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Aug. 25th, 2015 01:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elizillaMy new scooter arrived yesterday and we assembled it. It is now charged up and I took it for a lunch time test ride.
It works really well! With the big flat deck for my feet, I can put my feet on the deck in either order. If I put my good foot up first, I can push that foot down to brace myself and get the weak foot up, fairly easily. I can also not use power and not put my feet up at all, and just scuffle along at a walking pace. No pedals to bark my shins. Seat a comfortable height whether I choose to have my feet on the ground, or on the deck.
There was even time to do a little farkling. We cut a piece of PVC tubing and used cable ties to attach it to the frame. I can put my cane in this tube to carry it, and it doesn't stick out too far or interfere with anything. I didn't even have to collapse it!
The brake is pretty sad. It's a drum brake, rear wheel only, and it hardly stops me at all. I'm not planning to go very fast, though, so it probably won't matter much. I suppose I could modify it to put a real brake on the front wheel, if it turns out to matter.
I wonder if they'll let me ride it indoors at, say, IKEA. Or will they tell me it's not an official ADA item and therefore not allowed? It's kinda big and awkward for loading into the car, so I may never test them on this. It's going to be great for getting me around my city neighborhood, and that's what I really wanted it for. Maybe I'll get a lighter, unpowered version, to carry around in the car and use in big box stores.
The documentation says the battery is good for 40 minutes of continuous use. I'm thinking that my use will be more like a series of short bursts, and it should be good for hours of that. And since it also works without power, to just scuffle along at a walk, and it's not like I'm planning to take it miles away, it won't be a crisis if it runs down while I am out. But I hope it won't.
I am pleased with it so far.
It works really well! With the big flat deck for my feet, I can put my feet on the deck in either order. If I put my good foot up first, I can push that foot down to brace myself and get the weak foot up, fairly easily. I can also not use power and not put my feet up at all, and just scuffle along at a walking pace. No pedals to bark my shins. Seat a comfortable height whether I choose to have my feet on the ground, or on the deck.
There was even time to do a little farkling. We cut a piece of PVC tubing and used cable ties to attach it to the frame. I can put my cane in this tube to carry it, and it doesn't stick out too far or interfere with anything. I didn't even have to collapse it!
The brake is pretty sad. It's a drum brake, rear wheel only, and it hardly stops me at all. I'm not planning to go very fast, though, so it probably won't matter much. I suppose I could modify it to put a real brake on the front wheel, if it turns out to matter.
I wonder if they'll let me ride it indoors at, say, IKEA. Or will they tell me it's not an official ADA item and therefore not allowed? It's kinda big and awkward for loading into the car, so I may never test them on this. It's going to be great for getting me around my city neighborhood, and that's what I really wanted it for. Maybe I'll get a lighter, unpowered version, to carry around in the car and use in big box stores.
The documentation says the battery is good for 40 minutes of continuous use. I'm thinking that my use will be more like a series of short bursts, and it should be good for hours of that. And since it also works without power, to just scuffle along at a walk, and it's not like I'm planning to take it miles away, it won't be a crisis if it runs down while I am out. But I hope it won't.
I am pleased with it so far.
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no subject
Date: 2015-08-25 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-08-26 02:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-08-29 03:22 pm (UTC)Maybe yes, maybe no... Most DC motors are more efficient once they're up to running speed, and the current surge from constant starts & stops will tap the batteries faster, sometimes a LOT faster... You'll only know by experimentation.
Don't shoot the messenger,
-R
no subject
Date: 2015-08-29 09:35 pm (UTC)One advantage of living in this area where the storm sewers provide so much drama, is that whatever method I use the get around, the homeward leg is downhill. If it dies out there I can coast back to the barn.