You may have had lofty lockdown ambitions for returning to work on the mighty bicycle. Well, so did everyone else.
The likes of Halfords report a rosy doubling in sales, but that surging demand has led many stockists to sell out entirely for the moment, while others report lengthy waiting lists.
Arriving anywhere with bells on may have to wait — the buzz is all about the hoverboard.
The what?
Yes, the humble hoverboard! Much maligned? Pish. Lower your sights, because it’s time to alight at ankle level.
The nifty, shifty little e-board (a miniature Segway-style scooter with a tiny electric motor) is the A-to-B gizmo of (second) choice.
Unlike Marty McFly’s flying health-and-safety lawsuit in Back to the Future, the down-to-earth hoverboard will not let you down, unless you fall off.
Why walk to work when you can glide with the stately elegance of a portly emperor on a two-wheel litter? Save the planet. Impress your friends. Charm pedestrians.
Right. What should I buy?
The Vanguard by Hoverboard (£199, hoverboards.co.uk) comes with an autobalance feature, Samsung batteries (two hours, about two commutes’ worth) and an in-built Bluetooth speaker. So pedestrians won’t be able to claim they didn’t hear you coming (crank your Ibiza hotmix to 11 just to be sure).
Then there’s the redoubtable Hovertrax 2.0 (£399.99, Argos), with a shatter-resistant polymer exterior. So anyone walking on the pavement won’t have to worry about breaking your expensive kit if you collide.
Can I ride it on the pavement?
No. Not legally. Doesn’t seem to stop some people, though. But with bike lanes being doubled in some parts of London and hoverboards reaching a heady 12kmh at top speed, you’re ready for life on the edge.
Wear a helmet, and a hi-vis jacket, and lights (front and back!) so as to give cyclists the courtesy of being able to swerve and avoid you.
