Megway - New Competition For The Segway

mikep.maine writes "The personal mobility market is heating up. Witness this practical device featured by Megway. I already have one, but it isn't cheap." Check Yahoo! personals for availability.

Comments

First post?

[Athas]

So what's the point? To make people look even more stupid that they do on a segway?

Re:First post?

[JPriest]

This is down but Megway is a person, probably named Meagan giving a piggy back ride to some dude in a parody of Segway human transporter.

Anyway, with the $4,500 price point for Segway and the fact that it only goes as fast as a decent bicycle, I am surprised there is not more of a market for motor assist bicycles.

A bicycle adds the ability to coast with larger wheels, and removes the need to the machine use power balancing for you. People have a natural ability to balance, taxing the machine with doing this strikes me as inefficient.

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

For $1,100 i just purchased an electric assisted Bicycle.

It amounts to a $300 bike with a built in $700 electric motor assist.

The motor gets me up hills, and up to speed quickly so that I spend most of my 40 minute commute at the top speed of 19 MPH.

I look forward to the commute - and I look forward to pissing off the SUV commuters wanting to pass on a two lane xero shoulder road.

Highly recommended - plus I'm losing weight!

AIK

Re:First post?

[NanoGator]

"This is down but Megway is a person, probably named Meagan giving a piggy back ride to some dude in a parody of Segway human transporter."

Ah good. Cos when I read this story, my first thought was "uh Megway's going to be sued for the same reason Lindows was sued."

Re:First post?

[Afrosheen]

It's not even a piggyback ride. It's some alternachick in a black shirt with Megway printed on the front walking around with some knucklehead in a bicycle helmet following her. There's a completely stupid movie here just in case you really want to see what I'm talking about.

There are some ideas that just need to be killed in the crib. This is one of them.

Re:First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a fucking parody, you moron.

Re:First post?

[MyHair]

Cool! I'm not sure I've heard of these before. Can you give any links to get us started? I searched for "electric assist bicycle" on Google, but some direction from a Slashdotter who bought and uses one would be nice.

Thanks.

Re:First post?

[Parsec]

What brand/model did you buy, and have you tested it in wet or winter weather?

Re:First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

>and I look forward to pissing off the SUV commuters wanting to pass on a two lane xero shoulder road.

OK, so you are looking forward to the event where it's a couple hundred pounds of rider+bike VS 2000+lbs SUV?

Darwinism in action!! :-)

Re:First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

Imagine how stupid they'd look on a smegway

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

I bought it here: Bikes

however it is made by Giant which is a hugely available brand in independant shops. Your local shop can order it and provide friendly support and deliver an assembled machine.

note this model tops at 250 watts - and the power backs down as you approach top speed.

Its not a motorcycle - it is a very enjoyable Bike.

AIK

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

Its Giant Lite - the first advertised bike on the site - and I think the current favorite.

I think there's a bit of a legal defiition to electric bikes which capps the power and speed at a certain power and top assisted speed.

It would be a step up in my opinion for an advanced mode with higher torque and speed - available only after licensing or what have you.

But the point is that traffic can get pretty impatient, and a top speed of 19 mph limits available roads. I use some 45 MPH roads on the way to work - but peope get angry - which doesn't bother me - but it might some - and faster speed - maybe 25 for example would cool them down.

AIK

Re:First post?

[RogL]

A Mazda Miata weighs >2000 lbs. For his tailgating SUV, try 4,000-5,000 lbs+

Re:First post?

[Suidae]

I don't understand why people are so critical of the Segway.

Look at the name. Segway. As in segue: "to move smoothly and unhesitatingly from one state, condition, situation, or element to another"

As in, the Segway HT exists only to get people comfortabe with the self-balancing technology so that Kamen's wheelchair desigh won't seem as shocking.

The Segway itself seems much less useful than say, a skateboard or a pair of rollerblades, except perhaps for the crippled or elderly (who would probably do well to avoid moving at high speeds on unprotected platforms anyway).

The wheelchair form though, seems like it would be excellent for rich disabled people who want to go places where disabled access is not provided.

Personally, if I were unable to walk I'd build myself a hybrid gasoline-electric chair with tank-style treads (non-marking rubber of course). Screw the handi-crip access ramps, I'll take the stairs, and I'll run over anybody in my way, thanks.

Re:First post?

[b-baggins]

Remember to take some Kleenex with you next time. Nosebleeds are common from such a lofty moral position.

Re:First post?

[Skynyrd]

I don't understand why people are so critical of the Segway.
Could it be partially due to the fact that it was hyped as better than the second coming of Christ before it hit the market?

Then it turned out to be a scooter. A really neat, high-tech scooter. But still a scooter, and not quite as revolutionary as it was marketed to be.

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

Sustainable solutions and "nose bleed lofty morals" are two different things.

I'm not selling the Highlander. - just using it less.

Bicycles are uniquely sustainable. They do not take up 10 times more room for parking and driving than your average family.

They do not require paving over the oxygen generating plants.

They do not send thousands to the hospitals every day.

Drunk driving isn't an issue.

You can drive them to the door of wherever you're going = rather than the parking garage down the block.

They are healthy and enjoyable.

They are friendly to the earth and the neighbors - they are all around - as Bush would say "really good."

And Yes - sustainable transportation should be pushed in people's faces (in the US) the rest of the world is not afflicted with an Oil Lobby pushing for subsidies of the single highest cause of death - after cigs.

AIK

Re:First post?

[uberdave]

Perhaps you should try googling for "moped".

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

Let's not pretend. Biking in the midst of the SUV arms race is definately a form of Darwinianism.

Which is why I 1. do not ride on the side of the road. (If you do you will experience a great number of near misses)

If the road doesn't have a clear safe shoulder - I ride on the left-hand side of middle

This forces the SUV to go all the way in the other lane to pass.

If you don't force the full - lane pass - they wil attempt the partial lane pass - this is where they squeeze through even if there is oncoming traffic.

Generally - you WANT somebody stuck behind you - then you know nobody is going to hit you going 70.

So they get pissed - So what. Its their lungs If saving too. - If they really cared they would vote for bike lanes - and if they don't care - i don't either.

So you have to go out there with the attitude that says you own the whole damn road (unless there is a good shoulder).

AIK

Re:First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

If the oil companies wouldn't have squashed the sterling engine that it was supposed to run on, then it would have lived up to the hype a little better...
Check some of homies patents during the Segway development period if you don't believe me.

Re:First post?

[krunk7]

If they merged, what would the new company be called?........Smegway?

Re:First post?

