One more screw to tighten

Hi Elizabeth,

Today I found one more screw on the TravelScoot that needs tightened now and then. Attached is a picture of the steering upright and clamp containing the screw in question.

It's in the clamp that allows you to raise the handle bars up and down. I am not talking about the screw on the side that is easily hand tightened.

Inside that little hole on this clamp there is an inset screw that you can't see unless the bracket comes loose like mine did. When that little screw becomes loose your TravelScoot wont steer and the handle bars will not stay upright.

If yours becomes loose like mine did and the clamp is sliding up and down and becomes all "floppy like" (technical term) then the clamp has to be realigned and the inset screw needs tightened.

To do this:

On the inside of that clamp there is a "bar" that slides into a groove that runs up and down on the steering column. Line up the "bar" so it is sliding in the groove. Then I had to use the smallest wrench in our TravelScoot tool kit to loosen up the inset screw a bit more so the clamp would slide down until the top of it is "almost" even with the largest part of the steering column upright. Then tighten the inset screw.

Was it scary? Yes! Did I call Tony for instruction? Hells yes! Did I fix it all by my big girl self? YES!!!

Attached is a picture of the clamp in question.

Everyone should check this screw now and then so they do not end up with a case of "floppy like" handle bars in a parking lot some where.

Cynth

Helsinki: The View from a TravelScoot

Hello Elizabeth

Today was a beautiful day, so I took my scoot downtown via the Metro. All the photos above I took sitting on the TravelScoot. Today was the first time I ever ran the battery down. I plugged in my spare and kept going. I have two small Li ion batteries. I have to say that the Travelscoot is a great way to get around!

Best wishes,

Elford

Singapore 2010 or Don't Get a Blue Sticker from the airlines

From Elizabeth

Moral of this story: If you remember anything from this post, remember that the lithium ion battery is NOT a wet cell battery. If an airline attempts to tag yours as a wet cell battery, they are making an error. For Hardy Huber's instructions on flying with a TravelScoot, read http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-and-easier-way-of-airline-travel.html.  Now let's read what Dean has to report from his whirlwind, worldwide adventures...

Everytime I fly I learn something. What I learned on this trip is to read what the airlines put on your scooter; I didn't think to do it.

Leaving Phoenix US Airways was friendly and allowed me to ride the TravelScoot right up to the door. They commented how nice and light it was and the baggage handler just picked it up and carried it down the steps. When we arrived in Los Angeles it came right back up quickly with the strollers (some of which weigh more than the TravelScoot with battery). I 'scooted' over from Terminal 1 to the Thomas Bradley International and found ANA Airlines. Immediately I could sense there was trouble. The young check-in person asked for the supervisor. The supervisor came out and looked at the battery. I told her it was a lithium battery and non-spillable and offered to give her a copy of the info on the battery but she went back to the backroom. About 10 minutes she came out and said that Tokyo and Singapore had told them I couldn't ride the scooter in their facilities and I would have to check it gate door side here in Los Angeles and pick it back up in Singapore. I hadn't bothered to read the blue sticker that said in bright letters WET CELL; the kiss of death on airlines. When I went to check-in at ANA's gate there was a whole crew waiting for me and they announced that they had upgraded me to Business class so they made me feel good but then it started. They came with a large plastic bag and asked if I wanted them to take care of my battery. I showed them that I would just take it out and put it in the TravelScoot bag.

They then wrapped my TravelScoot battery bag and taped it shut and then wrapped the TravelScoot in a protective bag. Three large baggage handlers came and when they picked up the TravelScoot laughed when they realized that it only weighed 35 pounds. The gate boss told me that whoever invented this machine should do well because everyone would love it and the work of the machine appeared excellent.

I went onto the plane and was treated well. I sat next to a 22 year old female corpsman in the Navy who was stationed in Japan and she told me interesting stories about the young people in our military these days and also showed me her tattos; it is a new era. I have to admit I hate having to ride in wheelchairs and in Tokyo it was as usual: small cramped wheelchair with a 110 pound woman trying to push me a mile to the gate but I went along. When I got to Singapore, a wheelchair appeared and they took me to baggage and there was my TravelScoot on a cart all wrapped up. I told them I would put it back together but they said No, we have been instructed to take this outside the baggage area to give to you so they pushed me out in a wheelchair and then I assembled the TravelScoot and pulling my bag went to the closeby hotel in the Terminal and went to bed. Today at dinner I looked at the sticker and realized they had put the kiss of death on me by declaring it a wetcell.

