August 2, 2022:
Andy Thousand, editor of andythousand.com put up this nice article today about me and my Xootr scooter riding. I submit weekly pieces to his site, am now up to #124!
Andy Thousand, editor of andythousand.com put up this nice article today about me and my Xootr scooter riding. I submit weekly pieces to his site, am now up to #124!
What is kick scooting for senior citizens?
And why should you consider trying it out?
Whenever I show up somewhere with my Xootr scooter, its mainly older gentlemen who show the most interest.
For some reason, senior citizens love the way you can get around with just the push of a foot. Rather than something that runs on electric or gas. I’ve lost count of the numerous times a group of older gentlemen surrounded me while asking multiple questions.
Kick scooting for senior citizens:
The first question I usually get is, does it run on electric? Followed by, how much does it cost? Then I get a skeptical look when I tell them its very easy to balance on.
They always look surprised when I tell them I can travel three times the speed of walking just by kicking a few times. And then letting it coast on its low-friction wheels.
It doesn’t have to run by electric because its a high-grade kick scooter, that has premium wheels. The misconception among many inexperienced kick scooter riders and many who have never been on a kick scooter is that it rides very slow. Or is extremely tiring to ride.
Learn how to ride a kick scooter from Jonathan Kelley:
Take for example our good friend Jonathan Kelley. Every Thursday Jonathan writes an amazing kick scooter article about his incredible adventures while tearing up the pavement and trails.
And why should you consider trying it out?
Whenever I show up somewhere with my Xootr scooter, its mainly older gentlemen who show the most interest.
For some reason, senior citizens love the way you can get around with just the push of a foot. Rather than something that runs on electric or gas. I’ve lost count of the numerous times a group of older gentlemen surrounded me while asking multiple questions.
Kick scooting for senior citizens:
The first question I usually get is, does it run on electric? Followed by, how much does it cost? Then I get a skeptical look when I tell them its very easy to balance on.
They always look surprised when I tell them I can travel three times the speed of walking just by kicking a few times. And then letting it coast on its low-friction wheels.
It doesn’t have to run by electric because its a high-grade kick scooter, that has premium wheels. The misconception among many inexperienced kick scooter riders and many who have never been on a kick scooter is that it rides very slow. Or is extremely tiring to ride.
Learn how to ride a kick scooter from Jonathan Kelley:
Take for example our good friend Jonathan Kelley. Every Thursday Jonathan writes an amazing kick scooter article about his incredible adventures while tearing up the pavement and trails.
Jonathan rides much farther than most men half his age. What Jonathan has done is learned how to apply proper technique in order to get the most out of each of his kicks.
Instead of kicking like a mad-man in a Kung-fu movie, he instead has discovered that you can only go as fast as you can kick. What Jonathan does is kick enough to get up to a reasonable speed, and then lets the kick scooter glide.
A kick scooter goes faster than walking because it rolls instead of steps. Once the kick scooter slows down enough, he kicks again to get it back up to speed.
By letting the kick scooter do most of the work, Jonathan travels at a respectable speed of approximately 7 mph, without excessively wearing himself out.
But what about wheel size?
I’ve seen this mentioned many times on forums and social media from kick scooter know-it-alls. I used to be part of this one kick scooter group on social media where the admins would just tell all kinds of false information.
They would say all kinds of crazy stuff such as bigger wheels roll faster than smaller ones. Smaller wheels that are solid will slide all over the place in wet weather. Everyone who read this nonsense thought that if you didn’t have a kick scooter with inflatable tires over 10-inches, you were going to be slower than a turtle with one leg.
Instead of kicking like a mad-man in a Kung-fu movie, he instead has discovered that you can only go as fast as you can kick. What Jonathan does is kick enough to get up to a reasonable speed, and then lets the kick scooter glide.
A kick scooter goes faster than walking because it rolls instead of steps. Once the kick scooter slows down enough, he kicks again to get it back up to speed.
By letting the kick scooter do most of the work, Jonathan travels at a respectable speed of approximately 7 mph, without excessively wearing himself out.
But what about wheel size?
I’ve seen this mentioned many times on forums and social media from kick scooter know-it-alls. I used to be part of this one kick scooter group on social media where the admins would just tell all kinds of false information.
They would say all kinds of crazy stuff such as bigger wheels roll faster than smaller ones. Smaller wheels that are solid will slide all over the place in wet weather. Everyone who read this nonsense thought that if you didn’t have a kick scooter with inflatable tires over 10-inches, you were going to be slower than a turtle with one leg.
