RWC
09-08-2003, 06:05 PM
While group gliding the last night in Chicago, I spied JD Heinzmann helping out a glider who's battery was getting low. It made sense immediately (plus the other rider was nice looking... but that's another story).
Simple: Lend the low battery glider a hand. JD lined up behind the other glider, slightly off to one side... and pushed. With the added power of the pushing Seg, the low-battery front Segger could ease back on the control shaft to conserve power.
I tried this the later that night with Toybuilder as we headed back North toward our hotels. With a fresh charge I was able to push him easily. It's a little akin to one of those trust games... Toybuilder needed to relax and lean back into my hand, thus cutting back on the power he used. We tried it to the extreme, with me leaning forward as hard as I could and Toybuilder leaning back, probably charging his battery with the force.
There are inherent risks of collision and lower visibility issues for the second glider, but this works. I could see how a group of riders could help out a couple or more low-batt souls by alternating the pushers... creating a "community battery".
Oh yeah, it was fun too.
Lean forward, R.
"The best way to control your cow or sheep is to give them a large spacious meadow... and a Segway with all-terrain tires" - Suzuki Ralphi
Simple: Lend the low battery glider a hand. JD lined up behind the other glider, slightly off to one side... and pushed. With the added power of the pushing Seg, the low-battery front Segger could ease back on the control shaft to conserve power.
I tried this the later that night with Toybuilder as we headed back North toward our hotels. With a fresh charge I was able to push him easily. It's a little akin to one of those trust games... Toybuilder needed to relax and lean back into my hand, thus cutting back on the power he used. We tried it to the extreme, with me leaning forward as hard as I could and Toybuilder leaning back, probably charging his battery with the force.
There are inherent risks of collision and lower visibility issues for the second glider, but this works. I could see how a group of riders could help out a couple or more low-batt souls by alternating the pushers... creating a "community battery".
Oh yeah, it was fun too.
Lean forward, R.
"The best way to control your cow or sheep is to give them a large spacious meadow... and a Segway with all-terrain tires" - Suzuki Ralphi