That Trunk Monkey looks like just the thing!

I came across your blog some time ago and trolled around; read some of your reviews as well. I’ve never found a blog that I could really sink my teeth into; most seem to be navel gazing. On the day after April Fools however on my first significant ride of the season my front tire washed out on some left over road sand along the side of the road. I was turning off onto a dam access road where I like to take a break. I knew all about the sand, had slowed way down and thought that I was crossing it neutrally, but guess not. Went down hard enough to crack my tibial plateau and do some soft tissue damage to my shoulder. Have been recuperating at my girlfriend’s house ever since. Am just starting to bear some weight on it and will be doing well over the next few weeks.
Since then I’ve done a lot of reading: finished Jupiter’s Travels, Dreaming of Jupiter, Zen and Now (great little take on the Pirsig story) and ALL of your blog! I’m a couple of years older than you, retired from all my trades, recovering from CPPD, an autoimune condition not unlike psoriatic arthritis. Due to resultant bone loss I broke my hip from a fall on the ice a couple of winters ago, and when I feared I wouldn’t be able to ride my bicycle as much as usual, decided to get a scooter. The practical toy became what it did for you, and my life has paralleled yours except that I have time to ride more. I live in the Champlain Islands and camp/tour all over the parts of Vermont, mostly the ‘Northeast Kingdom’, which looks alot like your area. The other place I like is the Monongahela National Forest where I used to go bicycle camping. In my current state scootering makes more sense. Missed it this spring, but will no doubt return next.
The point of all this rambling is just to introduce myself, but mostly to thank you for what you do. Your blend of good photography, personal story, and philosophy seem to hit the sweetspot for a lot of us. For the last year or two of you posts, I’ve been reading the comments as well; first, because I love Mr. Riepe’s remarks, but then I’d start to get to know some of your other readers and it’s a nice little group we have here!
I’m not 100% sure I’ll ride a scooter again; I really don’t want to get hurt again, but it may be that after addictive phases of bicycle riding/racing skulling, windsurfing, open water sea kayaking, back country skiing, montain biking, iceboarding (the board uses a windsurfing rig), nordic skating etc., I may just have to let this play out.
When I think that I screwed up even after seeing the hazard and doing all the right stuff, it makes me think I’m not qualified, so should quit, but when I go further and think that the exact same thing could have happened on a bicycle with worse consequences because of lack of protective gear, and really should quit that as well, it just seems a little extreme, even though the logic is sound!

Sorry to go on so long….best, Phelps

Of course I still call my Givi top case “the trunk monkey” even though my water bottle is the most dangerous thing in it.

My rules for riding with errant and possibly irate drivers is to “take myself out of the equation” whether by pulling over and waiting, turning off, or speeding away.

since I have to commute through miles of urban traffic beside aggressive, tailgating drivers, I have learned to “let go”. I generally pull over and let them pass. Riders have a 2nd sense about which cars to avoid by their car manners.

I nearly got wiped out on the weekend. I was on the freeway going freeway speeds. There were cars coming from the on ramp but I was in the fast, Leftward lane. The lanes started to merge closer and then the Mustang, whom didn’t notice me, pulled right beside me forcing me to move to the left but I had no road left. Then he turned his head and saw me . . . It was very close I could have kicked his door.

anyway it wasn’t worth doing anything other than speeding off and getting away from him

bob
Riding the Wet Coast

I really struggled with that early on when I started riding, doing better now, but still working on “letting it go”.

For me, the realization is that sure you can chase them down and confront them but unless you’re willing right then and there for it to escalate to weapons being drawn….then you need to de-escalate, move away from the threat and try and “let the anger go”.

It’s really hard, however, to de-escalate…..really hard. So many emotions mixed into it, self-image, biases, and the built-in fight or flight instinct.

Commuting in city traffic these last few months have taught me a lot, but like you Steve, I’ve found routes that reduce the stress….its more time on the saddle as you avoid the main thoroughfares but in the end, it’s less anger, more riding bliss.

You will always lose in a battle with a car when on a motorcycle/scooter.

I will admit to a bit of road rage at times but then I remember that I’m on the bike…it’s not a battle I’m going to win.