I am going to write TravelScoot and suggest they have a sticker made up in Chinese/Japanese/French/Russian that says Dry Cell, non-spillable that we could attach to our batteries.

Still I am enjoying being able to run around to restaurants, etc. easily on the TravelScoot and the lithium battery is showing great capacity. I haven't run it down yet despite going long distances.

Today I'll be riding the trains a bit so it should be fun.

Dean,
TravelScooting in Singapore

Opening a Whole New Vista

Hello again Elizabeth,

What a day we had today, we arrived at the Brookfield Zoo at 11:00 AM and left at 6:00 PM. Ths was something I could only dream of until I received my TravelScoot aka Zoomba. We spent the day with our daughter and daughter in law and 5 grandkids, what a wonderful day it was. We were all over the zoo, checking out the animals, having lunch, seeing the penguins, the butterflies and all the other animals and exhibits, then for a nice ride on the carousel, the kids had a great time, so did I!

This TravelScoot has opened a whole new vista for us and were really taking advantage of it. Walking around the lake, all around the zoo, next were going to Ravinia for a concert and then to the Botanical Gardens, things I never thought I'd be doing. Anyhow, here are a few pictures of our day at the zoo, see you all later.

Tony

Lessons I've Learned About the TravelScoot

Just returned from China/Hong Kong/Singapore. My TravelScoot now has 20,000 miles on it. I've learned that the new Lithium battery will last going through the Phoenix airport (a big airport), Singapore (another big airport) without a charge. However when you run it on carpet it runs down faster. I've seen the yellow on the meter. The learning curve for my driver in Hong Kong was fast; he was assembling it very quickly. My scooter allowed me to get around the grocery stores I was looking at and that helped a lot. Everyone I met was impressed with it. It does have its limitations: it doesn't do big hills very well when it is running low on charge. Luckily people pushed me. I didn't take it on the Red Star Ferry this time...will next trip. If I had a magic wand I'd install a charger input off of the handle so you could plug it in easily without removing the battery. Should be able to be done. I'd also install a 'plug' that could be used to power your cell phone or GPS unit. Maybe I'll do this myself when I get a chance and let you all see it. Next month I'm doing another 20,000 miles so I'll keep you in the loop. By the way the captain on the plane from San Francisco yesterday told me he saw one of these units at the Seattle aiport; perhaps it was Hardy? ha ha Dean Hughson www.deanhughson.com

Testing the TravelScoot Battery Limit

Hi Elizabeth, Yesterday I hung my Nokia cellphone in a bag on the front handlebars. My cell phone has GPS. I put it on "Trip Meter". I then took a non-stop trip around the neighborhood. When I got back it read -
	Top Speed	9 KmPh (6 mph)
	Distance traveled	10.2 Km (6.3 miles)
	Total Time	1hr 05 min.
I did this with one small Li-ion battery. Never did show yellow. Regards to you and everyone on your blog, Elford

Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Children

	I don't have any children of my own, but I especially enjoy the little ones in my family, and seeing the world through their eyes. In this picture the little ones are laughing because the alligator stood up, walked a couple of steps, and then sat on his food. The adults you see in these pictures are my nieces and nephews, except for my sister Georgia. Another sister (Rae) is the one taking the pictures.
	This is my sister Georgia with me. We're watching the zebras, who I always thought of as black and white but these are brown and white.
	This is Jaxon and he loves my wheels. He delighted me today because he called me by my name, and he hadn't done that before. "Lizabeth, where were you?" "Lizabeth, did you get lost?" "Lizabeth, come home with me."