[bleckywelcky]

When you say you "use" a "45 MPH" road, I hope that means the shoulder, not just dilly-dallying in the middle of the lane. If this doesn't mean the shoulder, then these people have every right to be pissed off, and I for one would nudge your bike off the road with my bumper. However, a faster bike would definitely be nicer. Perhaps the user could pump it up to 15 mph or so (probably the hardest portion of speeding up) and then the motor takes it up to 25, 30, 35 mph.

Re:First post?

[Junior J. Junior III]

I propose that the companies merge rather than compete against each other. Imagine how many people would line up to purchase a brand new Smegway.

Re:First post?

[fucksl4shd0t]

Perhaps you should try googling for "moped".

Mopeds are like fat girls. They're great fun to ride until your friends see you doing it.

Re:First post?

[fucksl4shd0t]

You know, as the driver of a large, 70ish truck toting a trailer, I have to say I like your post a lot. I absolutely *hate* passing bikes on the road, because I *know* that if even part of my truck touches them someone's going to get seriously hurt.

What really irritates me about bicyclers (you know, cyclers that go both ways, heh heh) isn't the fact that I have to share the road with them. It's the fact that they have such a tendency to drift back and forth in their space without caring about other traffic. Yes, we want to get around, but many of us want to get around pretty safely, and some help from the rider is required.

So, the reason I like your post is because you're providing the help. ;) In my truck, if I can't do a full-lane pass on a bike, I don't pass. My truck is just too big to properly share the road. Luckily, many of the roads in my area also have bike lanes! And that's where my complaint about cyclists wondering back and forth in their lanes comes into play. Bike lanes are sized for safe, non-intrusive sharing of the road by both bikes and cars.

But goddammit, wondering back and forth in the lane isn't sharing. It's not sharing when other cars do it, and it's downright dangerous for all concerned.

Re:First post?

[fucksl4shd0t]

I'll take a Smegway, as long as I can get a t-shirt that says "Smegway" along with it. ;)

Re:First post?

[thejuggler]

They do not require paving over the oxygen generating plants.
Then stay of the damn roads so I can drive to work. Or, maybe I should just drive my Hummer off road all the way to work. Now that's sounds enjoyable!

They do not send thousands to the hospitals every day.
Um, WRONG! According to the American Academy of Family Physicians Bicycle-related injuries account for approximately 900 deaths, 23,000 hospital admissions, 580,000 emergency department visits and more than 1.2 million physician visits per year in the United States Do the Math - 580,000 / 365 = 1589 people per day in the ER because of bicycle related injuries. And only 12% are do to accidents with cars.

Drunk driving isn't an issue.
I've ridden drunk - you can't tell me there is no issue with this. Picture this, a drunken guy on bike riding down wrong side of street meets a truck head on. Yep, no problem, for the truck anyway.

They are healthy and enjoyable.
Healthy? See my point above, and I must say I do love getting mud and water sprayed on me and rocks in my face and the rain is just a real pleasure and the f*cking snow and ice are a real blast. Oh, and getting run off the road is real fun too.

I quit riding my bike every day the moment I bought my first car!!!

Former bike to work/college and grocery store guy. The only time you find me on two wheels is on my motorcycle. (And it still sucks to ride in the rain).

Re:First post?

[Bob Uhl]

Just so you know, in some places it's illegal for bikes to ride on the sidewalk, and many roads don't have shoulders. Here in Colorado the former is almost always the case, and the latter quite often holds. I generally ride on the sidewalk anyway, because it's safer and less of a nuisance, but it is illegal.

Yes, a cyclist should stay as far right as he can.

Re:First post?

[Mycroft_VIII]

The problem is riding a bicycle on a limited road where passing isn't likely to be possible.
When yo do this you are slowing down a lot of traffic. I don't know about your state, but in missouri you can get a ticket for obstucting traffic if you are travelling significantly below the speed limit and have six or more cars piled behind you give or take conditions. It's very rarely issued and some judgement on the part of the officer is expected, and checked by the judge.
And the real problem is when you take a lane of a 45 mph road where passing isn't possible, and you add 10-20 minutes to someones commute, possibly making them late for work, OF course they are angry, you are risking them thier job and creating a potentially dangerous situation(think curves, most people don't expect to come around a curve and find a vehicle doing 20 on a 45mph road.
And frankly I've seen bike riders do some stupid things. There is a road near where I used to live with a long downhill followed by a sharp curve with a blind t-junction on it followed a mile later with an industrial park. Every other year a handfull of bikers will discover this hill and start using it. Eventually they learn to stop (usually about the first time a semi, which CANNOT break fast on that steep a downhill, nearly runs them over. It has very little shoulder most of it's length. Anyone with common sense would see this is a STUPID place to bike.
I have nothing against bike riding, and used to do so a few years ago, but you've got to use common sense and not be arrogant idiot who thinks if fun to deliberately interfere with regular traffic on a road. It's just asking for trouble. Especially when there are plenty of roads in most urban areas that are plenty safe to bike, and don't screw with other people just for the sadistic pleasure of it.
So I sincerely hope you were just joking about deliberately obstructing other drivers. With rare exception a vehicle shouldn't be on road when it can't maintain a reasonable speed, those exceptions mostly being big rigs on steep hills, and emergency conditions and so on. And in that case extra effort to as visibly signal an unusual condition be taken. Any thing else is dangerous to all concerned.
That said people who honk at, or swerve at bikers on the shoulder for no good reason get the same contempt from me as well, I've been on both sides of it and my attitude comes the many near tragedies I've seen because of sheer stupidity.

Mycroft.

Re:First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

So how about Farm vehicles? Milk Floats?

If there is nowhere for the cyclist to cycle, they're going to be a shitload later to work than 20 minutes, bub.

If there isn't room to vertake SAFELY, you don't overtake.

In the UK, the highway code says that the cyclist should stay in the middle of the lane unless they are causing an obstruction. Moving out of the way is *recommended*, but not necessary.

As to the dumb cyclists, they are stupid and annoying. However, a dumb cyclist is putting their life at risk and the drivers' license. A stupid driver is putting the cyclists' life at risk and their drivers' license. Not really balanced.

Re:First post?

[AsbestosRush]

The problem with going much faster than around 20 is that you wind up with enough motor that most states require you to register the vehicle, and in turn insure it. It moves away from "cheap transportation" at that point.
The other point that I would make is that the bicyclist has as much right to the road as you do. In most states when a bike is on the road, it must be treated as a vehicle.
If there's no shoulder, chances are there's not much sidewalk either. I belive that was mentioned.
Now, if your a spammer-like person (I can't remember the term for it) and don't really care about the consequences of your selfishness, then I geuss nudging a bike off the road isn't that much of a problem. I've commuted to and from work on a bicycle before, and it takes very little road to pass a cyclist safely. /Sigh. Feeding the trolls, I know.

