in love with these gloves

Though the weather has turned too chilly for me to be out on the scoot (I admit it, under 40 degrees is TOO COLD for me), I've learned a lot about gearing up for the cold weather this fall. And there are a few products that really make a difference out there on the cold road. My favorite solution for keeping my fingers warm is a pair of Corazzo gloves that I got for my birthday. These are the "Velocitta" style, and mine are red and black.

For those of you that don't know, Corazzo (www.corazzo.net) is a friendly little line of clothing based in Portland, Oregon. Besides totally rockin' with their designs, Corazzo is actually run by real people who answer their phones and email. I know this because I recently ordered a product from them and received the wrong color. One quick call was all it took to get the problem resolved: they overnighted me the right item and sent me a pre-paid FedEx label to send the wrong one back. They were friendly and apologetic -- completely refreshing in a world where most call centers have been outsourced to countries where English is a second language.

I'm excited about all the other things Corazzo has to offer too. Hope I get something fun for Christmas!

More on School Pride: Crossing Paths with a Crossrunner

Odometer: 1461 miles and headed for winter storage

It’s been a terribly long time since I posted, but I have a good excuse – I’ve been out on my scooter! I’ve put another 500 miles on since my last post, including a few hundred miles on the secondary highway between home and the office.

With the turn to cold weather, though, I fear that scootering for 2009 is over. I’ve learned the importance of layering and found the best gloves for cold weather (Corazzo, we love you!). But more on that another time.

On a recent trip to Atlanta, I came across a real-life CrossRunner at the Georgia Tech bookstore. This beauty is an ES150, priced at $2,299 MSRP. It was displayed prominently in the lobby of Barnes and Noble, and ready for immediate sale. It’s not too late to get one for the college student in your life!

breaking a thousand

after two commutes to work last week, I've rolled the scoot over a thousand miles. Gone is the "what if I don't like it?" fear, as is nearly all memory of my little 50 cc Honda Metropolitan. I've ridden more miles in 6 weeks on the Vespa than I did all last year on Pete Lee. So, it seems like a keeper.

Using RoadTrip for the iPhone (version 1.3.2.22) lets me monitor my gas mileage and other handy statistical features about my scooter. I'm getting 68-75 miles per gallon, with a high of 77 MPG on a day that was mostly highway driving. At current gas prices, it costs me $0.031 per mile to scoot versus $0.084 per mile to drive my 2005 Ford Escape. I'm saving more than 5 cents per mile!

the scoot commute

odometer: 984 miles

After a month of playing around, today I did it. I rode my scooter to work.
It’s funny to think about having to alter your commute. After all, it’s part of the drudgery of daily life: to and from work, to and from work, day after day. Like most Americans, a good part of my commute involves the highway. My Vespa GTS 250 is perfectly capable of achieving highway speeds, but since I am still learning how to maneuver my scoot I thought I better play it safe.

So, I altered my route to be just about 50% highway and 50% surface roads. This let me avoid the poorly designed interchange at I-95 and MD-32, my main route to work, as well as I-97. Both of those spots have frequent crashes, and I would prefer not to get creamed.

This adjustment added 4 miles and about 15 minutes to my 35-minute drive, bringing the grand total to 50 minutes each way. But on a scooter, who’s counting time? I just strapped on my helmet headphones, and away I went. It WAS a big adjustment to not be able to drink coffee on the way to work, but the crisp September air kept me awake and alert.

The ride was great, and other drivers were respectful. I even got a few waves from other bikers – which is nice, considering I’m the low man on the totem pole in terms of motorcycles. Now that we have a stretch of nice weather, I can’t wait to do it again.

I can’t believe I waited so long!

Scooter School Pride: Get College Colors on your Ride

Scooters are popping up in urban areas all over the country, and college towns are no exception. Now, a company called CrossRunner has designed the ultimate college car: a scooter in your college colors.

Inexpensive and fuel efficient, these babies are just the thing to get you around campus in style. Models come in 150ccs and get 84 MPG. Prices start under $2Gs. Available through dealers or direct from the company. Check ‘em out online: http://www.crossrunner.net/

real tags

Went in to MotoStrada today (Hi Mark!) to pick up my real tags, so it's officially not a "new" scoot anymore. Can't wait to trade 'em in for a custom plate touting the amazing gas mileage I get - just to make the other drivers jealous. Check out this great MotoStrada ad that Jen snapped on delivery day.

helpful little lessons

Spending more time on the scooter is both relaxing and educational. My riding is getting better and I am becoming more confident in traffic and with my scooter in general. Plus, I can drive way faster.

Since I’m riding so many more places, I have also learned that there are some things that you cannot do on a scooter, even a bigger one. Just a few things on the list include:

1. Picking up the dry cleaning, unless you want your scooter to double as a sail.
2. Dropping off or picking up the dogs – or children, I would imagine, of at least a certain age.
3. Sneezing. Enough said.
4. Drinking or trying to apply chapstick with the face shield down. Yes, it’s hard to see, okay?
5. Answering a cell phone call, when you have your helmet on. Leads to unfortunate smashing of iPhone against fiberglass.

