A 5000 km journey on wheel

A group of electric unicycle fans had planned to travel 10,000 kilometers within China using only their electric unicycle. The objective of the trip is to honor the founding fathers of the People's Republic of China, who have bled and sweat on this road and lost their lives during the long march. This ambitious plan has been brewing for a long time before the team finally decided to proceed with their plans after months of planning and organizing the group. It was not an easy trip given the distance and the commitment of time, not to forget the terrains, weather and logistics issues for this journey.

Their journey started on June 18 2015 from Jing Gang Shan, Jiang Xi Province. It took the team 21 days, 2500km later, passing through Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and dozens of counties before they finally reaching Zun Yi County. The team decided to take a few days rest in Zun Yi before leaving for their next destination.

The team set forth for the 2^nd part of the journey on the 25^th August. This part of the journey saw them passing from Zunyi to Yan'an via Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Aba (Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous), Gansu, Ningxia ( Hui Autonomous ), Shaanxi and other regions. Total mileage for the second leg of the journey was 3,100 km, with the team spending another 29 days on the road.

While it is easy for us to imagine they have nice roads for them to wheel on, the truth begs to differ. The team has to wheel trough barren hills, plateaus, snow-capped mountains, grasslands. Many of the paths they taken are muddy roads or roads that has not been completed. The challenging route has created all sorts of problems. The team also experienced a lot of injuries due to road conditions, illness and altitude reaction. In short, the trip was hazardous. However, what is gratifying is that they managed to reach their destination in Shanxi with the efforts of unity and cooperation of the entire team. They finally ended their journey on the 21^st September, after more than 3 months on the road.

      

While failing to hit the milestone of 10,000 km, the group has provided inspirations for many to follow suit and break their record. It also shows that electric unicycle is NOT A TOY.  It functions as an environmental friendly transport which is portable and provides a flexible alternative for people to move around, short or long distance.

* Source: 惠宗. Information translated from journals from different members of the team who took part in this trip.

KS14D smackdown!

It's been awhile since I last reviewed new wheels. This is due to The Wheelies numerous engagements with events such as Pertapis, Active SG, iWheel4Fun. Thus. I had found free time a premium. My wedding preparations didn't help too, "robbing" me most of my wheeling and writing time.

Given today is Boxing Day and a holiday, it frees me some time to focus on the review of the new King Song 14D. I am honored to be provided one of the first KS14D in the world to be reviewed and I would attempt to share with you my views about the wheel.

Design

In terms of looks, it looks like a miniature KS16B. However,  if you take a look closer, it does have some key differences. Besides the difference in wheel size, the cushion of the wheel has been improved to provide comfort to the riders. The slim width of the wheel makes it easy for our calves to grip too. It has also retained the USB charging port from KS14C, allowing the rider to charge his/her gadgets on the go. The build in light sensor is extremely useful too as the light will auto on when the surrounding area is dark.

Handle

While KS16B is one of the first wheel to come out with an integrated handle, there are certainly lots of improvement to be made for the handle as the first batch of handle were poorly design, with many reported difficulties in using it after a few months of usage. It seems like King Song does take feedback seriously. The new KS14D managed to resolve all those reported issues with the handle. It now feels sturdier and the handle

Pedals

While KS16B is a great wheel, one of the frustrations of the wheel is with the pedals height. As the pedal height is lower, chances of scrapping the floor is higher especially if you are adapt to quick turns. There is no such problem though for KS14D. The pedals is large and high. This allows the rider to make sharp turns without scrapping the floor. The anti-slip grip on the pedal is extremely useful during wet situations.

Tyre

KS14D uses a Kenda 14X 2.125. The wide tyre base does provide a more stable grip than most of the other 14 inches wheel in the market using 14X1.95.

Riding comfort

One of my dislikes for KS14C is the softness in the ride. Comparing to KS14C, KS14D has been dramatically improve and the ride definitely feel more responsive. With a max power of 2400w, it doesn't feels like its going to lose any power soon going up slope.

Distance

Despite me weighing at 80kg, I still managed to churn out 35km from the wheel which I consider decent for a 420wh battery. LED lights and front light have been on throughout this journey, with an average speed of 14.6 km/h with a run time of 2hours 30 mins.

