As I do every morning I look out the front door to see what the day has in store for me in terms of riding. I may walk outside to test the road surface and I’ll always look at the weather forecast. I’m looking for risk. I don’t mean I am seeking out ways to put myself at risk. I just want to know what risk I’ll be facing. Physical and performance differences between my new Vespa GTS and the LX150 I used to ride force me to make different choices. Because I am still unfamiliar with the handling characteristics of the GTS I’ll conservative in my decision-making.
Dry snow on the road, temperature hovering at 15° F, an occasional snow shower predicted, windy with 40 MPH gusts, I would take the LX150 to run errands. I’m comfortable handling it in these conditions and readily accept the risks presented by the road surface and weather not to mention the other drivers. I won’t accept the risk with the GTS though because there are too many unknowns right now simply because I don’t have enough experience on this scooter.
Dan Bateman over at Musings of an Intrepid Commuter is a master at assessing risk and offers us an opportunity to learn how to manage safely while riding. I thought it would be a good idea to point out one of his posts titled “Why am I Here?” This thoughtful piece provides riders and commuters with something that makes you think about where you are on the road and how the decisions made set you up for success or disaster. It is definitely worth reading and thinking about. If I have learned one thing from Dan over the past year it’s that the longer I ride the more I realize I don’t know. His writing makes it easy to put my pride aside and make myself a better rider.
The wind is blowing hard now and my dog is antsy for a walk. The GTS is going to have to chill in the garage a bit longer today. The extended weather forecast is calling for similar weather for the next five days so I am going to have to be patient…
I’m wrestling with a similar dilemma right now, Steve. Right now, the sun is shining, but it is only 6°F. There are still icy patches on most of the interesting roads I can ride.
Still, I’m going to go *somewhere* on the scooter today, after noon when the temps are highest. I’ll stay on the cleared roads, away from the ice, and see what I can find.
Ride well,
=gc=
With new wheels, discretion is the better part of valor. If the conditions improve, scoot on down to Panera Bakery for a treat.
BTW- I’m a Central PA ex-patriot and former professional photographer– love your work. Some cool ride ideas- head West into Clearfield County!
gary: I think we are in sync today. Our roads are mostly dry now but with some ice from springs that leak across some rural roads. I’ll get out for a little while if only to ride to a cafe for a hot chocolate!
hdseq: Panera sounds like a good plan or maybe Barnes and Noble. They have great chocolate chunk cookies.
Clearfield County is largely unexplored territory for me and is high on the list. I have made a lot of photographs at the Bilgers Rocks area but that was a while back.
So what part of the country do you find yourself now as a Central PA ex-patriot photographer?
And sitting on it in the garage holding the grips only makes it worse. I did that a few times.
But at least I know all the words to the “No Scooter Riding Blues”. I wrote them.
Have fun,
Bill
My husband has been chewing at the bit to get out on his new (to him) motorcycle. He gave up going into the garage and sitting on it. He would also start it, just to at least feel like he could do something with it, lol. Each week we keep getting snow and they’re predicting another round of snow late next week. It’s also too cold for the present snow to melt.
So, no rides for a while here. Have fun with your new Vespa.
Steve: I have been in the Eastern Panhandle of WV for several years now and ride an HD, Triumph and Kaw KLR 650. Really enjoy your blog. You should check out the Moshannon State Forest and the areas north of Clearfield too– great riding. Paul