Just a few helpful little lessons.

hitting the open road

Three weeks have passed, and I can’t believe that I ever hesitated to upgrade to a larger scooter. I’ve already put well over 200 miles on it, more than half the miles I put on the 50 cc in just under a year. So, I guess it’s safe to say that it’s a hit.

This past weekend, I went on two big rides: one from Columbia to Annapolis, 64 miles round trip. The rout included about 40 miles on MD-32, a secondary highway that is my normal commute to the office three days a week. That was our first real experience on the highway, and Jen and I rode together because I wanted to see if I could do it. After I got over the whole “OMG I’m driving on the highway and these people are going really fast” thing, it was actually a very pleasant ride.

The Vespa had no trouble going 70 mph or keeping up with traffic. I doubt I’ll get a speeding ticket on the thing, but I didn’t feel intimidated by the other cars. That road, thankfully, doesn’t have many trucks so I haven’t really had to worry about that quite yet. My ass was a little numb from all the sitting, but I’m sure you can build up your tolerance with more riding practice.

Sunday’s ride was a 42-mile route through Eastern Howard County, over Brighton Dam and across MD-144 (Old National Pike). Special thanks to my friend Steve – who was endlessly patient and rode with me even when I could barely go 35 mph on my 50 cc scooter – who I unwittingly left in the dust on Triadelphia Road. Sorry about that, buddy. But it’s a lovely route and you should definitely try it to get away from the traffic or as an alternative to MD-108.

Jen got me an amazing Bluetooth-radio-mp3-thingie as an early birthday gift (well, technically it was from the dogs if you must know. They’re masters of shopping online.) that has made riding with a buddy infinitely more fun. Will blog about that in the next weeks.

First Report on the New Scoot

odometer: 591 miles

I admit it. I don’t miss Pete Lee even one bit.

It’s been nearly a week since I’ve had the Vespa GTS 250 and I’ve already put nearly 100 miles on it – 20 percent of the mileage that I put on the 50 cc scooter in an entire year of ownership. I mean, there’s not anywhere that I can’t go on this thing! As of the first fill-up, my gas mileage is 62.8 MPG. Try finding that in a car!

Since we’re both new riders and it was a long, unfamiliar ride in the waning daylight, Jen and I tag-teamed the 39-mile ride home from Motostrada. The Vespa handles like a breeze. It’s zippy, comfortable, and the controls are easily within reach. Other than the fact that the bike is much heavier (350 lbs. versus the 175 lb. Honda Metropolitan), there was virtually no learning curve at all.

I’ve enjoyed riding on all sorts of roads I wouldn’t have dared with Pete Lee, including Route 108 and MD-175 (speed limit: 55) through Columbia. The trade up is really to an all-purpose vehicle. If I can get in some riding time on the highway, I may even be ready to take it to work this week.

The Vespa doesn’t have a name yet, but she feels like a girl to me. I guess I have to spent a little more time with her to decide what suits her best. Any suggestions?

the next phase

tomorrow, tomorrow is the day that I pick up my new scoot at Motostrada. It’s a Vespa GTS 250, just like this one. I could have gone with new, but this one is a 2008 with just 494 miles on it – apparently, the original owner decided that scooting just wasn’t for him. Too bad, but his loss is my gain! Saved over $1500 on the thing, and it’s all tricked out with a trunk and a windshield. All I need to do is get on it and go!

Since I am moving up from a 50 cc scoot, I am investigating ways to get from Timonium to Columbia without having to ride on the highway. This new scoot can go practically anywhere, but my riding skills aren’t quite ready for the fast lane yet. Any recommendations?

Trading Up: A Fond Farewell to Pete Lee

Long time, no blog. Sorry guys. It’s been a hectic spring for me, what with getting my master’s degree and getting married and all. But the weather’s fine and the scooters are in season, so I am looking forward to getting back to posting.

This week, I left the pack of casual scooterists behind and became the proud owner of a Vespa GTS 250. I haven’t had a chance to pick it up from MotoStrada yet, but I hope to be racing the cagers back and forth to work in Annapolis by August. I am super excited about my new ride and looking forward to being able to see some new scenery. My 50cc Honda Metropolitan was an excellent starter scoot, but I’ve learned that I like scootering enough to make the step up to a bigger size.

Before I get started blogging about my new adventure, I think that it’s necessary to pay homage to my starter scooter: a 2008 Honda Metropolitan named Pete Lee. Pete was in my life almost a year to the day, and he and I spent a good 423 miles together. That may not seem like much to those of you with bigger engines, but 400 miles is a lot of running around town. Pete left me on Sunday for his new home with a lovely local gal named Sherry. Or Shelly. Or Shelby. Whatever, I can’t remember, but that’s not important. What is important is that Pete Lee was a fabulous learning scooter, and he will be missed.

RIP, Pete Lee.