Pros

• Very responsive ride
• A safe wheel to ride
• 1st 14 inch wheel to have an integrated handle
• Strong grip tapes at the pedals 
• High pedals means chances of scrapping the floor is low
• Intelligent front and back light sensor which orientates itself according to the direction you are traveling 

Cons

• Given most new wheels are at least 680wh, battery size a bit too small at 420wh 
• Handle height can be higher when extended 
• APP could have contain more features such as mileage ranking and LED customization
• not appealing to people currently on 16 inch (or more) wheels

OUR VERDICT

Overall, KSD14D is a wheel well thought of in terms of features and ergonomics and is definitely a fun wheel. In my humble opinion, KS14D is proving to be the best King Song wheel to date and arguably the best 14 inch wheel out there in the market. The design of the wheel makes KS14D an eye turner. With the built in Bluetooth speakers, KS14D does provide you with the entertainment you need while on the go. While it is not the fastest wheel in the market, I would rather use a wheel that I have confidence it will not lose power on me than worrying when the wheel going to power cut.  So if you are looking for a better wheel to replace your existing wheel, you might have found your answer in KS14D.

RATINGS

DESIGN	5/5
FEATURES	4 / 5
PERFORMANCES	5 / 5
BATTERY LIFE	4 / 5
VALUE FOR MONEY	5 /5

KS14D is available at the Wheelies store 

* The tester is a pioneer in the electric unicycle industry and have tested and review more than 100+ different type of wheels in the market since 2013.

Turi Beach Resort, Batam

In conjunction with iWheel4Fun, SCC Travel Services and Nongsa Resorts, The Wheelies had a chance to visit Turi Beach located in Batam  on the 17th Dec.  Situated in the North East tip of Batam Island, Nongsa Resorts is an ideal getaway for a weekend retreat as it is just a 35 minutes ferry ride away from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

It was a perfect outing for 8 members of the Wheelies community as the itinerary included a tour of the Scenic Movie Town, wheeling within the Golf Course, visits to local kampungs, wheeling around the island where the roads are PMDs friendly. experiencing wheeling on extreme slopes and dirt tracks and many more. And how would a trip to Indonesia be complete without the wonderful cuisine of Indonesia. Pictures speaks a thousands words. Rather than boring you with my constant ranting, I would show you the events pics.

The Wheelies places great importance on being a socially responsible company by contributing in numerous ways to the community it operates in. With a firm belief in the importance of engagement with the community, we have been responsive to the needs of the community by working closely with government agencies, grassroots committee and non profit organizations.

PERTAPIS Children’s Home (PCH) was established in 1991 and a gazetted Place of Safety under Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA). The Home is able to provide care for 80 children and young persons from the age of 4 to 16 years old. They are referred by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and Youth Court for alternative care arrangement.

In conjunction with BCD Travel Family Day, The Wheelies visited the Pertapis Children home on the 19th November with the single objective of bringing the smiles in the children. The tiredness was not shown in our volunteers' faces despite 3 hours under the scorching sun. We left the place feeling great, knowing that we have made a difference for the children.

Active SG Car Free Day

YOU ARE STANDING ON THE WHEEL AND NOT EXERCISING. YOU ARE NOT BURNING ANY CALORIES"

This is what people commonly said about people on electric unicycles and I would like to say its BS. As much as the person on the wheel seems relax and not exerting any energy, he is definitely working out his muscles to keep the balance. I would challenge any one who says that we are not exercising and happily provide an electric unicycle for this test. YOU DO BURN CALORIES WHEN YOU ARE ON THE WHEEL.

Wheeling is moderately aerobic: You are moving large muscle groups enough to elevate your oxygen consumption during twisting and turning.

In holding your upper body forward of your legs and in an extended position, you work the deepest abdominal support muscles necessary to transfer forces from your feet up through your arms. While wheeling might not give you your desired six-pack, you've probably built up your inner abdominal core and will be less likely to suffer back injuries than most. Wheeling also allows you too to develop local muscular endurance through holding your quads in a flexed position, as well as some rotational flexibility and strength in pulling turns. And not forgetting the steps you need to conquer by carrying your beloved wheel up and down the stairs.

