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Commuter scooters
As a nation, we are becoming more and more aware of the need to rethink our use of cars and the way we transport ourselves. That has never been more true than over the last few months, where public transport has become something we wish to avoid where we can. With the recent upturn in commuters looking for alternative ways to make their journey, the kick scooter is becoming increasingly popular. No longer are scooters just those small plastic toys children ride, there is a growing selection of quality adult kick scooters and the market is rapidly expanding. Quicker than walking and less obtrusive than bikes, kick scooters are a great way to get from A to B.
If we say the word ‘commuting’, many of you will think of hours spent sitting in traffic jams, getting oh too familiar with someone you’d rather not be on a bus, trying to avoid eye contact with those colourful characters on the tube or waiting for an Uber in the rain. Over the last few months this has changed for many of us and while things are a long way off being ‘normal’, travelling for work is once again becoming a necessary part of the day - but it doesn’t have to be as we know it!
Some of you will be aware of the huge push that has been behind cycling to work over the last few years, but cycling even a short distance in your office attire isn't ideal. Hopping on a scooter in a suit or even a dress, is much easier than trying to navigate a saddle, cross bar and greasy chain. With a scooter you have none of these things to contend with - simply hop on without ungainly swinging of legs over crossbars, no saddle to crumple your tailored suit or expensive dress and no chance of getting covered in grease from your chain - that's the last thing you want just before an important meeting! Now we're not suggesting you might not scoot in different clothes if you have a lengthy scoot for your commute, but a half hour walk could be drastically reduced if you used a scooter and what's more - you'll have much more fun!
If you work in a bustling city, chances are you are already using public transport for part of your journey and that's great! But could you use a scooter to take you to that mode of public transport from home, or to the office at the other end? Commutes aren’t just for people in the ‘Big Smoke’ either, many of our customers are police officers or hospital staff who struggle to park closer than a 45 minute walk to their station or ward. Why waste so much of your day walking from your car to work? Don’t get us wrong, we love walking – but not when you’re late for your shift, or afterwards when your bed is calling!
Why are we different?
You will notice that all of the models available on our website have pneumatic (blow up) tyres – for us, this is what makes them different and puts them in a league of their own! We only list scooters we are happy to recommend and this whole scooter journey evolved from a hard wheeled scooter bought for commuting. It became clear very quickly this scooter was not up for the job and the search and purchase of a larger wheeled scooter with pneumatic tyres was the very start of this adventure we are pleased to be on.
We named our company ‘Fun On 2 Wheels Scooters’, and FUN is most definitely the buzz word when it comes to these great machines. I defy anyone not to ride a scooter with a smile – it’s almost law! Imagine arriving at work with a smile on your face, and the wind in your hair – what a great way to start the day, or way to unwind afterwards. It will also sneak some exercise in to your daily routine – probably without you realising! Sound better than your current arrangement? Check out our top commuter scooters and see which one you fancy.
Best model for you
Small, folding models are ideal if you’re still hopping on public transport for some of your journey or have limited storage at the office. They’re great to throw in the back of the car so you can park a few miles away from the hustle and bustle, bus lanes and congestion charges. A smaller-wheeled scooter (in comparison to say a road or fitness scooter), a 12/12” or 16/16” wheel set up is small enough not to be offensive to pedestrians while speeding up your journey time considerably.
• A top pick is the MIBO Mastr, a folding model with a 16/16” wheel set up. With BMX-style handlebars it gives an incredibly stable ride for both small and taller riders and having a weight limit of 23.5 stone this is a great option. It comes in an array of colours so you can stand out from the crowd and has an inbuilt kickstand and bell in case people miss you the first time. There is a MIBO carry bag as an optional extra. As with all MIBOs, this is handmade in the Czech Republic and comes with a 5 year frame warranty. A very trusty, durable machine with 2 brakes – just like a bike.
• Equal in wheel size and ability to fold is the Kickbike Clix. Having an alloy frame and weighing in at just 7.8kg, the Clix has the weight advantage if your journey involves getting on and off a tube or train. It also has a 16/16" wheel set up and folds down well, so again is the ideal size for commuting. The white Clix comes with a 2 brakes, bell and mudguards as standard and has a 2 year frame warranty.
• The lightest of all our adult scooters is the 5.8kg Boardy Original. This has a sleek, stylish design and is known for its fibreboard and beech wood layered board; ours has a bamboo coating. You can personalise both the colour of the wooden board and the metal handlebar clamps – you choose the combination! This scooter feels very different to the other designs as it has a flexi board – the footboard gives a lot more movement and feels a bit like a skateboard, which seems to be like Marmite! This folds at the base of the stem with a simple turn of the joining mechanism, allowing you to wheel the scooter along on its back wheel. It has 1 brake lever and 12” inch tyres, making it the smallest of the models so far.
