At 36 degrees it's too good not to share

[mzokc]

With recent cold weather the fun is just beginning! Check the daily blog for all the details on Thursday, November 6, 2003:

http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/mzokc/

I am having a blast in the cold and hope you are ready to step on your Segway HT's during your most unusual weather this fall and winter. Just keep those wheels on surfaces with good traction, wear warm clothing and don't forget the helmet and gloves! Have fun!

Mark

[stevew]

Just about to do a rain glide. Yes, it does rain in California! Keep it slow, be aware of that oil slick that builds up until the first good rain washes it all away.

[stevew]

Just finished my glide, pretty solid rain. Just used boots, khakis and a rain parka, plus my bike helmet. Amazing, my pants hardly got wet at all, I guess staying vertical keeps you drier than I'd expected. Plus with the cool weather I used almost no battery, about 1/2 bar where I sometimes used 2-3 for this ride during the hot summer. No wonder pt raves about his range up there in Seattle;)

PS, of course the HT performed flawlessly in the rain!

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

quote:Originally posted by mzokc

With recent cold weather the fun is just beginning! Check the daily blog ...
Mark, That sounds like a great glide - I will definitely have my Segway out in the colder weather - but we've been very fortunate so far this year - I'm sure that's about to change!!
I noticed in your Nov 5 blog entry you mentioned a "rear view mirror". I have been thinking about that - especially because a small part of my glide almost always consists of a stretch of raod with no sidewalks. I've seen some that you can attach to the end of a bicycle handlebar. My only problem is that I would not want to have to look down for any length of time to see what is behind. I was also considering the cyclist type that attaches to a helmet or glasses/goggles. What type of mirror do you use, and what are your thoughts about different types?

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

[gotseg]

Sounds wonderfull! Remember! Im saving up for a segway and in the mean time am selling a segway hot/cold pack that you microwave and attach to your segway for cold weather!

gotseg?

[mzokc]

quote:Originally posted by IndyFIRSTengineer

What type of mirror do you use, and what are your thoughts about different types?I am using a helmet mounted mirror that fits onto the edge of the helmet. It is the one sold at bicycle shops that has an all metal frame and designed to fit on glasses or helmets. One must wear eye protection with this type as a fall can cause the mirror to hit your face.

The mirror works fine for taking a glance behind you to check if cars are coming. I pull off the road and stay as far from the cars as possible! Don't trust that they see you. At least with the mirror it helps me see them.

Different styles are available and much of the decision is personal preference plus what fits or works best. Helmet mounted mirrors aren't perfect, especially when traveling while looking towards the sun. Turning ones head is still needed at times to double check that all is clear. I have not wanted to put a mirror on the Segway as it would be too far from my normal line of sight while gliding.

Mark

[SegwayUtah]

Stuart,

Check out the Reevu helmets. I've heard good and bad things, but mostly good. They have a rear-view mirror made of non-shattering material _inside the lip_ of the helmet.

http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/reevu_helmets.html

Chris

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

Thats cool ... I think I've seen those helmets mentioned here before. Are they available in the US? Any pricing info (USD)? Brit price at exchange rate indicates approx $110-135 incl shipping. I think that is a bit pricey for the casual user.

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

[JohnM]

quote:Originally posted by IndyFIRSTengineer

Thats cool ... I think I've seen those helmets mentioned here before. Are they available in the US? Any pricing info (USD)? Brit price at exchange rate indicates approx $110-135 incl shipping. I think that is a bit pricey for the casual user.

Cycling Plus, top bike mag in the UK, thought it was a briliant idea but rated it at the bottom end of a test of 17 different helmets, citing an uncomfortable fit and not being certified at one of the tougher safety standards. (Issue 148, Sept 2003) Until it gets approved by the CPSC you won't see it sold in the USA.

[Poindexter]

I in-line skated on the streets of New York City for eight years and brought my tried and true rear view mirror technique to Nashvile where it worked equaly well.

Simple and cheap.

Get one of those concave, round mirrors sold at any auto parts store or auto parts department of a big box retailer. Stick a strip of velcro to the back of the mirror and the other strip to a left hand glove. Mount the mirror on the glove near the web of skin between the thumb and the first finger on the back of the hand.

To view the mirror raise your hand to just below eye level and see what's behind you. It takes a little practice to learn where to raise your hand in order to view what's behind but after a while it becomes instinctive.

Of course this mirror requires taking one hand off the Segway but it is so quick that I doubt there would be any trouble with control.

The concave mirror is good for seeing cars pulling out from side streets and is quicker to spot your rear view. But remember the "objects are closer than they appear" rule.

"Anyone who wants to be a New Urbanist has never been Old Urbanist." Michael Poindexter (critic)