As part of Active SG plans to get more Singaporeans outdoor, the streets came alive for the Wheelies last Sunday, 30 Oct 16, where the Civic District was transformed into a Sports Arena for the electric unicyclists group. The group took part in shaloming obstacle course, hantum bola, wheel hockey and captain ball. These are a series of improvised games that uses their trusted electric unicycle. Besides games for the seasoned wheelers, the public was also given an opportunity to try out the wheel. Pictures tell a thousand words. Do enjoy the footage.#CarFreeSunday

For more information about wheeling, you may contact The Wheelies at www.thewheelies.sg

Top Electric Unicycles for October

RANKING	BRAND & MODEL	BRAND & MODEL	RANKING LAST MONTH
1	INMOTION V8		1
2	KINGSONG 16A 680WH		3
3	GOTWAY ACM		4
4	GOTWAY MSUPER 3		5
5	INMOTION V5F		2

* Based on estimated figures from sales of electric unicycles in Singapore http://thewheelies.sg/shop/ as well as TWG members registration

V8 has been officially launched in Singapore

INMOTION SCV V8 has been officially launched in Singapore! Many thanks to our friends and fellow Wheelians who came by to support us yesterday night. The show of support was overwhelming, with more than 50 of you turning up for this launch party. We hope that you have enjoyed the food, drinks and reception we have prepared for you!

If you also considering an Inmotion V8, look no further. You can own one of these stylish wheel to by ordering via https://goo.gl/YkPDm2

Official launch of V8 from Inmotion Authorized Dealer in Singapore

The long awaited Inmotion V8 is finally here.

By now hopefully you will have seen or heard about the newly Inmotion V8. Inmotion V8 stands out against competition. Combining superb engineering and cutting edge design, Inmotion V8 features a powerful 800W Ti-Mg alloy wheel-hub motor, customizable atmospheric LEDs, integrated handle, removable battery, innovative anti-spinning button all in a compact chassis of 148mm wide & lightest in its class at 13.8kg only!

As part of our plan to reward all our customers and supporters, you are cordially invited to be part of our launch party.  Please RSVP your interest to 9625 7729. See you soon.

Throwback

Exactly one year ago, The Wheelies travelled up in group to help out one of the Wheelians 's brother wedding. We were invited to be part of the wedding entourage. We will need to chronograph a march in with wheels for the bride and groom. Without further ado, here it is again. 

Interesting places to wheel in SG

While most of us have been putting our trusted electric unicycle to good use by using it daily as a first and last mile transportation, there are many places where we can visit too with our wheel. Here is a list some places in SG for your consideration

Fort Canning

Pulau Ubin

St John and Lazarus

Civic District

The Green Corridor

The Nite Corridor

Sheares Bridge

Sentosa

Prison Break

an many many more.......

How long does it takes to learn how to wheel?

"THAT LOOKS DIFFICULT"

This is the common comment when people sees an electric unicycle rider wheeling pass them. Part of that impression was formed because the person is trying to balance on one wheel to move around. People generally associated an electric unicycle like as a Segway with a handle to assist a rider but the only catch is, there isn't any remote controller or handle to help the rider.

So how does the rider balance themselves?

An electric unicycle assists the rider in staying upright by using an electric motor and gyroscopes controlled by a computer that is fed data from accelerometers and other sensors. There are sensors that line along the rim of the wheel call the hall sensors and the wheel uses the hall sensors and gyroscopes in conjunction with an electric motor to measure the Y Axis dimensional movement to a Central. Processing unit keep the unit upright. It also uses sensors with the gyroscopes to measure the Z Axis dimensional for safety feature and cut off the power to the wheel if it had sensed the self balance electric unicycle have toppled side way.

So in short, the most difficult part of balancing on the wheel has been taken over by the wheel itself. The rider will only need to learn how to balance left and right. Sounds easy isn't it?

Humans have more than 5 senses besides sigh, sound, taste, smell and touch. There are other senses such as pressure, itch, pain, thirst, hunger, balance etc… Training on electric unicycling help students discover their sense of balance. The ear is a sensory organ for picking up sound waves and allowing us to hear. But it is also essential to our sense of balance: inside of the inner ear is the vestibular system (the organ of balance). 