Here’s the truth. It doesn’t matter how large your wheels are on a kick scooter. What truly matters is what they are made from, and how good the quality is.
Jonathan Kelley disproved this myth when he tested the Xootr Street against the SwiftyONE MK3. The results were astonishing!
What Jonathan discovered was that the Xootr went just as fast as the Swifty without requiring any extra kicks or effort. The only difference is that the Xootr has 7-inch wheels compared to the 16-inch wheels on the Swifty.
Jonathan Kelley disproved this myth when he tested the Xootr Street against the SwiftyONE MK3. The results were astonishing!
What Jonathan discovered was that the Xootr went just as fast as the Swifty without requiring any extra kicks or effort. The only difference is that the Xootr has 7-inch wheels compared to the 16-inch wheels on the Swifty.
Kick scooters can be ridden during rainy weather
Here’s another made-up lie that Steve from Xootr scooter cleared up. Many of the kick scooter fanatics in the group said that you should never ride on wet roads with solid kick scooter wheels. You should only ride with inflatable tires.
Here’s another made-up lie that Steve from Xootr scooter cleared up. Many of the kick scooter fanatics in the group said that you should never ride on wet roads with solid kick scooter wheels. You should only ride with inflatable tires.
Steve proved that the wheels on the Xootr can be ridden on wet surfaces, because he has done it many times himself. If anyone would know, it would be Steve, because he’s the guy at Xootr that runs the whole operation.
Plus, many of his customers have done the same while commuting many miles each week in all types of weather conditions. Heck, I’ve even been caught in a rain storm or two.
Is kick scooting for senior citizens good for balance?
Kick scooting for senior citizens is excellent for balance. Look, as we all get older our strength, coordination, and balance declines. It’s just a fact of life. But, here’s the good news.
With the proper type of activity, you can reverse or slow down this gradual loss of balance. Kick scooting is great for improving balance because you are standing while kicking. Kicking with one leg at a time also improves endurance.
Jonathan Kelley is living proof that kick scooting offers many benefits. Jonathan originally started kick scooting in order to improve his balance, and get plenty of exercise. At 82 years old, he’s definitely showing us much younger guys how its done.
A kick scooter is easy to carry
Many of us live in cities and find that riding the buses and trains is much faster and less-stressful than driving in insane traffic.
The good thing about commuting on a kick scooter is that its light and compact. Most subway and bus centers are only a mile or two away from most commuters homes.
A kick scooter will get you to these centers much faster than walking. But, will be much lighter and compact than a bicycle, even a folding one. That’s because most kick scooters weigh approximately 12 lbs or less on average. This will allow you to extend your commute drastically, while still being able to climb multiple flights of stairs or walking further distances without getting tired. Even if you’re a smaller or an older person.
Kick scooting for senior citizens is affordable
A good adult kick scooter will cost you anywhere between $200 to $400. This might seem like a lot of money for a kick scooter. Yet, its still a lot cheaper than owning a vehicle. You no longer need to pay an extremely high price to purchase a motor vehicle, insurance, insane gas prices, expensive parking fees, and costly repairs.
I personally have 4 different new Xootr scooter models ranging from $250 to $400. With my original Xootr thats over 6 years old, making the total 5.
It has a ton of urban miles on it, and it still hasn’t begun to show signs of wear and tear. With no gears, chains or derailleur systems to adjust or replace, its much cheaper to maintain than even a bicycle.
Most urban commutes are under 5 miles. A Xootr scooter easily covers such distances without the need to exert much effort. That makes an adult kick scooter such as the Xootr a dependable, affordable, and easy way for senior citizens to commute within a large, crowded city.
Adult kick scooters are not kids toys
Mention kick scooters and most adults have images of kids riding cheap, rattly kick scooters pop into their heads. The good news is that adult kicks scooters are much better than the poorly made Razor scooters that everyone was riding a few decades ago.
Plus, many of his customers have done the same while commuting many miles each week in all types of weather conditions. Heck, I’ve even been caught in a rain storm or two.
Is kick scooting for senior citizens good for balance?
Kick scooting for senior citizens is excellent for balance. Look, as we all get older our strength, coordination, and balance declines. It’s just a fact of life. But, here’s the good news.
With the proper type of activity, you can reverse or slow down this gradual loss of balance. Kick scooting is great for improving balance because you are standing while kicking. Kicking with one leg at a time also improves endurance.
