What was your most surprising demo?

[KSagal]

This topic comes up often on the chat. I just gave a demo this morning that is unusual for me...

First I must say, it is rare that I can glide for more than a couple of miles without giving a demo... I do it all the time and likely have several hundreds or thousands of demos, I do not know because I do not count... But after several years on my seg, the number is high.

My Dentist has been around his parking lot several times, just as a minor example...

This morning I had a routine doctor's appointement... My doc is mid fourties, and likely the healthiest person I have ever met. He looks like a physical fitness model... Every bit the "after" picture to my own being the "Before" picture... He looks like and probably can just decide to run a marathon or a 1000 k bike race, and do it in the morning...

He has been curious about my seg for 3 plus years... we have talked and he has been in the parking lot, and most of his staff has been on it. He had not till today...

In his waiting room (I brought it in today) he asked, "Just get on and stand upright?", I agreed, and told him not to pull on the handlebars...

He got on, bobbled a tiny amount for 5 seconds. I had him go forward and back. After about an honest 10 -15 seconds on the machine, I showed him the steering grip...

Now I know he can ski, nordic and down hill, and rides mountain bikes, and who knows what else....

Less than 20 seconds into this demo, he asked if he could try a little ride... I said okay, and he took my fully loaded "e" model thru a doorway (30 inches) into the back hallway, and into and out of the small exam rooms... He was a complete natural. I have never seen anyone manuver so well, with a big seg, thru such tight quarters, so quickly... It was impressive...

He did great, and we spoke a bit more, then since he was in the very bowels of his office, he said he would take it out to the waiting room... Again, he did great, but on the way thru the last door, he got close to the frame, and stopped himself with his hand on the door... no problem nor damage to anything, but a minor call to reality for an otherwise excellent demo...

He was so good so fast, I thought it would be fun to share...

Any other surprises out there? I'll tell you of the 92 year old lady another time....

[buzzert]

It seems like there are some people who just pick it up right away, I've seen a few. Then there are some who just can't get it and it takes days of practice to get used to it. It's a really different experience for all different people.

[SegwayDan]

I've seen that, too. Just goes to show that the brighter ones can just "know". It doesn't necessarily take any thinking or practice. Keen observation is the key.

One surprising demo for me as a young girl of eight. She was a firm advocate from the get go, according to her single-parent father. The only problem she had was that she only weighed "87 pounds.", according to her.

I thought, oh well, let's just see if that 100 pound minimum is valid.

She strapped on a helmet and stepped up. She was so cute and petite. The CS was all the way down, and the HT dwarfed her. The floor space she had on the platform looked like she was in a phone booth.

She was a little tense at first, not knowing just what to expect. When I told her to lean forward, she did, but nothing happened. So she stepped forward on the platform a little bit, and then she rolled.

Her face lit up with joy and surprise!

She had to step back again and lean back in order to stop.

But after a few minutes she got the hang of it, and she was all over the parking lot and around the whole building (with me alongside, of course). It was all I could do to persuade her to get off :-)

http://homepage.mac.com/adobephile/Angela.jpg

[Desert_Seg]

Probably the best first time rider I've seen is my 13 year old daughter.

She had the unique experience of being taught to ride a P when she was 9 years old, well under 48" and well under 50 pounds by none other than the Segway staff.

I as up at Corporate for a series of presentations and while Doug had me locked up in the conference room his team took her under their wing and took her around. When I walked out the door 90 minutes later she was zipping around like a pro and handling the p like it was an extension of her body.

According to Doug's staff (who let her into their dev area, a place I've NEVER been allowed to think about, much less enter) she took to the Segway in seconds flat...and hasn't looked back.

Yes, I did buy her a p right after that, one that she still has although I think the batteries are shot).

Kids are great learners....naturals!

Steven

[Tarkus]

It seems like there are some people who just pick it up right away, I've seen a few. Then there are some who just can't get it and it takes days of practice to get used to it. It's a really different experience for all different people.

And that's the reason I no longer give demos to the general public.
I won't let them test out my car either.

I point them to a dealer and let them assume the liability.

Regards,
Alan

[unclejay]

I have a differnet teaching sequence - curious about others.