Re:First post?

[AsbestosRush]

Former bike to work/college and grocery store guy. The only time you find me on two wheels is on my motorcycle. (And it still sucks to ride in the rain).

Then you need to invest some more into wet weather gear. :)

Seriously, I ride my motorcycle to/from work 30 miles each way, M-F, Rain or shine. Spend some money on some *good* wet weather gear, and you get there dry and toasty.

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

There is a parallel highway - people on this road are trying to avoid the traffic on the main highway by screaming through neighborhoods - I say screw 'em.

Nobody ever waited behind me more than your average traffic light - a 2 minute hill etc . . .

The Hill - I commute - i don't surf.

"Don't be sadistic"

That's the hot button. I think I might feell a touch of pleasure when some redneck with a gun rack guns the engine to pass me and shouts - if you're on this road when I come back - I'll run you over!

I admit it is reassuring when stereotypes play out - it justifies my generally dim view of the South - which I contend has answered its lack of education by embracing and romanticing stupidity "I don't know much about too may things . . . " - or Jessica Simpson's (Is it fish or chicken - cause it says chicken of the sea)

I take the safest route - there are no safer roads to get whhere I'm going.

But the south has built its bridges so narrow that pedestrain traffic is all but impossible.

So - I take pleasure in inflicting the obvious result of failing to make room for both peds and cars - the cars have to wait.

AIK

I have a motor - so I'm a bit faster than your average bike.

There are places where passing is quite easy - and places where a bike could pass - even if

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

Drunk driving isn't a problem because on a bicycle - the problem is self regulating.

(Fair point about hospital submissions) - however - you fail to include all the cancer patients. Most cancers are environmentallly related - translation - the result of burning fossil fuels.

AIK

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

missouri is such a lousy state with regard to its laws - it hardly bears mentioning.

AAIK

Re:First post?

[Anonymous Coward]

For an average SUV, yes. Big ones are > 6000 pounds. The Hummer H2 is 8500 and the H1 is > 10,000

Re:First post?

[AnalogousCoward]

What's the range? I bought a Lashout and I'm not happy with it. Top speed is cool for first 5 miles (21 mph) but it's dead around 8 miles when the range quoted in the promotional material was 15 miles.

Re:First post?

[Richy_T]

I get pissed off when I get stuck behind a cyclist. However, they *do* have as much right to use the road as anyone else and if they go too far to the right, they end up in all the crap and drains and broken glass etc at the side of the road with the added bonus of idiot drivers trying to squeeze past when there isn't really enough room.

In my estimation, the ideal spot for cyclists is about 1/3 of the way into the lane. This gives them a presence on the road and allows for safe overtaking.

Cyclists who are cycling for exercise and not to get somewhere or touring somewhere specific for the view should, for their own safety, try and choose somewhere that cars can pass easily and safely and not get caught behind them on windy roads and blind hills.

Rich

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

Sorry you're unhappy with lashout.

I'm quite happy with my Giant.
I get to work and back on a single charge - It takes 30 minutes - so its running for a hour or more per charge. as 20 mph - that's 20 Miles. I'm sure that range estimate are based on flat land smooth roads and properly inflated tires with jockys in the saddle.

But I would like to get higher top speed.

Maybe I can hack it a bit - fool it into reading fewer rpm for example.

I really think electric bikes has a vital place in sustainable transportation. They are very personable - you can talk to people you see - they are portable - you can bring them into a train etc.

AIK

AIK

Re:First post?

[AmericanInKiev]

The glass and crap is right.
We have a lot of gravel driveways in NC and they tend to litter the gravel out onto the road.

plus Manhole covers etc . . .

1/3 is pretty comfortable, however I occassionaly take more in order to prevent unwise passing. If there is room to pass in the other lane - fine - but (in a narrow place) don't invent room at my expense.

I sometimes ride on the left and invite cars to pass in the damn ditch with the broken glass and crap - if they don't want to go there - why the Bl**dy hell should I?

AIK

*checks date*

[Anonymous Coward]

Nope, not April 1st...

Re:*checks date*

[Zugok]

well actually, this made Cruel site of the day on December 12, 2001.

The SegWay never lived up

[FrereTuck]

to the tremendous hype that was built around it. There was one good fallout from all the hype though. People started to think of alternatives. That I believe is the true value of the Segway and now the "MegWay"

Re:The SegWay never lived up

[ryanmfw]

No it didn't, especially when PopSci had a blurb on the inventor, before the segway was released, about how he was working on this revolutionary engine that would improve the world (Stirling engine), or a new personal mobility device. He *had* to make the Segway!

Hey

[timothv]

Someone call that guy that posts in every segway discussion so he can clarify how great the segway is.

Re:Hey

[Anonymous Coward]

*ring ring*

"Segway promotion agency how can I help you?"

*click*

Re:Hey

[metlin]

You mean this guy ? :)

Re:Hey

[VanWEric]

Hey - don't diss the segway. It is sooo much easier to segway joust than it is to bicycle joust. Not to mention that it is easier to sue DEKA/Segway for liability when you manage to impale yourself.

Re:Hey

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't laugh, I work with the guy. His wife agreed to let him get the Segway he wanted in exchange for his letting her get the boobjob she wanted.

Just my opinion, but I think wifey got pwned.

(And yes, I said "wife". Don't you feel like a loser now? (That's looser for those of you who learned to write by spellcheck.))

Re:Hey

[Anonymous Coward]

Unless it was a massive reduction, the boobjob was probably something that he wanted too. That is if she didn't leave him and become a stripper or porn star soon afterwards.

Re:Hey

[fmaxwell]

Don't laugh, I work with the guy. His wife agreed to let him get the Segway he wanted in exchange for his letting her get the boobjob she wanted.

And while he's out riding his Segway, the pool boy is riding his wife.

Re:Hey

[DavittJPotter]

So now, instead of enjoying his wife's new boobjob, he's playing with a Segway, thereby doing *less* physical activity.

Wonder why his wife got a boobjob? :) I imagine her next husband will pay a bit more attention to her.

Re:Hey

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't laugh, I'm the poolboy. In bed by 8 and home by 11, oh!

Re:Hey

[RollingThunder]

His site has a track of a recent 10 mile run around central park. I suspect he's fitter than you average geek, who gets winded going to the fridge for more jolt. ;)

Re:Hey

[ThresholdRPG]

> And while he's out riding his Segway, the pool boy
> is riding his wife.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

That is sheer brilliance.

