mzokc's Blog

[mzokc]

While deciding what to do with the 680 entries in the blog located on the previous server, I thought this would be the best place to mention the latest glide and eventually link you to the new location where the blog is.

Thanks to Frank, all 680 adventures were saved in perfect Word/Access table format! It's going to be a lot easier to transfer the information if necessary.

And now...on with the adventures:

Easter Egg Hunt Glide - April 15, 2006 5:08 PM CDT

A warm, balmy and breezy day made for a great glide adventure to the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. This annual event is enjoyed by all, and as usual the cameras are everywhere. The Segway HT is perfect for all these events and adds to the fun. One is one with the community when walking or riding in the open air and the HT makes for perfect transportation.

Happy Easter everyone!

[mzokc]

OKC Memorial Marathon Glide - April 30, 2006 4:00 PM CDT

When the runners start running outside your home, it gets you inspired to enjoy the day, and what better activity that hopping on the Segway HT to enjoy today's spectacular weather. I glided after the runners were finished and glided throughout the neighborhood until the batteries were almost discharged. One of the greatest views from the HT is how the view of the homes changes as you glide by. With extensive trees, the movement helps capture the entire home hiding behind the trees.

[mzokc]

Pulling and reattaching the plug on the Segway HT before bed gave the HT an additional boost for an early morning car repair glide. It was like old times with plenty of power except for one long gentle hill. In about 15 minutes the 2 mile glide was complete and the HT slipped into the trunk for the ride home. Using the HT for car repair transportation continues to be a great reason to use it as a spare vehicle.

[mzokc]

It's been way too long since the last glide, but the beginning of the 4th of July weekend was a good way to warm up the Segway HT. A nice early Friday morning donut run? Sure, why not! I've missed riding and gliding and look forward to more adventures soon. The HT performed nicely as usual.

Great to see the HT appearing on more television specials and ads during the last month. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday everyone!

[mzokc]

With rain hitting and missing the downtown area, we were lucky to have dry weather during the annual neighborhood 4th of July parade of bikes, scooters and various motorized devices. Decorating the Segway HT added to the fun while using the HD camera to capture the event. Three fire-trucks and many firemen were present to round the block and blow the siren during the celebration. A cannon sounding gun (at ear damaging levels) was fired to start the parade. Sad to say the HT made it a bit too easy to glide near the loud sound (additional tinnitus occurred within a day.) For me, it usually it takes several weeks or months for increased ear damage to subside to its normally low hiss level. Segway HT gliding gets my mind off the problem, so more gliding will be on the schedule during the rest of the summer!

Hope you all enjoyed a great 4th of July and will continue to have a great summer.

[mzokc]

The Grateful Bean (Kaiser's Ice Cream Parlor) opened up this week and after driving by and stopping for a breakfast item and a milk shake it seemed to be a perfect day to hop aboard the Segway HT and glide by.

Later in the day I toured the traffic circle area and waved at the folks enjoying their ice cream treats. The Grateful Bean open on Saturday is perfect, since their previous schedule over a year ago was M-F only.

The HT worked perfectly in the 90 degree weather - about 15 degrees cooler than yesterday! Other places of business are opening up in the area and the HT is a perfect way to get there from home. Happy summer gliding everyone!

[mzokc]

What fun enjoying a glide on the Segway HT to a nearby neighborhood ice cream social that celebrated National Night Out to promote safe neighborhoods. There were plenty of questions and comments about the HT. The extremely hot weather was very hot, however the HT made the glide cooler with the 12.5 mph wind during the trip. Dozens of ice cream flavors made the day cooler as well.

[mzokc]

While I have enjoyed a few undocumented Segway glides since the last post (Another bakery visit and a glide around the community) I was able to get the Segway PT upgraded today (10/14/06) and try out the new i2 PT. It was a very fitting day to do it with all of the Segway owners out in Long Beach at Segway Fest.

They offered $1500 on trade (with the bad batteries.) However the new i2 is too heavy to be lifted easily into the car. I did ride the new model for the first time today. Nice, but I was a bit sloppy stepping off. I was extremely impressed with how easy and natural the new steering is. I took to it instinctively.

The new software upgrade has one problem, my spent batteries that gave me about a mile or two of service will now only give service for a few hundred feet! More safety and less battery life! It's time for lithium cells!

[polo_pro]

The new software upgrade has one problem, my spent batteries that gave me about a mile or two of service will now only give service for a few hundred feet! More safety and less battery life! It's time for lithium cells!
Just run over to Ebay and keep an eye on the Segway auctions for spare sets of used NiMH batteries. I'd ask the seller some detailed questions as to how the batteries were treated during their lifetime. And if the seller is nearby, ask to take the NiMH for a test glide of 8 miles. You can get a replacement pair of NiMH for between $100 and $200. I'd hope this will last you another year...something you'll appreciate if quick charge Li-Ions come out during that time!

Also, ask your dealer to refer folks upgrading to Li-Ions to you. You're helping your dealer out because it softens the blow when he tells them that someone will throw in $100 to $200 to help them buy their expensive Li-Ions.

[wwhopper]

And a set of LiOns for long distance gliding, if you are at home, or taking your seg by car somewhere.

Mzokc glad you got a chance to try out the new I2, and your experience is not unlike the rest of us on our first step off of the Gen 2 machine. It is so different than what we are used to.

Sorry you did not make it to Long Beach, it was a great time, that is for sure. And the glide around LA was not to be missed.

Keep up the postings!

[menoseg]

It was indeed fun. It was also my first 'glide' experience.

I was on a rental.

I’m currently in the process of buying one. :D

[mzokc]

I took a last glide with the original battery packs today. That equaled at least 690 glides on the original packs. All the glides were documented right here on Segway Chat. It has been an unforgettable adventure on that first set of batteries!

New NiMH battery packs were purchased for original performance and maximum clearance under the PT. Lithium-ions were considered, but the additional cost made staying with NiMH an easy choice. I stopped by at the Oklahoma City Segway dealer today after waiting about a week for delivery of the batteries.

Today's glide of riding in the house and outside for one city block brought the PT to a slow down as the new software upgrade prevented using the old pack for any distance. (I live in a 99 year old home, so it's normal for me to use something for a long time!) Today was the first time the battery packs were removed (one at a time) and some duct tape was used to remove a bit of leftover adhesive on the chassis where the old battery seal came in contact with the metal.

The midnight blue batteries look nice with the original gray color. It's the only color shipping in NiMH, so any photos from of the HT/PT from this day forward will feature the two tone i167. After a full charge, I will post my feelings about the upgraded software. It will be fun to enjoy a fully charged and a "like new" original Segway PT again!

[mzokc]

I could not be more pleased with the new upgrade and new batteries. The original speed and performance has returned and the i167 is working great. The only problem was the time it took to discharge the batteries by gliding throughout the downtown area Sunday afternoon. All the original enjoyment is back and I look forward to many happy adventures on the second set of batteries.

With the old battery packs ready for recycling, it's a perfect time to close out the blog entries. One set of batteries gave me a lot to write about during the last 44 months! Someday I hope to republish the blog with the photos on .Mac. For now, enjoy the photos!

http://homepage.mac.com/mzokc/segway/PhotoAlbum42.html

Delivery day is a good place to start, but check out all the links at the top of the photo pages. Hope you have high speed internet access!

[pam]

Bravo, Mark! What a great treat. And 44 months - longer for a set of batteries than expected, I'm sure. And you definitely gave them a workout.

Thanks for sharing your Blog with us -
Pam