A Bag Lady in New York

	These are more pictures from Rae and Georgia's recent trip to visit my sister Kay. Rae went to New York to see a neurologist who specializes in pain management because she's had a headache for 8 years that is her lasting injury from a car crash. That's 24 hours a day and seven days a week of headache. She's pretty amazing though, because she doesn't let this injury stop her from living her life. We talk about how much the TravelScoot has meant to me and Kay, and how much it has improved our lives, and we're really hoping this doctor will be Rae's "TravelScoot." Rae isn't in these pictures because she's behind the camera. I like this first picture because it shows you what a workhorse the scoot can be. Look at all those bags she's carrying! The red fabric pouch is really helpful.
	There are two things to notice in this photo. The first is the image on the bag. What store do you think they were in? Hmmmm?! The second thing to notice is the tag with the letter "K" on it. It's a luggage tag with contact information on it. Of course having one on mine hasn't stopped people at Walmart from following me out to my car to get my scooter when I'm finished with it. They think it belongs to the store!
	Rae told me where this was and I've forgotten. Anyone from the New York area recognize it? And do the paw prints on the asphalt mean it's okay to bring really large animals there?

Inclines, Melodrama, and the Double Lithium Ion Battery

	Here I am at the zoo, headed up what could be a troublesome incline for me. Notice I have the double lithium ion battery today, and this will be a test of it. And.... we're off!
	Smiling for the camera. My foot is down because I stopped to pose for the picture.
	Obviously not having any problems with the incline here. Thank you, Hardy, for the double lithium ion battery.
	Look Ma, one hand, one baaaaaad hand!
	Now here's where the melodrama comes in. No, this is not an out-of-control TravelScoot skittering down the hill.
	I can no longer ask my great nephew Austin how he got to be so melodramatic. He obviously got it from me!
	Almost back to flat land here. Look, that's the wind blowing my hair!
	It's over. Can we do it again?

Tony's TravelScoot -- Meet Zoomba!

Hi Elizabeth,

Just got my scooter this past Wed, and boy, am I having a blast with this. First time I've been by the lake, 15 minutes from my home, for 4 years. This is where I proposed to my wife 9 years ago. Was great to be back. There is a walkway alongside the lake and we walked alongside for quite some time. Then, on Saturday, we left the house at 8 AM and got back at 8 PM. We went to the mall and scooted around for a long time, had breakfast there. Then, we went to Toys R Us for my grandsons birthday present, I was really zooming around there, unbelievable. By the way, my scooter is called Zoomba, a play on an aerobics class my daughter takes.

Being on oxygen has really limited my activities as I get very short of breath walking around, now, with Zoomba, I can go anywhere, anytime, I really love this TravelScoot. What a difference it is making in my life. Yesterday, I went to Home Depot and asked where the Velcro was. I was in aisle 4, they told me aisle 19, normally, I would have left without the Velcro, but with Zoomba, I was there and back in a flash.

We are making plans to go to the zoo with the grand kids, to Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, to the botanical garden, everything has opened up to us, this is a miracle.

Anyhow, I look forward to all the blogs and am now so happy that I can contribute one myself.

Talk to you all later.

Tony

Tony's TravelScoot -- Meet Zoomba!

Hi Elizabeth,

Just got my scooter this past Wed, and boy, am I having a blast with this. First time I've been by the lake, 15 minutes from my home, for 4 years. This is where I proposed to my wife 9 years ago. Was great to be back. There is a walkway alongside the lake and we walked alongside for quite some time. Then, on Saturday, we left the house at 8 AM and got back at 8 PM. We went to the mall and scooted around for a long time, had breakfast there. Then, we went to Toys R Us for my grandsons birthday present, I was really zooming around there, unbelievable. By the way, my scooter is called Zoomba, a play on an aerobics class my daughter takes.

Being on oxygen has really limited my activities as I get very short of breath walking around, now, with Zoomba, I can go anywhere, anytime, I really love this TravelScoot. What a difference it is making in my life. Yesterday, I went to Home Depot and asked where the Velcro was. I was in aisle 4, they told me aisle 19, normally, I would have left without the Velcro, but with Zoomba, I was there and back in a flash.

We are making plans to go to the zoo with the grand kids, to Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, to the botanical garden, everything has opened up to us, this is a miracle.

Anyhow, I look forward to all the blogs and am now so happy that I can contribute one myself.

Talk to you all later.

Tony

Ring My Bell

The bell on my TravelScoot has universal appeal for all ages. This is my great niece Larkyn ringing my bell yesterday at the Baton Rouge zoo. I love that smile on her face!

Guangzhou China Resort Pool

I don't know about you all, but I'm a little envious of Dean's TravelScoot. Here's the latest picture from his trip. This one was taken at the Guangzhou China resort pool.

