Scooting

In the Scooting section, I’ll be taking a look at a range of topics relating to kick scooting with the Swifty Zero and the Swift Air, from tackling different types of terrain to finding places to scoot and whatever else comes to mind.

Articles

• 18 Month Review – The Swifty Air, the Swifty Zero and assorted extras.
• 6 Month Review – more thoughts on my Swifty scooters after 6 months.
• 3 Month Review – some thoughts on riding and owning Swifty scooters.
• Another Swifty – Black Friday deals on the Swifty Air MK2.
• Autumn Scooting – no need to hide the scooter when the nights draw in.
• Bottle Cages – a simple way to carry a water bottle and a flask.
• Canal Paths – always extremely flat but not always easy.
• Clothing to Scoot – a carefully thought out clothing system.
• Cycle Paths – plenty of them around and great for scooting.
• Deck Griptape – replacing worn desk griptape, the easy way.
• First Impressions – unpacking, initial assemble, test ride and fine tuning.
• Floor Stands – no-cost support and display stands for your Swifty.
• Forward Lighting – Knog Blinder Road 400 LED lights, times two.
• Getting Started – a simple guide for would-be scooterists.
• Golf Courses – not always an easy scoot but always interesting.
• Hints and Tips – some simple ideas that make all the difference.
• Kick Scooting FAQ – a few useful questions and answers.
• Load Carrying – Rixen and Kaul Vario Rack and Altura Arran pannier.
• Lockdown Scooting – thoughts on scooting in troubled times
• Made for Mud – fitting mudguards to the Swifty Zero.
• Micro Adventures – you don’t have to scoot round the world.
• Minor Issues – dealing with those minor scooter problems.
• Mud in your Eye – not-fitting mudguards to the Swifty Air.
• Night Scooting – when darkness falls and the moon is full.
• Pavement Scoot – some hints & tips for pavement safe scooting.
• Puncture Prevention – fed up with getting flat tyres all the time. Read on.
• Rear Lighting – Guardian Tag-It clip-on lights from Adventure Light.
• Routine Maintenance – if you can lift a spanner you can do this.
• Scoot and Carry – ways to carry your scooter in those awkward situations.
• Scoot Electric – some thoughts on kick-assist electric scooters.
• Scooter Magic – the delights of owning and riding a Swifty scooter.
• Scooting Challenges – a few interesting ideas to keep you scooting.
• Scooting Hazards – wet leaves, pot holes and serious sheep.
• Scoots Law – to scoot or not to scoot, that is the question.
• Spring Scooting – the joys and delights of scooting in Spring.
• Swifty Evolution – a Swifty is good but there’s still room for improvement.
• Tools and Spares – essentials for dealing with breakdowns and punctures.
• Tyre Choice – choosing alternative tyres for town and country.
• Tyre Pressures – the importance of running at the correct tyre pressure.
• Update August 2020 – a few thoughts and comments.
• Urban Trails – using your kick scooter in town and city.
• Why Swifty Scooters – how I came to purchase two Swifty scooters.
• Winter Scooting – cold weather need not stop your scooting.
• Woodland Trails – kick scooting in the dark forbidding forest.

Blogs

• Bo’ness Trails – scooting the coast at Bo’ness, West Lothian.
• Dalmeny Estate – circular mixed route near Edinburgh.
• Dawn Patrol – a silly o’clock scoot on a local golf course.
• Edinburgh Docks – exploring Leith and Newhaven docks.
• Ettrick Water – riverside scoot in Selkirk, Scottish Borders.
• Forth Road Bridge – crossing the Firth of Forth by Swifty Zero.
• Full Moon Scoot – witching hour scoot by the light of the full moon.
• Home to the Sea – nice easy scoot to Musselburgh and back.
• Loch Leven Heritage Trail – 13 mile scoot around the loch.
• Midnight Adventure – 10 miles of nocturnal local trails.
• Musselburgh Coast – muddy trails and old brickworks.
• Roslin to Shawfair – recently extended railway cycle route.
• Silly O’Clock – exploring footpaths and trails around the house.
• The Wind Farm – rough, off-road scoot in the Moorfoot hills.
• The Golf Course – an experimental night ride at a local golf course.
• The Kaims – short local exploration scoot on the Swifty Zero.
• The Kelpies & The Falkirk Wheel – nice easy canal path scoot.
• Torfichen Hill – very challenging off-piste moorland scoot.
• Water of Leith 1 – riverside walkway from Port of Leith to Slateford.
• Water of Leith 2 – riverside walkway from Slateford to Balerno.
• Tweed Valley Railway Path – Innerleithen to Peebles and back, at night.

Future Articles

• Coastal Trails – riding your kick scooter down on the beach.
• Electric Scooters – good or bad, yes or no, I’m not really sure.
• Local Scooting – stay local, leave the car, save the planet.
• Parks and Gardens – ideal places for your first scooter rides.
• Scoot Commute – faster than walking, better than cycling.
• Scooter Safety – a few useful hints and tips to stay safe.
• Summer Scooting – hot days and warmer nights, perfect for scooting.
• Trail Maintenance – some hints and tips for improving the way ahead.
• Upland Trails – lots of ups, great downs and always an adventure.
• Windy Weather – hints and tips for scooting when the wind blows.

Future Blogs

• Arniston Shale Bing – interesting scooting challenge.
• Arthur’s Seat – amazing viewpoint in centre of Edinburgh.
• Braid Hills Trail – 3 miles off road trail in Edinburgh.
• Crichton Castle – spectacular ruins but a scooting challenge.
• Edinburgh Seven Hills – kick scooting the Seven Hills of Edinburgh.
• Gorebridge Gunpowder Mills – remains of industrial heritage site.
• Holyrood Park – amazing park in the centre of Edinburgh.
• Innocent Railway Path – cycle route with tunnel in Edinburgh.
• Levenhall Links, Musselburgh – coastal birdwatching location.
• North Esk Cycle Loop – great scoot right from the door step.
• Pencaitland Railway Path – 6.5 mile disused colliery rail route.
• Springfield Mill, Lasswade – remains of industrial heritage site.
• Straiton Pond, Loanhead – small but interesting local nature reserve.
• Vogrie Country Park – mixed trails to walk, scoot and cycle.
• Wallace’s Cave – famous man-made cave in Roslin Glen.
• Water of Leith – 26 miles from Port of Leith to Balerno, and back.
• Whitehill Golf Course – local destination for an easy scoot.

Galleries

• Scooting Galleries – pictures of Swifty Air and Swifty Zero scooters.

Copyright ©2020 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.