Well, I've had the Segway i180 for a whole year and as it is mostly a solitary transport vehicle, I have had plenty of time to think about the practicality and pleasure of owning one. For all those who are interested, I will share the thoughts collected in my head over these past 12 months.

Let me start off by getting the basic information out of the way. Based on a year of talking to hundreds of people, I feel confident that this will answer 80% of the questions you may have:

• It is powered by a (rather quiet) electric motor which runs on batteries that charge from a standard house outlet using a common power cord like the one that plugs into your computer.
  
  
• Top speed is around 12mph and it can go about 22 miles on a single charge under optimum conditions (I usually get tired before it runs out of juice).
  
  
• It does all the balancing for you - you actually don't even need to hold on once you get comfortable. It is actually much more similar to the way we walk than is riding a bike or rollerblading.
  
  
• It takes about 30 seconds to learn how to ride and I've had 7 year olds to 70 year olds do just fine - noone has ever crashed or hurt anyone while on my Segway.
  
  
• I rarely worry about someone stealing it. Because it is so new and different, I don't think that the first impulse is to run off with it and sell it for a few bucks. Besides, without the custom key to start it, its simply an 80lb paperweight.
  
  
• No, I don't recommend you getting one for yourself. These are very cool and ideal for some commuting routines but they are still WAAAAAAY too expensive to be practical for the masses.

Now, on to the...

All Time Frequent/Dumbest Questions

There is nothing that interferes more with gettin' your glide on than a well-meaning bipedal who can't quite put together the words required to form a worthwhile question. Now, I understand that most people don't come in contact with Segways that often so I am normally very polite and accommodating. Truthfully, I have given hundreds of demos to perfect strangers all of which elicit similar, if not predictable responses.

But there are certain repetitive queries that have become irritating over the

course of the past year. I am tempted to create flash cards with the answers on them and simply pass them out whenever I stop near a crowd. Here are some of the most annoying, in reverse order of annoyance:

• "How much did that cost?" I have not yet perfected a good response to this one because it is both hard not to sound elitist when shouting out the actual sticker price as you whiz by and because it is really none of their business how much idiots like me will spend on ridiculous technology. In their defense, I suppose the novelty of the Segway makes it difficult to easily compare it to more familiar means of transport like motorcycles or Razors or four-wheelers but really, if this is the first time you have seen one up close, is that the first thing that comes to mind?
  
  
• "Why don't you just get a bike?" - this could actually be my favorite "worst" question. First of all I used to own a bike and you know what? I never used it and I'm betting that most of you are just like me. So to imply that I've abandoned my biking fitness program for the lazy man's approach to outdoor exercise is absurd. I love bicycles (what's not to love?) but I never got out as much as I do now. I have explored my own and nearby nieghborhoods and met many more people than I ever did on my bike. So, if biking works for you, go for it - just don't look down on me or should I say, up to me as I pass you going up that steep hill, waving with both hands!
  
  
• "Do you like it?" How many people do you know that would not only buy a seemingly absurd gadget like this but would willingly glide up and down busy sidewalks in plain view if they didn't like it? Does it really seem like a punishment or some unfortunate curse that I am able to silently cruise along at a decent clip for miles without working up a sweat? No, I hate it. I often assume, for their benefit, that they really mean to ask "How do you like it?" as in, "...compared to other forms of transportation or locomotion" in which case, I explain that its the closest thing I've ever found to owning a magic carpet.

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