Great time scootering hither and yon

I had a great time over the weekend exploring the utility of my Mibo folding scooter (pictured left).

I had to 'go into town' to attend a conference so I staid with the offspring who live 20 minutes from a suburban railway station. So each day tooing and froing I rode the Mibo to and from public transport. 

I use a double bag method to bag my scooter when I have to on some transits, but when I don't need the packaging the scooter will sit freely against me in a train carriage. 

In and out of traffic and pedestrians in built-up inner city areas, the Mibo rules the footpath and roadside kerb.It's a breeze to ride and manoeuvre with no danger of being upended by sudden cement edges or asphalt rises or gravelling because:

• pneumatic tyres
• 12 inch wheels
• handlebar control
• kickboard height

Each morning when I left the offspring's abode, I'd give a few kicks and roll down the slope to the broad valley below. Effortless.

So a journey that took over 20 minutes on foot was scooted in 7 or 8. 

The Mibo is heavier than I'd prefer (it was a product for a time of the  Czech 'Iron' --rather than 'Alloy' -- Curtain afterall) but so long as I'm not forced to carry it long distances I can handle the weight -- about 9 kgm. 

Porting up railway station  stairs works OK because of the double stem to the front as it offers a comfortable grip. Manoeuvring while carrying the scooter among a crowd of people  is not so easy as you often want to carry it folded and as 'vertical' as possible.  And since there is rough overhang, you need  to bag the scooter. 

But hey! I'm delighted!  I've had the Mibo Folding scooter for almost 5 years but now it really registers with my out and about needs.

While I've tried to find a better scooter for this role -- and one that is easier to obtain and lighter -- I have not been able to top it.

Here's a good review of the Mibo:

• Barak's Choice: A Mibo Gepard Kick Scooter

And my experiences with it are logged here.

With the tyres pumped up, kicking along a footpath which carries a bit of foot traffic is a delight. Think skateboarding -- but skateboarding with much more control over your weaving and the comfort of air filled pneumatics.  You have brakes too! When there's a traffic jam. You hop off and walk around it. Hop on. 

The joys of folding...a bicycle (with small wheels)

Don't get me wrong. I scoot. I am dedicated to push scooting and I own and ride two scooters.

• a Kickbike
• a Mibo Folding scooter 

..and I've been scooting for years. So I know my onions.

It's not that I'm anti-pedals  or chains or gears  but I reckon that in many instances there is a lot of overkill in bicycling culture  and over short distances in an urban environment, push scooters are tops.

If I had to commute 10 ks every day to get to work, I'd probably ride a single speed bicycle. If it was a mountainous route, I'd consider getting gears.

But if I was hoping to ride my route, in part, on a footpath -- I'd not get a large wheel bike at all. I'd definitely op for a smaller wheeled bicycle or scooter.

My Mibo has 12 inch wheels and it's a dream on a footpath. And since I've had small wheel bikes in the past -- I owned a Moulton once (20 inch wheels)  -- I think small wheels are a great way to travel.

The Moulton model I used to ride to work in early 1970's.
8 kms in a suit.

With an uncertain surface underneath that may require you to weave around a bit, and the challenge of pedestrians,  small wheels rule . With your legs  closer to the ground , quick dismount and remount is easy.

That you could fold such a bike or scooter adds to its versatility especially when using public transport or packing up the bike to go into a car boot.

So if you don't want to scoot as I do,  then consider getting a folding bicycle because folding bikes usually have small diameter wheels...and they fold.

So why are smaller wheeled bikes so good?

Why smaller bikes are better:

 - Bike has bigger wheel-distance (given a fixed length of the bike) and its ride is therefore more stable.- Accelerates faster (because the wheels have less momentum) and therefore also decelerates faster.

- Accelerates faster (because the wheels have less momentum) and therefore also decelerates faster.

 - The rack (and therefore the cargo) sits lower, making the bike and the ride more stable.

 - Small wheels are more robust (lower leverage of destructive forces hitting the spokes).

 - Hub dynamo turns faster, thereby generating power more efficiently. (A lower-weight dynamo can be used.)

 - Bike needs less space.

 - Most small wheelers can be folded, needing even less space. [Source]

Maybe the fold isn't essential but that's what you get nowadays when your wheels are small.

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Horses for Courses: Push Scooter Imaginings

If I was Czech I wouldn't have to say what I'm about to say, because if I was Czech we'd all be scooter literate and accept two wheel push scooter-ing as a kosher mode of transport.

No questions asked.

The Czech Republic is Scoot Central.

I don't know the ratio between scooters and pedal bicycles in that land  but the demographic -- and the cultural difference -- would warrant some comparison to our own bike frenziness.

Australians are buying bicycles like crazy  at a rate that outstrip car purchases -- 1.4 million bicycles were sold in 2010. -- but as Professor Chris Rissel ponts out:

The Australian population grew by 58% between 1986 and 2006 and the daily average number of bicycle trips grew by only 21%, representing a net decline in cycling.

The major single factor in this is probably mandatory helmet laws which may have reduced cycle use by a factor of 30-40% .

From my , albeit eccentric, POV, people often purchase bicycles for the various  reasons  and then don't use them as they had assumed they would. Bikes are often seen as recreational vehicles  without much utility function.

Indeed much of the retail cycle trade is generated among models for children.

But let's say I wanted to get out of my car  -- indeed become less car dependent overall in my day-to-day -- and cycle.

Since I don't drive, this is an easy one for me. It is also why I scoot.

Who scoot when you can pedal?