We have trained closed to 600 students in the span of 3 years and has developed a proven technique to help the riders discover their sense of balance. There are a fixed set of exercise that the rider will have to go through to help them discover their sense of balance and familiarize with the wheel. Based on our average learning time for the students, it takes only about and hour or two to move the wheel around. We even have students that can wheel in 5 mins (due to their wakeboarding and yoga background)

Electric unicycling is not exclusive to only the young people. Having said that, it is really an activity suitable for all ages. We have riders as young as 4 years old and as old as 73 years old. So if they can do it, so can you. Join us today. For more information, you can send us an email to info@thewheelies.sg

Man's Best Friend

"Dogs are a man's best friend" It's the honest truth! . They do virtually eveything with us. As an electric unicylcist, I am so glad that my buddy take an interest with our electric unicycling activities too. Some of the dog friendly activities include

1. Walking the dog

2. Practicing on your electric unicycle under the watchful eye of your buddy

3. Ridding the wheel with your buddy

4. Teaching a dog how to ride an electric unicycle

Inmotion P1

Inmotion recently launched a new product, P1. It is new form of E-bike, which combines the essence of an Ebike and a E scooter. It will be available in late October. Do stay tuned for the product review right on TWT.

Top Electric Unicycles for August

RANKING	BRAND & MODEL	BRAND & MODEL	RANKING LAST MONTH
1	INMOTION V8		4
2	KINGSONG 16A 680WH		-
3	GOTWAY ACM		5
4	GOTWAY MSUPER 3		-
5	INMOTION V5F		1

* Based on estimated figures from sales of electric unicycles in Singapore http://thewheelies.sg/shop/ as well as TWG members registration

The most economical kids electric scooter!

Most electric scooters in the market weights about 15-20 kg with a top speed of 25-40 km/h. Electric scooter aren't really designed for kids with specs like these till Inmotion came out with Harveia.

Introducing Inmotion Harveia ES05, a lightweight electric scooter build with the kids in mind and for the kids. with a top speed of only 13km/h. Its colourful, zippy and easy to maneuver. Its foldable, making it easy to bring it around. It's definitely a recommended scooter for the kids, age between 6-12 years old.

Inmotion Haveia is now available in Singapore. You can click here to find out more about how to buy the wheel. Inmotion Harviea ES05

8 reasons why you should buy from authorised dealers

With the growing popularity of buying online, it is becoming easier for consumers to compare prices and buying online in the comfort of their home. With a click of a button, all the prices from different sellers will shown on the computer. If all things are similar, most consumers would probably go for the cheapest price since the products are the same or looks the same. While the principal product is the same, there is definitely nothing similar in terms of the entire package. Let us look at some factors that you, as a consumer, should be aware of.

1. THERE ARE HIDDEN COSTS

Well, maybe you don't need the additional services such as delivery and training which the Wheelies provides as part of the package but you need to look at the other factors of the sale such as the fine print or the exclusion clauses for warranty. Most of these online deals only have a one month warranty. At certain times, what should be part of the package are taken out and sold separately. e.g. charger, cover, handle etc. In some instances, even though the spare parts are part of the warranty, consumer are sometimes slapped with an exorbitant fee to repair.

2. STOCKS MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME AS ADVERTISED

Stocks from unauthorised dealers are mostly procured from China retailers whose goods are supposed to be manufactured for China market and sold there. Do note that the specifications of the product is slightly different for domestic product and export product. e.g NineBot E & NineBot E+, KS16A vs KS16B . It is not difficult to identify which are parallel exports goods as all of these goods carries a serial number. In the instances of parallel exports, the manufacturers do have a right to refuse to supply spare parts or acknowledge warranty claim.

 3. WARRANTY ISSUES

Do note that all authorised dealers are appointed by the manufacturers and have signed agreements with them to distribute their products.


“When I bought the NineBot E, I was promised warranty. I noticed there is a problem with my battery on the 5th month and couldn't be fully charge. I sent for repair for the battery, they denied there is anything wrong and ask me to wait another few more months and monitor. I actually took the advise and went back on the 8th month. Eventually, they told me that the warranty for battery is over and they cannot do anything"

So be aware: Parallel importers and unauthorised dealers will have issues with warranties. You are taking a huge risk when it comes to after sales support.

