Segway Climbs to New England's Tallest Mountain Peak [with 6 sets of Batteries]

CNN ^ | August 28, 2003 | wire report

[prarie earth]

It took 6 sets of batteries and three drivers, but a Segway scooter made it to the top of New England's tallest peak.

The scooter climbed Mouut Washignton's auto road in about two and one half hours Wednesday.

The standup scooter, invented by Manchester's Dean Kamen and manufactured in Beford, was the first Segway to make it to the top of the 6,288 foot mountain in 7.6 miles.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Not by much. 12% average grade for that long, with sections at 18% (and the last few miles were dirt) is tough. If you stood up on the pedals your back tire would spin on the dirt, and if you sat too far back on the saddle the front wheel got very light. So you rode in a very unnatural hunched position. At the midway point there is a very slight stretch of about 6% grade. It looked flat, and several people I saw tried to coast to rest and fell over.

[Tamzee]

All the way up on a bicycle??? It would have taken me weeks to accomplish that LOL

My hat is off to you! :-)

[archy]

Wearing a bowtie while driving a Segway should be mandatory.

A beanie with propeller would seem to be a suitable substitute.

-archy-/-

[Tijeras_Slim]

I was young and stupid then. I'm old and lazy now.

[Tijeras_Slim]

It seemed like a good idea at the time.
I'm loads smarter now. :)

[archy]

So these are less energy efficient than, say, SUV's?

I'd say so, considering that a SUV was the probable accompanying vehicle carrying the spare charged batteries.

[blackdog]

I used to test and qualify designs for their product in the global market regarding EMI/RFI interference. I visited all their plants including the new one in Texas(Mexico North). What a great bunch of engineering guys and what a lousy bunch of procurement people. Most of their parts are captive sourced within Scott & Fetzer, but not all.

I must have taken Kirby's apart 5,000 times in my lifetime inside test facilities. We took them apart so many times and put em back together that when we were done, they did not want them back. I've got three different models spanning twenty five years. Fine machine in an era of disposable appliances.

I once flew my plane into Burke Lakefront to meet with them on some failure analysis I did on assembly line parts. I loved landing at that airport in Cleveland(rock-n-roll museum), you pass so close to the office buildings on final that you can see faces inside. Their headquaters is in the middle of a residential area in this 150 year old brick monster of a building. Old time quality, facility, methods, and sales. A good thing IMHO. A tough way to operate these days.

[Tamzee]

I was young and stupid then. I'm old and lazy now.

Nope, not gonna let you refuse credit for that one. Quite an accomplishment :-)

I bet I enjoyed the view more while DRIVING up, though LOL

[reagan_fanatic]

"Paging Les Nessman. Paging Les Nessman. Please pick-up the white courtesy phone.."

[prarie earth]

Gotta find a WKRP pic..

[ASA Vet]

Ok, you know the rules, you brought her up, you're required to post her photo.

[Oztrich Boy]

It took 6 sets of batteries and three drivers, but a Segway scooter made it to the top of New England's tallest peak.

OK. Add this to the list of Stupid Segway Tricks

[gura]

What were you spinning? If you were in a 34x28 or so at 60rpm, which is what, maybe 6mph, you'd still be almost twice as fast as the Segway. I'd love to come out and do the Mt. Washington HC sometime, just because I love stuff like that. :-)

[Tijeras_Slim]

I was "turning" a 42x28 (42 was the smallest ring for Campy Nuovo Record, and you could get the rear derailleur to handle a 28 with some fiddling). It actually took me about 2 hours, because keeping a proper cadence was tough and some bad spots required "switchbacking" back and forth across the road. It was 75 degrees and beautiful at the bottom and 50 degrees, 25 mph wind and 10 foot visibility near the top. I didn't know I'd finished until two guys came out of the fog and lifted me off my bike.