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!