Comments on: All Fog, All the Time

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:41:47 +0000

Harv: I love the view of fog from above as the road descends into it. Only a few times have I experienced it as a layer that I could ride above and below. So many great views in that stuff. I just need to remember the increased risks in the stuff.

Ronman: Thanks for the kind words about my posts. It's always nice to know that someone gets something out of them.

The idea of fog seeping into your soul is a wonderful notion that I need to think about. You have something with that.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:37:30 +0000

Dear Mr. Riepe: Time plays nasty tricks on us. I fear it will be my back that slows me down rather than my eyes. I suppose we just need to take advantage of opportunity as we can and live and ride now.

With those orange steak cookers in place who knows what additional riding you might do. And if not perhaps you can find some role at a steakhouse on bike night producing custom cooked steaks Toad style!

Here's hoping you find the oats you are after soon.

One last comment---damn you for your latest post on Twisted Roads. All I need is to worry about spiders in my riding clothes hanging in the garage. Geez.

I have found a spider in my helmet a couple times but never a Black Widow or Brown Recluse.

Thanks for planting that thought in my imaginative head.

By: ridesroadsandronman

ridesroadsandronman — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:24:58 +0000

Fog always has a way of seeping into my soul. From all the miles I've driven trucks through such conditions to fond memories of walking the hills and hollows of Tennessee coon hunting during my younger years, fog enhances many of my memories. Granted riding two wheels in such conditions heightens the senses. Always enjoy your posts Steve.

Ride Safe

Ronman

By: American Scooterist Blog

American Scooterist Blog — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:20:08 +0000

Had a coooold fog here the other night. It was really wild riding through some decent "hills" and valleys only to look down on the fog, be emersed in its layer and then be riding underneath its blanket. My friend bought my 1980 Kawasaki KZ550 and that night was his inaugeral "long" ride. We talked about how a bike feels very different after an hour or so in the saddle. How you cool and warm during long rides and how the fog affects you.

Great post as usual

Harv

By: Jack Riepe

Jack Riepe — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:58:02 +0000

Dear Steve:

When I was younger, and rode a savage Kawasaki H2, I used to love fog and most commonly found it on Rt. 23 in northern New Jersey. Now that my eyes are tire and shot, my love for fog has passed.

I just mounted a pair of PIAA HID Cross Country Lights on my crash bars. These are bright enough to cook a steak hanging on the garage wall. I ordered a srt of orange-tinted lens covers for these, which are alleged to make them into fog lights.

But who am I kidding... In the last three years, I have ridden in fog twice. I don't think that frequency will increase.

Nice blog today.

The summer heat and the dying economy have had me off my oats for the past month, but I started writing again.

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:15:07 +0000

Lola: 45mph is nothing to be embarrassed about, especially on a scooter. I remember the first time I got on my friend's ET4. 45mph seemed like flight speed!

Good to hear your partner is going to have a scooter too. Let us all know how that works out.

Ride safe.

By: Lola

Lola — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:42:20 +0000

Thanks, Steve. That makes me feel better. I’m embarrassed to tell you it was at about 45 mph that I started feeling nervous. I’m a pretty cautious rider, and I just kept thinking about those little wheels.Next year I’ll get a bigger scoot or a bike for those longer rides, but maybe I also just need more time on the LX.

Sure enjoy your blog – it convinced my partner to go for an LX 150 – we pick it up tomorrow. 😉

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:23:07 +0000

Lola: It terms of stability on the road the transition from the motorcycles back to Vespa GTS is seamless EXCEPT for the fact that I sense the Vespa is a more close together riding position. But on the road the GTS250 is smooth and stable.

The step down to the LX150 is bigger though and compared to a Nighthawk 450 I can imagine it would feel unstable in comparison.

That said I rode an LX150 for over 10K miles and found it fine on country roads and without any stability issues. Sure the smaller tires move around a lot more and give that twitchy feeling but it held the road fine.

I'm curious, at what speeds were you sensing the instability?

Also, you might want to visit ModernVespa.com and see what people there have to say about stability.

Anyway, there isn't a ride through the countryside here I would not hesitate to make on the LX150.

By: Lola

Lola — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:32:40 +0000

A little off-topic, but my question to you is about riding a scoot on those country roads. I now have an LX 150, and love jetting around town on it. On Saturday I took a ride on a country road and found myself feeling very insecure on the Vespa. I used to have a Honda Nighthawk 450, and it felt more stable at higher speeds. I know you have been riding all these new bikes – how does it feel to get back on the Vespa – granted, I know you ride a 250 now. Thanks.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:50:23 +0000

Bryce: The moniker is generally accurate. And there are times when the road is fog shrouded and the sky is clear blue overhead. Our fog is nothing like you might see along the coast though.

The Jetta is what Kim usually drives and burns gasoline. It's been a fun car to have EXCEPT for the window motors. Three have died and at $700 each to replace I don't think I am going to make that investment on a 12 year old car.

KLR? Nope. I'm sitting on the Piaggio MP3-250.

Conchscooter: If it weren't for the ambiance fog injects to photographs I probably would feel much more like you do. At least when it comes to riding or driving.

The penetrating dampness doesn't seem to get to me though. The fogging of my glasses is more frustrating.