Re:Hey

[DavittJPotter]

Probably. ;) I should have looked first before taking up my Sarcasm Blaster.

name change imminent

[boarder]

If Lindows lost to MS, then Megway is certainly going to be sued by (and lose to) the Segway guys.

Of course, there are 2 comments and the site is /.ed already, so I have no idea how viable their product is.

Re:name change imminent

[Esion Modnar]

If Lindows lost to MS

Lindows should have tried changing to Swindles. Still sounds like Windows, but in such a way that MS would never dare complain...

MS: "Hey, Swindles sounds too much like... oh, never mind..."

Re:name change imminent

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe, but it would be pretty hard to claim in court any real damage to profits

Slashdotted Already?!

[JMandingo]

The MegWay can only carry one person at a time, and so can their website.

Re:Slashdotted Already?!

[Ralconte]

Ah well, slashdotted, so we don't know what it is. Too bad, but the segway is already doomed -- http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=segway_more_com plicated_than_it_needs_to_be

Aww

[mod_critical]

You guys needed to see the movie, its the best =D I was just downloading it again to cache it here for a link and all of a sudden everything on the site stopped. I was right, the story had gone from a future post to a current post and that was it for the site. Maybe tomorrow some of you get to see it...

Slashdotted already.

[dilweed]

Only 8 posts in. Sad.

Megway? Segway?

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a Vegway - it looks like a giant piece of brocolli - but you don't hear me shouting about it...

Re:Megway? Segway?

[Prod_Deity]

I'll create one that is inbetween the 2, and call it the SmegWay.

Re:Megway? Segway?

[NanoGator]

"I have a Vegway - it looks like a giant piece of brocolli - but you don't hear me shouting about it... "

I have a WedgeWay, and now I'm plotting to kick my brother's ass.

Re:Megway? Segway?

[Trejkaz]

I have a Kegway, but for some reason I keep swerving while riding the damn thing, and the cops keep pulling me over.

Ark1!!!

[ResQuad]

Slashdoted already!!!

Regardless, this should be intresting. One has to wonder how this will effect the laws. Some places like San Francisco banned segways and related, but if they begin to get more popular... Things may change.

And honestly, I have only seen one segway IRL.

Very Timely

[ErikRed1488]

Not that I can actually see the site (/.ed) but I did a little Googling and see that other sites linked to there in December of 2001.

Mine is a suziway

[fw3]

Seriously, it's too bad this site is gonna be hosed, but what I got to read before the floodgates opened is highly amusing.

nice go Megway!

It's slashdotted already

[Zog The Undeniable]

But this is quite a useful link.

Isn't it a bit late for April 1st?

Re:It's slashdotted already

[JeremyALogan]

ha... I thought it was a joke for a whole different reason...
1) MEGway
2) Yahoo! personals

Re:It's slashdotted already

[Anonymous Coward]

That looks like robot-generated gibberish on that page.

See also: How To Get Googled, By Hook Or By Crook

Re:Trademark?

[Anonymous Coward]

What do you mean? Of course there's absolutely no precedent for that kind of claim ;)

True, but

[AntiOrganic]

Segway riders don't wear biker shorts.

I wonder

[azav]

If Megway has a sister, does the brand name change?

And can we order hotter models?

Re:I wonder

[Anonymous Coward]

Megway is way more sophisticated than Segway. In fact, if you probe the inside Megway, you can build a second within 9 months.

Re:I wonder

[Anonymous Coward]

I hate it when the mods try to be "funny." Insightful? That doesn't even make sense as a joke.

Re:old

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, this story is friggin' ancient. And, although the server is toast and I can't see it again, I recall that it wasn't funny at all. In fact, the actual Segway is more inherently funny.

Mirror of Quicktime video

[timothv]

Mirror of the quicktime video here

Re:Mirror of Quicktime video

[timothv]

Hey. I'm going to need to take this offline in about half an hour. About 300 people have downloaded it. Please setup a mirror and reply here. Thanks!

Re:Mirror of Quicktime video

[Anonymous Coward]

It's been 800 downloads. Never imagined it was going to be that much in a comment somewhere on the page.

Re:Mirror of Quicktime video

[Anonymous Coward]

What's with the Crash Windows link on your page? It gets to zero and nothing happens. What's the joke? I'm on XP.

Re:Mirror of Quicktime video

[Borg453b]

800 downloads.. and I missed it. oh well

Re:Trademark?

[fidget42]

It's very similar to the Segway, certainly in the same market, and it's name only differs by one letter. Surely Segway's lawyers won't be happy.

You obviously never followed the link (but don't let that stop you from making comments like these). This was a UserFriendly Llink of the Day a looong time ago (around the time the Segway was released).

spoof?

[dan dan the dna man]

Blogger thinks so

Text:

A wonderful spoof of the Segway (nee "ginger") well worth the bits its printed on. The Megway runs on water , folds for easy transport and storage, and sports a "20 petaflop bioelectrical computer," "Opposable Digits Technology," and "HOT RACING ACTION (action, action, action...)!!!" Also be sure to catch the groovy Megway movie.

Re:spoof?

[usrusr]

"opposable digits technology" is indeed a good one

Re:spoof?

[Anonymous Coward]

If it's in a blog, it must be true.

But Segway is fighting back

[tcd004]

With a series of ads.

tcd004

RTFA

[bhima]

You people are morons! I know it fashionable to not read the article,

BUT It's a JOKE! and an old one at that!

How can you laugh if you haven't bothered to even look at the pretty pictures?

Re:RTFA

[Angostura]

Easier to get the joke when the site is actually accessible.

Re:RTFA

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, makes you wonder how many people actually took the time to try and look at the page even though it's been ./ed. It's just a chick with a t-shirt "Megway" who will carry you around. Just a farce..a joke....lol, I'm loving the comments about how they're gonna get sued or I'm gonna build my own smegway....

-
No gasoline. No wood. No rocket fuel. No coal. Megway TH is the first human transportation device to run on water. Megway requires a small "recharging" meal in the morning (soy latte with an english muffin) and one in the evening (sushi), but runs on plain old water for the rest of the day. The consumer version of Megway comes with a sporty 32 oz. cup with cupholder (not shown).
-

-
Megway works with, not against, existing transportation technologies. Its small size and weight makes it easy to take Megway with you on even short car trips. Avoid the traffic downtown by parking in a convenient place and then ride Megway the rest of the way to your destination. Megway travels well on motorcycles, mopeds, buses, airplanes, paddle boats, and tandem bicycles.
-

How to render the Segway obsolete...