July 30, 2008 – July 19, 2009

Scooting in the rain

odometer: 336 miles

Sucks. No question about it.

On Sunday, I got my first experience riding in the rain. After three days of drab, dreary weather the sky finally cleared a bit on Sunday afternoon. Jen and I took advantage of the break in the clouds to run a few errands: Target, Kohl’s, the normal late-weekend running around. The ride there was great, and we took a few roads I hadn’t driven before thanks to the added protection of having two bikes on the road instead of just me and my little scooter. When we left the store, though, the sky opened up and began pelting us with fat rain drops and even a bit of hail.

We tried to wait it out, but after about 10 minutes crouching under the Kohl’s awning it became clear that we probably weren’t going to make it out of this without getting wet. By the time I got to my scooter and got road-ready, I was already soaked clear through my jacket, jeans, and gloves.

I was nervous starting out on a wet road, but it turned out that the soaked pavement was really the least of my concern. The real problem was the pelting rain: miniature daggers hitting my face and neck, making it nearly impossible to see. And when I gained any speed at all, the chill of the wind through my wet jacket was simply frigid. The ride home was only about 10 miles, but by the time we got there my fingers were cramped in the throttle position and I was sure I would be cold for the next week. Those clothes went right in the dryer, that’s for sure.

I guess the moral of this story is that rain gear is worth the investment! Next time the weatherman threatens rain, I will wear a moisture layer for sure.

mile mark 300

odometer: 312.5

This weekend, I passed the 300-mile mark on my scooter. That may not seem like a long way to those of you with bigger engines, but considering that my entire scooting experience has been confined to the area near my Columbia, Maryland home, I think that’s a pretty big achievement. After all, that’s the equivalent of scooting clear to New Haven, Connecticut; Raleigh, North Carolina; or Wheeling, West Virginia! At my maximum speed of 42 mph, that would be more than seven hours of continuous riding …. unless I was headed to Wheeling, in which case the ride would be much, much longer (thanks to all those mountains).

The scooting weather this weekend was a bit chilly, so I had to bundle up and wear my Christmas balaclava, a fancy stretchy thing designed to keep the wind off your face and neck. It’s sort of like the Survivor buff, I suppose. Thanks, Santa!

While I'm at it, I’d also like to shout out to all those cheery motorcyclists who include me in the club for waving, and send a big old f*ck you to the nasty chick in the white ragtop Mustang who nearly ran me off the road at Centennial Lane and Route 108. Wait your turn, biyatch!

gas mileage update

Filled up my tank for the first time in ’09 this weekend. Total MPG is up to 111 miles per gallon! How’s that for fuel efficiency?

Welcome Spring! Hooray for the First Scoot of the Season!

Normally, March is a total pisser here in Maryland. The temperature swings wildly and we can hardly sprint from our houses for all the rain, rain, rain that drenches our yards and our spirits. But this weekend, the scooter gods must be smiling on us. Here it is, the first week in March, and I got to take Pete Lee out for his inaugural ride of 2009!

I was a little worried to get back in the saddle (so to speak) after the long winter, but I am delighted to report that it’s, well, just like riding a bicycle. Jen and I were zipping along all over Columbia, me on the Met and her on the newly inspected Suzuki Samurai (650 cc motorcycle). She was very kind to ride slowly for me, but while we’re both still getting our sea legs about us I think we could both exercise a little extra caution.

Although we had no problems with the riding itself, I am sad to note that the winter doldrums seem to have dulled the senses of our fellow motorists. Twice, we were nearly run down by cars whose drivers were chatting on their cell phones or just driving recklessly. Slow down out there, folks! When the weather gets nice, two-wheeled vehicles of all types emerge and you need to be extra cautious out there on the road and particularly in parking lots. Keep an eye out for motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, llamas (just kidding), and pedestrians!

Scooting Hotlanta

I’m in Atlanta this week, and the scooters are in bloom. On the campus of Georgia Tech, students on scooters are literally everywhere – including nearly running me over on the sidewalk outside of Starbucks this morning. And they’re a hearty breed: last night we had dime-size hail, thunder, and lightning, but that did not deter the scooterists from being out on the road. A bright red scoter zipped by me, driver clad in the ever-fashionable lawn and leaf bag. Hats off to you, Mr. Hefty.

All of this is making me eager for spring. Let’s ride!

Scooter Art Rocks!

Borrowed this link from my friend Dave at Scoot Maryland. Alexandria, VA artist Joan Cox has a scooters series currently on display in Baltimore:

http://www.joancoxart.com/Scooters.htm

SO GREAT!

the winter doldrums

The last two days have been marked by the dreaded "wintry mix" here in Maryland. It's been such a long time since Pete Lee (that's my scooter) and I got to go on a date, I feel like I am stuck in the winter doldrums. Jen started him up about 2 weeks ago, just to test the battery and give him a chance to clear his pipes, but this week he is stuck under a solid sheet of ice on my back porch. How sad. :(

Winter, winter, go away!