The Yedoo company -- Czech scooter manufacturers -- offers a short meditation on scooting that I think holds up quite well:

• All Parts of the Body are Involved Equally Scooter riding is a complex movement in which not only lower and upper limb muscles, but also abdominal and back muscles are involved. And since all parts of your body actively work when you ride a scooter, you can practice scooter riding even in cold weather conditions without the risk of becoming ill. 
•  A Remedy That Relieves Back and Joints Pain When riding a scooter you perfectly stretch and relax your back muscles. Scooter riding is recommended by physiotherapists as additional physiotherapy exercise as well as prevention of neck and hip bones pain. Moreover, it does not cause joints damage. 
•  Effective Weight Loss When riding on a scooter you burn up to 30% more energy that when cycling and easily shape the problematic parts of your body – thighs, buttocks, hips, belly and waist. Scooter riding is as energetically demanding as aerobic or fast running. Moreover, it’s fun! But don’t forget to change feet regularly.
• Perfect Mode of Urban Transport You can hardly find a better mode of transport in an overcrowded city full of various obstructions. You can ride shorter distances on your scooter faster than on a bike or on foot. You will reach your destination in a shorter period of time than if you go by the urban public transport sometimes. Due to the fact that a scooter has no pedals and due to its smaller size and lighter weight, it is easier to handle and more storable that a bicycle, for example. You can usually travel with your scooter by a tram, a bus or a metro without any problem. 
•  Perfectly Elegant There is no need to worry about losing any of your style or elegance when riding a scooter. In fact, it is quite the reverse, since the scooter may be considered a stylish accessory. Women and girls may ride their scooter wearing a dress or skirt, while male riders do not have to worry about tearing the trousers or creasing the suit.  
• Storable and Practical You can easily store your scooter into a trunk of a car or a lift, you may store it on the balcony, for example. You can transport your handbag, backpack or your shopping bag in the handlebar basket. Mums will definitely appreciate that they can fix the child seat on the handlebar and thus have their child under control when riding. Children will get a much better view and will thus enjoy the ride much more. 
•  Low Purchase Price and Easy Maintenance You can buy three scooters for the same price for which you buy a bicycle of the same quality. Moreover, since there are only few parts that might get broken, the maintenance of a scooter is quite easy. Generally, you will manage with a bike pump and pre-season service.
• Environmentally-Friendly and Economic Mode of Transport Scooter riding combines healthy lifestyle and a responsible attitude towards the environment. Scooters as a means of transport do not pollute the environment by exhaust fumes or noise. 
• Joy and Entertainment Scooter riding is, above all, great fun! Whether you are training on the scooter, relaxing, walking your dog, or using your scooter as a mode of transport to get to school or work, it will bring you joy and pleasure. Click here to read the stories of persons who have literally become addicted to scooter riding.

The above is via Google Translate but you are sure to get the drift.

I have arguments with my son about scooters and in his shift to a two wheel upgrade -- from a BMX --  he chose a pedal bicycle to get him to and from work. But I told him two things which are I-told-you-so things:

1. Scooters are a great fit for public transport especially folding scooters . They are easily portaged in and out of train carriages and up stairs. Their slim, no pedal outline, sits well among any nest of crowded commuters.
2. Scooters handle footpaths  qualitatively much better than bicycles.You have much more control over what you do especially with pedestrians, kids, prams and dogs sharing the pathway. In fact the only bike injuries I have sustained  in my life have been riding pedal bicycles on footpaths. From a saddle it's a long way to the ground. (I've been hit by cars but there have been no injuries to my person).

On  a scooter I'm an opportunistic rider. I use both road and footpath depending on the typography, surface and traffic conditions.  When riding on footpaths I'm often jumping on and off the scooter to negotiate around people and over bumps, gutters and tree roots at a speed just above jogging pace. 

This way I can move very quickly across an urban environment.

Two Wheels

In fast moving traffic a scooter is not so much at home as you can't keep up with the  flow, and jumping off and on isn't de riguer. But in light traffic, in congested traffic or in slow moving peak hour a scooter is a very responsive means to a destination.

Of course scooters don't possess a gearing ratio. There is no engineering on your side save gravity and two wheels. That means they won't climb so easily unless you invest extra energy to push the scooter up a hill. However, the smaller the  wheel diameter of the scooter, up to a sweet point,  the better your scooter will climb. There is a happy diameter  between 12  and 20 inches that will facilitate your uphill quest. Smaller or bigger and bad karma physics seem to intervene. 

My  Folding Mibo with 12 inch wheels climbs superbly. My Kickbike with a 26 inch diameter front wheel, lags  when pushed upward over steep contours.  But on the flat it out performs my Mibo. 

You'll note that the Yedoo folk mention scooter price in their check list.

 "You can buy three scooters for the same price for which you buy a bicycle of the same quality. "

That's an advantage not only for your transport budget but it also gives you the option to purchase more than one scooter and still shell out less dough than buying 'a' pedal bicycle.

I have two scooters because I use each of them differently. One folds. The other doesn't. One is a racer/trainer. The other is a nifty commute. One will carry heaps of shopping, the other travels best light. Only one will fit in a car boot (folded  I can carry it any where)....

I mention this because I'm thinking of getting another scooter  -- one for off road use. Where I live butts onto superb mountain biking country and I'm getting envious. What I have to work out is whether a scooter can handle the terrain I  am keen to tackle.

Would the Yedoo Mezeq? (pictured above).

Downhill it would work a treat, but in sand dunes, over saddlebacks and ridges, along  eroded gullies, over logging tracks...? I'm not so sure as uphill is gonna be a hard ask.

Of course the other problem is that the scooters I'm talking about -- other than the Kickbike -- are not available in Australia. You can get a Yedoo in New Zealand...but it  is too expensive to import one across The Ditch.  So you need to deal with the Czechs direct and language can be a problem...although Yedoo is English speaker friendly. Mibo ain't.

So I'm considering what's what....and for now I'm imagining.

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Bagged Bike

I last described my new bag system for the Mibo Scooter. Nothing special I suppose.

A bag for a bike.

But I worked out that I can so easily strap the bag -- when not in use -- to the Mibo's handlebars(see image at left).

For neatness I insert the bag into another bag -- a small plastic shopping bag.

During this week's foray into the big smoke I confirmed that bagging is indeed the way to go.

Again I had to negotiate a  couple of crowded trains with standing room only options. On one occasion I even bagged the scooter while in the carriage. The wide opening to the bag -- a single doona cover -- makes bagging an easy business.

I also removed the scooter's mud guards today. Since I seldom ride in the rain, never in mud and most often on concrete or bitumen -- I'm hoping I can transit without the extra weight of the guards and the way they stick out of a folded package.

The scooter with bag now weighs just over 9 kgm.

An Exchange

[the]... bottom line, which one of these two scooters do you really feel travels the fastest and or the furthest with the least amount of physical effort put into it?

