Groundsurfer

interests, adventures and antics of andy z.

Mar
30

Which powerboard should I buy?

Filed Under Homebrew, Money, Wheelman/Bushpig

Cool looking powerboard

So you’ve oggled over the many different contraptions featured in YouTube videos that propel a human forward to unthinkable speeds. And now you’ve decided, that you should be one of those people, riding one of those gadgets. But which one should you purchase? Which one is going to be the most fun for you? Here are a few things to consider before spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a device that is purely recreational…to most people.

1. Think about the climate in your area. Some powerboards can glide you over water but maybe you don’t even live near a body of water. So before you run out and buy a powerski think about how much you will actually get to use it. Maybe you have snow on the ground 60% of the year. If so you probably need to move…or buy a gas powered snowboard!

2. Consider your price range. Maybe you have your heart set on a toy that is pushing $2000 and purchasing it, means a couple days of no food for you and your children. Consider buying a China-made knockoff of that model. Warning:You will usually sacrifice a certain amount of quality when going with a “non-brand”. Make sure you check out some reviews before you shell over the money. Sometimes there is an alternative powerboard that accomplishes the same purpose (fun) without breaking the bank.

3. What is your “Extreme Factor”? Some powerboards impose a higher risk upon the user than others. Maybe your balance isn’t what it used to be. If this is the case, a three or more wheeled device might be more up your alley. Or possibly something that is self balancing like a Segway. Regardless, taking into consideration how dangerous a powerboard can be is an important step in the purchase process.

This is not an “Idiot’s Guide” to purchsasing a powerboard, but rather an idiot, guiding you to do your research before spending the money. After all, a powerboard is really just a toy!

Mar
16

Gettin’ away at Ray’s…

Filed Under Mountain Biking

Ray's DoorDo you ever feel like you need to get away? Even if it’s just for a short while and only a short distance away, a weekend trip can be just what you need for a little recharge. Last weekend my wife Jocey and I traveled to Cleveland, OH for a few nights where there just happened to be a huge indoor mountain bike park: Ray’s MTB Park. With 103,000 sqft of logs, ramps, drops, rollers, and every other imaginable contraption to ride a bike over, under or through, Ray’s is definitely hard to beat. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar
10

Wheelman Outback: Old Vs. New

Filed Under Wheelman/Bushpig

Old and New Models

The 2007/2008 Wheelman Outback (G-Wheel) model offers many new and improved features I am very excited about. I own the 2006 model and have had several issues with it, all of which seem to be fixed on the new one. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar
2

One Wheeled Electric Skateboard

Filed Under Homebrew, Wheelman/Bushpig

I found this project a while back based off of the Segway concept. It uses a 400W 24VDC Motor and one Go-Kart wheel and self balances using proximity sensors. Pretty cool design and there are many others based off of this. Check out more information on Ben’s website here. Another helpful resource if you want to build one for yourself is the self balancing electric unicycle. These homebrew devices look super cool and most of the code is published so in theory with a little know how you could build one yourself

Feb
27

Workshop Transition

Filed Under Life

Workshop

Inventory StorageMold Pouring AreaWork Area

This last Christmas/New Years ‘08/’09 brought about a big announcement. There will be a new addition to our family, a mini-me! (Well mini-me and Jocey I suppose). With this wonderful news is going to be some big changes, which I got a head start on. Read the rest of this entry »