I dont mention turning at all, until the user is completely comfortable with going straight back and forward, mounting and dismounting several times. Then I have them full stop and turn in place a few times before tackling moving turns - so that if they over-control, no dump or careen into pole.

On mount and dismount, I mention stepping onto a block of ice. FLorida Everglides taught me that one. Works like a charm.

Women get over the first 2 minutes issues much better than men.

On another level though, Im getting nervous about demos in general. Some people just dont 'get' control inputs and fly off in a panic...even with you holding the bar, it can happen. A lawsuit, where they did NOT watch the LLC video, would not be in your favor. An injury might be just awful, even fatal.

[cmonkey]

On another level though, Im getting nervous about demos in general. Some people just dont 'get' control inputs and fly off in a panic...even with you holding the bar, it can happen. A lawsuit, where they did NOT watch the LLC video, would not be in your favor. An injury might be just awful, even fatal.

That's why I created a public 'training key' 3.5mph and turn rate 20% less than the black key...

If they want more, they can go to the dealer.

[KSagal]

I have a differnet teaching sequence - curious about others.

I dont mention turning at all, until the user is completely comfortable with going straight back and forward, mounting and dismounting several times. Then I have them full stop and turn in place a few times before tackling moving turns - so that if they over-control, no dump or careen into pole.

I don't even mention the turning either. I also do a tiny ground school before anyone gets on the seg. (Push down on your toes, (not lean forward) and lift up on your toes, all on the ground...) THen after a few forward and backs, I hold my hand right over theirs, and do a gentle turn for them. I find this works better than telling them to twist the grip the first time...

On mount and dismount, I mention stepping onto a block of ice. FLorida Everglides taught me that one. Works like a charm.

Demo's on "e" series is different...

Women get over the first 2 minutes issues much better than men.

On another level though, Im getting nervous about demos in general. Some people just dont 'get' control inputs and fly off in a panic...even with you holding the bar, it can happen. A lawsuit, where they did NOT watch the LLC video, would not be in your favor. An injury might be just awful, even fatal.

Of course, the building you are in could be hit by a meteor or terrorists, also. Then where would you be?

I know that last comment was a bit flippant, and no offense is intended. A person should do what they feel comfortable doing and no more. I feel it would be hard to win a lawsuit where a person asked me for a demo, and I complied and they got hurt. It would be different if I was doing it for hire.

And it has been my personal experience that a bystander on the ground is as likely to get hurt by a motorist in a car in the parking lot that is watching the demo on the seg and not paying attention to their driving. I have seen lots of distraction incidents, happen around my seg. I am not saying that the seg is involved, as distraction incidents happen all the time for other reasons as well, but a demo where I have control over what I am doing and my charge is doing is less dangerous than the world at large, in my opinion...

[terryp]

We hosted a Russian girl for a few weeks a couple years ago. Shortly before her group was to return home, another host family threw a party. My wife and I took our Segs, since none of the visitors had ever seen one. They were all excited to try it, and one girl who was into extreme sports begged me to let her try the red key. I finally gave in, and the next thing I knew she was leaning way over the handlebars, going full tilt down a hill, wearing one of the wildest looks I've ever seen. She was in full control, and did just fine, but my wife and I have often reflected on how dire the consequences could have been. But some people just catch on instantly, like she did, and it's tempting to just let them go.

[Timezkware Tim]

...I've had a few people dismount like they just got off a bike, and then let go (without powering down). Luckily I was standing in front when Ginger took off for a foot or so.

Tim

[Gihgehls]

Of all the demos I've given, the most impressive was my buddy's dad. No bucking or swinging upon getting on. We started the demo indoors on the black key. As soon as I showed him the steering grip, he took off around his (really nice) house, coming close to lots of glass decorations, squeezing through doorways, fending off his golden retriever, etc. It was amazing. As soon as he'd completed a few laps, he looked at me and said "lets take it outside and go fast!" So conviced I was of his skills, I let him use the red key.

I told him how impressed I was with his skill and how quickly he took to it, and then he said "well I am fighter pilot afterall"

whoops!

[Stewbonz]

My best customers on the Segway Tour, were Pilots on layover in Bangkok.
Fast learners, very carefull and listened to the instructions.

My worst customers were skateboaders and surfers or English Soccer Hooligan types.

My favorite customer was the Princess from Bhutan.