The TravelScoot Portability Advantage

The first picture is Jolinda's scooter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The second picture is her original scooter. She bought her TravelScoot so she could be more freely mobile and not tied to having to take her vehicle with the scooter lift in order to travel.

My sisters

Yesterday I participated in the National Kidney Walk at the Baton Rouge Zoo. I got to take part in this walk because of my TravelScoot, but also because 5 years ago my sister Rae donated a kidney to my sister Georgia. If you need a reason why organ donation is a good thing, just take a look at my sisters.

For information on being an organ donor, go to http://organdonor.gov/donor/index.htm .
 

Lessons Learned

From Dean:

As my TravelScoot looks out the window at Hong Kong Bay I am reminded that I learn something everyday while traveling. Coming into Singapore, ANA Airlines made it difficult and made me use a wheelchair. United Airlines on the flight out of Singapore to Hong Kong was cooperative and I rode my scooter right to the plane and it was quickly brought to me at Hong Kong plane side. I rode perhaps a mile (could never have walked it in my best days) to the Passport control, accompanied by a woman with a wheelchair who thought I would want to ride in it. When I got there they rushed me through customs, got my bag, and 5 minutes later I was in the hotel van heading to my hotel in Hong Kong. The lithium battery finally wore down from going through the Singapore and Hong Kong airports and was showing yellow so I have seen what it can do.

Today I head into China so this should be interesting. I will keep you posted.

Welcome, Jolinda!

From Jolinda, our newest ScooterBabe!

I'm still getting used to the scooter - 36 hours isn't much time before I have to travel with it. I'm flying Southwest from Nashville to San Jose, so I will let everyone know how that went.

I'm grateful for the scooter but have to admit it is a big change from my Pride Victory 10.

I am having to learn how to "mount up" and "dismount" off of the Travelscoot. The 'stepping through' and 'swing the leg over like on a bike' are not very comfortable or easy for me. The seat does swivel some and that seems to work best for me.

All in all, I am glad to have it and am excited to see what new opportunities present themselves as I am able to be more freely mobile and not tied to having to take my vehicle with the scooter lift in order to travel.

TravelScooting at Work

I've used my scoot at work for close to a year now and I'm pleased at how well it fits wherever I need to go. I am almost always able to take it right into any office or conference room, and I'm able to easily open doors while I'm seated on it. Coworkers and visitors to our building give positive comments. Children love it and can't help being fascinated, and many adults ask me for details about it -- especially about the lithium ion battery and how the scoot is put together. They see me lifting it in and out of my van, so they see how light it is. It's a good fit in my office, as you can see. I'm able to turn it around in the space between my desk and the wall, either by picking it up or by sitting on it and driving it. If you've never ridden a TravelScoot, you might not know that they turn on a dime. I could sit on it and practically spin in place. Before I knew about the TravelScoot I worried about how I would navigate at work with a full-size scooter. There's a tight turn off the hallway and a narrow hall to my office.

The fun part of having the my TravelScoot in my office is that in addition to being a conversation piece, when I have several people in my office someone eagerly claims it to sit on.

TravelScoot in a Mercedes Trunk

This is from Dean, who is in Singapore right now.  I think he's excited to be riding in that Mercedes!

This is what a TravelScoot looks like in a US $200,000 Mercedes trunk. Ha ha!

Thanks to Frankie and Catherine in Singapore

Rhonda's Wheel and Using the TravelScoot In Home

From Nancy, aka Granny:

Can you tell me where Rhonda bought the new wheel. Did Tony send her one? Can you ask her? I looked into getting some more knobby tires to handle grass and uneven terrain better but could not find any tire that size. I am taking my TravelScoot to the zoo on Monday to have lunch with a few ladies from my high school class of '62. Use it daily even in and out of the house now. That was an interesting picture from Singapore. After it was pointed out I could see that they were canes, but my first thought was it was some kind of mechanism to hold him in the scooter. -- Nancy

Nancy, Rhonda ordered the wheel from Tony at TravelScoot. I'm glad to hear you're able to use your scoot in your home too. I would think the compact size of it would make it ideal for in-home use.

Scooting in Singapore

Dean is on his first international trip with his new TravelScoot and sent us this picture of a man he met in Singapore.  His scooter weighs 100 lbs and cost $1000. His problem is battery life. He greatly admired Dean's TravelScoot.