@Telomere

Your post is absolutely EXCELLENT, thank you - the math provides the reality provided the numbers aren't cooked or skewed by politicians in bed with the media.

You must know the real threat in order to fix the problem, and that reality isn't coming from the media.

While as a former firefighter/paramedic I appreciate Katie's post in the abstract, in reality OW riders need to 'buckle-up' everyday for themselves.

There are a lot of great reasons to NOT end-up in the emergency room - the latest sexy cold virus (i.e. Corona) is one, protecting your own ass from injury in the hands of medical professionals is another, and keeping our community healthy and 'unregulated' is yet another.

My post wasn't a slam at the medical community either, but having been a member of that community, I know nurses/doctors/first-responders are human, and bad shit happens more than you'd think.

@a_onekatie

Sorry for my ignorance, but who's WFS?

2018 stats show the death toll in America from the common flu alone was ~80,000.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/26/health/flu-deaths-2017--2018-cdc-bn/index.html

2018 stats in America for highway fatalities are ~36,000.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_fatality_rate_in_U.S._by_year

That's 116,000 just in America every single year.

Gosh, my maff ain't so gud, but that's like a millun+ peeps duh pass 10 yeers!

For fun, let's throw-in anywhere between 250,000 - 400,000 deaths per year in America from medical mistakes.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/22/medical-errors-third-leading-cause-of-death-in-america.html

That's A LOT O' DEAD PEEPS . . . every single year for the past decades and for future decades.

Hey OneWheel folks, it looks like the biggest threat to your life is a medical mistake - so stay safe, and stay the hell away from doctors and out of the hospital - don't become a statistic.

@Sponge315

I really want the cape, but Stinkyface is right - old and spandex isn't a great combo.

Plus, with the spandex I'd have to crotch-stuff to even come close to making it work - I mean, I don't want to look ridiculous.

:o)

Okay, winter in the Great White North is coming to a close, another 6 or 8 weeks it will be wheel time.

I'm considering going with a different look this summer.

Last year it was 'Early Old Age Cringeworthy Sk8ter Dude Geeked-Out w/ Safety Gear'.

This summer I was considering one of the following:

1. A Captain Jack Sparrow / Captain Morgan Look (completing the ensemble w/ stuffed shoulder parrot & foil-covered cardboard sword)

OR

2. A Spandex Clad Superhero (must be accessorized with cape, mask, & red calf boot w/ sensible heel)

Thoughts?

@SlyFoxxx

I've used the Mini Fangs from Land Surf for around 500 miles. I love them, and they've saved me many many times. They've even saved me on some harder turf grass.

I use the black on black style Mini Fangs with the nylon wheel frames, but they also offer them with aluminum frames. I've been very very happy with them:

https://land-surf.com/products/fang-minis-2-0

What has really helped me is doing 'tap exercises' with the Fangs installed. At the beginning of every ride, from a standstill in my driveway, I tap the nose of the board to the ground, then quickly recover. I also now do 'butt taps' where I do the same thing with the rear of the board.

I do 10 taps at the beginning of each ride as a warm-up. I think it has trained my reflexes for immediate recovery without drama and panic. Now it's just second nature, and I feel much more confident and secure on the board.

I'd say the wheel hardness on the Fangs is about an 80 on the Shore Scale - harder than a rubber tire tread, but softer than a shopping cart wheel, similar to the hardness on the heel of a man's dress shoe.

The Mini Fangs have been one of the best investments I've made from a safety standpoint.

@a_onekatie

Mine is actually a mountain bike helmet, so it's quite a bit lighter than a motocross helmet.

@blkwalnutgrwr

Do you have a photo? I'm really interested.

@Franko

You'd think, but I actually had an ATV where the factory tire stud kit consisted of a bag of 1/4" hex head screws that you hand installed into the tread knobs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo_a_uf5pAA

Here's a guy from a couple of years ago on what looks like a lake bed.

He appears to be using a Burris treaded tire with embedded screws in the tread to act as studs.

Is anyone trying this?

We usually have icy winters in Coastal Alaska, this year we've been having dry power like Colorado. I'd of been out there already if I would have known, but I still only have my stock Vega, so I've been waiting things out.

Let me know if you do icy terrain riding, I'd love to know how you do it as I'd like to try myself.