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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

As an adult to buy a Micro Sprite for the school run?

42 replies

Twocupsofteaplease · 04/07/2019 20:58

Walking at a fast pace with the kids, it takes us around 20-25 mins to get to school. One currently has a scooter but the other doesn't so we don't get there that much quicker. On bikes, I don't keep up very well unless I run then I end up arriving to the office feeling really sweaty. Considering Micro Sprites for the kids after summer to make the school run quicker. AIBU to get one for myself too? The website says 5-12 years but the weight limit is 100kg so I'm thinking it should be fine? I know smaller wheels are not as comfy as bigger wheels but I only need it to get to school, to the station and vice versa at end of the day! Considering the Sprite for me due to it being cheaper than the adult ones and smaller (storage). Does anyone have one?! They're still ££ so don't want to waste my money! Thanks!

OP posts:

Booboo66 · 05/07/2019 08:50

I see loads of adults on scooters these days, and multiple parents riding their DC's sprite home after drop off and to pick ups. We've had one for 6 years now and it's still going strong after a hard life and plenty riding by adults and teens. I think it will be fine for you

ShatnersWig · 05/07/2019 08:52

I saw an adult on one recently for the first time and I immediately thought "If I lived in London I would so have one".

RiddleyW · 05/07/2019 08:55

Do people ride them on the pavement?

MoverOfPaper · 05/07/2019 08:57

The children’s ones are almost exactly the same as the original late 90s early 00s adult trendy ones. The only difference is that in the originals the wheels were inflatable, and the kick board was squarer making going up kerbs more difficult.

So yes I’d use a kids one.

Tolleshunt · 05/07/2019 08:58

I’m toying with the idea of getting one too. Every kid has one where I live, but hardly any adults, so i’ve been worried I would look silly. I need to bite the bullet and get on with it. Go for it, OP!

TremblingFanjo · 05/07/2019 09:38

Someone I know has something that is a cross between a scooter and a bike - I think it's a bit like a pedalflow.

As long as you don't get a unicycle, you'll be grand.

RoundingError · 05/07/2019 12:38

stuck Cycling for short distances isn’t worth it - by the time I’ve taken the bikes out the shed, through the house (terrace, tiny front garden) and then gone back and closed all the doors, we could have scooted to school. Plus I don’t want to cycle on the pavement, but there isn’t a way safe from rat-runners to get to school, so we have to do me on the road, the kids on the pavement, and I get off and we all push our bikes at each road crossing and right turn, and then all get back on again. So it takes a while.

Thymeout · 05/07/2019 13:04

This reminds me of those threads where pps won't contemplate a shopping trolley because they think they'll look like an old lady. Other countries seem so much more sensible about this sort of thing. I'm an oldie who'd love a scooter. The only problem would be how I would carry my shopping. Perhaps someone could invent a hybrid.

Op - go for it. Or have you considered a skate-board? Easier to carry.

Original poster

Twocupsofteaplease · 05/07/2019 13:39

Thanks everyone. To clarify, as perhaps the title of my post wasn't clear, the AIBU was with respect to getting one marketed as being for kids (even though I'm well within weight limit) versus spending more on one marketed as for adults. I wasn't asking if AIBU to get a scooter full stop. If people think I look silly on one, then they are free to think that as everyone is entitled to an opinion but it really doesn't bother me at all :)

MermaidUnicorn, thanks. Will check out the Decathlon website. That price sounds more reasonable!

OP posts:

Original poster

Twocupsofteaplease · 05/07/2019 13:43

Stucknoue we do sometimes cycle but I can't keep up with the kids on their bikes. So they end up waiting for me and we don't actually get to school quicker. I would cycle (on the road with kids on pavement) but for a couple of reasons me on bike isn't going to work. I have tried running alongside them but carrying several bags and my own stuff I end up sweaty before I've even got into the office!

OP posts:

MoverOfPaper · 05/07/2019 20:52

As long as you don't get a unicycle, you'll be grand.

This is my new mantra. It works for everything,

Get a kids scooter! I ride one. Well sometimes.

Original poster

Twocupsofteaplease · 06/07/2019 05:14

As long as you don't get a unicycle, you'll be grand

RoundingError agree. We have similar issues with using the bikes. We also have a busy main road so it's even harder to keep an eye on the kids around parked cars and traffic around me.

ThymeOut love the name! Also, I've been using a shopping trolley since my 20s. Really came into its own when I had a baby. Baby in sling and still able to carry all the shopping home!

OP posts:

LellyMcKelly · 06/07/2019 06:13

I’ve got an adult microscooter and ignore the haters, scooters are so much fun and can cut your journey time in half. Not only that, they’re fantastic exercise (just remember to change legs regularly). I have buns of steel and my legs toned tight up.

MrsJamin · 06/07/2019 06:30

All of you who say it's silly, you're nothing more than playground bullies. Scooting is a brilliant efficient way to get around as an adult, in Europe they are everywhere. I have scooted for years now and don't give two shits what I look like. It's people like you bullies who have brought us to a place where people would rather drive and cause climate change and air pollution than "look silly". Get over yourselves, really.
Op go for it but get an adult one from decathlon, really robust and cheap.

Thekingintheeast · 06/07/2019 07:50

My very tall athletic 11 year old has an adult one now as she outgrew the kids one and it’s much more comfortable to scoot on than the kids one. It’s totally different to the kids micro one. It’s got big wheels and has a bigger board - you don’t get nearly as much vibration coming through the handlebars on it. She loves it - go for it!!

WonderTweek · 06/07/2019 08:24

I have an adult micro and it's sooo smooth! I'm about to start using it for my morning commute to my new job, but I'm still walking as I'm trying out different routes before I decide on the best one (it's an old part of the city so lots of cobbled streets). I feel slightly self conscious that people might think I look silly, but I try not to care because 1) I don't drive, and 2) I'm scared of cycling on the roads! Also I have to catch a bus too so a foldable scooter is easier to carry than a bike.

I'd say go for it! They're so much fun too.

WonderTweek · 06/07/2019 08:25

Also I've noticed that there's a guy that shares my commute and he rides a motorised (?) unicycle with flashy lights and does not give a toss.

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