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Mini Micro Scooters—The Concept Behind the Craze

admin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:20:57 +0000

For many people across the country, mini micro scooters have revolutionised how they get to work or school, with the zippy aluminium scooters now a firm favourite with everyone from toddlers to stockbrokers.

Like so many other inventions, the idea for the mini micro scooters according to the inventor, was born out of “necessity”. Or so he claims. In the early 1990s, Wim Ouboter, a 30-year-old Swiss banker, found the distance from his home in Zurich to his favourite fast-food stand too far to walk. However, it was also too short a distance to merit the hassle of getting his car or bicycle out of the garage. It was, according to Ouboter, “a micro-distance”.

As children in Switzerland, Ouboter had loved being out and about with his family. However, Ouboter’s sister had a disability which meant that one of her legs was substantially shorter than the other. She couldn’t ride a bicycle properly, but was great on her scooter, so their parents encouraged both children to play more with scooters than with bikes.

Later, to get to his fast-food place, Ouboter was inspired to construct a simple scooter in his garage from basic materials and some wheels scavenged from a pair of inline skates. While his wife praised the idea, his initial prototype drew laughter on the streets of Zurich. He decided to modify his initial design to make it foldable, allowing him to stow it in a rucksack. Several prototypes later, and the micro-scooter was ready for production. And cool.

Ouboter outsourced production to China to reduce production costs, and the product quickly became a hit with commuters in Japan, with the rest of the world soon joining the trend. Indeed, the aluminium scooters became something of a symbol of the Dot.com boom of the late 1990s, selling millions of units. The fate of the scooter business took a similar path to many Dot.com companies in subsequent years, however, and a rash of cheap knock-offs from China almost spelled the end for the micro-scooter. Sales have since stabilised, and enthusiasts all over the world have made the scooters a feature of skate parks too.

The company went on to flourish again by improving quality and introducing new products, including three-wheeled scooters called mini micro-scooters, which can be fitted with raised seats and o-shaped handlebars to allow toddlers to scoot along. The mini-micro scooters can also grow with the child through a change of handlebars. Other developments included collaboration with luggage manufacturer Samsonite to produce the ‘Micro Luggage’ or suitcase micro-scooter, and even a kit-carrier for the Swiss army.

Today the company produces stunt scooters beloved by the young and not-so-young across the world, with a loyal body of enthusiasts. The three-wheeled kickboard scooter is also available, either with T-bar handlebars or a so-called ‘joy-stick’ steering pole for those looking for more stability. A wide range of accessories and equipment rounds out the micro-scooter portfolio, while spare parts and service also play an important part in the business. Indeed, the scooters are screwed and bolted together, ensuring that owners can repair the scooters themselves.

Micro Mini Scooter range means something for everyone

admin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:06:17 +0000

The micro mini scooter is a familiar sight on our streets and footpaths, and is loved by commuters, school-kids and stunt riders across the world. A lot has changed since the micro-scooter first came on the market in the 1990s, however, especially in terms of the range of scooters and accessories available.

While the micro mini scooter was originally available exclusively in a brushed-aluminium finish with transparent, hard plastic wheels, the makers of micro-scooters, Micro Mobility Systems in Switzerland, have improved the scooters attractiveness with a wide range of beautifully-coloured, often modifiable scooters to suit all sizes of scooter enthusiast.

While the telescopic handlebars of the original scooters meant they could be manoeuvred by both school children and adults, the range has been expanded downwards to cater for the needs of smaller children.

Mini Micro Scooters (ages 1-3) do away with the folding mechanism to eliminate traps for little fingers, and have two wheels in front for extra stability. O-shaped handlebars can be combined with seats for children from 1 year, even allowing them to practice scooting like older siblings before they can walk properly. The scooters are available in a range of bright colours.

When the child has grown, the Mini Micro Scooter can then be adapted for older children (age 3-5) by replacing the O-bar with a set of higher T-bar handlebars. For children aged 6 to 12, Maxi scooters are recommended. Their three wheels also allow the rider to ‘lean and steer’ instead of turning handlebars like on a conventional scooter.

Aluminium adult scooters are suitable for ages 5 to adult, and some are available with larger wheels for different street conditions. Shock damping systems are also available, as are models with wheels called ‘fatties’—broad wheels that increase grip and even enable off-road scooting.
A range of stunt scooters (from age 8 to adult) is also available, including features such as BMX grips, drilled decks and special wheels for extra speed on ramps.

