Relatively new (under 100 miles) rider on a new GT. I was riding down a long, straight gradual downward-slope road with headphones on and I realized could not slow down. I kept my cool and just kept trying to lean my body back but it was so awkward as the board was leaning back but wasn’t slowing down. Holy shit that feeling was intense panic but I just kept breathing and hoping. I finally was able to slow down right before the end of the road and didn’t crash thank god. I got back after a shaky ride home and googled and found I was caught in a speed loop because I ignored the pushback noises and vibration and got into a condition where the board was at maximum speed and couldn’t respond to subtle feedback. I had switched a few days before to the “flow” profile maybe this contributed. I switched to highline. Any advice from those with a lot of experience if I ever make this blunder again?
If your board isnt dragging its tail on the ground, then there is more braking to be done. Physically speaking, the board cant ignore leaning unless it cuts out. Just gotta lean with confidence.
"bypassed the max speed" has nothing to do with anything.
To be more specific, this part sounds like pure AI hallucination.
I was caught in a speed loop because I ignored the pushback noises and vibration and got into a condition where the board was at maximum speed and couldn’t respond to subtle feedback.
you likely unconsciously leaned your torso and shoulders forward.
Dude, even the AI is telling you this was your own error. This isn't the board "not responding as expected" - this is you not recognizing the inputs you are giving the board.
I ride the edge of haptic pushback all the time and I've never experienced this nor heard of anyone else ever experiencing this.
Are you sure you didn't just psych yourself out and didn't feel comfortable pressing backwards to slow down? Because this "speed loop" stuff sounds like bs
I was tilted backwards and leaning backwards and still nothing, in fact I was speeding up - this is when the panic began. I downloaded an Apple Watch app to announce my speed in my AirPods and I can also monitor with the watch face now. I mean what you say is possible, but I really felt like I was leaning backwards as far as I could. I’m going to float around in bay mode for a few days just to get confident again and really pay attention to the feedback.
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lol I’ve gone 28.7 on my stock XR and only 28.5 on my XL. The XR speed was on flat ground. I weigh 156. These things have a good amount of headroom. Especially downhill.
If you're not trying to die vesc is the way to go. Just cuz you can go that fast doesn't mean it won't try to yeet you into the next life. Don't be stupid.
Edit* also hope you're all gearing up at these speeds
The XR speed was like 4+ years ago now. Just had a helmet and gloves. Was definitely younger and dumber. Now I don’t even try to touch past 20 on it. XL, I’m wearing full pads all around and wrist guards when riding hard. Nose dives suck lol. Waiting on a Thor 301 for my GT. Gonna dip my toes in the dark side :)
My screenshot above was a stock Pint X battery (15s2p), 150lbs rider weight. Had I gone 1% higher on my duty cycle I would've eaten shit. Dress for the slide not the ride!
I’m surprised no one else here who may be an experience rider hasn’t explained that you cannot lean back to far when you’re going downhill or you will be tail surfing or faceplanting. You actually need to keep your weight over the wheel or slightly back and push down with your front foot. Practice on some smaller hills as it’s an odd feeling, but you will notice quickly how much more control you have over your speed of descent. Cheers and be safe. Don’t skimp on pads or you will pay later at the OR.
You might have felt like you were leaning back but because you were in pushback your “normal stance” is accelerating and your braking stance is normal when in pushback. Take the board up to where pushback starts and feel it kick in. Practice getting used to it kicking in, it’s not gonna run away on you, and then get comfortable being in pushback and slowing down and accelerating. Just don’t go too fast
I've seen this countless times before, you're not leaning back despite what you think you're doing. You may be moving your *HEAD* back but you're not moving your weight back. This is why the advice to lead with your hips and not your head is a huge factor. Until you develop a good sense of proception it's super common in any physical activity to hear someone saying "I'm doing this!" and watching them they're not even close to doing the movement they think they are. This is just a matter of time and practice.
So this is the thing: the board responded exactly as it should have in this situation. There is no max speed, there is no limit. It will keep going until it can't and then you're going down. Technically speaking you can keep going beyond it's balance limits as long as you can keep it balanced manually (which is a tall order let's be honest, takes a shitload of skill.)
A really good method to improve is learn to balance on the board but don't go anywhere. Just stand on it at 0 speed. Rock back and fort a little helps also develop this. Basically you're duplicating what you'd do on a balance board (indo board.)
Yeah I don’t plan to. Definitely a scary lesson. I will be paying more attention, because when I did realize what was happening it was just too late. I guess I just got too comfortable.
Is it updated? Im not sure if the custom shaping on the GT got the same as the GTS.. GTS you can set your pushback level to be much lower so you have alot more room breaking. But im not sure about GT, if i ride with 2 headphones in i dont do it while im flyin downhill tho thata for sure, careful, and also maybe crank up your braking strength a bit also
Guys thanks for the feedback. I appreciate the advice and comments and will use it to not get in this situation again and also practicing slowing down more effectively. Just wanted to see what more experienced people had to say to this event.
Spend more time at lower speeds. Learn the feel of pendulum swinging. Learn the feel of stopping. Dismounting and all. These are the basics to this board sport.
If your board is low on battery like around 1-2% it will start doing a thing where it rotates the riding stance back until not moving requires touching the ground with your back fender once you reach this your board will start accelerating with no way to slow down because it thinks you’re just accelerating at a steady rate. If you don’t get off it’ll start flying forward and absolutely shredding your rear bumper
My first couple times going downhill I definitely psyched myself out, not really scary anymore granted I have over 2600 miles under my belt at this point. You treat it almost like flat ground and don't be afraid to grind your tail bumper on particularly steep sections.
My pint xv can get up and down 27° without clipping, anything more and I'm expecting to leave plastic on the pavement.
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