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Update gents:
My Razor A5 Air scooter arrived yesterday. I set it up, tightened all the bolts, aired up the tires, and went for a ride. I've never ridden a kick scooter in my life so I just did laps of my quiet country road, I did 6 miles total yesterday.
Today, having gained a modicum of skill at doing the foot shuffle to switch kicking feet, I set off on a right proper adventure. I kick scooted to a local beach, to a little waterfront park, into town, and back. Total trip: 11 miles. Lots of hills, but nothing too steep, I never had to get off and push except for one small section in town.
Was it good exercise? - I think so, I sweat a whole lot more than when I ride my bicycle. There's also something very enjoyable about cruising down the hills at a sedate 8 to 11mph.
Was it fun? - I would say it was a fantastic time. It's a wholly different movement than bicycling. It's tapping into the same thing that makes Stand Up Paddle Boarding so much fun. You're standing tall, erect, cruising down the hills, and it's just a really good time in the sun.
Verdict on the scooter itself? - It's a $120 Chinese made scooter. The handlebar tube wiggles around in the base-tube. The rear metal fender/stomp brake rattles something fierce. And forget about ever doing a tube swap or patch to fix a puncture. To patch or swap a tube you have to remove two bolts to get the wheel off, remove 4 more bolts to split the hub in two pieces, and there are spacers and skateboard bearings and all sorts of stuff to worry about. It's the kind of thing that isn't too hard to do in a controlled environment at home, but it would be a nightmare on the side of the road.
Did people give me bemused looks? - Absolutely. But not as many as you'd think. I think there were only 4 or so people that gave me a weird sideways glance.
Verdict? - I'm surprised more adults don't ride these things. It's a good workout, it's fun, and it's cheap.