The kickbike by a factor of....well there you go. The kickbike is gonna be  faster because it is more responsive to effort I think.But when you stop scooting the legs... I suspect that the momentum of gravity is gonna be further with the Mibo. Also with the Mibo there is much less crouching (crouching tiger stuff) and lift -- more like leg dips like oaring a boat.

As I said the focus of the exertion moves north -- from the thigh to the lower back . The fulcrum shifts upwards.

There is less dropping of the ass.

So IF I was journeying across -- whatisit? -- Florida?-- I'd seriously look at the road surface rather than the distance first. The street model kickbike sucks on gravel. The Mibo survives but won't go fast.

I also think the Mibo will CLIMB better than the kickbike BECAUSE of the smaller wheels.

Then after your first day on the Mibo you are going to be crippled by backproblems. True. The scoot technique is different from the kickbike. But you won't have that annoying experience that your get with the kickbike where you have to bob up and down without gaining that momentum edge. You seem to hit a wall. I've wondered about this and it surely has to be related to some sort of Zen or ergonomics. Some sort of body core issue.

But then, here at home, my preferred distance vehicle is the kickbike ...because I don't want the lower back issues.I know I'll roll OK but 'pain' won't set in as my whole body is engaged...and I'll get a more demanding workout.,..and simply, if push comes to shove, run out of puff.

SHORT ANSWER: kickbike...

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Mibo Portage comes wrapped

When I last discussed bagging the Mibo Folding scooter I was using an old nylon clothes bag.

The problem was that the bag was a tad small and since it was old, was already ripped and threadbare.

I looked around for replacement nylon but settled instead on a cheap doona cover I bought in an Op shop.  

$3.

Quality cotton. Sturdily sewn seams. Flashy colours.

Extra hardware: Light bungee cord to wrap around the package.

Voila!

Hand luggage for Mr Cool.

My last major outing 'into town' has convinced me that bagging is the way to go. I got on a train that was packed -- standing room only -- and if I hadn't folded and bagged the scooter I would have been a cause for much inconvenience and annoyance -- maybe even an injury -- in the carriage. As it was I could posed as a tourist and  stood the package upright and lent it against my standing frame. So I took up not much room at all as we all stood cheek to jowl.

The doona cover scrunches or folds up into a dense little  haberdashery fold when not in use -- which I can then backpack or lash to the handlebars. The wide mouth for the doona opening makes it easy to slip in the scooter and while the drapes are aplenty for now I'll see how much of all that extra I need for wrap around before I snip snip.

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The Mibo Folding Scooter: gets around, folded and bagged

It has been a while since I considered my dear little Mibo scooter. Not only is the thing small, but it folds in on itself, so it can be a condensed form of commuting hardware.

At 8 kgm it isn't especially light but that's  not the primary issue in way of cartage. Unfortunately, the Mibo isn't a balanced carry and after a distance discomfort can set in. 

This can be a complication if supporting the scooter when traveling on a bus or train or when climbing stairs.

Outside, out and about, the scooter is better riden rather than carried but when folded and 'ported' between scoots I find that it is preferable to bag the scooter rather than let it travel naked.

Although the fold in the scooter locks into place -- and a fiddly lock it is too -- bagging doesn't hold the scooter together so much as wraps  the scooters bits and pieces and protects  its travelling environment. 

When I fold I don't disconnect the handlebars as  I like to quickly assemble the scooter when I complete my bus or train journey. A minute   is all it takes  for me to get going again: a flip and a few flicks; a test to see if the stem is locked into place...and off we go. 

Bagging 'encloses' the  scooter so that it's easier to manage on public transport:

• to slip under the seat
• to stand upright leaning against the wall of the train or resting against myself (uncovered , the wheels will roll and the scooter will fall away to the floor).
• to rest on a seat
• to keep any grease or water on the scooter from getting on you or fellow passengers or furniture
• to prevent the scooter from unlocking, popping open and unfolding when you dont want that to happen at all.

I mention this preference of mine because it took me some time to work this out.

Local train regulations specify that folding bicycles can be carried on peak hour services so long as they are folded and bagged. This is a space issue, I'm sure -- as normal bicycles are discouraged from these transit times.  And bikes cannot be carried on buses at all. But then I bus my Mibo no problems.

However, while it may be debatable that the Mibo is a 'folding bicycle' -- as its surface area and weight is much smaller than  folded bikes -- that's not the main reason to bag. 

While bagging makes cartage so much easier, don't go thinking that you need some sort of heavy duty  luggage to carry  the scooter. A simple nylon bag open at one end will suffice so long as it is long enough to cover the scooter up to and over  the handle bars. Bags like that come (or are made) cheap and are easily scrunched up when not in use. That's one piece of nylon folded, and stitched along one side and the bottom.

Think about that: most bike bags are hefty back packs. You don't want that. It's only more gear you'd have to carry. 

I used to use a postal bag but really its weave  was too heavy and it took up too much room when not in use. But nylon -- of the sort they make cheap tents out of -- works fine...and you can tie the bag to the enclosed scooter by pulling some  cord around the bag.

And nylon blends are light,  and can  be scrunched up or wrapped up again and tied onto the  scooter in a neat little package, ready for the next fold.

This week   I scooted my Mibo across town in a trip that extended to 16 km. The Mibo flies sometimes when it's on a roll.  Since the bike path I primarily used for this was busy with other traffic it is an informative comparison    to contrast the Mibo Folding Scooter with other transit means. 

I was certainly faster than runners/joggers but slower than the cyclists. I out paced any walker significantly and did the return trip without respite. I do have the option to get off and walk especially up hills -- but that's par for any scoot out. The Mibo climbs quite well because of it has  smaller wheels than a kickbike. So it is easier to negotiate rises without having to break your cadence.
Also on a scooter like this, when travelling on a shared carriageway it is so very easy to jump off and walk around traffic obstructions -- like feral dogs and small children.
So despite what may have been the contour and the obstructions I was scooting at maybe over 12-15 km per hour. That's over twice  walking pace but less than a bicycle's average speed (ie: over 15 kph) and is an extension of jogging option (average: 8-10kph).I expended more energy, of course than if I had walked it and could have got there faster on a bicycle -- but then who packs up a bike and carries it around where ever?

