Today the weather was 20 degrees cooler at 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.33 Celsius), so physical exertion was less exhausting. Although the wind was still strong at 18 mph (28.97 km/h), the ride was much easier.
When I last rode the Xooter scooter, I had the handlebars set to just above my belly-button. Today I tried setting them an inch or so below, and this made both steering and riding easier.
I also wore some fingerless gloves made for weight-lifters. These had a wrist-wrap, and this seemed to absorb much of the shock coming through the steering column.
During the ride, I practiced switching feet without stopping the scooter. This was a little difficult, but was becoming easier by the end of my journey.
I discovered that I got a longer glide if I stood up straight, with elbows in and belly arching forward slightly. Basically, the ride was easier when I became a post. If I leaned a little too far forward or backward, tension in my arms, legs, or abdomen told me to correct.
Whenever I got tired, I hopped off and walked for a bit. Today I tracked my overall mileage with a cell-phone app called Vima Walk, and my steps with a pedometer app. These are the results.
Total Distance 7.23 miles (11.64 km); Total Time 1 hr 46 min
Scooter Portion of the Ride
Distance: 5.84 miles (9.40 km)
Pace: 9.76 minutes per mile (1.61 km)
(3.69x faster than walking)
Total time: 57 minutes
Portion Walked
Distance: 1.39 miles (2.24 km) – 19.23% of the total mileage
Pace: 36 minutes per mile (1.61 km)
(Apparently I walk slowly, since 20 minutes per mile is considered average.)
Total time: 49 minutes
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