Fold up scooters from the 90's on the playa?

Kate E Kaboom · Post by **Kate E Kaboom** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:52 am

Hello! Although I've been going to regional burns for years, this is my first year on the playa. I'm flying in and the thing i'm really having a problem with is bikes. I am planning all this woefully late, i know, otherwise i would've reserved a kwanis bike. ANYWAYS:
REAL QUESTION:
Does anyone remember these lil scooters from the 90's? like this:

http://www.target.com/p/razor-a-scooter ... 7AodKygAlA

Do they work on the playa? My friend says she hasnt seen one out there. Am i just ahead of my time? am i about to start a SCOOTER REVOLUTION???? or are they just a terrible idea? PLS HALP

Kate E Kaboom · Post by **Kate E Kaboom** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:54 am

or OMG THIS ONE HAS LIGHTSSSS
http://www.target.com/p/razor-a-lighted ... A-13679834#

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:57 am

I don't think those will work. The wheels are too small and it would just dig into the surface of the playa. Any already soft spots would be impassable on it.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:58 am

The wheels arn't big or wide enough.

Kate E Kaboom · Post by **Kate E Kaboom** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:59 am

i had a feeling. meh. it was a thought.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:59 am

In a word..NO

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:16 am

But it is possible to carry through soft spots. Are we sure that it's utterly useless. If you have the room, you might just bring it anyway...
(expects to be told it's unworkable. Don't forget how unworkable my situation is...)

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:19 am

It would certainly be useful and fun at the Skaters camp and might also be fun to use for pranks and other shennanigans. If you have room, bring it!

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:43 am

I saw a few out there in 2011 and they were moving along. You would really really need to watch for soft spots. They would be very entertaining for those watching you. There's always a bright side.

Kate E Kaboom · Post by **Kate E Kaboom** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:50 am

hmmm welll its always a thought. i'm just exploring all options! and that light-up one just needs to hit the playa

Kate E Kaboom · Post by **Kate E Kaboom** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:51 am

And this might sound dumb, but what is a "soft spot"? like a muddy spot? i haven't spent much time in the desert, but i am a camping warrior here in MO.

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:07 am

The Playa surface is fairly hard packed dust, about the consistency of talcum powder. When you drive, bike, or walk on it, it breaks into loose dust. Sometimes the loose layer is several inches deep creating a "soft spot". It also blows into mini dunes and it very difficult to ride through, even on a bike with big wheels. Fat tires on your bike help but some places are so deep, you have to walk your bike through them or go around. In the case of last year, the whole 3:00 side of the city was a soft spot and impossible to avoid. Mud holes are to be avoided at all costs because Playa mud sticks to EVERYTHING. Mud holes in the open Playa should be avoided because it probably wasn't water that created them.

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:17 am

The ones with larger pneumatic tires on it will work, but that thing with the roller blade wheels on it will be a complete waste of time. Perhaps you could ride it at the roller disco or skate camp, but on the playa itself...not so good.

The first year I went I took one (not knowing any better) with pneumatic tires with the gas engine on it, what a pain in the ass. It was abandoned after about a day and a half.

Dangerous to say the least. Keep BM potentially painful...

Post by **Eric** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:19 am

The flat area in the image below is normal playa surface, those little dunes with the spade in them are what we call "soft spots"

Do not let the small size of them fool you - you can power through some of them, but I've seen people take some nasty spills when they hit them unaware. The really big ones (like the 3:00 side of the city in 2010 & 2012) can be real pains to get through, but you'll come out with great legs.

Like TT120 says - if you see an actual wet area, try to avoid it. The playa surface turns into nasty, sticky clay when wet. That's the reason you're told to stay where you are if it starts raining.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:15 pm

Yeah, about those great legs...

I can attest that those soft spots can stop you in your tracks.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:31 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:Yeah, about those great legs...

I can attest that those soft spots can stop you in your tracks.

I'm adding a tow rope to my scooter.. It has little wheels..

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:32 pm

Eric's illustration also shows why some call those "playa snakes"
something with balloon tires might be more playa friendly.

and WOW hubba hubba!

otakup0pe · Post by **otakup0pe** » Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:33 pm

Elorrum wrote:Eric's illustration also shows why some call those "playa snakes"
something with balloon tires might be more playa friendly.

and WOW hubba hubba!

I had something similar to the top one last year and while it was nice in theory it was kind of awful for going any farther than a few blocks. I'm going to electrify it and try it again next year.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:28 pm

And don't forget that much of the playa surface in the camping areas has been churned to dust by all the traffic. I'm putting my playa tires on my bike today.

Fold up scooters from the 90's on the playa?

Fold up scooters from the 90's on the playa?

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