Do note that to prevent service standards from deteriorating, all major unicycle brands (KingSong, Inmotion, NineBot) have come together and agreed not to service and honor warranty for parallel exporters.

4. REPLACEMENT PARTS ISSUES

As an authorised dealer, the Wheelies will have access to all parts and stocks.  If you wheel is under warranty and damage due to manufacturing defect, we are committed to repair it for you, no matter how difficult it may be. This is a commitment and assurance we give to all customers.

5. NO LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS

We believe in doing business in the right manner as we want to be success in the long term, building The Wheelies as a brand of reliability and trustworthiness. We DO NOT CONDONE malpractices. Nothing of the sort of hidden fine prints or under-declaring the value of goods just to avoid paying GST. All our goods have went through required certifications with Singapore Power too.

6. NO EXPERTISE TO SERVICE

Authorised dealers go through stringent training before they are given the rights to distribute the products. Even under unforeseen circumstances where the problem, support will be given to authorized dealers so that they can manage the repairs.

7. STRESS TEST & PRODUCTS REVIEW

The Wheelies believe what we do will have an impact on the industry being the largest electric unicycle group in Singapore. We thread carefully on the boundaries. We also make sure that the products we brought in are throughly tested and reviewed before being introduced into the Singapore market.

8. EXCLUSIVE LAUNCHES

Authorised dealers will have access to the latest product launch as well as demo unit for interested customers to test. All preorders deals are geniune offers and there are no hidden costs and gimmicks.  

Discovery of Inmotion V8

Having the world's first V8 outside of China, The Wheelies shared with the audience about their experience with the wheel.

Gotway MSuper 3

MSuper 3 has been in development for a few months and Gotway has been slowly releasing teasers to the official Facebook page with regards to the wheel since March. The last time I was at Gotway factory in May, I only had the chance to try out the wheel within the premises of the factory. Today, I finally had the chance today to get hold of the unit and take it for a spin. So, does the hype meets the expectations, we will find out. Let us first look at the specs

Rated at 1500w motor power, this wheel is definitely not short of power. Being a victim of numerous powercuts of malfunction and crap wheels, I am definitely extremely careful with this one.

I started out cautiously given my recent injuries. However, as I used it longer, I started to grow with confidence with the wheel. It suddenly all appear to me its actually a fun wheel especially for those who has a "need for speed" or enjoy extreme dirt tracks wheeling. When needed, the sudden burst in speed is there. The rated specs of the highest speed is 40km/h, though i believe it can actually go above that speed. (Of course at your own risk)

While cruising with the wheel, you can definitely feel a firm grip on the ground with this wheel even at higher speed. In fact, the stability gives you so much confidence that you are always moving with confidence at a higher speed with this wheel. You definitely won't feel a drop in power in this 1500w rated motor. It has no problems in scaling a 20 degrees slope for a 78 kg adult. The USB is a useful feature too. 

This is definitely a hella of a beast wheel for one who can control the beast.

Likes

• Very stable wheel even at high speed
• Integrated handle
• Good pedal grip
• A fun wheel capable of taking all the different terrains
• Smooth acceleration 
• USB point to serve as emergency power bank
• 18 inch wheel means it can roll over most obstacles without issue
• Probably the best 18 inch wheel in the market unrivalled by none
• Consider this a Gotway wheel, it is actually quite classy looking
• Quite comfortable on the calves despite being an 18 inch wheel

Dislikes

• A clumsy wheel to manoeuvre but better than MSuper 2
• Very heavy to carry around in situations where wheeling is not possible
• Light are probably not bright enough
• Not practical for city riding
• NOT LTA specs compliant
• Definitely need to suit it up with protection as the speed is dangerous

Please send your preorder queries to info@thewheelies.sg. Msuper 3 is available for preorder at the following prices:

1. 680Wh - $1399
2. 820Wh - $1699

Special thanks to Linnea Lin  for explaining the functionalities of the wheel to me and allowing me to try the wheel.