Dowell demo

[Stewbonz]

Sometimes I do the "dowell demo" for new riders, just like they do in training. Is the dowell demo hard on the equipment?

JEFF JARVIS
Carmel Valley Ca

[Sal]

What is the "dowell demo?"

Thanks,
Sal

[Karamozov]

You place a dowell rod under both wheels to demonstrate how what happens when the wheels lose friction with the ground. When the segway rolls over the dowell the wheels spin rapidly, shoot the dowell behind the unit and goes into automatic shut down. This is to assimulate what might happing if you take on rounded objects head on, like hoses, extension cords, curtain rods, etc.

"Any town that doesn't have sidewalks doesn't love its children."
- Margaret Mead

[BruceWright]

The dowel demo is riding over a wooden dowel to show people what happens when they lose traction, and to teach them NOT to roll over things like this on the Segway. For instance, branches, pressurized garden hoses, etc.



I wouldn't do the dowel demo the old way. When I was at training, I was kind of looking forward to rolling over a dowel.

But when my training came, they did it while the device was riderless, just being guided.

I think they determined that sending people rolling over dowels was too dangerous.

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[NLKotter]

When I do "formal" training for beginners, I do the dowel demo like Bruce mentions... not RIDING but just leading the machine over the stick. When I took my full-day rider training last fall, they made us ride over it, telling us all the while that it was going to be scary and to be prepared for the dowl to shoot out backwards while the machine bucked forwards. Despite all the talk, and two spotters, it was still scary as all get out. When I did my coaches training, I was glad to see they had changed it to a riderless show-and-tell.

When you edge the machine up to a rounded obstacle (dowel, hose, broomstick) and hesitate, you have to lean in to get going again, the wheels spin slightly against the obstacle, and then once you actually get traction, the machine takes off full bore (remember, you were leaning in hard to get going) and the dowel goes flying.

Good to show people who really need to know... not so necessary if you're just doing 5 minute rides for people who will only ride that once.

Nancy

[ElectraGlide]

I use PVC sprinkler pipe during training to demonstrate the slipping wheels. It will raise your awareness of how dangerous it can be to ride over loose rounded objects. It's a "must see" for all trainees ,and for safety it is done "riderless". Stand to the side and observe the wheels spin quickly as the dowels)shoot back.

Steve