I can't drive I-95

Technically, I can drive on I-95 but my self-confidence keeps me to local roads.  Setting out for my first big ride only one week after achieving my Maryland motorcycle license with Just Plane Jayne on Pete Lee (2008 Honda Metropolitan), I added 30 miles to the 17,808 miles on our new (used) 1997 Suzuki Savage LS650. 

Navigating local Columbia roads, we visited the fancy new Harris Teeter in Kings Contrivance, tested out the bike’s “get up and go” on Cedar Lane, stopped by my office (MdBioLab) at Oakland Mills HS and enjoyed our first ride together!  We also dropped off a travel bug in Travel Souvenirs, one of our local geocaches.

We purchased the bike only a week before from a former “first-time learner” as well.  It’s a great choice for someone just learning how to ride.  The single-cylinder is big enough to get you out of the way if you need to but small enough to keep from overpowering your recently acquired skills.  Lacking the baffle in the muffler (due to cancerous rust) the bike leaves a lasting impression on those around you when starting.  The bike has been dropped off at the shop for its repairs so I’m anxiously awaiting its return, which will hopefully be prior to winter.

I’m growing attached to the bike and hope to log several miles in the near future.  My confidence is mounting; I’m getting better on the turns and even hit 50 mph! Lastly, kudos to craigslist for folks looking to find a used bike at reasonable prices – the unending supply of lonely bikes looking for good homes provided a week’s worth of entertainment!

Scooters are the New Black

All across America, scooters are becoming the new corporate car. In the last few weeks, my travels have taken me all over New England (Maine, Boston, and Providence, RI), and I have noticed a proliferation of scooters outside storefronts bearing the store’s logo. I can’t decide whether these are just for looks or whether they are actual corporate vehicles, but I have seen scooters on the front stoop of businesses ranging from pizza delivery joints (okay, so maybe that’s not TOO unusual), dry cleaners, restaurants, copy shops, boutique hotels, and hardware stores.

This one was spotted outside my favorite pet supply store in Portland, Maine: Planet Dog.

Love the “PUPPY” license plate! Also want to give a shout out to the hardworking folks a Planet Dog, who make the world’s best pepperminty dog chew toys and always have an interesting tidbit about dog life in Portland to share.

Columbia Scooter Club Inaugural Ride

Odometer: 220

I’ve fallen a little behind in my blogging lately – I think because so many exciting things have been happening. First off, this post is to celebrate the inaugural ride of the Columbia Scooter Club. We had our first ride last Sunday, on a beautifully crisp fall afternoon around 5:00 pm. We rode for about an hour, on the following 21-mile route:

• Hickory Ridge Road to Martin Road
• Left on Seneca Drive and up over US-29
• Right on Seneca Drive to Guilford Road
• Left on Brokenland Parkway to Cradlerock Drive
• Right on Homespun Drive to Oakland Mills Road
• Oakland Mills Road to Thunder Hill Parkway, looping past the village center to Stevens Forest Road
• Stevens Forest across Brokenland, then a little bit of maneuvering to get back to Seneca Drive and back home the way we started

Columbia is such an excellent scooting town; there are probably a million ways we could have gone. My riding buddy was very patient of my slower speeds and sluggish performance on the hills – on his 200 cc scooter he can drive on the highway without any trouble. Still, a good time was had by all, er, both.

Check out these two rock stars on their kick ass rides!

MPG Update

Odometer: 200.2

Had to fill my little tank for the second time today – yes, it’s actually been over two months since I had to get gas for my scooter despite all the running around I do – and I am pleased to report that Pete Lee still gets excellent gas mileage. And once again, the gas pump refused to give me a receipt. How strange. (Is this a discrimination trend against people who buy small increments of gas, I wonder?). But here are the facts:

• 83.1 miles driven since last fill-up
• 0.90 gallons of gas purchased, at a cost of $2.97
• Total MPG this fill-up: 92.5 MPG
• Overall MPG: 99.3 MPG

This is a quite a bit less than my first fill-up, but Jen noticed yesterday that my tire pressure is a bit low and that may account for some of the difference. Also, I’ve been making a lot more short trips (2 miles or less) and a lot fewer long drives – and we all know what that can do to your fuel efficiency. Still, I dare anyone out there to provide better results.

…. I’m waiting ….