--- In kickbiking@yahoogroups.com, "danconia57" <danconia57@...> wrote:
>
> I just read a great account of a 72 mile footbike ride that took place last
Friday. Bob Schutz, a 67-year-old fitness trainer, has been into off-road and
road footbiking (including dogscootering) for a while, as well as mountain
biking, mountain walking/hiking with ski poles, x-c skiing, rollerskiing, etc.
He decided he wanted to ride across the northern part of New Jersey on a
footbike and completed the ride in about 7 hours on 11/20 (encountering all
sorts of challenges on the way).
>
> Check out his footbiking web page at
http://www.schutzgymnastics.com/footbiking.htm (or maybe it's
http://schutzgymnastics.com/footbiking.html )
>
> To read his report of the 72 mile ride, scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Great story!
>
> John V. in NH

Neither of the above web addresses is correct! To get to the footbiking page, go
to http://www.schutzgymnastics.com/FOOTBIKING.htm

(the FOOTBIKING part of the URL is all capital letters)

I just read a great account of a 72 mile footbike ride that took place last
Friday. Bob Schutz, a 67-year-old fitness trainer, has been into off-road and
road footbiking (including dogscootering) for a while, as well as mountain
biking, mountain walking/hiking with ski poles, x-c skiing, rollerskiing, etc.
He decided he wanted to ride across the northern part of New Jersey on a
footbike and completed the ride in about 7 hours on 11/20 (encountering all
sorts of challenges on the way).

Check out his footbiking web page at
http://www.schutzgymnastics.com/footbiking.htm (or maybe it's
http://schutzgymnastics.com/footbiking.html )

To read his report of the 72 mile ride, scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Great story!

John V. in NH


P.S. Thanks to Jeff O. for letting me know about Bob Schutz's ride

P.P.S If you want to read an account of Dan Nielsen's world record crossing of
the U.S. that took place in November 2001 (he finished on 11/22/01), go to
http://tinyurl.com/5gwkhy

Probably compromised the foldiness; certainly less easy (although
still possible) to carry up stairs. But didn't cost a lot (the man
didn't have to take it up far enough to change the brake cables), and
now I can kick along without getting persistent lower back pain and a
sort of hunched feeling. Anybody know if it's possible to mod it for a
wider footboard? :-)

Regards, Ruth (...Beloved still tells me I haven't got the mechanical
aptitude or physical strength to do the foldy thing, and I don't quite
trust myself to unfold it and ride off in safety...)

Ive had my KB almost a year and wanted to share my observations. Some my own and
others derived from interpreting posts on this forum.
First off, at 225 pounds and 5" 11' my experience may differ from others. The
original stem was the first to go. I can see aero effects on downhills at speed,
but the straight out stem diminished the ergonomics of the kick as well as
visiblility and comfort (for me). As the original MR has a one inch threaded
headset, parts are easy to source cheap. I tried an adjustable and found my
preferred postion to be near max height. I found a fixed stem from a hybrid
mongoose that I later substituted to reproduce that height and reach.
Next, Skateboard shoes are the only way to go, I tried everything else. They
have a Vans outlet near me and I keep scoring clearance shoes for about $10 a
pair. I now have 5 pairs.
I found a carbon NOS time fork at a swap meet for $20 (originally $275) that
worked great. the KB has a very short stack height, so NOS forks in this size
are easy to find. Ride quuality is very enhanced. As the top of the tire is much
closer to the bottom of the fork now, the ride height is lowered about an inch,
and I had to source a short reach front brake. the kick stroke benefits from the
lower height, its awesome. Negatives are some bottoming out and I cant subtitute
my 38 c tire/wheel combo for boardwalk cruising. I  drop my 23 c tire to 50
pounds instead. Next I found a botranger front wheel tire comb via ebay for $75,
valued at $400 new. Smoooooooth. Threw on a carbon handlebar last night and
ignored the prohibition on bar ends, I won't give up my cane creak ergo bar ends
($40). Well thats it. I paid $100 used for my KB and $125 for upgrades valued at
$800! I may have the worlds fastest kickbike? Anyone try a footbike track or new
kickbike and have any comments on increased stiffnes or speed? The new front
wheel with 125 tire is the greatest improvement. Id like to go sealed bearing
hub in the rear but its too narrow to find one.

Beloved says I can't use it as a foldy because of lack of technical
knowhow/manly strength (he doesn't want me to get the quick-releases
cocked up and ride off on it when it's not safe). This doesn't bother
me too much as I can use it as a just-liftable/put-awayable thing.

What I want to know now is what's the limitation on raising the stem/
handlebars? If it's because it'll compromise the foldiness I'm not so
bothered, but will it actually be unsafe if I get the bike shop to
make it slightly taller? It's slightly too short for me to be able to
wheel it along comfortably, and actually kicking along gives me a
slight backache because I'm permanently bending over (which is the
main reason I'm still using the big kickbike most of the time).