 

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Comments on the Mibo Folding Scooter

These edited comments are from my  discussion contribution to  the Kickbiking eGroup. Topic: folding scooters.

As you suggest you need to get a folding scooter that fits your frame. That's lesson Number 1 But the Mibo Comfort Folding Scooter  cuts out at a certain height. That's where the (taller) Master appeals.

The Comfort is also a heavy for a small size scooter and if you can get lighter then go for it. (Ques: so do you go with mudguards? Depends if you ride in a suit.)

I'd really appreciate a scooter that is lighter by a few kilograms so that portage is easier up stairs and in and out of buses and trains and has a easier balance on the lift (as the kickbike does). But that presumes expensive alloy mixes.

The Mibo strictly speaking is a two fold scooter if you want it compact. Whereas I fold it once without also unlocking the handle bar stem. I like to quickly get going after portage. Consequently the folded pack the way I do it has these handle bar over hangs.The scooter also rusts a little in places as the steal mix isn't state of art stuff.So it is very much an 'Iron Curtain' steal build.

(I used to own a CZ motor bike so I know Czech industrialism -- heavy but good.).

But the design -- height , tracking, ergonomics -- is superb, and the scooter works extremely well in an urban setting.

In my view the marriage between owning a Kickbike and a 12 inch wheel folding scooter is the way to go as the kickbike doesn't pack so well. They roll equally as well by the way and I wouldn't trade either.

The Mibo is also a better pavement to street device than the kickbike which is more a roadster/cruiser.

You ride them a little differently too...You straight leg more often on the Mibo.

My feeling is that the Czechs know their scooter requirements (They are obsessed with scooters. It is a scooter nation.) -- and handle design issues very well....

I originally thought that I'd be using the Mibo for short trips to the shops and stuff, but I actually do a lot of distance on it: 15, 18 kms in a session is not unusual as I use it to cross suburbia when I'm 'in town'.

Next time I fly I'll be taking it interstate with me although it will have to travel in the luggage.

My first scooter was a home-build on BMX wheels and it was very heavy. Great glide, comfortable ride but its weight -- and BMXers weigh heaps -- was a complication. The weight doesn't matter for scooting travel  at all as once you start up momentum it is  on your side. But lifting by hand is where you notice the extra kilograms. Stairs especially -- when the scooter's advantage over a bicycle is that you can easily climb stairs portaging it. The kickbike is a one hand lift and so too is the Mibo Folding. Although the Mibo is more cumbersome at height as the running board and back wheel is a pull on your arm when you lift at the front stem and the back wheel end will swing left and right.

In contrast the Kickbike is a balanced lift. 

One drawback with the Mibo is that it is a youth magnet. The local homies are indifferent to the Kickbike but the Mibo generates envy. So with all due respect to youth, the Mibo is a a potential theft waiting to happen if you don't protect it. I mark mine with a lot of stickers and always lock it of course. The irony is that the adults relate to the kickbike and the skate bowl crowd warms to the Mibo...

Folded it is also too cumbersome to carry into stores, museums, cafes and such --  but technically I could assert my right to wheel it in because it is merely a pram sized thing without baby on board.

However, single-folded what hangs off may cause people to trip so the challenge is to rest the folded package upright. Unfolded, and when standing in an entrance way on a train (as we can here), other passengers see you standing there but don't always look below your waist and when walking through may not see the running board and rear wheel. So if the train is full, you need to fold for safety sake.

As I suggested, I bag my Mibo now in a post bag and that works OK but the extended handle bars hang out the bag. The bag that you can get with the Mibo requires you to dismantle the handle bar stem -- which I don't do when folding-- and it's a cheap, poorly made bag that I never use.

When not holding a scooter, the post bag scrunches up easily so I can insert it into my backpack. The custom bag won't do that so it isn't useful at all.

I also know that I can replace any part of the Mibo  from local generic stocks.

So them's the tips --off the top of my head.

Furthermore...

The main question about a folding scooter is why do you want to fold it? There has to be a lifestyle reason, right? A small scooter will fit in the boot of a car OK so for non transit use the fold isn't essential. It is also the case, as far as I am concerned, that the fold doesn't drastically alter the strength of the build but I suspect it does contribute (through reinforcement) to the weight.

But with folding and smaller size, you'd think that some trade offs are involved. My view is that the Mibo  Comfort is a scooter in its own right that negotiates the urban environment as though it were indigenous. The kick board is at a much better height than the Kickbike's for streetscape,  so that gutters, sharp rises , speed bumps, are easily negotiated. As Kickbikers know, the most annoying thing about the kickbike is that under carriage scrape.

Because of the smaller wheel the Mibo is easier to push up hill as the smaller wheel rotations are more frequent for less effort.. In contrast with the Kickbike you need to shorten your stride the steeper the ascent. As you do so your speed collapses so that by the time you crest a long steep ascent you may as well walk.

That said, and while  I do the distance on my Mibo, it is not so useful as a training or exercise device. The body engagement is less even, stilted in fact,  and even without customisation you are  haunched -- as an adult -- over the frame and your posture, your ergonomics, are not as fluid. I think the exercise and physio research on the Kickbike is pretty conclusive as to its efficacy. 

Nonetheless, it has been on the Comfort's Mibo close  cousin -- the Crazy -- that Czechs have logged massive distances -- for instance, across Australia coast to coast; Europe south to north, etc.

While you can get a little basket to go with the Mibo really there is no where to carry stuff on the scooter. It's too small. You need to back pack always. I wear a big basket on the front stem of my Kickbike and rely on it for shopping, and pick ups.

Nonetheless, in the Czech Republic they seem to prefer the small wheel scooters.

There must be a reason for that trend.

The Kickbike deals with the rule that the bigger the wheel the longer the vehicle by having one very small and one very big wheel. It's a design sweet build. An engineering niche. If both were large and the same size then the scooter would be very much longer and turning would suffer. When I built my original scooter from two cannibalized BMX bikes, the machine was much longer than a Kickbike because of requisites of the wheel diameter -- so it took up more space in train carriages and would not fit in a car boot.

Out and about suburbia on the Mibo Folding Scooter

Today's route

Since I am down in Brisbane for a couple of days I get to tour the streetscape by pushing my Mibo folding scooter across town. Today's route is a good example of the too-ing and fro-ing you can do on 12 inch wheels...for 15 kilometres or so.