Jonathan Kelley is living proof that kick scooting offers many benefits. Jonathan originally started kick scooting in order to improve his balance, and get plenty of exercise. At 82 years old, he’s definitely showing us much younger guys how its done.
A kick scooter is easy to carry
Many of us live in cities and find that riding the buses and trains is much faster and less-stressful than driving in insane traffic.
The good thing about commuting on a kick scooter is that its light and compact. Most subway and bus centers are only a mile or two away from most commuters homes.
A kick scooter will get you to these centers much faster than walking. But, will be much lighter and compact than a bicycle, even a folding one. That’s because most kick scooters weigh approximately 12 lbs or less on average. This will allow you to extend your commute drastically, while still being able to climb multiple flights of stairs or walking further distances without getting tired. Even if you’re a smaller or an older person.
Kick scooting for senior citizens is affordable
A good adult kick scooter will cost you anywhere between $200 to $400. This might seem like a lot of money for a kick scooter. Yet, its still a lot cheaper than owning a vehicle. You no longer need to pay an extremely high price to purchase a motor vehicle, insurance, insane gas prices, expensive parking fees, and costly repairs.
I personally have 4 different new Xootr scooter models ranging from $250 to $400. With my original Xootr thats over 6 years old, making the total 5.
It has a ton of urban miles on it, and it still hasn’t begun to show signs of wear and tear. With no gears, chains or derailleur systems to adjust or replace, its much cheaper to maintain than even a bicycle.
Most urban commutes are under 5 miles. A Xootr scooter easily covers such distances without the need to exert much effort. That makes an adult kick scooter such as the Xootr a dependable, affordable, and easy way for senior citizens to commute within a large, crowded city.
Adult kick scooters are not kids toys
Mention kick scooters and most adults have images of kids riding cheap, rattly kick scooters pop into their heads. The good news is that adult kicks scooters are much better than the poorly made Razor scooters that everyone was riding a few decades ago.
With more durable construction, wider decks, and faster rolling wheels, kick scooters not only last for many years, they are also more comfortable and don’t feel like you’re trying to ride through quicksand.
Everywhere I go no one laughs at my kick scooters. In fact, its the opposite. They absolutely love how stylish my kick scooters look, and how easy they are to ride. I even get many thumbs up while riding past drivers stuck in traffic jams.
Kick scooters are easy to fix
Fixing a kick scooter is easy compared to fixing a car or bicycle. Kick scooters don’t have gears, chains, derailleurs or motors that need to be fixed over time.
With just two wheels, a rear brake and sometimes a front brake, a kick scooter can easily be fixed at home if you have the right tools, and somewhat mechanically capable.
My dad who is a senior citizen was able to remove and replace his front wheel of his Xootr scooter with just a few simple tools.
If you’re not able to fix your kick scooter yourself, companies such as Xootr makes it easy to ship your scooter to them. They will fix your Xootr scooter for a fair price. And then send it back to you working like new within a few days.
Final word: Is kick scooting for senior citizens possible?
We think that the question you should be asking yourself is why haven’t you started yet?
Kick scooting is a great way for anyone to commute within a city environment, no matter how old you are. Its cheap, fun, and easy to do. Plus, you are going to meet lots of new people and even possibly gain more friends than you can handle.
People love how stylish adult kick scooters are, and once you explain how fast they are just by kicking, they will be asking you where to buy one.
The price to purchase an adult kick scooter will seem expensive at first. But, once you experience how long they last and how cheap they are to commute on, you’ll agree the price is well worth the benefits.
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Everywhere I go no one laughs at my kick scooters. In fact, its the opposite. They absolutely love how stylish my kick scooters look, and how easy they are to ride. I even get many thumbs up while riding past drivers stuck in traffic jams.
Kick scooters are easy to fix
Fixing a kick scooter is easy compared to fixing a car or bicycle. Kick scooters don’t have gears, chains, derailleurs or motors that need to be fixed over time.
With just two wheels, a rear brake and sometimes a front brake, a kick scooter can easily be fixed at home if you have the right tools, and somewhat mechanically capable.
My dad who is a senior citizen was able to remove and replace his front wheel of his Xootr scooter with just a few simple tools.
If you’re not able to fix your kick scooter yourself, companies such as Xootr makes it easy to ship your scooter to them. They will fix your Xootr scooter for a fair price. And then send it back to you working like new within a few days.
Final word: Is kick scooting for senior citizens possible?
We think that the question you should be asking yourself is why haven’t you started yet?
