gliding in cold weather

[rwoynaro]

Today was the first really cold day we had this year and there are a few more on the way this week. By cold (my standards of course, I am sure other folks in different parts of the country would laugh and think this is balmy )
I mean below 30, mid 20's or so.

I haul my segway to work on a SegVator on the back bumper for almost an hr commute, so I was a bit apprehensive this morning to see if it would have any issues. My I2 (less than a yr old and < 1K miles) started right up and glided fine, although the floor mats were a bit stiff and didn't release the foot sensor buttons when I got off.

So what are your cold weather experiences with a seg ? How low a temp can it handle before I have to worry about it ? Are there any tips in how to help mediate the cold ?

My main concern is to just get to work and get it in the building where it will warm up. I really need it to get around.

[Lily Kerns]

Tip? Bundle up when riding it in the cold. You are air conditioned whatever the weather is doing!

[JPM]

Hi Rwoynaro,

Colder weather has settled into my neck of the woods as well, and so far I haven't had any problems gliding in it!

I'm still a very new Segway owner (I've had my gently used i167 since September now) but ride it almost daily in whatever weather conditions are out there. The coldest temperature I've glided... Glode? Glid? (Someone, help me out here!) in thus far has been -24 Celsius (-11 Fahrenheit) which included a wind chill and my i167 worked flawlessly. No reduced performance, no shutdowns or anything like that, and my Nickel batteries didn't seem to mind either. After riding for about an hour, I got home with lots of battery to spare!

Mind you, I turn it on about five minutes before departure in balance mode and let it rest against the door just to warm up a little bit, so you may not see the same results starting it up cold after the trip on your SegVator. In fact, I thought I recall reading on here how the radio boards on some i2s get a little grumpy when trying to start in cold temperatures without a prior warm up. However I'd say if you didn't encounter any start-up problems in the cold the last time, you likely have a greater chance of effortless start-ups the next time in the cold as well. If I recall, the radio board is located at the top of the centre console on the base of your i2, so I suppose you could create some sort of thermal insulation that you slide over the console to try and keep it warm-ish during the drive. I'm not sure how well it would work, to be honest, but I figure it couldn't hurt.

Apart from all that, I definitely agree with what Lily has said: Bundle up! Your Segway will likely do much better than you will in the cold, so break out the warm clothing! I typically go out with a hat underneath my helmet, scarf, mittens, and a warm insulated coat at the very least. Even with all that I'm usually ready to pack it in after a long glide while my i167 shows no signs of wanting to stop!

Good luck, glide safe, and stay warm!

[eJM]

Originally Posted by JPM

If I recall, the radio board is located at the top of the centre console on the base of your i2, so I suppose you could create some sort of thermal insulation that you slide over the console to try and keep it warm-ish during the drive.

So, you could get, for instance, a tiny little quilt blanket for it... ahem, Lily.

Jim

[rwoynaro]

Originally Posted by eJM

So, you could get, for instance, a tiny little quilt blanket for it... ahem, Lily.

Jim

Thanks for the info, gang. I have a 12V electric blanket, they make them for truckers. I can drape it over the center console, as the radio board and electronics seem to be the best thing to concentrate on keeping warm. I don't have far to go to get inside, so a full charge will help. I really appreciate the responses where others have gone gliding in cold weather and were successful, it makes me feel more at ease. I just got into the building for day 2 of the arctic blast, the metal of the segway itself is darn cold. Come on spring

[rotorblades]

is it safe to let lithium batteries freeze? im sure no charging until normal temps return
i wont be doing that on purpose.

[Lily Kerns]

Originally Posted by eJM

So, you could get, for instance, a tiny little quilt blanket for it... ahem, Lily.

Jim

Sure! Just use the same principles as when designing a toaster or sewing machine cover. A bit of Velcro might be needed to keep it in place

And just for you folks, I'll add a tip from one of my classes. Mold paper toweling over the hump shape. Use a pen to mark where you have folded or pleated...and you have your pattern. Easy as that!

[Civicsman]

The coldest temperature I've glided... Glode? Glid? (Someone, help me out here!)

"Glided", if you are interested in using the English language properly, or perhaps "rode", "driven", or "operated".

If you wish to fabricate a word, the sky is the limit. However, people may think you are not well educated, or that English is not your native language.

[Seginaway]

Cold Segwayin' is all about the clothes, the wind and proper battery management.

I regularly glide in sub 32F weather and, occasionally, as low as 0F (which is outside the OEM recommendations). My newest change this year is to ditch the helmet in favour of a warmer Bomber type headdress. I know my safety risk has changed (and I've been a BIG proponent of helmets) but it's easier to glide in the cold with this simple unsafe setup then the summer helmet, ear muffs and face guard which don't really fit that well altogether.

Trigger is 9 years old and I use a heater in a heated (50F) garage to keep him warmed up prior to a glide. Also, I've found that turning him on and setting him up in balance mode for 15-25 minutes plugged in before a glide makes the start, stutter, shutdown a less likely occurrence during the initial ride in sub 32F environments but, it is still a regular occurrence (batteries are 8 years old after all).

Leaving Trigger outside during my stops around town, even for a limited time in a cold environment generally results in the start, stutter, stop, restart action for a mile or so until the voltage evens out between the batteries. This is so even if I'm able to locate a plug. I don't leave it in balance mode, just plugged in as it could be ridden away if left on.

[KSagal]

I am not a hood guy, but the hood on my new work jacket (mine is from Dickies, but there are also Carhart similar ones) that the company gave me, is large enough to go around a hard hat or helmet. That is one option for those who want warmth and a helmet.

Of course, a hood will reduce your ability to turn around look.

Also, I have knit hats that can be worn on the head, under a helmet. They exist as well. I do not generally wear a helmet on the segway, but do wear a hard hat on job sites frequently enough to have and know about how to stay warm in one... And most of the tricks are the same for hard hat and helmet.

I respect that people can make their own assessments as to what is safe or unsafe. Since I choose to glide without a helmet, I clearly have chosen that I do not believe that to be unsafe. While I respect that Seginaway has expressed his opinion, I am happy to say that his cold weather setup that does not include a helmet is potentially less safe than wearing a helmet, I would stop short of saying it is unsafe.

Also, since my eyes water when I am very cold, I might argue that there are more than one types of safety, and keeping warm and able to be attentive may be a larger positive factor for safety than wearing a helmet in certain circumstances...

People should do what they are comfortable with, both personally and from a safety perspective.