August 25, 2013 1:22 pm
I love to walk. I think it’s the best way to see a city. Or I did, until I took a Segway tour of Cincinnati. I am now hooked on Segways. In fact, I asked for one for my birthday, but my husband just laughed. He obviously doesn’t understand.
Cincinnati is a small city, but there is so much to see. We truly have it all: history, architecture, river views, and museums. I often take walks through the city, but saw so much more on wheels, rolling down the sidewalks from one site to another. At first, I was afraid I wouldn’t get the hang of it. I am petrified on roller skates, have had a traumatizing bicycle accident, and scream every time I’ve careened on a skateboard. I didn’t expect to fare much better on a two-wheeled Segway, but I did! I got the hang of it within minutes. 🙂
I was surprised to find how quickly my feet got sore. I could feel my leg muscles, too, which I attributed to my tense toe-gripping as I learned the ropes of starting and stopping. But when we stopped for to stretch our legs on the Purple People Bridge, I learned I wasn’t the only one. Nearly everyone in the group felt a tightening in their legs, or aches in their feet. I was relieved that it wasn’t just me.
A view of the Ohio River and several other bridges from the Purple People Bridge.
Once we resumed spinning past parks and landmarks, I started to feel some numbness in my toes. By this point, I was very proficient at managing my Segway and could even bend my legs, stay in place with no hands while I snapped pictures, and lift one leg at a time to shake them out. But the numbness persisted and by the end of the tour, my feet were asleep.
You might think this detracted from my Segway experience, but it didn’t. Other people felt it, too. I’m chalking it up to the vibration we felt from the motorized platform beneath our feet. I reluctantly handed back my Segway and limped along until the feeling was back in my legs. A few hours later, I felt residual ache in my leg muscles. It felt like I’d worked out; more than walking usually does. I convinced myself that somehow I’d exercised.
I still love a good walk. But I’d really like to tool around on my own Segway instead. I would take it to every city I visit. Instead, I’ll have to see which towns offer Segway tours of their own.
Have you ridden a Segway?
Posted by Browsing the Atlas
Categories: Cincinnati, Museums & Tours
Tags: bridge, Cincinnati, exercise, legs, numbness, Ohio River, Purple People Bridge, Segway, toes, tour, walking
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I would love to try it, and so would my son. There is a place on Sentosa, but it would have to be one of their tours, rather than just the circuit, and I’m not sure Sentosa is grabbing me for that (plus, I think son is only old enough for the little circuit? I can’t remember if that was a reason or not).
I can believe the numb toes, though – subtle changes in muscle usage can make such a profound difference, even if you’re “standing still”.
By B on August 25, 2013 at 1:49 pm
I hope you get to try it sometime. It was so much fun! As an fyi – the tour companies here require riders to be at least 14 and weigh at least 100 lbs. Adults weight cannot exceed 260.
By Browsing the Atlas on August 25, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Ok, then I probably was remembering correctly. I think kids (can’t remember age cutoffs or anything) are allowed on the little track if they’re with a parent, but not on the tour. I’ll have to either stay patient or take off by myself.
Anyway, loved hearing your experience of it.
By B on August 25, 2013 at 4:03 pm
i love to see policemen on segways – it makes them look so funny, not make me feel respect or scare 😀 I imagine they take out the doughnuts and move to the sunset on their ‘horses’ 😀
By myhongkonghusband on August 25, 2013 at 3:52 pm
LOL. This imagery made me laugh.
By Browsing the Atlas on August 25, 2013 at 9:28 pm
LOL, I do love to see policemen on segways. Or better yet mall cops.
By boreshaexpert on August 25, 2013 at 4:37 pm
My son made fun of me, but I don’t care. It was fun.
By Browsing the Atlas on August 25, 2013 at 9:27 pm
I’ve always seen people on Segways but have never had an occasion to try it. You guys all look so cute – like adorable construction workers with your helmets and vests!
By Letizia on August 25, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Yes, we definitely stuck out. We got a lot of stares as we rolled through the streets single-file.
By Browsing the Atlas on August 25, 2013 at 9:28 pm
I didn’t even Segway tours existed! Truthfully I’ve always had rather a rather negative (or at the least biased) opinion of Segways since I often see a lot of people abusing their use of them. There used to be a guy at school who would race past everyone on his Segway while the rest of us trekked up and down the hills of our campus. But this way of using them seems to be pretty fun, not to mention efficient!
By lillianccc on August 26, 2013 at 12:34 am
Oh dear. I must still be hungover from the 2 hour nap I accidentally took earlier. Sorry for the messed up grammar!
By lillianccc on August 26, 2013 at 12:36 am
I scoffed at them initially, too. One of the maintenance men where I work has one and I thought, “Really? You can’t just walk like the rest of us?” But now I may ask to borrow his. 😉
By Browsing the Atlas on August 26, 2013 at 1:09 pm
I think I’ll wait until they’re selling jet packs – until then I’d sooner walk I think.
By Roy McCarthy on August 26, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Meant to try one in Paris, but never did. Didn’t think I could stay on to be honest 🙂
By Madhu on September 4, 2013 at 5:48 pm
I didn’t either. I can’t believe how much fun I had on it.
By Browsing the Atlas on September 4, 2013 at 10:36 pm
I did a Segway tour in Columbus and it was great. Riding the Segway is so much fun!
By Quirky Travel Guy (@quirkytravelguy) on September 12, 2013 at 2:42 pm
Yes, I read your post about it. I think we’ll do Columbus with my mother-in-law for her birthday.
By Browsing the Atlas on September 12, 2013 at 3:59 pm
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