Comments on: Introduction to Vespa Riding: Coffee Shops

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 00:33:26 +0000

In reply to Pamela, aka Pama. Just watched two SOLO Titan videos on YouTube. Nice looking stove. I'll have to think about the Trangia or the SOLO. Looking through my gear I see I have a brand new set of titanium pots I forgot all about. Lots to think about. Thanks for sharing this stuff!

By: Pamela, aka Pama

Pamela, aka Pama — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 21:02:12 +0000

In reply to Pamela, aka Pama. correction: All that said, the Trangia 27 Stormcooker and also the Trangia Mini -28 have never let me down during all seasons of hiking, camping, moto-camping with my two Vespas.

By: Pamela, aka Pama

Pamela, aka Pama — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:51:58 +0000

In reply to Steve Williams.

Steve,
I am so beyond thrilled that I could bring to you a new riding ritual. You have given me so much pleasure through your blog posts over the years. To think that I could give-back by introducing you to the Trangia 27 or Mini Trangia 28 brings a huge smile to my face and my rider’s soul. My my, and now I have laugh as I tell you that I carry The SOLO Stove Titan when winter riding. Its a bio-stove and can save your life if you ride in snow or ice on backroads since it provides a campfire style of cooking using pine cones, grass, leaves, twigs, charcoal — anything really — especially gathered from the areas you could be stranded in. All that said, the Trangia 28 has never let me down during all seasons of hiking, camping, moto-camping with my two Vespas. Even in the car or the van — I simply don’t leave home without it 🙂 All that and seriously I’m not a prepper! I am a former Police 911 Dispatcher and simply know the value in having a way to eat and drink anywhere is always a good-thing 🙂 If you do get a Trangia 27 please do a blog post on it. and go for the hard anodized 27 it’s nearly bomb -proof — it takes the beating a good ride can give it 🙂

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:10:09 +0000

In reply to Pamela, aka Pama.

Unless I’m camping I’ve not thought to bring a stove along on a day ride to make a cup of tea. I’m always searching for a place to make it for me. I have an MSR Whisperlite stove and a titanium pot set but the Trangia looks a lot less fussy. And I like the idea of alcohol instead of white gas hanging out in my top case. Just watched a YouTube video on the Trangia 27 Stormcooker. I want one. And I have to start talking about methylated spirits instead of alcohol!

When it’s cold I often take a thermos of hot liquid — sometimes tea but more often cocoa.

Looks like a new riding ritual is waiting to be made!

By: Pamela, aka Pama

Pamela, aka Pama — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:33:53 +0000

Steve,
Oh my! You hit the nail on the head with this post. The beloved coffee shop is both and art and a science to both behold and experience. And they are as varried as the riders of two wheels who seek their fix of teas, coffees and hot cocoa. There is another aspect of the small classic coffee shop…making a fresh hot brew of cuppa on the roadside. I carry with me a Trangia 27 Stormcooker complete with its own Trangia Tea Kettle for Vespa scooting. Countless times waiting for a strong wind or rainstorm to pass has found me seeking a place to wait-out with a hot cuppa and a sugar ladden snack. A positive bright spot for any wait-over. There is even a smaller mini version of the Trangia 27 called the Mini-T, formally known as the Trangia 28, a backpacker’s Trangia dream for size that packs a hearty punch for such a little guy. Both will fit is a pack or ride bag. Google both versions and one of them may be something you might enjoy during your stops with Paul or Gordon. Once, during a minor breakdown of my Vespa along a backroad I was most glad to have a fresh hot cuppa while waiting for a tow ride to arrive. Many cross country bicyclists have come to love their Trangia’s cooking and boiling talents. Many moto-camping folks, myself included, love the Trangia 27 or Mini-T 28. Not to ever replace a great coffee shop but having your own with you at times is a equally wonderful godsend that takes up little to no room on the scooter. With denatured alcohol at the ready it can be a mini fireplace when weather turns ugly — a warm haven for a time. Awwwh, the coffee shop! Ranks right up there with Chevy and Apple Pie! Trangia runs a close third 🙂

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 04:11:51 +0000

In reply to Brent Gudgeon. I've always loved the smell of fresh ground coffee. But the taste of coffee -- ugh. So I"m never really getting the full coffee shop experience.

By: Brent Gudgeon

Brent Gudgeon — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 05:19:42 +0000

Sorry I’m responding so late Steve, must have missed this one…I like tea also but cant believe you don’t like coffee. I love coffee shops… love how you have described them.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:42:16 +0000

In reply to BWB (amateriat). I would like to ride along the coast sometime and have a friend in Tom's River. Maybe I'll get to AP to sample the cocoa at Cafe Volan.

By: BWB (amateriat)

BWB (amateriat) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 07:41:03 +0000

In reply to Steve Williams. Tea and scooters - now that you mention it, it makes near-perfect sense. And, speaking of discovering cafes here in AP, I checked one out yesterday: Cafe Volan. Made a decent chai that Ann liked, and a perfect cocoa for me. Was the middle of the day, and we'd just finished a session at the gym nearby, so the vibe was unrushed and mellow. Yep, you might want to check my little town out at some point.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 04:44:26 +0000

In reply to BWB (amateriat).

Fine traits! It is disheartening to enjoy a meal and then be presented with a Lipton bag. Tea is sort of like scooters in the United States — tolerated but not really widely embraced.

I have two boxes of Starbucks cocoa in the house…