Gliding in Florida

[Sandi Mako]

I've wanted a Segway since the first time I rode one in 2003 when I dropped my son off at college. This past year we took Segway tours along the beach in New Smyrna Beach, FL and in the crowded streets of Madrid, Spain. Now I just had to have one. My husband got me a used i180 for Mother's Day and I've been gliding ever since. It is my happy place! I'm already thinking of upgrading to his and hers x2s. - Sandi

[KSagal]

Welcome Sandi.

There are all kinds of nice folk in Florida on segways... I am sure you will find some friends and have a good time gliding...

I have a friend in Madrid with a tour company... You may have glid (I don't ride my segway, I glide on it. Therefore, yesterday I would not have ridden it, I would have glidden it.) with my buddy Antony. Of course, Madrid is a big town, so you may have been with another tour group...

Again, welcome, and have fun.

[Sandi Mako]

Karl,

We did indeed glide with Antony and had a GREAT time. There was just the three of us and he taught us all sorts of fun tips and tricks on the Segway. His enthusiasm for gliding and the marvel of the Segway's construction was contagious. We spent nearly 4 hours with him that day and thoroughly enjoyed his company as much as the glide. A great host and a true Segway addict. He definitely got us hooked.

Sandi

[Bob.Kerns]

Originally Posted by Sandi Mako

Karl,

We did indeed glide with Antony and had a GREAT time. There was just the three of us and he taught us all sorts of fun tips and tricks on the Segway. His enthusiasm for gliding and the marvel of the Segway's construction was contagious. We spent nearly 4 hours with him that day and thoroughly enjoyed his company as much as the glide. A great host and a true Segway addict. He definitely got us hooked.

Sandi

I hope the folks at INC take note of this. I think good tour companies and guides do more ultimately to drive public acceptance and demand for Segways than anything else.

Helping tour companies be successful is good business!

I also think we owners benefit by taking a tour -- tour companies develop very good approaches to training and making people feel comfortable, an we can benefit and learn to be better ambassadors ourselves.

Sandi -- welcome!

Before upgrading, I'd suggest carefully considering whether an i2 or an x2 is a better fit for your needs. An x2 is not just a better i2 -- it has some drawbacks: less friendly on the sidewalk because of the extra width, and lower range

Meanwhile the i2 is more capable off-road than you might expect.

For example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cproppe/3453940354/

(This was with snow tires).

That said, I'd love to have both! Especially on that trip above. But size and range matter more in my particular case.

[Sandi Mako]

I've had my Segway i180 for nearly 2 months now and glide at least 5-10 miles a day. My husband got a great deal on a used x2 for Father's Day and we enjoy gliding together on weekends and in the evenings. We found a great car carrier rack for the back of my van and are taking the Segways with us when we travel by car. Life is Good!

Your comment about the need for an x2 or i2 really got me thinking now that we have both models. I agree, the commuter model really is better for me. I'm finding more and more Segway friendly stores in our area that let me glide right on in now, something I could not do on an x2. I like the longer range without a recharge as well. I just wish it took the sidewalk curbs and cracks as smoothly as my husband's x2 does though. Some of the bumps are teeth jarring around here.

The new generation does have some features I like though, so when my i180 wears out I'll try to find a used i2. Thanks for your guidance.

[KSagal]

Originally Posted by Sandi Mako

I've had my Segway i180 for nearly 2 months now and glide at least 5-10 miles a day. My husband got a great deal on a used x2 for Father's Day and we enjoy gliding together on weekends and in the evenings. We found a great car carrier rack for the back of my van and are taking the Segways with us when we travel by car. Life is Good!

Your comment about the need for an x2 or i2 really got me thinking now that we have both models. I agree, the commuter model really is better for me. I'm finding more and more Segway friendly stores in our area that let me glide right on in now, something I could not do on an x2. I like the longer range without a recharge as well. I just wish it took the sidewalk curbs and cracks as smoothly as my husband's x2 does though. Some of the bumps are teeth jarring around here.

The new generation does have some features I like though, so when my i180 wears out I'll try to find a used i2. Thanks for your guidance.

I was a real die hard fan of the first generation, like your 180. But once you start gliding on an i2, you will be hooked... It does everything your 180 does, as far as fit here or there, better than the x2.

I feel it is significantly better on bumps and oddities in the gliding surface, but mostly the same feel on a simple sidewalk seam... Where is is really much better is on curb cuts, and uneven slopes where each tire is at a different height... There I am sure you will find the i2 superior to your 180...

So, while you have whatever you have, enjoy it... Just realize, that 180 is not likely to wear out, so if you use that as your excuse for a new machine, you will have a very very long wait... I would start making up new excuses to get a gen 2 now... (The batteries and the tires may wear out, but not much else)...

Have fun, keep gliding, keep smiling...