You never know what you’ll see at King of the Hammers, an off-road racing event held every year in the high desert of California. The big rigs, dubbed Ultra4 cars, are technologically impressive, but it’s the weird derivatives that really get me going. It was inevitable that we’d get a group of misfits pitting three-wheelers against one another on a small circle-of-death track in the loosely organized Ultra3 races, but I never thought I’d see Ultra1.
Enter Seth Johnson and Amped Electric Games. He and his tribe of electric unicycle (EUC) disciples have been tearing up the EUC life since 2022, hosting and live streaming races all around the country, nay, the planet, in the hope of bringing some zen to the world.
When I first heard that EUCs were in Hammertown – the name for the city that pops up on Means dry lake bed every year – I thought they would look like clown unicycles, the kind you see at the circus with some red-nosed performer juggling bowling pins or something. Nope! These things are compact and meant to be stood on, not sat upon. And they aren’t the kind with a skateboard platform either. These are wheels with a foot peg on either side and that’s it.
There are plenty of different types to choose from on Johnson’s website, with motors ranging from 750 watts to 4,500 watts. Some are meant for high-speed on a flat surface while others are focused on more torque to go up and down hills. You can opt for smooth tires or knobby off-road tires and battery sizes can range from a dinky 375 wH with 10 miles of range to 4,400 wH that can last for over 100 miles. Depending on your size and speed, of course. You’ll spend about $500 for an entry-level model to nearly $4,500 for a wheel with the biggest battery and motor.
The first Ultra1 race was a sprint around the racing short course. Decked out in helmets and body armor, riders got a bit of air on the jumps as they sprinted around the rutted dirt track. However, it was the race down a trail called Short Bus that really showed the skill– and fearlessness– of the riders.
I can’t emphasize enough how steep this trail is. When you drive up it in a vehicle, all you see is sky. When you drive down your entire weight is pressed against your five-point harness as gravity takes you on a nearly uncontrollable ride. There are rocks everywhere, some as big as a Volkswagen Beetle, some hidden just below the dirt surface, ready to destroy man and machine. And that’s before the Ultra4 cars with 40-inch tires had chewed it up the trail into a soft, silty, whooped-out mess on their qualifying run.
Still, these brave riders rode to the top on their EUCs, took a deep breath and plunged down the course. There are no handlebars to grip, no cage protecting them, yet they willingly defied death racing down Short Bus. A few fell off and stumbled into the silt, smacking knees and elbows on the rocks, but each got right back on to their unicycle to finish the race.
At the Ultra1 booth I got the chance to try out a mid-range EUC and it is a workout. After just a few minutes my calves were screaming and my core was yelling at me to just give up and go get an ice cream. Put the weight on your toes and you’ll go forward, the weight on your heels and you’ll go backwards. I never quite figured out how to come to a complete stop, but turning is done by twisting your body.
I ventured away from the makeshift railing and smooth surface inside the booth to what a moment before I thought was the pancake-flat lakebed. How could I have missed all these rocks? While walking they don’t even register. While clinging to the arm of an Ultra1 volunteer, teetering on this electric one-wheeler, every rock seemed like an insurmountable death trap. All I could think about was not eating shit in the next five feet of travel.
It turns out that’s the exact feeling Johnson wants every rider to have – pure zen concentration. In fact, what I thought would be a 15-minute chat about the specs of the unicycles turned into a 45-minute discussion about mental health in America and how EUCs can fundamentally change people. Johnson believes that being atop an EUC forces past problems and future worries to fade into the background. It’s all about what is happening right now, in this moment.
“We have a mental health crisis in this country,” he said. “Through my travels in the past three years all over the world, riders have all had the same experience. They’ve had PTSD, social anxiety, alcoholism (raises hand)…there is something about unlocking this natural high when you’re riding these vehicles that is unmatched by any of those other substances.”
I’m fortunate enough to not suffer from any kind of addiction, but I will say that I experience that same kind of focus when racing my lifted Miata. Intrusive thoughts come in, but in order to not crash, I have to push them out and focus on the race course ahead of me. I completely understand where Johnson is coming from, although I do it with four wheels, not one.
Still, he is adamant. “I really feel strongly that getting more people on wheels can change the world.” If you’d like to race Ultra1, you can just show up with your wheel, whatever the brand. The crew will be at Arizona Bike Week in April, Myrtle Beach Bike Week and HyperFest in May and the world-famous Sturgis Rally in August. Just be sure to bring your own helmet.
My friend’s son is one of the top riders of these in the country. Goes all over for events and won one in China recently. I can’t even stand up on the thing and they are silly fast. I kinda look at it like you’ll be the #1 guy in the sport for about a week until you have the “big one.” Like how there was always they #1 bicycle delivery guy in NYC back in the day until he ran into a Yellow cab lol.
I think you may be referring to Zac Darnell who also won this race!
This looks, um, exciting, but I totally understand the comments about Zen and concentration. It’s one of the things I noticed markedly, and really liked, about doing track events (I did them from age 18 into my late 20s or so). I have ADD, so things like concentration and executive function have always been a challenge, but from my very first event at age 18 I noticed how I was totally, totally in the moment when I was on the track.
