Pumgo pedal-pump-powered scooter

pumgoscooter.jpg

If you're smart like me, you realize that running is for people without the desire to try to eke as much pleasure from as little energy expenditure as possible. (Watch this space for my eyetwitch-activated Skittles launcher, as soon as I can convince someone to build it for me.) Sure, Steven and Lisa are going to get all healthy and feel good, but I'll be sitting right here beating the system.

If I were forced to run—and I'd have to be—I'd try to negotiate the use of the Pumgo scooter, which sticks a stair-climber toward the back of a conventional three-wheeled push scooter, making it possible to add leg energy without resorting to awkward kicks. Think of it like a bicycle for people who don't like their legs to go in circles.

It's $300 from Pumgo, who also sell a precarious looking skateboard on springs.


Discussion

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#1 posted by Anonymous, April 28, 2009 12:40 PM

Why are the legs on that girl much beefier than the legs on that other person?

Good Lord! Don't they make mirrors anymore? What a horrid photograph to accompany a story allegedly touting the physical benefits of a product.

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Another day, another substitute device for running/walking/biking. Why is it that no one else notices why silly contraptions like this always fail? Like a stair-climber or x-country trainer at the gym, these things are designed to make your workout harder, not easier.

While riding a bike, your weight is completely supported by your trunk, which leaves your legs to just do the propulsion part, and is extremely efficient. On gizmos like these, the rider's weight is constantly supported by their legs, which are also providing the locomotion.

I'm not opposed to doing more work in this manner, if that's your bag, but they usually market these to people who find running/biking too strenuous or otherwise difficult. It doesn't make sense, especially when you throw in the quality of the pavement, the weather, and traffic/other riders. I guess I should have been tipped off to the product's claims of viability by the website, which calls golf a workout.

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#3 posted by Anonymous, April 28, 2009 4:01 PM

Does anyone ever invent something new?

The Honda Kick n Go scooter was out back in the early 80's with the same gimmick and they were lousy.

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"Sure, Steven and Lisa are going to get all healthy and feel good, but I'll be sitting right here beating the system."

So funny.

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My first thought was "what's wrong with a bike?" Then I thought, plenty. It doesn't fit in the '94 honda civic sedan. You need a lot of room for a bike on the train. Hell, you may even be able to fit this in the overhead bin on the plane! So if allows decently speedy ground travel, then it could be pretty great.

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#6 posted by Anonymous, April 29, 2009 4:32 AM

Helmets are missing. I suppose they are not afraid of being struck on the head by a mere planet.

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Sir, kindly take your hand off my Lisa!

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I'll second the similarity to the Kick-n-Go, although this version is probably a little less likely to toss you on your face.

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