The days predicted in ‘Back to the Future’ have finally come to pass. A new invention called the smart glider, or more commonly known as ‘Swegways’ are storming the streets of Birmingham.
Whatever you choose to call them, they are great fun and they’re set to be the next big thing in personal transport – translation? The days of the skateboard are numbered. The gilder is not cheap however. The howls of parents parting with £399 this Christmas can already be heard. But this gift is a must have for teenagers across the country. No household should be without one.
Countless amounts of “gliders” have taken to the internet to report on their experience on the new age board. The reviews hold the glider in high esteem, which is why I tested it out for a day. In my opinion, this technology will become an icon of our era.
Indeed once you’ve got your balance on the board ( and this took me a while), all you need to do is lean forward to make it go forward and lean back if you want it to stop. Turning is simply a case of leaning the way you want to go – much like skiing.
While top speed is billed as 10 kilometres an hour, the reality is there are quite a few factors that will slow you down. When you’re gliding indoors hitting maximum speed is no problem at all. But outside you have to contend with hills, wind and an uneven surface that can throw you off balance if you’re not too careful.
Beware, it is fairly new, so everyone will stare at you, from little children on their push bikes to the elderly in their mobility scooters. Your new board will be the product of envy. Another problem commonly blogged about the effect of uneven surfaces of the pavement. However, once you learn to control the glider by slowing down, you can easily avoid excessive judders along your journey (the Smart Glider only has small wheels).
But apart from that, there isn’t anything else about the glider to report on except its ability to give you hours of fun. It is little heavier than expected and also at £399 it’s quite an investment, though hopefully prices will come down with more boards being produced.