[Radi-0-head]

I think this site sums it up pretty well: Why the Segway is bloatware

Re:How to render the Segway obsolete...

[jelle]

But...

That is never going to work: Nobody wants to be the third wheel.

Segway and Megway make me cry....

[Dozix007]

Yay.... now even more motivation for the public to be even more lazy. Why walk when you can stand ?

Re:Segway and Megway make me cry....

[Anonymous Coward]

you havnt seen the ArmChairWay for the truly obese

Re:Segway and Megway make me cry....

[Impotent_Emperor]

Yes, but the Megway can provide sexual release.

and there it is

[boarder]

OK, so now that the site has finally loaded, I can see that this is a [not very funny] joke site. Seriously, I see that Timothy put on the headline that it is from the lighten-up joke dept, but if you are going to post a fake site on a supposed news site, at least make sure you bandwidth test it before posting. You could've had 200 of your closest friends load the site and see how fast it loads... scale that up by 3 orders of magnitude and you can determine that a joke that takes 20 minutes to load isn't all that funny.

Also, as a long-time reader of /., I'd prefer to keep the joke stories confined to Apr 1st.

Re:and there it is

[DrEldarion]

Wow, loosen up a little. There are only so many SCO and RIAA stories that one can take before needing a little break.

Re:and there it is

[BW_Nuprin]

Err, yeah, who here has 200 close friends?

Re:and there it is

[NitsujTPU]

Actually, DDoS attacking every site before /. posts it is probably a great idea... Just to make sure ;-)

Re:and there it is

[amembleton]

Hey, perhaps Slashdot should cache such sites. Or even cache every site that is posted except for the very large ones, such as media companies and Microsoft.

Re:and there it is

[Ianoo]

Timay and Taco have anyone who has a star after their name ;)

Re:and there it is

[Anonymous Coward]

Hold on! I thought /. was a method to carry out a DDoS attack? I mean, why else would people read it but to figure out what site to bring down next?

Re:and there it is

[bravehamster]

So...the little monty python foot icon didn't tip you off?

Re:and there it is

[Darkforge]

Also, as a long-time reader of /., I'd prefer to keep the joke stories confined to Apr 1st.

Wow, what a stick-in-the-mud.

In that case, I'm sure you already know how to turn off joke stories, just by editing your preferences and checking the "It's funny. Laugh." checkbox.

But since you know that, why would you bother posting and complaining about them? Could it be that your love for complaining is even greater than your distaste for joke stories...?

Re:and there it is

[Hiro Antagonist]

Err, yeah, who here has 200 close friends?

Agent Smith, duh!

Re:and there it is

[chimpo13]

Hey, I have a very busy day today. I can't just spend my Sundays sitting on my ass reading slashdot. All these "funny" stories are really cutting into my sitting on my ass watching teevee time.

Re:and there it is

[Anonymous Coward]

Err, yeah, who here has 200 close friends?

I think he's referring to computers, not people.

Re:and there it is

[ambienceman]

oh-lighten-up-mr-serious

Re:and there it is

[NanoGator]

"You could've had 200 of your closest friends load the site and see how fast it loads..."

200... closest friends? For 200, I'll be dipping into my enemies and rating them by how close a friend they are? *Sigh* no wonder nobody does this.

Re:and there it is

[NanoGator]

"Hey, perhaps Slashdot should cache such sites. Or even cache every site that is posted except for the very large ones, such as media companies and Microsoft. "

Heh I just had this image in my mind of Infinium suing Slashdot for caching and republishing a site blasting their console.

Re:and there it is

[Anonymous Coward]

So you like the humor in your life designated solely to one day? Do you only have sex on Valentines Day? I think humor is fine, especially when you didn't have to wait for the site to load, or to see the sub-headline, but rather could have just looked at the gigantic Monty Python foot icon that designates, get this, a joke story.

Re:and there it is

[Anonymous Coward]

Way to stay current, slashdot. I only saw the Megway site about a year and a half ago. It wasn't funny then, either.

Re:and there it is

[Anonymous Coward]

Being slashdot, most of us have a few friends, and between us at least 200 computers.

Re:and there it is

[Spunk]

I have a million friends!

Re:and there it is

[Anonymous Coward]

turn off joke stories, just by editing your preferences [slashdot.org] and checking the "It's funny. Laugh."

That would turn it on, not off.

What a stupid thing...

[4nd3r5]

The part of the website that i have been able to load, it doesn't seem worthy of a notice on slashdot.. Hey i can use codes..

Megway. Bigger than Jesus.

[rheimbuch]

I realize that the sites already slashdotted, so here's the google cache http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:cBtUbkK6lukJ:we b.0sil8.com/episodes/megway/home.html+megway&hl=en of the front page. For the humor impaired: this is a parody of the segway.

Re:Megway. Bigger than Jesus.

[jkabbe]

you know, Google doesn't cache the images or other linked resources....

Re:Megway. Bigger than Jesus.

[bezuwork's friend]

you know, Google doesn't cache the images or other linked resources....

Sure they do, in a manner of speaking.

Hmm. The Megway is either some kind of postcard, a reasonably cute girl, or something resembling a Segway, but not quite.

Looks like the reasonably cute girl wasn't so far off ...

Yahoo! Personals?

[banzai75]

I find it amusing that one has to check the personals nowadays to find something to ride ;)

it's a spoof

[xirtam_work]

Now I've actually managed to watch the movie from a mirror it makes sense.

Very funny.

'say you can walk somewhere in 20 mins, well with the megway you'll get there in 18 and a half, 19 mins tops'. :-)

mirror of the movie

[pario]

here

but here's a copy of the qt movie

[fw3]

megway.mov

wth, it's only bandwidth, and a worthy joke

obligatory

[moviepig.com]

While waiting for the Megway web site to materialize, I realized the undoubted imminence of these further Segway competitors:

The one with a breathalyzer: Kegway
The overpriced one: Begway
The one that always craps out: Legway
The official one: Regway
The souped-up red one: Nutmegway

Re:obligatory

[Quietust]

The one seen on Red Dwarf: Smegway

Re:obligatory

[DissidentHere]

The overpriced one: Begway
The one that always craps out: Legway

you mispelled Microsoft

....Thank you, I'll be here all week....

Re:obligatory

[Anonymous Coward]

Silly lazy Americans. What you really need is a Runway.

Re:obligatory

[hpa]

Or, actually, on Sluggy... the Smegway!

