As I sit here, gazing out at the frost-kissed landscape from the cozy confines of my Connecticut home, a sense of longing washes over me. My Veteran Sherman S and Kingsong S22, my beloved electric unicycles (EUCs), stand silently in the corner, echoing my sentiments of being out on the open road. The winter months here are brutal, a relentless mix of rain, ice, and snow, often with temperatures plunging below freezing. This is the time of year when my passion for riding my EUC takes an involuntary backseat.
In this article, I lament. I complain a bit, maybe hoping to find some sympathy and like minded individuals out there. But ultimately, I want to reflect on the past riding season; those warmer days in the sun. Are you looking for a bit of reprieve from being stuck indoors? I likely can’t help really, but misery loves company and so here we are… Read on!
Impact of Cold Weather on EUC Performance
Okay, pause a moment and consider the cold on the nerdy stuff. The battery and performance of the the EUC. Before I dive into the personal, there’s the cold-hard truth that low temperature hurts the overall performance of any electric powered vehicle.
While a machine, just my thinking about how the cold makes my EUC less “powerful” hurts a bit.
The heart of my EUC, its lithium battery, is not a fan of the cold, much like myself. The plummeting temperatures don’t just bring discomfort to me as a rider but pose a real concern for the electrical health of my micromobility device.
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Cold weather increases internal resistance in batteries, leading to reduced power output and range, a phenomenon painfully noticeable during the few winter rides I dare to embark on. Despite gearing up with my winter apparel and safety gear, these rides are rare, brief interludes in a season largely spent indoors.
The Rider’s Winter Dilemma
Winter in Connecticut is not just about the cold; it’s the unseen hazards that make riding an EUC especially risky. Black ice, slick damp leaves, and unpredictable weather conditions turn each ride into a gamble I’m often not willing to take.
With just one wheel beneath me, the margin for error narrows considerably in these treacherous conditions. Thus, most of the time, even with the sunlight, I resign myself to the safety of my home, trading the thrill of the ride for the virtual worlds of video games (or moves and TV).
Wait, a minute! Why not ride with cold-weather gear?
Some of you may be wondering why not try to ride more outside. As long as you have decent cold weather riding gear, you should be fine, right? Well, call me lazy but it takes a good 15-30 mins to prep for a ride outdoors when it’s super cold. As a busy person, I hate wasting time… is this extra bit of prep time to don those layers, heavy undergarments, head sock, worth it?
The calculus is hard to justify on days where it’s just too damn cold. There’s a fun-to-time ratio, and that balance is all screwy in the winter time. Maybe, I’m getting old and the bone-chill I get, that ache in the joints is just too much to deal with.
Even that “flow” feel, the zen like relaxation I know we feel when we ride the wheel is hard to achieve when you’re a few moments away from bone-cracking winter air invading your lungs, your nose, the exposed bits under your clavicle.
Oh, and don’t get started on trying to get a group ride together. Most people I ride with in fair weather, have called it quits for those few months/weeks during the Winter. So, if I ride, I ride solo (which ain’t as fun, you know?).
Indoor Alternatives: Shifting Gears
Winter, with all its limitations, also brings a time for other pursuits. Video gaming becomes my refuge, a digital escape that, while not quite replacing the exhilarating freedom of an EUC ride, offers its own brand of adventure and excitement. It’s a season of duality, where the outdoor enthusiast in me hibernates and the gamer emerges.
Is This You, Too? Stuck Inside for Want of Comfort?
I suppose I’m looking for other ideas for hobbies that you can do while you can’t ride in the winter.
I know I’m not alone in this winter-induced riding hiatus. To my fellow EUC enthusiasts braving similar climates, how do you cope with these off-season months?
There’s a balance between feeling comfortable, having fun, and the thrill of that EUC hobby that dominates the warmer days.
Maybe this is anxiety, the angst of having to wait. Oh, I don’t like waiting. The EUC is awesome because it’s instant gratification on one wheel. Step on, and GO!
Unless, it’s cold. Like really cold.
Do you also find solace in other hobbies, or do you brave the cold for those rare, exhilarating rides? I’d love to really know what you do instead of riding. Is it video games, or something else? Maybe you’re the privileged few who can migrate south during the winter…Oh, how I’d love to go somewhere warm now!
Final Thoughts
Winter, for us EUC riders, is a season of longing and reflection, a reminder of the joy that awaits us in the warmer months.
As someone who loves the electric thrill of EUCs, it’s hard being patient. What to do, but wait for warmth and clear open roads (or trails).
Anyway, if you’ve read this far, I hope this small detour has been helpful or at least a tad entertaining.
I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below. 🖌️
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