One of the areas Micro Scooters have focused on is that of accessories. A huge range of accessories means parents can add drinking bottles or small rucksacks to their child’s scooter. Safety is very important when riding scooters, and Micro Scooters supply high-visibility safety vests, helmets and a range of knee and elbow pads. Bells are available too to warn pedestrians of your approach! Decorations such as hobby-horse style animal heads, ribbons and tassles can decorate the scooter, as can personalisation letter rings to avoid playground mix-ups.

Some of the more practical add-ons include a ‘Scoot’n pull’ band for parents to tow a child on a scooter, as well as ‘Scooterearz’—weather-proof hand warmers to keep little hands warm in winter. Some of our micro scooters is available in our online shop.

With a vast range of products for all ages, Micro Scooters has something for all the family, from experienced scooter enthusiasts to beginners—and all just a mouse-click away.

Super Stunts with Mini Scooters (Micro Scooters)

admin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:37:29 +0000

There is a growing legion of young skate-park stuntmen (and women) who are daily coming up with new ways to knock fun out of their mini scooters.

With BMX, skateboards and inline skates having a history of being used to perform a plethora of tricks and stunts, many cities around the world are equipped with excellent skate parks and areas where skateboarders and BMX riders can hone their skills. In the last few years, however, mini scooters (and mirco) are increasingly making their presence felt at such parks.

While riders like Ryan Nyquist have defined BMX riding for a generation of bikers, and Tony Hawk has remained almost peerless on the skateboard, the relatively recent advent of micro scooters on the market has meant they have been playing catch-up with the other sports in terms of skate park activity.

Micro scooters can be used to perform an ever-growing host of tricks and stunts in dedicated skate parks. Basic examples include ‘Ollies’ or bunny hops (jumps into the air from a flat surface), 180s (Ollies with 180 degree turns—the scooter lands moving backwards), tail whips (holding the handlebars and whipping the deck around by kicking and rotating the hands while in the air), and handlebar spins.
More advanced tricks include Indys (grabbing the deck between your feet while in the air) and flips. Flips require ramps and a lot of speed to give enough ‘air’ for the flip. Even backflips are possible on ramps with practice. Grinds are stunts performed by jumping into the air at speed and sliding sideways along a fixed object such as a bench or, more commonly, a rail.

Essential for performing stunts and tricks is the correct safety gear—knee and elbow pads, correct footwear that allows the ankle to move within the shoe, and especially a good-fitting helmet.

You can check out lots of stunts on YouTube. Here’s Terry Price performing (well, attempting!) a double backflip:

Another video showing a wide range of scooter tricks is this one:

The following video shows micro scooters in action at the Planet X Games in 2007. Check out the front flip towards the end of the video. Super awesome!

Have fun watching, and have fun in the air!

Micro Scooters are the Height of Fashion (Part 2)

admin — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 18:09:37 +0000

In the last Week Mini and Micro Scooters have remained among the most popular items on our website. So we did another look for famous people who are using scooters.

Micro Scooter

Obviously when you are looking for Fashion trends you dont need to look any further than Stella Stella McCartney. Stella carrying Micro Scooter must mean they are the ‘in’ item for kids next season.

Micro Scooter

Even rock star Liam Gallagher is seen out for a family stroll with his kids and a micro scooter. This must mean they are not only trendy but cool too.

Here is a link to our previous post on the stars using Micro Scooters.

Choosing a Trek Road Bike

admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 12:49:10 +0000

Trek Road Bikes

In Little Sport we stock the range of Trek road bikes.

Trek are famous for their mountain bikes and accessories but they also have a very good range of road bikes.

The main thing that allows Trek to stand out from other bike producers is quality, that’s why they are one of the leading brands.

In Little Sport we have a wide selection of styles, colours, designs of Trek bikes to suit all needs. Not to mention loads of other brands.

Choosing a Trek Road Bike

Below are a few pointers on what are the main differences between a road bike, touring, mountain and hybrid bikes.

Features

Very lightweight frame, wheels and components.
A drop (curled) handlebar, though some have a flat bar like a mountain bike.
Narrow wheels and tires.
A composite (carbon fiber) front fork.
No front or rear suspension.
Men’s and women’s styles and a wide range of sizes.
Function

Intended for fitness enthusiasts, event riders and competitive riders.
Designed for paved surfaces (roads, bike paths); not recommended for rough or unpaved surfaces.
Allows riders to go farther and faster than most other types of bikes.
Suitable for vehicle-supported multiday touring, though they’re usually not designed to carry heavy loads.

Check out this video on the range of Trek road bikes.

In Little Sport we stock, Trek, Giant, Haro BMX, Silverback Bikes, Mini/Micro Scooters, Nihola, Falcon, Fuji, Viking bikes and much more. Drop in and have a look!!