Kick scooting is a great way for anyone to commute within a city environment, no matter how old you are. Its cheap, fun, and easy to do. Plus, you are going to meet lots of new people and even possibly gain more friends than you can handle.
People love how stylish adult kick scooters are, and once you explain how fast they are just by kicking, they will be asking you where to buy one.
The price to purchase an adult kick scooter will seem expensive at first. But, once you experience how long they last and how cheap they are to commute on, you’ll agree the price is well worth the benefits.
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2020: I'm writing a series of Xootr scooter articles for a website .
Check them out. http://andythousand.com
Check them out. http://andythousand.com
August 2017
A few months ago, after following my doctor's advice and completing a series of sessions with a physical trainer to improve my balance, I bought a kick scooter. A Xootr Mg Kick Scooter. Yes, a kick scooter. Same as your five year old grandkid uses to tootle around the living room. The idea was to continue working on my balance, and have a portable device to expand my radius of mobility when I use the public transportation network. Truth to tell, it's helped me a lot, and proven as well to be a delightfully fun vehicle to explore the bike paths in our parks, around our lakes, along our waterways. I recommend kick scooting to everyone! It's way easier than you think.
A few months ago, after following my doctor's advice and completing a series of sessions with a physical trainer to improve my balance, I bought a kick scooter. A Xootr Mg Kick Scooter. Yes, a kick scooter. Same as your five year old grandkid uses to tootle around the living room. The idea was to continue working on my balance, and have a portable device to expand my radius of mobility when I use the public transportation network. Truth to tell, it's helped me a lot, and proven as well to be a delightfully fun vehicle to explore the bike paths in our parks, around our lakes, along our waterways. I recommend kick scooting to everyone! It's way easier than you think.
April 8, 2018: Read this wonderful review of my youtube "Senior on a Xootr Scooter” video, written by Andy Thousand on his scooter blog…
http://andythousand.com/xootr-mg-scooter-review-by-jonathan-kelley/
http://andythousand.com/xootr-mg-scooter-review-by-jonathan-kelley/
February 12, 2018, I rode from City of Hope in Duarte to the Norwalk Green Line on the kick scooter in about 3 hours, including a short food break, plus stopping to take a phone call. 21 miles. Nice pace. It was a long ride, but I planned it to see if this old guy could do it. Turned out to be about 2,500 scoots, instead of the 2,000 estimate. It’s easy to count, 20 scoots on the right foot, 20 on the left. Do that 10 times. That’s what I call a set. 400 scoots, about 4 miles. Gives me something to think about on the trail, besides observing the birds and the water and the colonies of homeless people. Weather was cool, with more than the usual head winds….it was warm enough while I was riding, but I wished I’d worn a long sleeved shirt while riding the Green —> Blue —> Gold line rail back to Sierra Madre. Anyway, it felt good. I look forward to doing the next leg, Norwalk to the sea, some time soon.
Comments from my public have been great:
Rich Connell, my LA Times writer friend, also married to a charming boricua:
"Love this video on so many levels. The just fun and ambition of the undertaking, the NPR-ready narration, shot composition and the editing. How do you ride and get such steady-cam video? Goin’ viral."
Nancilee Wydra, my first love, in college:
"You go and keep going. What’s life all about anyway?"
Comments from my public have been great:
Rich Connell, my LA Times writer friend, also married to a charming boricua:
"Love this video on so many levels. The just fun and ambition of the undertaking, the NPR-ready narration, shot composition and the editing. How do you ride and get such steady-cam video? Goin’ viral."
Nancilee Wydra, my first love, in college:
"You go and keep going. What’s life all about anyway?"
From the Pasadena Independent, November 9, 2017:
A Sierra Madre Man, His Scooter And A Dream
By Galen Patterson
Jonathan Kelley is a 77 year old retired anesthesiologist and has been enjoying his time out of the work force for over a decade. Among his pastimes are acting, interacting with the homeless, perfecting his croissant recipe, and avidly riding a scooter.
Kelley is not like most senior citizens. When he was approaching retirement, he began to consider ways in which he could stave off the ravages of time. He began riding a unicycle, to keep his balance as sharp as possible, but he almost severely hurt himself after falling and recalls reading about the famous actor/dancer Fred Astair retiring with a skateboard in hand, who fell and broke his wrist. Kelley began searching for alternatives and eventually found himself at The Vault Pro Scooters in Culver City, testing scooters.
