Comical story with a lesson

[db]

I was recently at a wedding and my great uncle had brought one of his segways along. It was a great addition to an already fun gathering of friends and relatives. He let everyone ride it after the ceremony and it was a big hit. In fact, it got used so much that my uncle had to swap batteries after an hour or so. I rode it for about half an hour my self and loved it!
But anyway, the main reason I'm posting here is to tell you a funny story that should also be taken as a cautionary note. Earlier that day before the ceremony, there was a bunch of us standing outside the church when to everyone's surprise my good ol' great uncle who's about 65 came riding up on this fantastic scooter. He was having a ball showing off his finess and wowing the crowd. When he rode past his wife she gave him a classic nagging, "Father! You be careful now!" to which he replied with a smirk, "Oh Mother, you know it won't fall". He came to a stop next to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then as he started to take off again one of the segway's wheels lost traction and quickly twisted about 90 degrees. At this time my uncle was flailing one of his legs wildly in an apparent effort to stay on the segway and/or maintain control of it. But this effort wasn't successful in either regard because he was dumped squarely on his rump, and the expression on his face was the most surprised look! A couple of guy's ran over to help him up. After it was obvious he had nothing more than a sore tail-bone and bruised ego, everyone including my uncle roared with laughter. And the best part is I got it all on video!
As funny as this situation was, it could have been worse. I hope all of you are careful on grass and other slippery conditions!

[BruceWright]

Good story. Sounds like a fun time, glad nobody was hurt seriously. Very cute story.

Yep, vigilance when on slick surfaces is warranted.

Welcome db!

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[segwayowner]

great, and true story!
will you post the video please?
thx

DES: Segway owner

[ElectraGlide]

From reading so many posts here about falls and spills..it seems they ALL have one thing in common...the utterance of " You cant fall off this thing"....."It wont tip over"......" it wont allow you to fall" and other famous last words uttered just prior to the Segway mishap !! If you hear or are saying those words, please have your helmets on tight !!!

Steve

[q]

welcome to segwaychat.com!

i'm glad he's all right.

i vote for _exta_ care whilst in a crowd.

kthxbye.

q.

http://www.pcisys.net/~qwhew/segway/jpg_segway_sfest_08312003_sunday_3b.jpg
(plz click image to enlarge.)

//

[db]

Thanks for the welcomes, guys. Segwayowner, I don't have the capability to post the video, but I could possibly get a dvd copy and send it to someone who can post it. However, first I'll have to get ahold of my great uncle to see if he minds having his mug on the www.

dan

[ronzul]

It probably would be quite useful to see a video of someone coming off the Segway... it might help us know better what to watch out for.

And of course, I promise not to laugh at your uncle...

Cheers
Ronny

[GlideMaster]

<center>Welcome on board db. Remember:</center>
<center>Responsible Gliders Glide Segway</center>
<center>and Segway Gliders Glide Responsibly</center>

<center>http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/avatars/glidemaster.gif</center>

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

quote:Originally posted by ronzul

... And of course, I promise not to laugh at your uncle...
Yeah ... Right!!

Stuart Bloom - Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike High School "RoboDevils"

“Who goes out and says, ‘You have a better probability of winning the state lottery than making a nickel in professional sports. And by the way, last year two million exciting technical jobs went unfilled in this country because you weren't there to take that job. And it pays you 10 times as much as flipping burgers, and it's fun and it's exciting and you get to create things and build things and help make the world a better place and help make yourself a better living.’ Who tells them this?”
Dean Kamen, founder - FIRST Robotics

[muckle]

Since he didn't get hurt, I think it's safe to assume that we'll be laughing WITH him, not AT him! ;)

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

Exactly ...

I know I was laughing after my faceplant - which was also immediately preceeded by "You really can't fall off this thing". Fortunately I got my hands out in front of me so I still have all my teeth.

Stuart Bloom - Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike High School "RoboDevils"

“Who goes out and says, ‘You have a better probability of winning the state lottery than making a nickel in professional sports. And by the way, last year two million exciting technical jobs went unfilled in this country because you weren't there to take that job. And it pays you 10 times as much as flipping burgers, and it's fun and it's exciting and you get to create things and build things and help make the world a better place and help make yourself a better living.’ Who tells them this?”
Dean Kamen, founder - FIRST Robotics

[donna.boden]

I have found that the longer I have owned and ridden my Segway, the more safety conscious I have become. I am much more vigilant at watching where I am going - always looking for those little bumps that can throw you off guard. I ride the same path everyday so I know where the tricky spots are. I rarely take it up to top speed and I guess I don't spend so much time looking at people looking at me. Almost everyone here in BG (Bowling Green) is used to seeing me on it although I still get looks and yells. I have never really had a serious tumble and only one or two close calls ( mostly because I was looking at something else rather than where I was going. How do people know how many miles they have put on their Seg?? Is there some kind of odometer??

[MagiMike]

snip-
Donna asked How do people know how many miles they have put on their Seg?? Is there some kind of odometer?
-----
Some forum members have adapted bike odometers. A search of old posts using the search feature at the top of the page will find you several useful threads. Others buy Global Positioning System hand held units which can give both distance and speed.

Cheap people like me just guess - grin

Mike in Houston TX.
It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. - James Thurber