Of course, if you don’t need your scooter to fold, there are more options available to you.
• Yedoo’s S1616 has been very popular since its launch in 2019 and as its name suggests has a 16/16” wheel set up. Having a strong steel frame and adjustable, wide handlebars, this compact little scooter is great for all builds of rider and is the ideal size for town and city riding. With 2 quick releasing wheels, you can quickly reduce the size of the scooter, for office storage or ease of transport. A touch larger you have the S2016 – with a 20/16” wheel set up, this size is a good compromise if you have a little more road work to do, you’re scooting straight from home or your commute isn’t so crowded.
• You definitely won’t be missed on the CRUSSIS Active! A colourful, nippy little machine with a 20/16” wheel set up, the city is where this is scooter is most at home. Like the Yedoo this will also perform well in short rides on unpaved roads, cycle paths or lighter terrain. With a weight limit of 18.9 stone, the CRUSSIS will add some fun to your day!
A handlebar bag would make a useful addition on any scooter, but even more so on a commuter scooter; somewhere to store your oyster card so you’re not rummaging to find it at the turnstyle, last minute breakfast and of course a few #FO2W business cards! You can purchase a travel bag for the MIBO Mastr and another sized MIBO travel bag fits the Clix too.
If you would like any more help choosing your ideal commuter scooter please do get in touch via the contact form on our homepage, or info@funon2wheels.co.uk and we will be happy to help answer any questions and share our experiences of the mentioned scooters and others we offer. If you would like to try a MIBO Mastr or Boardy Original give us a shout, we have one of each as demo models. We specialise in guiding you to the right scooter; we don’t want you riding any scooter, we want you riding the right scooter.
Check out some ideal commuting models here - <https://www.funon2wheels.co.uk/commuter-scooters>
PS - How many times can you say ‘commuter scooter’ in a minute?!
Sarah Bee • Jul 21, 2020
Some information and pictures from our ride from High Peak Junction in the Peak District, with the Yedoo Trexx and MIBO Alltrack.
Carsington Water in The Peaks makes a great 8 mile loop for all abilities (even with the hills!). Click to see pictures of our trip.
Come with us on our kick scooter ride on the High Peak Trail! The Yedoo Trexx and MIBO Alltrack were perfect for this ride and it is certainly scooter friendly.
We started our 3 day adventure at Bennerley Viaduct, an impressive former railway structure which is known as ‘The Iron Giant’. A fun and easy destination, pretty canals and ideal for kick scooters.
The Monsal Trail was a big highlight of our Peak District trip! Incredible scenery, exciting tunnels and great surface - perfect for kick scooters.
We spent a wonderful 3 days exploring the Peaks with our kick scooters. Read this blog to hear all about our adventures on the Monsal Trail, High Peak Trail, Carsington Water and Bennerley Viaduct!
After just completing his fourth century ride on a kick scooter and now having finished around 10 charity cycle sportives over the last 2 years, again on a scooter, I thought it was time to catch up with David and find out how he became a kick scooter fanatic, what his motivation is to keep on kicking and what the future may have in store for him and his ever growing scooter fleet.