Regards, Ruth

Well then, Ruth

If you find yourself  flailing away at keeping your momentum up,  try having a look at your brake pads to make sure they aren't rubbing on the wheels.  Give the wheels a spin; they should turn freely and not come to a stop after one or two revolutions.  The brakes pads should clear the rims by an equal amount on each side.  If this is not happening, take it in to the bike shop and have them adjust the brakes properly.   You can also have your tires pumped to 50-55 psi to increase glide times.

 While you're there, have them raise the handlebars as high as they can safely be raised.  They must not exceed the little reference line stamped on the stem.  I had the same back discomfort, as I am over 6 ft tall.  If you learn to stand up and straighten your riding leg before the next kick, you give your back a little rest between each kick.  Also allows you to look around and enjoy the view.    Just remember:  Stand first, bend the leg slightly to kick, then right back up straight for the next.  You can alternate this with two short kicks,  stand, then a bigger  kick, then stand  again.  You don't have to stay hunched over like Quasimodo  

--- In kickbiking@yahoogroups.com, Ruth Bygrave <rbygrave@...> wrote:
>
>
> On 29 Oct 2009, at 10:59, Jack wrote:
>
> > Hi Ruth
> > Congratulations on your new Mibo
> > How much did you have to pay for the scooter and transport?
> It ended up 274 euros (£244).
> > Did you get it direct from Mibo factory in Czech Repub? or via a
> > dealer?
> Dealer. After sending an e-mail asking questions about the Mibo to the
> Czechs and getting a friendly but uninformative response, I sent
> questions to the German dealer who carries them, who wrote clear
> detailed and excellent English in response, and told me the exact
> price of a Komfort including VAT and carriage to the UK, so I chose
> the German dealer, who also sent me the tracking details for it so I
> knew when it was going to arrive.
>
> > Hope it works well for you.
> It has so far, although it gives me slight back pain because it's so
> short compared to the kickbike. Not entirely sure whether to keep
> pushing at the Mibo to accustom myself, or whether to choose the
> kickbike for some trips and the Mibo for others.
>
> Comparative to the kickbike:
>
> -- I love the thick wheels/tyres, and suspect that I wouldn't ever be
> able to jam the front wheel into a paving stone crack (which I did
> once on the kickbike, although it involved a much wider than normal
> gap).
>
> -- the footboard's too narrow (haven't got the hang of the one-in-
> front-of-the-other foot configuration) although it's certainly usable.
> I find myself actually looking where I put my feet, but it's certainly
> possible it'll become natural to me in a while.
>
> -- it feels less like being on a bike, which makes it slower than the
> kickbike but easier for fitting in with pedestrians, and this means
> I'm usually kicking forward steadily on the flat, as opposed to kick-
> kick-kick-glide with the kickbike.
>
> -- can't seem to be able to stand on it the way I can on the kickbike,
> so it gives me mild back pain while using it (how high do the
> handlebars go on a Komfort, anyone?). This is the only reason why I'm
> seriously considering keeping the kickbike for everyday use. I'd
> consider taking it to the local bike shop to adjust the stem/
> handlebars, as I did on the kickbike but in the other direction,
> except that'll probably ruin the foldiness of it.
>
> -- is much more comfortable to kick uphill than the kickbike because
> of the whole overcoming-inertia-on-a-large-thing business;
>
> -- is much easier than the kickbike to lift even in its unfolded
> configuration, so I don't make detours to find drop curbs so often.
>
> Haven't figured out the folding and unfolding properly yet, and
> Boyfriend thinks I may find it beyond my poor wits or strength.
> Pointed out to him that I'm not expecting to do it often, but if I
> spend half an hour this weekend trying to master it, I may be able to
> fold it at need even if it takes me 5 minutes to do.
>
> > Jack
> Regards, Ruth
>

On 29 Oct 2009, at 10:59, Jack wrote:

> Hi Ruth
> Congratulations on your new Mibo
> How much did you have to pay for the scooter and transport?
It ended up 274 euros (£244).
> Did you get it direct from Mibo factory in Czech Repub?  or via a
> dealer?
Dealer. After sending an e-mail asking questions about the Mibo to the
Czechs and getting a friendly but uninformative response, I sent
questions to the German dealer who carries them, who wrote clear
detailed and excellent English in response, and told me the exact
price of a Komfort including VAT and carriage to the UK, so I chose
the German dealer, who also sent me the tracking details for it so I
knew when it was going to arrive.

> Hope it works well for you.
It has so far, although it gives me slight back pain because it's so
short compared to the kickbike. Not entirely sure whether to keep
pushing at the Mibo to accustom myself, or whether to choose the
kickbike for some trips and the Mibo for others.

Comparative to the kickbike:

-- I love the thick wheels/tyres, and suspect that I wouldn't ever be
able to jam the front wheel into a paving stone crack (which I did
once on the kickbike, although it involved a much wider than normal
gap).

