You’ll not always ride a onewheel on straight roads. Sometimes, you may also encounter inclined surfaces, and many people wonder whether their onewheel is capable of going uphill or not.
To put it simply, yes, a onewheel can go uphill. The degree of a surface matters and is different for various models of onewheels.
However, going uphill is more than this, as many other components determine this movement. We are going to discuss those components in detail.
Let’s start with the factors that affect the Onewheel’s climbing ability
The factors that are vital for making a onewheel go uphill are
- The angle or gradient of the surface
- Onewheel’s Motor Power
- Weight of the rider
- Battery Capacity
- Torque of a Onewheel
- Terrain type
Now let’s cover each of these factors in detail.
1. The Angle of the inclined surface
The gradient is more commonly known as the slope of an inclined surface. It is measured in percentage or in degrees. A simple way to calculate it is by dividing the rise in elevation by the horizontal range.
It is vital to consider this factor as this degree or angle determines the ability of a onewheel to go uphill. Companies test the uphill going ability of their products, and the gradient to which it can go is usually mentioned in the specs.
You can look at the specs to get a better idea of the gradient of your onewheel. Most of the onewheels in the market can climb a hill of 15%. Most of the hills have this much gradient. Thus, the majority of the onewheels can quickly go uphill.
You can take your onewheel on hills having a gradient more than this, but remaining within limits is advised as it minimizes the risk of getting into potential injuries and makes the battery last longer.
2. Motor power of the onewheel
The relation between uphill going capacity and the motor power is directly proportional. This means that the higher the motor power, the higher the ability of a onewheel to climb a hill.
Compared to electric skateboards or electric unicycles, the motors of onewheels don’t have that much power. Nowadays, the motors used mainly are hub types.
For example, the Onewheel Pint X has a hub motor of 750W and an uphill gradient of 15%. Mostly onewheels which are of good quality have this type of motor.
It’s essential to keep in mind that the quality of a onewheel matters a lot. A poor quality onewheel will have less motor power and vice versa. This means that if the uphill ability matters a lot to you, you should go for a premium quality onewheel and maintain it properly to be satisfied with the results.
3. Rider’s Weight
The maximum load a onewheel can tolerate is different, which means that a person’s weight is crucial for going uphill. Normally electric motor devices can take a person of 70kg or less quickly.
If you have a weight higher than this, the battery of your onewheel can get drained easily.
4. Battery Capacity
Riding uphill, your onewheel is more stressed and needs extra power to climb the inclined surface. This matters on the battery capacity as it is the primary source of energy to the motor, which then makes the onewheel go uphill.
The battery drains much faster when you ride on a steep surface rather than on a straight road or downhill.
You must have enough battery capacity for your onewheel to cover the distance without any trouble.
There are many ways by which you can make sure that the battery is saved and doesn’t drain quickly:
- Increase the speed gradually when going uphill
- Avoid riding inclined surfaces when it’s windy
- Do not ride your onewheel at high speed.
This tells us the importance of the battery capacity, which is one of the most critical factors determining the uphill going power.
5. Torque of the onewheel
The torque is the ability of the onewheel to rotate, which is related to the size of the wheel. A large wheel will have less torque and vice versa. It is also a significant factor that makes the onewheel go uphill. You should always consider it while buying a onewheel or making your own.
6. Type of terrain
The type of terrain is also essential to determine the uphill capacity. A smooth and obstacle-free terrain will take your onewheel uphill easily. At the same time, a rough or muddy surface will put extra pressure on it.
Coming downhill on your onewheel
Once you go up, you will also need to come down. Doing the opposite is entirely different as this requires even more caution.
The braking system involved while coming downwards is the regenerative system which conserves energy and hence, makes the battery last longer.
Always decrease the speed by leaning backward and makes sure to wear protective gear to avoid any potential injury or accident.
Final thoughts
To conclude, a onewheel can go uphill but to some extent. Most of them can climb surfaces having a gradient of 15%. This depends on many factors, and you should always consider them when buying a device.
Always stay safe while going uphill by wearing protective gear, as safety should be your number one priority.