On road. Off road. On the footpath. Along the bike path. In and out of traffic or pedestrians.

And I bought the scooter with me folded first on the bus to the train station then on the train from Caboolture. Yesterday I got off a few stops early to make a call so I scooted the rest of the way to my digs -- 5 km.

As it turns out a guy asked me if I had to bag the scooter to carry it on the bus.(I have not been asked to as it looks like a folded pram or hand luggage and I know no regulations requiring bagging outside of interstate air travel. )I do have a bag but it is cumbersome to use. Nonetheless, folded the scooter's appendages do inconveniently stick out sometimes. This got me thinking...

I have  a sturdy nylon post bag which would swallow up a scooter easily. I'd be like Santa Claus with this red kit. All I need do is throw a stretch cord around the package and Voila! No appendages.

Maybe if I grew a beard by Christmas....? I could make a case for scooter reindeer. Yo! Ho! Ho-ing!

This reminds me that  I should also replace the swing quick release fold lock on the frame with a larger device as the one supplied with the scooter is  a tad fiddly. Speed of lock or release always looks so darn coooool....for a hipster wannabe. Bus stop and train station cred are awesome attributes one aspires to possess. And the youth envy my Mibo. So I try to live up to their esteem.

Knee woe to go

After three weeks of crippling pain in my right knee I am beginning to get my life back. I pulled my medial whatever -- a bit on the inside of my knee joint -- while rolling around on the gym ball 'pushing the boundaries'. 

Huh! How ironic. Headline: exercise designed to relieve pain and stiffness while promoting flexibility and mobility has dire contrary consequences! 

There ain't much you can do without  the knee. It is an evolutionary weakness in the human -- bipedal, upright stance -- engineering. Sit, sleep, roll over, walk, stand....all knees up issues.

A fatal flaw...which you  recognise -- and very often indeed  -- once the knee is injured and you have such very often cause to bend it.

So I've been dragging my legs through the seawater -- straightened legs like oars on a galley -- as my form of DIY physiotherapy. The water is Autumn-weather clear so I can navigate a course between stingrays and trudge on like John Wayne -- walk like I've got timber in my crutch.

For those who may be considering the  knee injury lifestyle I also suggest that a Mibo Scooter  is an optional transit vehicle. Because you can 'row' your legs on a Mibo , rather than having to bend them as you need do on a kickbike -- I have found I can still get around scootering when walking the distance was just too painful. So I've been scootering to the water's edge, dismounting to then  wade in the water along the shore line using my legs like stilts. 

And today -- hallelujah ! -- I have gone forth. Taken up my pallet and walked...

...at least better than I have been walking before.

"Hello shoelaces! I will soon bendeth my knee to tie thee". 

Kickbiking: How to push scoot.

"

I don't want to review the footwork required to move the scooter forward. Go here for that.  What I want to do is explore the ways  and means of getting around town.

Standing on one leg 

When you first start to push scoot you won't be able to stand on one leg for very long while the other does its best to push you forward on the road or pavement. Begin with three kicks before you change legs. It's OK to count them. In time you won't need to count and before you know it you'll be standing on one leg while you execute  maybe 15 kicks with the other limb..and won't notice your one leggedness. One leg standing comes with practice and endurance creeps up on you.

Rolling

The main attribute of rolling along is to always ensure your tires are inflated to a firm pressure. It improves the ride's comfort, speed and ergonomics. A scooter with saggy tires is much harder to push.

Pushing/Kicking

How you kick will vary from scooter to scooter as your technique will vary with wheel size. The kickbike requires an all body crouch and rise like an attacking tiger, whereas on scooters with smaller wheels you tend to throw the leg forward while keeping it straight like an oar rowing a rowboat. The main thing to concentrate on is the brief contact the ball of your foot has with the ground and wear -- if an option -- appropriate footwear, like flat  sand shoes that don't have a raised heel. I use Dunlop Volleys if I have an apparel  choice. Traction with the road -- as in grip -- isn't a crucial element in scooting technique.  In fact, most of the weight bearing and pressure in the scoot will be carried by  your passive leg holding you up on the kick board.

Terrain Change

I find that it is always best to be terrain opportunistic when scooting about. There's no crime in getting out and walking if the hills are steep and  upstairs are an easy lift with most scooters. Anywhere I go I will use both the roads and the footpaths and swap from one to the other if I think my journey ill be better , safer and more convenient on  one rather than the other. When scooting a road always remember that you don't have gears to help you speed up  so that you cannot 'outrun' any circumstance by quickly accelerating. So you cannot easily change lanes in traffic.Scooters suit a mix of options rather than being sentenced only to the road. (Self evident rule #1: For ascents: shorten your kick. For descents:lengthen your kicks.)

Undercarriage Scrapes

Because scooters have such a low kickboard you will often be challenged by short sharp rises in front of you. Often this will be the transition from road to pavement at the gutter. If you are likely to scrape your kickboard bottom, quickly step off to travel over the obstacle -- maybe lift the scooter if necessary. On roads on which 'traffic calming' bumps have been installed, most times you'll find that these only extend to the road edge of gutters and that if you veer to the gutter you can use that surface to get around the bump without having to stop.

Hopping on and off

Hopping off the scooter on impulse is a habit you need to explore. Of course you can stop and hop off  but you'll soon learn that it is easier to maintain momentum by hopping off the scooter while it is still moving forward. As a brake this can work as an anchor -- but in normal practice hopping off and walking quickly with the scooter before hopping back on again is primary scooter travel technique. It is a standard when navigating around nervous pedestrians or when the surface turns to gravel. Starting the scooter by running alongside it rather than mounting from a standstill start will automatically become your ignition preference over time.

Doug:yeah that’s what I do ; you can’t ride in train stations but nobody says you can’t run ; I run in penn station nyc from stairway to ticket machine ; you can run like a gazelle along side the scootie ; the security cams will pick u up but all commuters run at one time or another ; had a cop pop out of his “employees only” door to stare at me but I was running not riding so he stopped in his trax ; I ignored him and worked the ticket machine ;

Walking the donkey.

