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Crossing America on a Segway
Harald Paulsen writes "What do you do if you are tired of working in a cubicle and want to escape the Office Space? Two guys asked themselves this and decided to go across America on a Segway, making a documentary of their road trip. A trailer is available and the movie might show up at Sundance."
People have been doing this on bicycles for years.
Wait... TWO guys on a Segway?
Well, that'll get this documentary an NC-17 rating if anything will.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
The idea reminds me of The Straight Story, which was a really charming, honest, pensive film.
When I was taking my parents up into the Rockies in September (they were out for a visit and dad had never been), we were at a pull-off on the road up to Mt. Evans when we saw these guys. They told us they were mostly done with the filming, but had come back to Colorado to get a little more material they needed for part of it. One guy with a camera and a big van was filming another guy on a Segway. They'd chosen some particularly beautiful scenery as a backdrop, which I imagine was the point. Anyway, I guess my point was that the format for their filming was Segway + Big Van, not 2 Guys + 1 Segway.
Yeah, he's such a PR genius that now everyone has a Segway. The old folks next door. The kids on the way to little league. There's so many out there you can't look out the window without someone riding by on a Segway.
I hear that some people still travel down old Route 66 on occasion...
And a mighty fine road it is too. However, old Route 66 varies from state to state. In some parts, partly due to the way the dice fell, and to the later efforts of preservationists, you can drive on the narrow old-style red slab road. Other parts of Route 66 have been literally paved over with an Interstate.
Long stretches of Interstate have a parallel access road, and in places that's old Route 66 itself.
Regardless, it's certainly possible to cross the USA on non-Interstate roads. I've come pretty close 3 times; but we weren't thorough enough to avoid Interstates when it would have been inconvenient.
More problematic would be finding a route with frequent enough battery charging opportunities.
i think you mean http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/, which is about the cross-country trek.
My generation's defining film - two guys do a big cocaine deal, drop out of society, take drugs and have sex with beautiful women while crossing America on outrageous Harley choppers (Easy Rider)....your generation, two dorks on Segways...
There is no God, and Dirac is his prophet.
Before I would consider buying a Segway, I would wanted it modded in some ways. First, I would need a seat. Wait, maybe 2 - no, four - seats so that I can bring some friends along. Of course, that would affect the stability, so I would probably have to add another set of wheels. And with all that extra weight, I doubt the electric motor could provide the necessary juice, so some sort of gasoline engine might be appropriate. Then to keep the weather out, maybe some metal sheilding on the top and sides, with glass windows to see out of. Oh, and of course a radio.
Dark Reflection
If anyone has taken a kid to Disney World, you know that you do a LOT of walking. My feet hurt more after my time on the Segway than they did chasing a 5-year old around Magic Kingdom all day.
So while this may seem "lazy" and easier than walking or riding a bike, I can't exactly imagine a less comfortable way for an able-bodied person to travel a long distance. That said, I'd still love to get one.
-S
--- What parts of "shall make no law", "shall not be infringed", and "shall not be violated" don't you understand?
Hello there, I am the one who added my comment to Mr. "Really Lame" http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=173406&cid=144 27883. Like I said in my previous comment, I am glad to see everyone hot & bothered about our little movie. I worked as an assistant editor (among other things) on the film in question. Being involved with this project was truly a great experience. And I would be happy to answer anyone's questions on it. Of course, I was not there for the expedition. Perhaps Josh & Hunter, the filmmakers, will better able to answer some of the specifics, but I can help you out a bit too.
Some intial responses to the questions I see on here...
-Batteries -- They carried several with them. And changed them out as necessary. I don't remember if they charged the batteries when they stopped for the night, or if they had some method of charging on the road.
-Trailer -- yes, actually it does come in handy when you have to lug lots of extra batteries around. (And we're obviously not talking about the common AA variety.)
-Dean Kamen, was not involved in any way in this project. Though they did meet him at the end of their trip.
-Two guys on a Segway -- not exactly. One man (Josh Caldwell) on a Segway made the entire journey, although others in the crew rode occassionally too, when they were stopped, or alongside Josh. I can assure you that there was no funny business on the device itself.
-How long he had to stand -- well I am not sure how long Josh rode every day, but the journey was 100 days long, plus a little added couple days at the end to meet Segway & Dean Kamen.
-how they travelled on a single charge -- as already mentioned they had several spare batteries with them.
-did they film & drive, film & drive -- as someone who personally sifted through an unbelievable amount of footage, I can personally attest to the fact that they entire trek was on Segway.
-Sundance -- Sundance lists some of their selections before they even accept submissions! Others are listed later. And I believe some films are sometimes accepted later.
-10mph the whole way? -- Not sure, the max speed is 12.5 mph, but I think they averaged 10mph. I can ask. I know they rode by one of those speed detectors that tell you how fast you are going, and it read 10mph.
-Saw the trailer a year ago. -- Don't think you saw this specific one as I am almost positive it was made last summer. Maybe you saw an early teaser? Why has it been a year and you still haven't seen the movie? The movie itself wasn't finished till last summer. They have been submitting it to various film festivals. When you are doing things independently, it can take a lot of time and hard work to get your movie out there -- it even takes Hollywood sometimes more than a year, cut them some slack, huh?
Well, I think that's enough answers for now, let me know if you want more!