I wonder what a broken collar bone does for your mental health, because I feel like that’s the probable outcome for about 90% of people who try this. 😛
It all looks fairly insane. I bet it’s entertaining to watch though!
I see where that guy is coming from, if you see a person on a unicycle, you should probably question their mental health.
The only way that statement can be taken remotely seriously is to acknowledge the 10 billion other things that can fundamentally change people.
Sure… they look neat. But lets not pretend that a $4500 electric unicycle is any sort of panacea. I suspect a $20 thrift store “traditional” unicycle would give exactly the same benefits. Or a bike. Or tennis racket. Or strengthening your social ties/network. Or 9 Billion 999 million 999 thousand 996 other things.
Fuck those unicycles, here in Tampa they’re always ridden on sidewalks with zero regard for pedestrian traffic. Taking a nice stroll? Nah, douchebag on unicycle with his shitty bluetooth speaker blasting his awful music. Traffic and pedestrian laws? Nah. They’re just a Polaris Slingshot for poors, same douchiness, different modes of transportation.
“Pure zen concentration” A glorious state, especially in these troubled times. This is why I still ski the trees in my late 60s. Of course, decades of experience helps, ’cause you don’t have to think about it, just focus, react and flow. And there’s the zen (as well as the adrenaline rush). I totally get what these EUC folks are doing and why. Hope they can keep it up for decades.
I always loved skiing in the glades. I haven’t been on the slopes in a few years. I gotta get back to it. There is nothing like that quick decision making and constant adjustments. The feeling of focus is so fun.
The glades are my favorite place on the mountain. The peaceful quiet and the concentration are just great. The zen feeling I get when skiing is something I’ve been trying to put into words for years, especially when trying to explain to others why I do it.
I’ve seen a guy on one of these hauling ass down Mass Ave in Cambridge MA. Full protective regalia and all. I used to ride my bike on Mass(achusetts) Ave and I can tell you that you are taking your life into your hands. How somebody stops or makes an evasive maneuver is beyond me…
You are more courageous than me, Gunga Din.
I can see exactly why this will never make it big, it looks stupid and jank. I respect anyone bringing it though, so props to that.
But holy crap do they look dumb as hell flailing down the hill on unis. Just utter trash.
This was definitely not a track made for us, but the riders sent it anyhow. You can see the tracks these riders are used to racing here https://youtu.be/2-Q6zVJw1kA?si=IlVkfIms-dg-6_0j
It’s like this unholy diagram of guys who buy first-edition Modest Mouse pressings on vinyl but also pound 17 Monster Energy drinks every day.
Dean Kamen’s meth-addled brother in law who is out for revenge.
Guys whose hobbies include handlebar mustaches and wingsuit jumping.
We’re much more mundane than all that, except for the energy drinks of course.
Ha!
The only thing that would be MORE 2010’s hipster would be offroad Penny farthings
Brings me back to when I was a kid in our concrete surrounded pool. We played ball hockey with one plant the goal at one end, and the gate at the other. I rode a skateboard, one brother on a unicycle, and the third on a bicycle. Fun times. Not so much for that plant. We would switch “vehicles” around as well to mix things up.
We’ve found if you know how to ride an acoustic unicycle the electric version is easy to pick up.
I’m no psychiatrist, but I can acknowledge from experience that mindfulness is important to mental health, so the unicycle guy has got something there.
Mental health aside, that looks like a sport that’s rough on the body. My back hurts just looking at the pics.
The models we ride have suspension systems, and mainly we aren’t riding such insane terrain. With that said many of us jump insane distances which can be quite taxing on my 50 yo knees ????
Astonishing! Mighty cool indeed to see what’s possible with just one wheel and to see how much of it is actually within reach for relative beginners.
Apropos of which, while this doesn’t have unicycles and actually involves years, nay, decades of practice & skill, it does involve one wheel, where they pop wheelies for sustained runs in all sorts of terrain, including pop-up bollards: https://kottke.org/24/08/danny-macaskill-does-a-wheelie
I haven’t serviced very many electric unicycles, but the one I did a tire change on required me to remove more than 60 screws. inmotion was the brand.
Inmotion is known for being hard to work on, it’s almost like they design them not to be self-servicible.
Why service when you can replace! Lol
Watching them race down a hill, I think a good name would be the Lemming. Were I young and pliable, I would give it a go.
It’s great fun, and you don’t have to do crazy stuff like this. We have plenty of riders well into their 70s.
No Mono Fluttering way! “EUCs” sounds way too close to what I fear could happen with a high powered wheel bouncing between the legs.
Personally I like the moniker “suicycle”.
These things are so dorky.
You should see what we do on tracks that weren’t designed for vehicles with 40″ tires ????
I’ve seen it. Looks fun as hell and still very very dorky.
The older I get the less I care that other people think I look like a dork, just ask my kids ????
Do most participants follow the Klingon tradition of proclaiming that “today is a good day to die” before going into battle?
I’ve taken to saying “what do we say to the god of death? Not today” quietly to myself before launching my middle aged bones into a bike park on a 30 year old MTB.
