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.