Re:obligatory

[Anonymous Coward]

You forgot one:

smmm... smmm... smmm-eeeh... smmm-eeeh.. smmm-eeeg-way!

-kryten

Re:obligatory

[Anonymous Coward]

The Naked one: Benway.

Re:Trademark?

[Anonymous Coward]

yhbt yhl hand

Segway: cool engineering, lousy idea

[theLOUDroom]

The segway is a neat device, but I just thought I share a thought that another slashdotter brought up a while ago.

While the segway is a really neat idea, an electric bicycle would be much more senisble.
See, even when you're standing still, the segway has to burn energy just to keep you upright. Same thing when you're "coasting" down a hill.

This means that the design of a device like the segway is going to be fundamentally energy inefficient compared to a electric bicycle/motorcycle.

Just something interesting I though I'd bring up, since we can't RTFA anyways.

Does anybody know of any electric bikes that even beging to approach the coolness factor of a segway?

Re:Segway: cool engineering, lousy idea

[Monkelectric]

Actually, somebody agrees with you, a fellow came up with a better design which requires no complicated electronics.

Timewarp?

[obfuscated]

This joke / page is over a year old.

What's up the really old posts guys?

Re:Timewarp?

[Oncogene]

It's actually about 3 years old.

From their FAQ:

[Anonymous Coward]

Can we order hotter models?

Yes you can. We will shortly be releasing a model that fakes orgasms at diners. As far as we are aware, no other mode of personal transport does this.

Does Megway have a sister model?

Yes, but she's called the Mogway and not very hot looking. Mogway is desiged to be owned by witches.


So there you have it...

Re:From their FAQ:

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, but she's called the Mogway

Kupoppo!

So old

[jonknee]

While I don't want to be "that guy", this is an amazingly old link. It was made by Jason Kottke, and the girl in the ads is Megan Hourihan. It came out a year or two ago, along with the Segwa.y.

That would be amusing...

[Vthornheart]

So it would be a half-human, half-machine cyborg? This is starting to sound familiar... your name doesn't happen to be Sarah Connor, is it?

Uh, this joke is AT LEAST TWO YEARS OLD?

[g8orade]

See this link...

If there's one thing that I can't stand...

[mojotooth]

more than a joke that I don't get, it's a joke that gets slashdotted before I can get it.

Offtopic Suggestion

[Anonymous Coward]

If the slashdot dev are seeking new and useful features, then i'd suggest making a a small script to poll the links of a story and determine if the link is slashdoted. If it is then you could replace the link with a redirection pages which would state the obvious.

Useful how? Well that could prevent a couple of hits on an already slashdotted page. Further more, you could build your own cache of slashdot links if and only if the script determines that the link is slashdotted.

Anyways, just a couple of toughts. Slashcode could be better, there's always room for improvement.

Electric scooters?

[Moderation abuser]

How are these things better than electric scooters like these: http://www.zapworld.com/

Yes, they have lots of, well, as far as I can see unnecessary technology in them, have their wheels side by side which means they require all that extra technology just to function and are therefore ridiculously expensive.

The scooters are lighter, faster, have longer range and only cost a couple of hundred quid rather than thousands.

Up, up, and...

[Arkham1970]

Megway, schmegway. Where's the fun if there's no chance of impaling yourself or pouncing on errant children/puppies? http://www.flybar.com/pages/index.html Is this the dawn of the next era of illegal street racing?

How about feet, for personal mobility?

[Woogiemonger]

I mean, gee, in the country that has a major problem with obesity, try walking! Save the motorized mobility for the disabled. What a waste of money, and a safety hazard. I just got ran into 20 times in the supermarket during Mother's Day today.. Picture if they all had Segways n' Megways? Ow. Feet hurt? Try this.

READ THE THING

[neoshroom]

Some of your replies:

So what's the point? To make people look even more stupid that they do on a segway?

to the tremendous hype that was built around it. There was one good fallout from all the hype though. People started to think of alternatives. That I believe is the true value of the Segway and now the "MegWay"

If Lindows lost to MS, then Megway is certainly going to be sued by (and lose to) the Segway guys.

It's very similar to the Segway, certainly in the same market, and it's name only differs by one letter. Surely Segway's lawyers won't be happy.

Did anyone even read the article? Newsflash (with annoying scolling subtitle): Its a spoof.

Re:READ THE THING

[Anonymous Coward]

You don't even need to RTFA, all the clues are there in the summary: topic is "It's funny. Laugh" and Timothy says "Check Yahoo! personals for availability." WTF do people think is advertised on Yahoo personals?

another tired dupe

[lophophore]

News? Hardly. Google shows this foolishness was on the web in December 2001. It wasn't very funny then, and it is even less funny today.

Can we have a subject category for irrelevant, boring dupes?

Re:another tired dupe

[Anonymous Coward]

It would be redundant - we might as well put everything here in the category for irrelevant, boring dupes.

Great, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

The real question is "Does it run Linux?"

make way...

[Anonymous Coward]

Make way for the SMEGWay! Coming soon...

I forsee a problem...

[Lithium_Golem]

It must be very difficult to go down hill riding one of those...

What the...

[Viceice]

I thought SlashDot was supposed to turn useless ONLY on April 1st?

Re:What the...

[athakur999]

Yes, but the other 364 days a year it's supposed to make other sites useless.

old news

[P0lyh34)]

This was on memepool over 3 years ago.

and?

[Anonymous Coward]

this is news?

this link has been distributed in the blogsphere atleast 6 months ago. Hey editors, instead of wasting our time with stale news, on a slow news day, why don't you spend the time making this site CSS compliant?

someone tell slashdot about a dancing baby !

[Anonymous Coward]

because we all saw the megway site meme years ago, good to see slashdot are up to date, now about this dancing baby....

It has SFA to do with fashion.

[Moderation abuser]

Get real, every time I go to RTFA after it's been posted on Slashdot the bloody sites are slahsdotted. Why do you think it's called the slashdot effect?

Re:It has SFA to do with fashion.

[Three Headed Man]

Odds are, someone got a copy of the page before it went down, unless it was being hosted on my connection. You can check out archive.org for the mirror of some websites, or you can click on read more, hit Ctrl+F, type in the word "mirror" and click "Find Next" until you can locate a working copy of the webpage or object. It's not that hard, people.

Waiting for the Meg Ryan model

[n2rjt]

I'm sleepless, waiting for the Meg Ryan model to come out!

Demo models?

[Anonymous Coward]

Are there any demo models that I can use for, say, a day? Actually, the prototype in the video looks pretty good. Any chance I could take it for a test ride?

Demo video

[Anonymous Coward]

is available if you want to check out this dumb thing in action. it was too graphic for me.