I’m not any good, but I’ve not been hospitalised yet, so maybe I should quit while I’m ahead.
Also I should find something cooler to quote than ‘Thrones.
There’s always Klingon.
Qapla!
My favorite Klingon insult: Son of…whatever.
I’ve done way too much stupidity on a skateboard to even consider getting near one of these. I still have most of the poor impulse control—but the bones are decades more brittle.
Isn’t that the truth! I was skateboarding down a path in college on one of my roommate’s boards and the sprinklers came on. i jumped off the board to the grass to my right and slid on my butt towards the pavement, stood up as my feet got there and had a Taa-Dah moment. Uninjured, I kinda wanted to do it again, but even at 18, I knew better. Now, nearly 50 years later, I know even better.
Barely into double digits, three of us hitchhiked out to the local dam with pushbrooms, spent a couple hours cleaning the spillway, then somehow managed to survive skateboarding down it multiple times. No helmets because it was the 70s
Pretty sure I used up all my luck as a young’un, so I try not to push it almost 50 years later
Totally feel you. I drove my roommate up to visit his parents and then we skateboarded in some tunnel/spillway below Mount Baldy (NE of Claremont, CA where his parents lived. There was a road behind the central library (Named the Geisel Library <for Dr. Seuss> now) at UC San Diego, we used to ride on that was so steep. It was terrifying. And yeah. No helmets.
How. Am. I. Still. Alive?
I’m a firm believer that we as a country, perhaps as the Western first world countries, put far too much emphasis on psychiatry and nowhere near enough on a deep passion and one really good friend. Those things are harder to find than a therapist though.
For me, my time devoted to my passion results in exactly what he describes. I can drop my worries and issues, and just focus on the THING. That focus allows all the other stuff to drop away, lets you take a deep breath and actually get it in without the weight on you. I don’t think the passion matters, but the experiencing that passion is what matters. Then you need a good deep friendship to let you bitch periodically and support the stupidities that make you smile.
One of the reasons I enjoy mountain biking so much. In my daily life I’m fairly miserable, but as soon as I get on the bike all that clears from my head. There’s only room to focus on RIGHT NOW, such as “don’t slide out on that root”, “ride OVER that rock”, “watch out for that tree”, etc…
And then there’s the occasional “Like a fukn BOSS!” as I clear a difficult obstacle or climb.
And people say motorcyclists are nuts…
Don’t worry, there’s plenty of room under the “nuts” umbrella.
“I never quite figured out how to come to a complete stop” Not sure it’s possible, on a non-electric unicycle, if you stop, you fall. The only way to stay stationary is forward-backward-forward-backward-forward etc…
Yes, we call that pendulums and it’s the only way to “stall”.
From my Sunday School days, Proverbs 16:18 says “Pride goeth before a fall.”
I have crashed a motorcycle and broken a couple of ribs. I have not crashed a car.
So, I can’t imagine doing any of that on one wheel. Ever. But especially at age 67.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
(The full verse works even better 🙂 )
You are correct! I just did a web search for what I posted, but the verse is better. Maybe in Sunday School they didn’t want to put haughty/hotties in our male juvenile minds.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible to off road on a unicycle but damn! As far as motorized off roading goes this is probably the most eco friendly way to do it.
Hmmm.
I wonder how hard would it be to get myself up Mt Whitney on one of those…
It’d be more eco friendly to power something more stable that you steer mechanically, like a bicycle, so you aren’t wasting power staying upright and turning.
But then people wouldn’t think you were absolutely insane.
I got passed by one of these last year on a red MTB trail and I’d genuinely blanked it from my memory until just now.
I’m not so sure. I have no idea how much power is used by stability and steering in these things but 0.375kWh/10 miles or 4.4kWh/100 miles sounds pretty good, certainly much better than mid sized electric dirt bikes:
Arctic Leopard EX800: 34 miles, 5.6 kWh
ECR Modded Surron Ultra Bee: 26 miles, 3.5 kWh
Stock Surron Ultra Bee: 23 miles, 4.1 kWh
Electric Motion Escape XR: 21 miles 4.1 kWh
Dust Moto: 14 miles, 2.8 kWh
https://electriccyclerider.com/2024/11/21/mid-size-battery-range-test-which-bike-goes-the-distance/
I get that this may not be a completely fair comparison for many reasons. The range quoted for the unicycle may be on a perfectly flat glass smooth surface vs the dirt bikes more realistic test track but still, even at just 1/3 the range the unicycle is still looking good energy wise.
As far as tearing up the trails go I would expect the unicycle to be somewhere between an electric dirt bike and a hiker.
The range does seem suspiciously good for something with the aerodynamics of an upright human. So I suspect the speed used for that range is quite slow.
Well technically speaking, the unicycle should be somewhere between the rider and the ground… most of the time
OneWheels (which are like these, except you stand sideways like a skateboard) have become very popular at some big mountain bike trail systems I frequent. Their tires are wide enough that I don’t think they do much damage to the trail, or at least I assume they must not since no one seems particularly offended by them. Surrons, on the other hand… O.O
I think personally I’d be a lot less likely to kill myself on the Sur-Ron.