateys wound up with a hip replacement after a OneWheel spill. I was interested until that story gave me a shot of reality.

Hmm

One of my friends has one I’ll probably give it a go on some soft grass


But this is about what I read, awesome little tool but if you eat it on the thing you really eat it hard

Super fun to ride

Unfortunately I have a couple friends who've broken arms/wrist when the one wheel stops and they get pitched forward. I believe it's so bad they were all recalled.

They are fun to ride though

I know someone who broke their arm on one in a remote location, then flew solo 3.5 hrs home. Yikes !

I can't help it, I am too curious! So what dooes one really "use" a onewheel for? Where I live we have lots of those electric scooters you rent via an app on your phone. A few people have their own scooter, but skateboards, onewheels or anything like that never caught on.

Are they like a very very compact and mild dirtbike replacement or are they of any real use? They look like a lot of fun, but are they of any use for going anywhere? I can see some use on short commutes or on big airports. But for getting around, you need a charger, a place to charge, and wait there while they are charging. Onewheels are the kind of thing I actually would want to want, but I am struggling a bit. I suppose I don't dislike walking enough!

I am not hating. It's not like they bother me! But then again I haven't seen any in real life.

Varanger wrote:I can't help it, I am too curious! So what dooes one really "use" a onewheel for? Where I live we have lots of those electric scooters you rent via an app on your phone. A few people have their own scooter, but skateboards, onewheels or anything like that never caught on.

Are they like a very very compact and mild dirtbike replacement or are they of any real use? They look like a lot of fun, but are they of any use for going anywhere? I can see some use on short commutes or on big airports. But for getting around, you need a charger, a place to charge, and wait there while they are charging. Onewheels are the kind of thing I actually would want to want, but I am struggling a bit. I suppose I don't dislike walking enough!

I am not hating. It's not like they bother me! But then again I haven't seen any in real life.

Good question

I obviously can only speak for my self, so here it goes

With work I end up all over the globe, though this job has tons of perks hence why I am here, unlike my jobs prior I am not afforded a rental car, so I will spends days at a hotel in some very cool locations, but still exploring within walking distance

I could rent a car in some places, but making this a regular thing would be $$ in the long term and has some logistic issues with return and pickup

Taxis/uber can also get expensive and not always available

Rental scooters are a thing in 1st world urban areas but not in others, also for more remote trips if someone else takes it or it didn’t have a full charge to start off, that can be a issue

WALK! Yes this is what I have been doing, and the lifespan of my shoe soles can prove it lol
The thing is this is great for around the hotel, but many times there is something I want to check out 7-12 miles away and the time and or weather doesn’t make this practical there and back, especially if carrying anything

Thought with the one wheel is I could go 25mph for 25mi, this should work for most places I might want to go, bring it into the hotel end of the day and charge it up for the next adventure

At least that’s the theory

If you want a one/wheel you should see if you can try one out.

When you are riding a one/wheel, you are balancing on the board and your movements make it go forward, backwards, stop, turn, etc. I have only ridden for 10 minutes at a time and I think it would get tiring to go on a long ride but maybe that's just me getting old. haha

A friend, who flies for the airlines, uses a collapsible bike. He loves it and uses it to check out places on his layovers. I think you can also get an electric version but I haven't checked them out.

Good luck

NineThreeKilo wrote:At least that’s the theory

As you describe it, something like a onewheel makes good sense!

I automatically assumed it’d be used the same way we see on YouTube. Zipping up and down the airstrip or to a cabin maybe 100 yards away. Everyone to their own thing, but for this use I still prefer walking.

But when I visit other cities, I often rent electroc bikes or scooters. I absolutely see how a onewheel could be of great use if you are a commercial pilot!

Over forty? F**k it. You have to take responsibility for your own fun. Let me know if you get that onewheel. I promise I will get a skateboard. Never ridden one as a youth. But I am over forty now, so whos going to stop me?