Other Megway Features

[gtshafted]

I'm a bit disappointed they didn't display the Megway's XXX ride feature....

Re:Other Megway Features

[coreman]

or feature the headlights!

Re:This is not even funny.

[Anonymous Coward]

Offtopic. Someone didn't like the joke site and it's offtopic?

Maybe the cracksmoking modder thought Megway was real.

You need to be succesful to have competition...

[Shivetya]

Let alone worry about it.

Seems their goal (Segway) of having the taxpayers buy up their production via Government purchases didn't materialize. They knew they had no real commercial viability, hence all the attempts to get large government organizations to test it out in hopes of getting a buyer.

My favorite were the lard ass Atlanta cops that tried it, trouble was they were too clutzy to operate it.

Segway, a product that looked neat but had no market yet was hyped to all heck and back. Just another feature of the dot-com craze.

As for Megway/Smegway... its a joke... rta

YOU FILTHY FUCKING FAGGOT

[Anonymous Coward]

Obligatory gnome post:

[Anonymous Coward]

Step 1: Emulate a product that nobody bought in the first place.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!

Didn't you notice the foot icon?

Ever tried one?

[CoolQ]

Have you ever tried a Segway yourself?

They're surprisingly useful. The perfect tech gadget. I'm surprised there's not at least some people purchasing them. The minute I have the $3,000ish to buy one, I will.

Whenever I get a chance to try one of my friends' Segways, I jump at the chance.

Re:Ever tried one?

[danlyke]

I've ridden one (a Segway), and I don't see the appeal.

Don't get me wrong, it's a very cool toy, but unless you're going to build your own for the geek points spend a tenth of the dollars on a conventional electric scooter: Same range, same maneuverability at reasonable speeds, and when the battery runs out it's still a useful conventional scooter or something you can carry in one hand, not 70 lbs of dead weight you have to find somewhere to park.

And really, at least San Francisco and New York, the major U.S. cities I've been to recently, have sidewalks which are congested enough that they can't handle any higher speed traffic. And I say this as someone who consistently tries to run to catch the ferry, it's just not possible to dodge and weave through that mass of pedestrians at any real speed.

Back on the topic of the Megway, I have met Meg, and I think she's been over her "Megway" fame for several years.

Re:Ever tried one?

[Anonymous Coward]

"it's just not possible to dodge and weave through that"

-> "it's just not possible to deinterlace that"

Oh, that was "bob and weave". Sorry, just forget it.

WOAH HO! Competition is getting FIERCE!

[xeeno]

With this new alternate out, I see the number of riders of these things doubling to maybe 6 people!

Congratulations. You are all...

[Anonymous Coward]

NEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS!!

/nerd

Re:First post? (RTFA???)

[laddhebert]

Did you bother to RTFA? :)

-L

what foot?

[boarder]

I'm on lite mode, you insensitive clod.

Seriously, I turned off those icons in my prefs, so I didn't see the python foot.

You can have sex with the Megway.

[Anonymous Coward]

Nuff said.

again, that is a bogus solution

[Anonymous Coward]

That device you link to is terrible when going down hills, and even worse when going up.

With such a tall platform you need either active stabilization or a large wheelbase.

I think the Segway is stupid, but this thing is way stupider.

Re:again, that is a bogus solution

[Anonymous Coward]

This thing was a joke. That whole site is a humor site, not an engineering discussion site.

Re:bikes - cheaper - faster - reliable

[johnrpenner]

bikes will ALWAYS be cheaper, faster, and more reliable than a segway.

some day they're going to build whole village based around those things (bikes!)

best regards,
john
toronto commuter - winter and summer - three years.

I hope it works

[Paulrothrock]

I hope it works better under load than their server!

I think Meg is cute...

[irishkev]

I'd ride her any day. ;) This is her blog, by the way: http://www.megnut.com/

Very lame counter

[SuperKendall]

One of two pages he links to says this:

Despite being able to build my own, I'm still impressed with the Segway(TM) and with the courage it takes to bring such a product to market. Like with cars, it's pretty easy to put together a motor and wheels and make it go. But building a safe, comfortable vehicle requires a huge amount of R&D, and it's very hard to be certain that such a thing is as safe as it can possibly be.

So even though this guy built a similar device he still thinks the Segway is a great invention, and as for the third wheel - brilliant if you live in Kansas - at least the flat part. On hills I would not want to ride that third-wheeled deathtrap.

I had a chance to ride a Segway around on a tour at Epcot, and I think if I could get one for under $2k I would buy one for commuting to work. I don't have time to get sweaty and shower that the bike ride takes, but the Segway ride would be pleasant and save wear and tear on my car (and the roads). The Segway is dead simple to use and really fun to ride.

gap between 1st and 3rd world is widening.

[master_p]

This is offtopic, but I just wanted to share an thought of mine: tonight I watched some documentary about the Dogon tribe. Then I logged on and read Slashdot, only to find out about new transportation device. What a great gap exists between the 1st and 3rd world!!! and this gap is widening each and every that passes...

Only useful in limited situations.

[Shivetya]

For those of us in the suburbs they have no real use.

They are fair weather short distance toys... A golf cart is similarly priced and more useful, and more useful to a wider range of people.

Why? I just don't get it

[Ba3r]

A very small, light hearted, utterly whimsical, and funny post is assaulted by some jackass who feels the need to say something utterly pathetic in pure caps. Its like someone is yelling, and its totally stupid. I would like to apologize the the original post, and humanity on behalf of the idiot who posted as parent. If ever there was a time to delete a post...

Same here

[aepervius]

My Bicycle costed me 350$. I have 10 miles forth and back to do every day to go to work. I do that at about 11-12 miles (*) per hour. Granted I do have only 1 step hill, but this means :
1) I do get exercise
2) It did not cost me much
3) I spare so much money I can go more often in holidays (in EU we pay 400% your "pump" price due to governement taxes)
4) I pay less in insurance and maintenance especially since I can prove I am doing "physical exercize"

Not a bad investment, hmm ? I recommend bicycle to everybody which has less than 15 miles to work... Especially in town environement where it is difficult to park.
(*)I took 1 miles = 1.6 km as a quick on the thumb conversion

Re:Same here

[AmericanInKiev]

I think I have about 10 miles to work and it seems to take me considerably less with the power assist 35 - 45 min - the hill would be less daunting, and I can choose how flushed I am when I get to work.

The Electric means converting to humand powered commut is available to a broader class of commuters. It includes those with lower fitness, longer commutes, and those who want to enjoy getting to work at a leisurely pace - rather than the greg lemonds amung us with showers waiting for them at work.

