Fantastic way to get around! (Segway Human Transporter)

Member Name: Maggie1981

Product:	Segway Human Transporter
Date:	29/03/09 (113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple to use, lots of fun

Disadvantages: Although you don't think you're putting much effort in your calves and feet will ache after a while

When a friend first suggested trying a Segway I was a little wary, I hadn't seen a picture of one so found the description of a self balancing electric vehicle with 2 wheels and a pole for steering a little odd. My friend had however taken the chance to use a Segway in Paris where a company called Fat Bike Tours operate guided tours around the city and was full of praise for the experience.

Not long after receiving the recommendation, my partner and I visited Paris and thought why not, it was something new and different to try. Initially stepping onto the Segway was a little scary, the machine itself has something very clever going on inside it (sorry I'm not a techie so can't go into detail!). When you step up onto the Segway it somehow measures your weight and figures out how to balance with you on it. To move forward it is simply a case of putting slight pressure on your toes, to go backwards you use your heels. In my opinion this thing is fantastic!!!

We enjoyed a tour around Paris on the Segways and came back huge fans. Admittedly we did not listen to much of the historical facts our tour guide relayed to us, we were much more interested in whizzing round in circles backwards. We found that we had to use so little pressure though that a lot of the time it seemed we were only thinking about moving and the Segway went where we wanted it to. Despite this though we did end up with aching calves and feet after a while!

Using a Segway is a fantastic way to cover a huge amount of ground in a short space of time and gave us the opportunity to find places of interest that we could return to when we'd finished playing. Needless to say when we were visiting Madrid and discovered another company operated similar tours there we jumped at the chance to do another tour.

My partner and I would both love to own a Segway however I'm not sure this is something many people would ever be able to buy for themselves. They are very expensive to buy and I believe, from the 2 tours we've been on, that there are very strict rules in certain countries regarding the use of these machines. I would however suggest that if you're fortunate enough to be in a city which offers guided Segway tours that you have a go. The tours are a little on the expensive side but the Segways themselves are such a fantastic experience that, in my opinion, it is well worth the money!

Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable way to cover lots of ground in a short space of time

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