The scooter is a light extremely portable vehicle which is so easy to move forward even when you aren't riding it. Walking along side your scooter is something you need to master because there is a bit of ergonomics involved. If your handlebars are too low, walking alongside will let you know  how much you need to adjust them because walking the donkey should be an easy confortable exercise.  Too low and you'll get back pain. With heavy shopping bags over the handlebars, the scooter can function as a trolly which can  be mounted for  descents. Just like a donkey...

Carrying stuff 

Scooters are going to vary in their centre of gravity and weight bearing capacity.They don't bear weight nor spread it along the frame like a bicycle. Nor do they usually suit the installation of a carrying setup at rear. You may be able to install a basket on the front handle bars or add a pannier platform for bags or a crate up front. So long as the baggage area doesn't get in the way of your scooting action all you need to do is beware of the shift in the scooter's balance when going down hill, turning or suddenly stopping. Generally, in everyday use, wearing a backpack on a scooter works fine as it locates the weight nicely balanced toward the centre of  the frame structure despite all your bobbing up and down.

Security

If you need to leave your scooter unattended you should lock it up. The heavy U locks that cyclists use don't suit scooter portage so a simple cable and padlock system may be preferable.  That's what I use. I always sticker up my scooters with bumper and other stickers so that they are easily identifiable and have less resale value -- therefore  have less theft appeal. Long cables can be weaved about the frame so that the locking mechanism secures both wheels as well if you want to protect them from being stolen. 

Carrying scooters

In a word: practice. To carry a scooter upstairs quickly and comfortably will require you to experiment with points on the frame where you can hold it. That's going to be a sweet spot on the front stem. Usually one hand on the frame and the other on the handlebars will get you up stairs. All you need do is execute the manoevre quickly and smoothly like the cool scooterer you are. It's an image quest that will mark your scooter cred.

Hand signals

"Look Mum, no hands!" and de rigueur hand signals are scooter imponderables. Risk a hand signal if you dare to weigh up the gain with the risk. Scooters are very much hands on -- always. Not only can you lose balance while signally your intention, but you also take away one of the very  few means that attach and secure you to the scooter. As for turning while signalling your turn...forget it!

Are scooters only for eccentrics? 


A few years back scooterin' was a rare activity other than the micro wheel/Razor activities of youth. Now that many more models are available with larger wheels on offer,  scooter culture is changing and expanding while recruiting new demographics. Scootering about will ensure you'll collect many looks, thumbs  up and comments. Nonetheless, you will be an exception among the rule of bicycles. Cyclist disdain  can be met with assertions that you like your transit raw and statements like "Gears and peddles are for whimps!" will serve to quickly raise your social credentials. There can be purity of Zen form in scootering:

I scoot therefore I am 

or a sweaty indulgence in maximum endurance and exertion. Suit yourself. The way of the scooterer is your  path to choose among the many roads and pavements that lie before you....

Folding Scooters for commuting

My daughter -- who like her da does not like to drive -- wants a means to get to work and was thinking of getting a bicycle.

Unless you live more than -- let's say -- 5 kilometres from your workplace and are especially keen to travel on the road for your commute it is well worth considering the advantages that a folding scooter offers... over a bicycle.

I, of course, scoot with a Mibo and I love it but I don't expect everyone is going to be so scooter keen that they are going to import their machine like I did from the Czech Republic.

However there is an option ...for locals : the Xootr.

The Xootr has a few advantages over the Mibo.

1. It's lighter -- the Xootr weighs 4-5 kgm whereas the Mibo is heavier at over 8 kgm.
2. It's made of a rich  and far more contemporary mix of alloys and aluminium with probably easier to use fold mechanisms.
3. The folded scooter is neater and more compact.
4. Its handlebar height is easily extended for different sized riders. 

Nonetheless I think the Xootr has one major drawback:wheel size. The Xootr has a wheel diameter of  7 inches -- 180 mm (which is double that of a micro wheeled Razor scooter) -- but much smaller than the Mibo which is 12 inch diameter ( 304 mm).  

My view is that wheel size does matter. If you are riding the footpaths or uneven road surfaces the smaller your wheel circumference, the more cumbersome and less safe your ride. The Mibo also boasts pneumatic high pressure inflated tires  which will handle many terrains and surfaces whereas the Xootr rolls on polyurethane wheels.

But if you knew your route to be a straightforward, smooth and an uncluttered surface -- then the smaller wheel machine will do just fine.

NYC Kick Scooters

The other advantage of the Xootr is that when you get to work or wherever, the folded package is so small you can take it inside with you and store it under a desk, in a locker or closet.

No need to lock up the beast outside in all weathers and so easy to carry home on public transport or port it in the boot of a car. 

So if you have specific regular journeys in mind -- and you want to keep your scooting below 5 kms -- consider the Xootr. It's only available online from the Australian importer which is a bugger so you don't so easily get to try before you buy.

I haven't riden a Xootr so I cannot make a definitive ruling on the machine. But for short commutes --as I say, under 5 km -- it's worth considering after you map out your likely route.

Elsewhere, the NYC Kick Scooters are keen Xootr-ers. And they seem such a cheery mobile lot.

There's also the cheaper Razor A5 Lux Adult Kick Scooter...

Mibo scootering 12 kilometres to the bus stop

Went out and about on the Mibo C(K)omfort Folding scooter after the recent handlebar refit.Calculation  suggests that I raked up 12.2 kilometres, from Sandgate railway station (where I got off with my scooter) to a bus stop on the Redcliffe Peninsular.

I dropped in on Kite Power en route and at the other end of my scootering, on Anzac Avenue, I caught a afternoon bus back home by simply folding the thing and boarding.

That I could notch up a good 12 kms despite pushing against a stiff north easterly wind (maybe 15 knots) suggests that you can do  a lot on a Mibo.

[But you cannot crouch into the wind for aerodynamic adaption...]

Sandgate was awash with cyclists in their fashion clobber. Many parked a la sucking cafe latte , so in my usual about town gear -- nothing sporty at all-- I seemed a tad out of cycling place. With my everyday 10 litre knapsack, shorts, cotton shirt and pair of Dunlop Volleys   I was not the fashion plate.

Not even hybridised.

