Tips for Newbies - Enter Them Here...

[SeaP90d]

We've all learned a lot we wish we'd know sooner, so how about entering them here with a short explanation to make sort of a one stop shop to keep the newbies as fun and safe and sane as possible... I'll start #1 with the biggie.

1. Keep your front foot firmly planted on the sensor pad no matter what!!!
   Shuffling your feet around is of course second nature to skateboarders and surfers, so if left to their own devices no newbie in a millions years would think that the slightest removal of weight from the sensor foot at speed will lock up the wheel and send them sprawling to the pavement. Look at this bugaboo as simply the price of entry into the OneWheel world, you'll find it weird, but definitely worth it for what you'll find to be a life changing form of transportation...

[Aswellie]

practice heel-side turns until you can control them as easily as toe-side. Also, practice coming to a stop and balancing on the board with little or no movement. These two skills are a necessity when riding in public around people, pets, and traffic.

[sonny123]

@hekkubus
Perhaps the most important advice you got there.
Though I was under the impression that while Onewheel is moving, it's okay to move foot, I don't take that chance, nor I'm able to.
I'm still able to slide my foot slightly to get into a comfortable position from time to time, while sensors are constantly pressed.
I found that flat sneakers are best to use.
Going uphill may involve slight bending the back knee to maintain center of gravity, meaning wheel straight under body as Thegreck often mentions.

[thegreck]

The OG post by @MichaelW:
https://archive.owforum.co.uk/topic/256/newbie-real-world-beginners-manual

[sonny123]

@thegreck

Yep, worth copying and pasting:

Oops, it did that funny format again. Deleted.

[thegreck]

@SeaP90d One thing to remember is that once you're riding over .5mph you can remove pressure from ONE of the sensors (there are 2 sensors: one on the toe and one on the heel) without anything happening. This is good to know if you need to adjust your footing a bit while riding.

But be careful, because removing pressure from BOTH sensors will immediately disengage the motor (because it thinks you fell off the board) and send you flying through the air.

[Aswellie]

@thegreck said:

once you're riding over .5mph you can remove pressure from ONE of the sensors

I did NOT know this...I thought you always had to be covering both. Great info!

[thegreck]

@Aswellie You can test it out by doing something I like to do sometimes as a show-off type of dismount:

From a stopped position, start the OW moving slowly away from the sensor side of the board, and while you're rolling, move your toe off the top sensor. Then level the deck and let the OW slow down. Nothing will happen until it hits that magic .5mph, at which point it'll tip over and you can step off.

[SeaP90d]

Re dismounts here's one we wish we knew from the start, ROTATE YOUR FOOT AT THE HEEL to get your toe off the sensor before lifting your heel. Do it this way and you'll be cool with elegant non-spazzy dismounts 100% of the time. Do it the other way and just lift you heel without rotating your foot (in reliance on the supposed split sensor thing=>Insert Text Here<=) and half the time you'll find yourself stuck in an awkward ballet pose with one foot on your tip toes but the board still not disengaged.

[hekkubus]

Use your back foot to help you make tighter turns. If you're like me, you neglect to use this foot as much when turning. I know it sounds dumb because obviously you use both feet to make turns, but most of the time I've found that I'm being lazy with my back foot when trying to make my turns (especially toe-side turns). Using my back foot too helps me make the turns quicker, too.

[peacelove1wheel]

My top tip for newbies and experienced riders....wear a helmet...always!

[markmosi]

My top tips:

• always wear a helmet!

• always place your forward foot on the sensor pad side - back foot on the non-sensor side

• Don't look down - look where you want to ride!