Photo: Pumgo

While I love all kinds of sports, I've never really gotten into things with wheels. Sure, I cycle a bit (but my skills are sorely lacking), and after an unfortunate downhill trip wearing rollerblades, those have stayed in the back of the closet. Never in my life had I been on a skateboard or scooter or anything, until I attended Surf Expo a couple of weeks ago.

I kept seeing these girls riding around on this funky-looking scooter -- they were standing, but sort of pedaling. I followed them back to their booth and found that the scooter is a Pumgo scooter. It's a pedal-powered fitness scooter, and it's awesome.

I tried it out (yes, right there, in front of a huge group of people), and it was surprisingly easy to use. You need a bit of balance, but I feel confident saying that most people would have no problem hopping on and using it right then and there.

Proof that I rode the Pumgo around without crashing -- look at the smile! Photo: Kristen Seymour

The pedals don't function like a bike -- they're more like a stair-stepper, with the motion going up and down, which makes this ideal for those with hip issues that are exacerbated by the cyclical motion of a bike pedal.

Additionally, because you're standing, it's not a problem to wear short shorts or even a skirt -- think of the possibilities for using this as transportation to and from school or work! If I were still in college, this would definitely be the way I'd want to go to class.

Priced at $249, it costs close to what you might pay for a bike, and while it might not reach speeds of 20 miles per hour, believe me when I say that this thing really moves, and you get a great workout doing it. Check it out in the video below!

But, if the Pumgo doesn't present enough of a challenge for you, maybe this scooter would be more your speed.