-- the footboard's too narrow (haven't got the hang of the one-in-
front-of-the-other foot configuration) although it's certainly usable.
I find myself actually looking where I put my feet, but it's certainly
possible it'll become natural to me in a while.

-- it feels less like being on a bike, which makes it slower than the
kickbike but easier for fitting in with pedestrians, and this means
I'm usually kicking forward steadily on the flat, as opposed to kick-
kick-kick-glide with the kickbike.

-- can't seem to be able to stand on it the way I can on the kickbike,
so it gives me mild back pain while using it (how high do the
handlebars go on a Komfort, anyone?). This is the only reason why I'm
seriously considering keeping the kickbike for everyday use. I'd
consider taking it to the local bike shop to adjust the stem/
handlebars, as I did on the kickbike but in the other direction,
except that'll probably ruin the foldiness of it.

-- is much more comfortable to kick uphill than the kickbike because
of the whole overcoming-inertia-on-a-large-thing business;

-- is much easier than the kickbike to lift even in its unfolded
configuration, so I don't make detours to find drop curbs so often.

Haven't figured out the folding and unfolding properly yet, and
Boyfriend thinks I may find it beyond my poor wits or strength.
Pointed out to him that I'm not expecting to do it often, but if I
spend half an hour this weekend trying to master it, I may be able to
fold it at need even if it takes me 5 minutes to do.

> Jack
Regards, Ruth

Hi Ruth
Congratulations on your new Mibo
How much did you have to pay for the scooter and transport?
Did you get it direct from Mibo factory in Czech Repub?  or via a dealer?
Hope it works well for you.
Jack

--- In kickbiking@yahoogroups.com, Ruth Bygrave <rbygrave@...> wrote:
>
> W00t! I have my first foldy machine. It seems like a sod to fold/
> unfold, and I'll have to get used to the fact that it seems very low
> in the stem/handlebars compared to the kickbike, but...
>
> I can carry it in its foldy form quite easily (I wouldn't take it into
> town that way, but I can easily take it up and downstairs like that),
> and it would fit in the luggage rack of a bus. Boyfriend points out
> that I'm going to find it quite difficult to fold/unfold, but it's
> nice to have the option. I suspect I'm going to have to wait until the
> weekend for Boyfriend to teach me how to fold/unfold it, as he is
> firmly of the opinion that it's not a job for his working week. He
> just prodded it until it was upright enough (ignoring the instructions
> I read out from the nice German man) and told me it had to live in the
> garage now.
>
> Cautious kicking (it's after dark, and I haven't figured out how to
> get the mount for my light off the kickbike...) suggested it's
> perfectly comfortable to use on an uneven surface, like a kickbike, as
> opposed to jittering like a fixed-wheel machine.
>
> Can't wait to get out on it.
>
> Regards, Ruth
>

Is there anything one can do to increase the foldiness of a Roma? I'm
struggling to use the packaging my Mibo came in to pack up the Roma to
put it on e-bay. I think the trouble's the handlebars. Is it possible
to take out the handlebars for transport?

Regards, Ruth

W00t! I have my first foldy machine. It seems like a sod to fold/
unfold, and I'll have to get used to the fact that it seems very low
in the stem/handlebars compared to the kickbike, but...

I can carry it in its foldy form quite easily (I wouldn't take it into
town that way, but I can easily take it up and downstairs like that),
and it would fit in the luggage rack of a bus. Boyfriend points out
that I'm going to find it quite difficult to fold/unfold, but it's
nice to have the option. I suspect I'm going to have to wait until the
weekend for Boyfriend to teach me how to fold/unfold it, as he is
firmly of the opinion that it's not a job for his working week. He
just prodded it until it was upright enough (ignoring the instructions
I read out from the nice German man) and told me it had to live in the
garage now.

Cautious kicking (it's after dark, and I haven't figured out how to
get the mount for my light off the kickbike...) suggested it's
perfectly comfortable to use on an uneven surface, like a kickbike, as
opposed to jittering like a fixed-wheel machine.

Can't wait to get out on it.

Regards, Ruth

I agree. I prefer well-adjusted loose-ball/cone hubs to sealed myself.
~Old-school Pete H.

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "bob dymond" <nikkadeemis02@...>
> To: kickbiking@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [kickbiking] Hello from downunder
> Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:28:13 -0700 (PDT)
>
> I took the hubs apart for repacking with my preferred lube. 
> It's an 18-bearing, loose-ball assembly.  The bearings are
> brilliantly polished; not the dull finish found in cheaper hubs. 
> The "cones" are quite beefy and won't deform under torque-load
> applied whilst tightening.  Although these hubs aren't top o' 
> the line, the scooter easily do 40mph on a long, fast descent. I
> don't see the need for changing out the bearings for the "sealed
> precision" ones.
>
> FunBob Kickpants

--
~Peter HUMMERS | <http://www.scooter-sport.com>