We have a designated group for kick scooter riders to share the rides and routes they have found to have especially good scooting facilities with other scooter enthusiasts - let's get the UK kick scooting! Routes could be your local route from home, or ones you have found on your travels that you think people may like to try if they are in the area. The search box at the top can be used to find routes in an area you are researching, so be sure to tag the county in your post for easy finding! We would love for this group to be well used and form a really good directory of routes and rides, or places which are perfect for exploring on kick scooters. Simply search 'Kick Scooter Rides & Routes in the UK', or copy and paste this link - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1760077990783585/
Everyone has heard the term ‘you can’t teach old dogs new tricks’, but here at #FO2W we think otherwise! Have you heard the term mushing? Mushing is a term many people in the UK won’t be familiar with, but it’s a popular and ever-growing sport here, and we hope you’ll see why! Let’s take you through what mushing is – mushing simply means ‘a sport or transport powered by dogs’. The practice of using dogs to pull sleds dates back to 2000BC, and when someone mentions dogs pulling something, you will probably think of Huskies pulling a snow sled. Well, how things have evolved! Urban, or Dryland Mushing, originally came about to keep winter sled dogs fit during the off season – so this is done on dry land. A dog can be attached to you (Canicross), or be attached to and pull a bike (Bikejoring), cart, sled, rig – or what we’re talking about, your best four legged friend, hooked up to the scooter you’re riding and going for a blast round the countryside! This is known as Scootering, or commonly Mushing. If you’ve ridden a scooter, you’ll know how cool it is and how much fun you can have exploring on your scooter. Well, throw your pooch in to the mix and you’ve got yourself a new sport you can both enjoy! It’s a great way to keep you and your dog fit, stimulated and exercised and gives you another way to spend time together in the great outdoors. ‘What equipment do I need to get started?’ Dog scootering (or mushing) requires very little equipment, aside from the obvious scooter. You’re looking at sourcing a racing harness, a long line and a lead adapter. We suggest avoiding some cheap harnesses, opting for a professional grade piece of kit instead. These are adjustable to your dog to utilise correct pulling points while keeping their airways clear. A long running line (like a lead) is used to keep your dog a safe distance away from the scooter – keeping everyone safe; in case of a sudden stop you will have time to stop the scooter and avoid your four-legged-friend! Lastly, the lead adapter attaches to the front of your scooter (via the handlebar stem) for the running line to be fed through. This takes the line away from the scooter tyre to prevent it getting tangled. Some will feature a spring or built in shock absorber to absorb movement, encouraging a smoother and safe ride. ‘What types of dogs can be used in mushing?’ In fact there are no breed of dog that wouldn’t take to mushing! You don’t have to worry about being competitive (unless you want to!), but if you’re just looking for another fun activity to do with your dog, any breed can be put in front of a scooter. Large, athletic breeds that have an instinctive desire to pull, like Huskies or Malamutes are a common choice for competitive Mushing, but really, any dog weighing upwards of 30lb would be an ideal size. If you put a small breed in harness, just be aware you may not ask them to pull the weight of you and the scooter, but as a fun activity to enjoy together, your dog in harness with you kicking behind, no breed need miss out. ‘What type of scooter do I need?’ Many types of scooters can be used for mushing and there are different sized lead adapters for various scooter models. You might find your current scooter would suit you for an entry in to mushing, but ideally, scooters should be large, off-road types, geared up for terrain. Check out our designated mushing page for our range of ideal scooters - https://www.funon2wheels.co.uk/store1/Dog-Mushing-c50654840. ‘Where can I find more information?’ The British Sled Dog Sports Association features 5 main disciplines in sled dog sports, and scootering is one of them! Did you know the UK has a number of international champions? Something new to set your sights on maybe. Their website is a great place to start researching in to the sport of Mushing; https://www.thebssf.org.uk/. This page shows you your local scootering clubs https://www.thebssf.org.uk/get-started/find-a-club-near-you, though the community is much bigger than you realise and there is lots of advice on hand for newcomers to the sport. While of course a Husky is not essential for mushing, The British Siberian Husky Racing Association is a great resource – it was founded at the end of the 1995/6 season, so these guys know what they’re talking about!
AMBASSADOR SEARCH To celebrate the approach of our first year in business, Fun On 2 Wheels Scooters are now looking for a Brand Ambassador who will be with us for the 2020-2021 season! The successful Brand Ambassador will be supplied with a brand new Yedoo Trexx! This is a white, 2019 model Trexx, worth £440. Are you already a passionate and regular scooter rider, keen to cover miles, explore new routes and document your adventures? You could be who we are looking for! Our new Brand Ambassador will; • be keen to promote scooting in the UK • be a friendly and enthusiastic person, happy to chat to others you come across who are interested in scooting • promote #FO2W and give out our business cards wherever possible • regularly post on social media tagging #FO2W when they post (minimum of 2 x month) • map and share their routes on our Facebook group ‘Kick Scooter Rides & Routes in the UK’ • send us pictures and routes from their travels, for use on our social media platforms • practice safe scootering at all times How to apply; Write a short introduction about yourself, telling us why you think you would make a good ambassador for #FO2W. Include a bit about your scooter history, your favourite scooter and the best ride you have been on. Include any social media handles (i.e. your Instagram name) if you like. Email us at info@funon2wheels.co.uk; closing date is 31.05.2020. Remember, we are not looking for someone who scoots huge distances or has lots of Instagram followers, rather someone passionate, who scoots a minimum of once a week (even just with the family!), wants to promote the growth of scooting throughout the UK and is happy to share their journey. You must be 18+ years of age and live in the UK. Good luck!
We specialise in quality big-wheeled scooters for adults and children and offer that personal touch - we are here to help you choose the perfect scooter for your needs.
Contact us
07789071578
info@funon2wheels.co.uk
Norfolk, UK