Umbrella Sailing

But at KitePower I got to talking about sailing a paddleski with the Kayakite in mind and the ruling is that I best not bother going down that route. Given that where I live and paddle suffers prevailing onshore easterlies -- and offshore easterlies only in the Winter months -- me and a kite aint gonna get anywhere special.

Better, we concluded, to setlle on -- an umbrella for sailing. 

However, kite fishing....Now there's an option!

Raising the bar: on the Mibo Folding Scooter

Much as I love my Mibo Folding Scooter  my scooterin time with it has always been hampered by lower back pain after the first 1-2 kilometres of kicking.

The scooter height  is just a tad too short for my frame and I have had to bend at the pelvis in a sort of unnatural slouch in order to ride the thing. I've always thought that I could do with another inch rise on the handlebars.

So today I went to the bike shop; handed over $20 for a set of sweeping upwards handlebars. They fitted them on the spot, gratis...and now I no longer need to slouch either to scoot the scooter or walk along side it.

A new scoottering experience is being had. Comfort plus.

The main thing to consider when 'raising the bar' is to not effect the fold so I had to ensure that I could collapse the front stem onto the kickboard so that the fold still fitted in front of the back wheel.

That said  I have now had my  Mibo for 7 months and am better placed to report on its wherewithalls.

1. Sturdy rigid frame but since the alloy mix isn't quite 21st Century the scooter is heavier than it possibly could be.
2. This is primarily a pure steel machine so you need to watch out for rust points and treat them accordingly.
3. The gross design is intuitive...almost superb. The wheel size in sync with the kickboard height is ideal for street and pavement use so that mounting rises like gutters is easy and incident free. Undercarriage scrapes are rare.
4. The folding lock at the base of the front stem is cumbersome to secure in place and if I can find a better swing locking mechanism I will replace the original pro tem.
5. There's no 'handle' fulcrum to facilitate carrying -- no sweet spot to grab and carry the scooter , say, as you walk up stairs. Similarly , when folded the scooter is still a bit cumbersome although the folded 'package' is much lighter and more compact than that of most folding bicycles.

I have tended to throw the scooter unfolded into the boot of the car for cartage and fold it only when boarding public transport -- during peak times on trains and always on buses. The folded scooter will rest between my thighs if I'm seated but it can be a inconvenient shape if you are forced to stand and support the folded scooter against your body. This is because the wheels won't lock and when you rest the scooter, folded and upright on one wheel, unless there is something to prevent the wheel turning (eg:a wall, your shoe, etc) the scooter will roll away from you.

Ironically, because of its design attributes the Mibo is easier to push than my kickbike. Since I have arthritis, 'ease'  is synonymous with comfort especially now that I have resolved the lower back issue. The kickbike almost demands total body engagement in every kick while the Mibo can be advanced simply by throwing the leg forward and pulling it through.

The skate bowl type youth are all envious of my Mibo but treat the kickbike as an exotic eccentricity...

The Mibo makes me feel more the homie -- regardless of how low my pants don't  ride.

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Ride a Footbike, Push or Kick Scooter

The New York Kickscooter group published a piece back in 2007 which addressed the question: Why buy a footbike, push or kick scooter?

Why indeed...

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Footbike, Push or Kick Scooter

1. Simplicity: Fun and easy way of exercise and transportation.
2. Portability: Kick scooters can easily be folded and carried, while footbikes are light and easy to carry.
3. Ease of Use: You can hop off, walk or stop and browse shops any time you like.
4. Clean: No messy chains to grease your clothing. You can wear your working clothes without having to worry about stains or snags.
5. Low Maintenance: The absence of chains, derailleurs and fewer moving parts minimize the chances of disrepair.
6. Painless: No pedals to hurt your shins and no more saddle injuries.
7. Urban-friendly: Allowed on streets, sidewalks and footpaths.
8. Environmentally-friendly: Foot-powered and does not require gasoline.
9. Cheap Transportation Alternative: Avoid the rising cost of gas, because push scooters do not need a motor to run.
10. Pleasurable Commute: An easy ride on a Kickbike takes about 5 to 8 minutes per mile. On a Xootr you can also go fast and cover ground, because its wheels are three times as large as skate wheels.

Is there anything else that needs to be said? Is some updating required?

Since then the big wheel scooter -- the much faster 'kickbike' -- has taken footage and today fewer scooters fold. If you want small wheels my view is that the Xootr is the smallest you should  go for commute use; but really you won't experience  scooter touring on micro wheels.

The table published by Xootr (above) however may be a bit misleading as it compares the 200 mm/8 inch pneumatic  wheel  to other low kickboard vehicles.

Personally I'd not get on anything smaller than 12.5 inches and preferably with  pneumatic tires under me primarily because the terrain and surfaces you'll scoot can be unforgiving. If your mindset is skateboard you are going to miss the big picture.

The problem is that never region between really small wheels and  the really big ones, at least in the front. If you check out some of the videos I have shared here on kickbiking, you may get a feel for a very different scooter culture -- one that is not held hostage to a competitive athleticism akin to the Tour de France or the rather oppressive gillet and jersey  bike culture that seems to be descending across urban Australia.

Anyone can scoot.  Anyone should scoot at any time  if fancy takes them. No formalities of dress or style or 'fitness'  are required.

When you consider the Dutch Steprace or the way the Czech scooter culture is Slav pervasive, you need to consider the 10 good reasons to scoot on their own very tangible merits.

Me on the Mibo: a scootering update

I had the opportunity to kick the Mibo Folding Scooter 10 kilometres today. The good news is that I could have scooted a lot farther if I had set the time aside to go the distance. As it was we threw the Mibo into the car  -- backseat on the way there/car boot on the way back -- unfolded the handlebar column and scooted along Downfall Creek .

Contrary to the earlier  impression I gave   you don't need to disassemble the handlebar column to carry the scooter. You just pull the lever, tweak the knob, collapse the column and tighten it again if you want to lock the fold into place. We're talking a 1-2 minute task that improves with practice. I expect that I'll be folding the scooter in 30 seconds flat before long..

Since the bike path I used was undulating I was  impressed with the way the Mibo held the road and the amount of glide I could harness on the descents. Smaller wheels -- than a kickbike -- means I can climb easily and generate forward motion by shifting my weight above the footboard to move the scooter's centre of gravity back and forth. 

