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by dmethvin 4087 days ago
If sweating from the exertion is a problem, you could use something like an electric unicycle. They go up to 25km/h for 20km, can take hills, and are good for the "last mile" problem of getting to/from the train or metro. Judging from the YouTube videos they already seem to be in use around Paris:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVJAeQbInYg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InaqGRYq1z8

1 comments

Ha! I just got one last month! I got the AirWheel Q3 that has two wheels instead of one and that is supposed to have a larger battery.

I love it, but wouldn't ride it everyday to work.

Pros:

- super fun to ride, a lot like skiing but without any effort on your part; you actually miss it when you get off

- reasonably fast but not too fast

- (for now) excellent "cool factor"; kids actually stop you to ask you where they can get one

Cons:

- the autonomy is not reassuring; if I used it to go to work I would be frightened that it runs out in the middle of the way back and I would have to carry it back via public transport; it's heavy (15kg)

- very difficult to ride on curved streets when you're not at the top of the curve (in the middle) -- for me it's more than just difficult, it's impossible as of now

- difficult to ride up or down hills

- unpredictable behavior when you fall off; I would be very afraid it would hit someone or go to the middle of a busy road

So for now I just go to skate parks with my kids with it; again, it's super fun as a toy; but for regular transport I'm not yet convinced. Maybe I need more experience.