The light weight, compact carrying, wide standing platform and brake system were all attractive qualities of the model he selected, and soon Kelley was gliding around the streets and paved paths of Los Angeles County. Almost immediately, he began to realize the benefits of this peculiar device that has largely been written off as a toy for children.
For example, Kelley is aware of two important things regarding his scooter enthusiasm. The first being that rough pavement and high speeds are the only two real hazards he faces while riding. The other is that he has not seen many adults riding scooters, let alone another senior citizen.
While Kelley’s pastime is remarkable in its own right, he has bigger plans for his hobby. “I would like to fuel a revolution for transportation,” says Kelley. Between the pre-existing methods of public transportation and his portable scooter, almost all of Los Angeles is open for easy transportation and Kelley is going to great personal lengths to spread the word of scooters.
Kelley is listed as a demo-rider for Xootr, a scooter manufacturer, at L.A. CoMotion Expo, an event which gathers transportation entrepreneurs and venture capitalists under one roof.
The benefits of Kelley’s scooting campaign are many. As if personal activity and changing transportation were not enough, he recommends the scooter as an ideal way to get exercise for his fellow seniors.
“There are many senior citizens out there who aren’t morbidly obese and don’t get enough exercise,” he said. It didn’t take Kelley long to realize the health benefits of long distance scooting. He started by conducting ten scoots with one leg and switching to the other. A few months later, Kelley is up to twenty scoots per leg.
Of course, time has taken its toll on the former Navy doctor. “I’ve got the usual health issues that everyone has to deal with,” says Kelley, citing cancer, type-two diabetes and cataract surgeries, but none of it has been enough to stop him from making a positive impact on humanity and maintaining his mobility.
Kelley is currently training to scoot his way down a trail beginning in Duarte and ending in Norwalk, a distance of roughly 19 miles. To learn more about Jonathan Kelly and his scooting crusade, visit his website at https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.kelley.106.
A Sierra Madre Man, His Scooter And A Dream
By Galen Patterson
Jonathan Kelley is a 77 year old retired anesthesiologist and has been enjoying his time out of the work force for over a decade. Among his pastimes are acting, interacting with the homeless, perfecting his croissant recipe, and avidly riding a scooter.
Kelley is not like most senior citizens. When he was approaching retirement, he began to consider ways in which he could stave off the ravages of time. He began riding a unicycle, to keep his balance as sharp as possible, but he almost severely hurt himself after falling and recalls reading about the famous actor/dancer Fred Astair retiring with a skateboard in hand, who fell and broke his wrist. Kelley began searching for alternatives and eventually found himself at The Vault Pro Scooters in Culver City, testing scooters.
The light weight, compact carrying, wide standing platform and brake system were all attractive qualities of the model he selected, and soon Kelley was gliding around the streets and paved paths of Los Angeles County. Almost immediately, he began to realize the benefits of this peculiar device that has largely been written off as a toy for children.
For example, Kelley is aware of two important things regarding his scooter enthusiasm. The first being that rough pavement and high speeds are the only two real hazards he faces while riding. The other is that he has not seen many adults riding scooters, let alone another senior citizen.
While Kelley’s pastime is remarkable in its own right, he has bigger plans for his hobby. “I would like to fuel a revolution for transportation,” says Kelley. Between the pre-existing methods of public transportation and his portable scooter, almost all of Los Angeles is open for easy transportation and Kelley is going to great personal lengths to spread the word of scooters.
Kelley is listed as a demo-rider for Xootr, a scooter manufacturer, at L.A. CoMotion Expo, an event which gathers transportation entrepreneurs and venture capitalists under one roof.
The benefits of Kelley’s scooting campaign are many. As if personal activity and changing transportation were not enough, he recommends the scooter as an ideal way to get exercise for his fellow seniors.
“There are many senior citizens out there who aren’t morbidly obese and don’t get enough exercise,” he said. It didn’t take Kelley long to realize the health benefits of long distance scooting. He started by conducting ten scoots with one leg and switching to the other. A few months later, Kelley is up to twenty scoots per leg.
Of course, time has taken its toll on the former Navy doctor. “I’ve got the usual health issues that everyone has to deal with,” says Kelley, citing cancer, type-two diabetes and cataract surgeries, but none of it has been enough to stop him from making a positive impact on humanity and maintaining his mobility.
Kelley is currently training to scoot his way down a trail beginning in Duarte and ending in Norwalk, a distance of roughly 19 miles. To learn more about Jonathan Kelly and his scooting crusade, visit his website at https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.kelley.106.
From the Exeter Alumni Bulletin, August 2018:
