So........how cold do you go?

[Dragan]

O.K., so we got hit by the first blizzard of the winter yesterday...-24C, 25km winds, snow, blowing snow...and my new "p" arrived at the height of it. No gliding for me, until today.

Things are MUCH better; only -20C, 10-15 km winds, not as much snow and blowing snow as yesterday...PERFECT! I went out for a glide, about 20 minutes was all I could take, and I was born here!

How about the rest of you? How cold do you go?
Wayne

[stevew]

If The Seg gets too cold it will refuse to start (you'll get a flashing red face/beep and no start). I've experienced this with my P when I left it overnight (temp close to freezing) in a car at my Brothers place in Nevada. Brought it inside and it had to warm up for several hours before it would start. But I imagine if you keep moving a warm Seg will generate enough heat to keep going and you'll get too cold before the Seg does.

I've discovered you really have to overdress for Seg riding in cold since you generate way less body heat than walking.

[KSagal]

I agree with Steve on many levels.

I store my seg in the cellar in the winter because the garage is not warm enough. However, once going, it does generate enough heat to keep going. Unfortunately, the cold does effect the batteries and the colder they get, the more reduced the range gets.

There have been past threads that suggested the value of adding a blanket of some sort to retain warmth in the batteries to extend range in the coldest of weather.

For me, starting with a warm seg, I freeze long before my seg does. I have been out (Last year) when it was below 0 (F), but that was not for too long.

I have been out many times between 32 and 10 F and the seg and my Extra traction tires do well. I did a frozen lake last year with my studded mountaineer tires and had so much fun that it ranks as an all time great day. (At least in the top ten)

I'm looking forward to the proper time this year when I will mountaineer seg over hill and dale and thru the snow while towing my kids on a sled or toboggan.

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Sailor]

I've been having a slight issue with the cold.
The mornings are fine. It's been about 22 F in the mornings which isn't that bad now that I have the clothes for it (this California boy had to learn how to dress for the cold). I store the Seg inside at night as the detached garage get's too cold at night.

The problem comes in during the ride home. While at work I store the Segway unplugged in a bike locker in an underground parking garage. Today, it got into the 40's near my work - though I have no idea what the temp in the bike locker was. When going home I get a whole bunch of the "no smile no frown" face. After the first block I have a very steep overpass to go over and it commonly quits about halfway up with the flashing red, the frown, and the eventual stick shake. I'm not 100% certain, but I believe this is due to the cold batteries. I usually turn it off then right back on and make it the rest of the way home.

The entire rest of the 2.6 miles home are uphill and the Seg goes the rest of the way without complaint - switching regularly from a smile to a "no smile no frown" face but it get's me home.

Funny thing is though that I've expiremented with starting the cold Seg off super slow on my way home, I've tried "warming it up" by going super fast, and lot's of variations, but none of it has stopped it from quitting on the overpass when the current temp is below 30 F and it's been in the bike locker all day.

[KSagal]

The batteries will warm while the discharge of moving the seg, even if they start colder than optimum.

I suspect that the coolness of wind-chill will have the effect of wicking away any warmth that they generate. Have you considered a mild wind-breaking jacket for the batteries?

I know this may sound silly, but in your place, I might use some packing bubble plastic. (The kind with the very small bubbles, about the size of peas) This plastic could be between the batteries and a single layer of aluminium foil. The foil, shiny side in, would have the effect of a wind break as well as reflect the energy inward. The trapped air would act as an insulator.

I would also be very careful not to run this rig in temporate climes. This is a cold rig only.

It is my understanding that the cold makes the batteries perform poorly, but that prolonged overheating will actually damage the batteries. Be careful...

I MUST STATE! THIS IS JUST A THOUGHT I HAD. I Have no science or data to suggest this will work. It is just a consideration that I made up. I would hate to be responsible for any damage to your machine...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[ZoliHonig]

I wish someone would sell a batery wamer, like one of those hot packs that could snap right under the seg for those cold winter days.

I can't take my seg to school if it's too cold, b/c i won't be able to get back...

So I have to check, and usually i'll only go if it's 45+ degrees.



---
[8]-Zoli[8]

[ElectraGlide]

Lets see...last week the temp dropped to about 70f and I had to wear long pants on two different days of gliding. The range of my "p" seems to be at it's best when it's 82f degrees outside temp.
Late this morning the temp was closer to 80 and I was back gliding in shorts....was a nice day for a trip to Starbucks.

Steve

[Dragan]

Awh Man! Now I REALLY feel bummed!!!!!!80 degrees....that's like.....about 78 degrees warmer than here right now!!!!!!
I love Canada, I love being as close as we are to the Rockies and all they have to offer, but I gotta tell ya, every winter that goes by, I like it less and less!

Only a few more years to retirement, and then we'll find someplace to winter that doesn't feel so doggone much like winter!
Wayne

[KSagal]

Earlier this evening, in the snowstorm, I mounted my mountaineers on the seg (Thank you Zorba) and had a blast with my 11 year old neice and my 5 year old son.

With studded tires providing traction, I could tow both kids on their snow tubes. (Inflatable Sleds).

I cannot vouch for the quality of the photos I have, but the attitude is good. I have enlisted the help of a friend to get her to post some photos for me. ...Done (Thanks Pam!)

http://gotcher.us/Sagal/Sagal011005%20020A.jpg


http://gotcher.us/Sagal/Sagal011005%20022A.jpg



http://gotcher.us/Sagal/Sagal011005%20026A.jpg



http://gotcher.us/Sagal/Sagal011005%20028A.jpg



http://gotcher.us/Sagal/Sagal011005%20032A.jpg



http://gotcher.us/Sagal/Sagal011005%20033A.jpg




You will also see my new markers. Two green forward and one red rearward. Add these to all my other lights. ( You can see the underseg lighting and the fender trim)

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[segwayowner]

I went out today in 5+ inches of snow on my seg... I didnt get far, but I didnt try. I find that the seg is fine in snow, just a little slow. I ended up using it as a motorized shovel, to clear my driveway.

DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .

[Dwarf84396]

Karl,

It looks like you are a Borg charging station just rolling down the street. SWEET! I love the lighting!

Ben

My entire internet experience condensed into one little image:
http://ben.runslinux.net/img/smileys_lurking.gif

[Zorba9]

Karl that looks like it was a lot of fun. Those lights are wild!

KOG

Zorba9.....