I did however suffer from a few lower back twinges during the first 4 kilometres . This is because I need to crouch to  ride and I'm not used to crouching. The stance is similar to riding a bicycle without full extension on the pedals. BMX riders would notice nothing untoward in the alignment. But after a long term desk sentence to the computer, I do.

But with more time spent Mibo-ing I expect no postural challenges at all.

My partner has lambasted the Mibo since its arrival -- insisting that the scooter appeared to be  too short for comfortable riding. Well today she mounted it for the first time and left me behind by a couple of kilometres while I walked the dogs. "Not bad," she said., "I loved riding it."

But I aint gonna share! Get your own Mibo, dear.

Of course, I'd love a scooter with a larger wheel or similar so that I had more handlebar height. The Mibo Master (which also folds) offers this by engineering a scooter with  larger front wheel  but you really only have to go down that route if you are taller than I, and I'm 5 feet 8 inches.(175 cm)

In the meantime, me and my Mibo are spending quality time toegther.

Folding the Mibo Comfort Scooter

The main reason why I was interested in the Mibo Comfort was that it folded. And fold it does into a much smaller item.

• You release the fold lock where the stem meets the kickboard and fold the scooter back on itself 
• You release the handle bar lock and disengage the handlebar and rod  from the stem. You then insert the handlebar rod into a  small scabbard at the rear of the footboard.

While the business of folding the scooter is straight forward and quick, inserting the handlebar into the scabbard  is confusing as it took a lot of fiddling  to get the shank to  sit firmly in the hole so I could lock it into place.

If I can carry the scooter comfortably without having to disassemble  the handlebar column -- that's what I'll be doing.

To carry the scooter I also needed to lock the folded step and kickboard together.

Lifted: around 9 kgm (a little more with the mudguards).

Source: Gizmania

It is an easy carry but not that you'd want to be carrying anything else. Simple to store. It would fit into the boot or the backseat of a car no sweat. In a train or bus: supported between your knees or stretched out on the floor. 

I also purchased a  bag with two handles to slip the scooter in for carrying.

.

Pushing the Mibo Folding Scooter around the block a few times : Review

Since I have had the opportunity to push the Mibo 'Comfort'  Folding scooter for about 5 kilometres around the neighborhood I can proceed with some more first impressions and observations.

Size

Obviously it is a small scooter but with 12.5 inch tires it isn't as small as the Razor style scooters with their micro wheels.

'Smaller' is , of course an advantage in regard to portability. Since the steering column is set it cannot be raised much higher than how you see it in the accompanying image. If you did the scoot would be weirdly pivoted, like  controlling a marionette and the fold could not be compacted within the body length.

So the smaller size compared to my kickbike means I have to push it differently.  I need to crouch a little, drop the elbows and lower the hips while bending the knees. This is perhaps closer to bicycling than kickbiking.

Since Ii'm not used to this position, after three kilometres I got a twinge in my lower back. But thats' because its' a new scooting position for me.

However --says he in retrospect -- the Germans sell a more expensive version of the Mibo *-- with a 16 inch front tire: Mibo Master Folding Folding scooter  -- which means, of course, you get an extra 3 inch/9 cm rise on the front stem and handlebars.

Mibo Master Folding Scooter with pneumatic tires (in red: comparative figures for Mibo Comfort)
The most robust and fastest-folding scooter on the market, up to 150 kg payload (100kgm)
Tires 16 "/ 12.5" (12.5")
Load max. 150kg (100kgm)
Handlebar height: max. 97cm, depending on the inclination (86cm)
Footboard Height: 7.5 cm ( 6.5 cm)
Ground clearance: 5.5 cm ( 4.5 cm)
Wheelbase: 96cm ( 88cm)
Length 130cm (118 cm)
Folded: 100cm x 48cm (103x43x13)
Weight 9.9 kg without fenders (9kg)
Price:€300 EUR without postage. I   landed mine on Australian soil with extras from 
Gizmania  for €241 EUR.

 Traction and Glide

The wheels are much broader than a kickbike's so they do  hug the road or pavement. Nonetheless, I cannot get as fast as I can on a kickbike nor can I get as many metres per kick. It takes more effort to travel a set distance I think but that may be because the experience is novel and I need to skill up.

After scooting for a few ks I wondered how the Czechs push these small style scooters thousands of kilometres across continents! Practice I guess. It is nonetheless a comfortable ride, much easier and more ergonomic than pushing a  Razor.

And safer!

Kick and cadence

Since the scooter has a smaller frame, if you are used to throwing your leg well forward to increase drive from your kicks -- or if you were over 6 feet tall -- then you may have problems developing and sustaining an easy cadence.  I find that if I adjust my pull back on the handlebars I can reach well forward with planting my foot on the ground/road and still  get plenty of thrust. To do that with each leg , however, I can lift them to just  below the handlebars without any discomfort. A taller person -- and I'm 5ft 8 inches -- would need to crouch more.[Mibo recommends that the cut off rider height is 5'9".]

Lift

It may be an odd judgement to make but what disappointed me most about the Mibo Folding scooter thus far was it's confused centre of gravity when I lift the scooter up. On the kickbike there's a handy sweet spot which makes portage up stairs an easy grab. With this scooter theres' no easy grip-- no accessible fulcrum .

So far I've found the best lift up and down stairs  is to carrying it with both hands on the handlebar grips.

Since the machine is designed for carrying or storing  while folded folded -- and can  be ordered with its own carry bag -- lifting the thing has to be seen as relative to the big transit picture.

UPDATE 25 Aug: I've since located a handy place to grip just above the MIBO banner on the frame where it divides  to form two struts. The one above carries the word 'KOMFORT' and the opening  between the two struts more or less is a comfortable carrying point.

Do I look silly?

Do I care? I know an 85 year old woman who pushes a Razor micro scooter around a retirement village**. I think scooters rule! You may not be in sync with the cafe latte road bike set in their gaudy  jerseys. But when you scoot around town,  you sure know that it's all your own work getting there.

Gearing ratios are for wimps!

But when you dwarf the machine like Rubeus Hagrid, and you ain't no teenager... heads are gonna turn. Are you up to it?

** PS: I think it's dangerous what she does because micro scooters will tip on the smallest bump or stone.

Next review: Folding the scooter