SEGWAY

Back in December of 2001 while on the treadmill at the YMCA I glanced up to see the TV tuned to Good Morning America. All week long Diane Sawyer and friends had been hyping inventor Dean Kamen’s newest creation. Heralded as the invention that would change the world as we know it, I was breathless with anticipation. Yes, breathless – I was at mile four by then.

A drape was dramatically swept away revealing the Segway to the world. It looked like… like what? Like a pogo stick with wheels. "This is the world's first self-balancing human transporter," Kamen said. "You stand on this Segway Human Transporter and you think forward and then you go forward. If you think backward, you go backward." At the heart of Mr. Kamen’s wonder wheels are five micro-machined gyroscopes and two accelerometers that monitor the rider's center of gravity more than 100 times a second, and then signal both the direction and the speed to the device's electric motor and wheels.

By the time Diane was zipping around the studio I wanted one. I was smitten. Maybe I was just tired, I had finished six miles by then.

The first time I saw a Segway up close and person was during a 5K race early last year. A pair of medics zoomed up and down the race course looking for the under trained and under hydrated. Zipping around on the Segway looked so cool, once you could get past the required helmet dork factor. But wait, was it really cool or did I just want to stop running?

Last week while stuck in traffic on Mockingbird Lane I glanced to my right and saw a Segway store nestled in a strip across from SMU. I had to check it out. “Segway is gaining momentum in Dallas,” said Wayne Hager, Segway sales associate without a trace of an intended pun. “One of the exciting things going on in Dallas is its urban lifestyle.” He went on to say that Segway owners are individuals of a wide age range who purchase a Segway for serious use or novelty. The Texas Transportation Code classifies the Segway as an ‘electric personal assistive mobility device’ and states that it is street legal for any residential street roadway or public highway with a speed limit of 30 mph or less. You don’t need insurance or a license to drive and the only maintenance is to keep the tires inflated and the battery charged. One charge will keep you going for about 24 miles.

There are two models to choose from – the x2 and the i2. The x2 is the off road model you can see in action on Youtube being used to herd sheep. And the i2 is the urban commuter version, the model of choice when dragging a co-worker sitting in a desk chair around the office, again, courtesy of Youtube. Accessories abound – headlights, taillights, cargo cases and a trailer hitch compatible hauler – this is Texas after all.

After giving me the basics Wayne asked me if I was ready for a test drive. He didn’t have to ask twice. His main piece of advice was “Don’t over think this. The Segway does that for you.” I hopped on as Wayne stood in front of me like an excited parent ready to catch their tripping toddler. The carpeted showroom awaited me. I was off like a shot; well, as fast as you can go on the ‘turtle’ setting where your max speed is 6mph. Getting started was easy, stopping…well…not so much. After nearly taking out a stack of boxes I figured out my operator error. I had been over thinking, moving my ankles back and forth like I was skiing instead of just standing up straight, tipping back and forth to go. That problem out of the way I was a Segway pro. Within minutes I was doing my best Titanic impression, flying forward, arms spread wide, yelling “I’m the king of the world!”

It was new, it was fun, and I had a blast. With a top speed of 12 mph I can certainly break any personal best race times. But even though the thrill of riding on one got my heart pumping, I don’t think getting a Segway will get my heart rate where it needs to be like the treadmill does. So I’ll be back at the Y tomorrow morning watching Diane for the next big thing.