Also if you amortize the cost of the bike, give your time some value - even with the price of electricity - I suggest it is the cheapest ride to work (absent a subway) for many people - plus, you can take the bike on a bus or train.

This means you don't have to design the town around mass transit - the eBike gives the nodes of mass transit much larger coverage.

AIK

AIK

AIK

Re:Same here

[bleckywelcky]

This only works in areas that don't experience a harsh winter. I commute about 16 to 18 mile to school, taking about 30 to 40 minutes by car. But I imagine in the winter if I tried to bike to school, it would take me a good 2 or 3 hours. Up to 6 hours of my day spent commuting back and forth to school is not acceptable.

Having said that, I think 10 miles in areas with mild winters is a max for human-powered since the commute will be about 1 hour. While with human-power, motor-assisted commute this could expand to 15 miles and take 45 minutes or so. If you spend more than 1 hour on your commute each way you have to start looking at whether your time is being wasted. If you work 10 hours a day and sleep 8 hours a day, you only have 6 hours of free time left each day. Take the 2 hour commute out and you're down to 4 hours. Take any more out for your commute and your free time starts dwindling down to nothing.

Re:First post? (RTFA???)

[AmericanInKiev]

Pretty Sure noone read the article - it was slashdotted during the preview period I reckon

I think...

[The Fanta Menace]

...that I'll stick with LegWay, thanks.

Already competition for the segway

[Quebst]

They're called legs. Work real well. For long distances an upgrade to car is needed. Before using legs(invented by Al Gore) please pay SCO as they created the foot, which was stolen from them and released as part of another package as legs. The justice department is currently investigating if legs are a monopoly for moving small distances, so use them while you can.

Re:Already competition for the segway

[ydrol]

Check out Maddox's Segway Improvement

THey would have been better off calling it

[Anonymous Coward]

Schmegway, as in Segway,...

Megway is to Segway...

[Trejkaz]

as Lindows is to Windows.

And didn't Microsoft make Lindows change their name? Couldn't Segway make Megway change its name?

Ridiculous

[beforewisdom]

We live in a world of dwindlig fossil fuels, energy wars and an imminent health care crisis in the first world due to obesity as well as its complications.

The existence of these personal mobility devices is assinine.

Stop eating. Take a walk. Burn a few calories.

Steve

Re:Ridiculous

[uspsguy]

About that wasting fossil fuels: why don't you turn off your computer, quit using fossil-fuel produced electricity, and take a hike?

Re:First post? (RTFA???)

[laddhebert]

I managed to get through to the video. It was kinda funny...actually, it is just silly.

-L

Re:bikes - cheaper - faster - reliable

[SoupIsGoodFood_42]

some day they're going to build whole village based around those things (bikes!)

Like China? ;)

HAHA

[Anonymous Coward]

YOU FAIL IT

note to all about slashdotting...

[the-build-chicken]

there seems to be a lot of concern that this site went down so quick, and that the submitter should have tested it first. For those that do want to 'test' the load of a site, I suggest jmeter from apache...http://jakarta.apache.org/jmeter/...maybe submitters could give the site a quick hit and see how it handles increasing load. If you see the serve times increasing exponentially as you up the load...maybe a good time to set up a mirror in anticipation

OT I know

This is OLD! Mine is better

[ashitaka]

Around about when this old joke came out I had a more realistic version. I would carry my daughter piggy-back style with her standing on my hands with her hands on my shoulder. The manouvers we could do were much closer to what you see in the segway ads. (spinning around on the spot, turn around, go backwards, turn around and go forward again.) Unfortunately a video was never made as my wife found the whole thing ridiculous.

Naturally the name for this mode of transporation came from my name as well; the Gregway.

To give you an idea of how old the Megway is, we have moved twice since then and my daughter is now MUCH too big to do a standing-up piggy back ride.

Re:bikes - cheaper - faster - reliable

[Warshadow]

some day they're going to build whole village based around those things (bikes!)


Perhaps you're referring to it, but there actually is a town in Italy that does not allow any internal combustion engines. Everyone uses feet, bikes or skateboards. Well I heard of this town a number of year ago in a Warren Miller film, so who knows what has changed since then.

Who got duped?

[Anonymous Coward]

You only think it's not funny because you put down $5k for a Segway Human Transporter.

Winter/Summer Bike Commute Times are Equal

[shking]

I bike commute year round and the trip time is roughly the same, winter or summer (about 1/2 hour in my case). Winter is only slower when there is heavy snow

Some things to consider if you ride in winter:

1. Ride a cheap bike and keep it clean. Salt and sand are very hard on the drive train
2. Dress for wind, not for warmth. You will be generating plenty of heat after 5 minutes of riding, but frostbite is not pretty, nor is it pleasant. A rule of thumb is that you should feel slightly chilled when you start out.
3. Index shifters often stop working when the temperature drops below -10C to -15C (14F to 5F) This is due to the close tolerances needed to fit all those gears in a small space. Ride a cheap bike that has 7 or fewer gears on the rear deraileur and you'll be able to shift gears when it gets really cold
4. Riding in VERY cold weather is usually safer and much more comfortable than riding when it's near freezing (0C/32F). This is because you won't get wet and the streets are covered with hard packed snow (not hidden patches of ice)

BTW - What do you mean by "hash winter weather"? -20C (-4F) is quite comfortable if you are properly dressed

Diary of the first segway owner

[gad_zuki!]

If you liked this you might like my Diary of the First Segway Owner. Yes, its satire. Hopefully, this time people won't start emailing me about my non-existant segway.

Re:First post? - LAST POST

[thejuggler]

Where do you get your scientific facts - the back of a cereal box? You only provide unproven claims to support your elitist attitude and position. I can provide you with facts and data that prove your wrong, but people like you never care about the truth. You only care about what makes you feel good.

Re:First post? - LAST POST

[AmericanInKiev]

81 percent of doctors believe smog is a contributing cause of lung cancer

Click

As for drunk bicyclists - I suggest they don't hurt anyone other than themselves

AIK

segway

[johndjmix]

Have any of you ever ride a segway? Ride one, then rant about it. Just about everyone that thought it was stupid that has rode mine has changed their mind. Don't knock it until you try it. Also, whats that about gov not using them??? A bunch of malls and Airports have just recently (within the last 30 days) purchased units for use by security. I love my segway, and yes, I still walk....but for those expensive NYC taxi rides 25 blocks...my segway replaces the expensive and sometimes hard to get taxis! Check out www.segchat.com and click on news. --John