Sam Pilgrim Mountain Bike Freestyles in Japan

admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:06:52 +0000

Some people go on car trips. Us, we prefer to go on holidays with our bikes. In this video Sam Pilgrim immerses himself in Japanese culture to share with the locals his perspective on free-ride mountain biking .

Sam Pilgrim rides with the locals, experiences cultural rituals, demonstrates and discusses endless potential for the growth of the freeride MTB movement in Japan in this Teva storytelling video.

We currently have a wide selection of mountain bikes for sale in Little Sport in Fairview. If you are thinking of taking up the sport. Call us!

BMX Freestyle Stunts: How to Flatland

admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:57:00 +0000

This is an excellent video and tips from Mario Carelse on the Video Jug Website. Have a look and see if you can master flatland BMX’ing.

How To Flatland

We’re going to look at how to do BMX freestyle flatland. Basically, this is playing within BMX, it is what it is. It’s on a flatland.

You can find anywhere flat, it can be car parks, it can be tennis courts, it can be pavement as long as you’re not in the way of the general public, you’re safe while you’re doing it, you’ve got the correct safety gear and your bike is in good condition. You don’t necessarily have to have a flatland bike to do flatland tricks. You can have any kind of BMX as long as you have pegs and brakes, you can learn the basics.

With this bike this is actually a flatland bike specific so I wouldn’t use this for ramps or anything, thing is purely just for riding flatland in places like this. To do BMX flatland you don’t need to be super fit or a sportsman or anything like that because as you learn your tricks your body strength will build but it is important that if you’re doing certain tricks, you’re using your upper chest a lot to actually train if you want to. Obviously if you finish riding or before you ride make sure you stretch so that you’re not going to pull any muscles or damage yourself.

Try and workout a little bit if you can. Keep yourself in good, healthy condition and it all adds up to making flat land riding a lot easier. If you are physically in good shape and your bike is dialed in and in good working order and then you will need to learn the stunts which we will touch on now.

…

bmx flatland tricks

In Little Sport we stock, Trek, Giant, Haro BMX, Silverback Bikes, Mini/Micro Scooters, Nihola, Falcon, Fuji, Viking bikes and much more. Drop in and have a look!!

Ironman Workouts

admin — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:41:35 +0000

In recent years more and more Irish people are becoming more fitness aware. For some just being fit is not enough. They push themselves even further and participate in Ironman competitions.

Through out Ireland all year round there are Ironman competitions and in Little Sport we help tog them out with some of the gear they need for their race, especially the bike section. It is a huge achievement to participate in these races, and an even bigger achievement to complete them so we are happy to be involved in a small way.

Iron man work outs. This time Chris Lieto focuses on the bike session, check this out for some simple tips and advice.

In Little Sport we stock, Trek, Giant, Haro BMX, Silverback Bikes, Mini/Micro Scooters, Nihola, Falcon, Fuji, Viking bikes and much more. Drop in and have a look!!

Micro Scooters are the Height of Fashion

admin — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:27:18 +0000

In Little Sport we know that Micro and Mini Scooters are cool, thats why we stock them, but recently the stars have been seen scooting around town too.

It may be on the way to school. It may be while out shopping, or it even might be to keep the kids moving quickly through an airport. Micro scooters are the answer. So if you are looking to borrow some style tips from the stars maybe a micro-scooter for your little one is the ideal gift!

Micro Scooters are the Height of fashion. Check out Claudia Schiffer and her daughter on the way to school.

Micro Scooters

In this picture of Angelina Jolie in an airport with her family, you can just about see the micro scooter on the left!

Micro Scooters

In Little Sport we stock, Trek, Giant, Haro BMX, Silverback Bikes, Mini/Micro Scooters, Nihola, Falcon, Fuji, Viking bikes and much more. Drop in and have a look!!

The Silverback Starke

admin — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:32:14 +0000

At Little Sport we are very proud to stock the Silverback bike range. Silverback pride themselves in producing bikes that have style and use cutting edge modern technology. On their website they say, “Ideas and unique concepts are born from the imagination and determination and lateral transfer of thinking out of the geographical diversity of our design team.” Wow, sounds good.

The Silverback Starke below is the new Silverback bike we are stocking in Little Sport.

Silverback Stark

Check out their website:

http://www.silverbacklab.com/2011_website_SILVERBACK/starke1.htm

In Little Sport we stock, Trek, Giant, Haro BMX, Silverback Bikes, Mini/Micro Scooters, Nihola, Falcon, Fuji, Viking bikes and much more. Drop in and have a look!!