We’re still in the process of finding someone to take on my role.

Maybe my header title will become Ride More, Work More. I have plans!

I thought about you Bill when writing the post and some of the rocketing rides you’ve described. Having never met you though I did’t have enough information to fully illuminate those experiences. I’ve made those 100 miles and up rides to an eating establishment but they’ve been decidedly slow and meandering rides.

Bacon….

The header on the blog should maybe now be: Ride More , Work Not
and variants.

Yesterday, I rode to meet Ken Wilson and his brother Scott for lunch, 138 miles each way. Most of the ride was through the flat North Florida landscape, at speeds over the posted speed limits. There are a few hills and curves, but mostly very green forests and farms on the route I took.

The highlight was a perfect BLT at Pouncey’s with friends. But the riding there and back was a blast.

You’re absolutely right about the Vespa GTS feeling vital at 35mph. The sense of flying is there at that speed. There’s no feeling that something is being held back. I have ridden motorcycles for hours in the 25 to 45mph range, stopping frequently for pictures or to look around, waving cars my so I can rubberneck the landscape. But I can’t remember if I felt like the machine was being held back. Many of them could easily surpass the 100mph mark with startling acceleration, but were they being restrained like a racehorse at the starting gate? I just can’t remember.

As far as sleepingwalking goes — I seem to be able to do that on anything. Even walking. It’s a frightening place. The Vespa allows for a lot of experience, but for me, I always have to pay attention lest my wandering imagination sends me into the sleepwalking place.

Thanks for sharing. Great stuff.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the notion that we’re all unique individuals when it comes to riding. What works for you may not for another. Reading your ideas about the differences between scooter and motorcycle again could be unique to you. I’ve ridden scooters that were not at all conducive to a rambling ride. And motorcycles that were. The Kawasaki KLR, Triumph Tiger XC, Scrambler, BMW F650 and 800 GS, all of them were quite relaxing and able to deal with my meandering, slow riding style. Others were terrible — all the Ducatis, the big BMWs, and generally all the big cruising style bikes. But again, that’s me.

The more I think about all of this the more I think that what’s important perhaps is that riders consider the possibility of other ways to ride rather than whatever they fell into. It’s easy to understand how someone who started riding to join their friends on the road may know nothing other than their friends approach. Like growing up with meat and potatoes and then you get to college and a friend introduces you to pizza…

Thanks Jim for your comments. They always make me think.

I can’t speak for all motorcyclists, only myself. The best rides are the ones where you become one with the bike. When it feels like it’s an extension of you, the ride is pure symphony. I don’t get the same sensation on the scooters. Their rearward weight bias makes them feel cumbersome on even broad, sweeping turns. I have never felt confident tossing them into tight corners or areas that require flipping them from side to side for rapid left-right direction changes. In addition scooters seem to ooze acceleration off the turns where a bike pulls with authority much quicker.

Of course I’m not in a Zen connection with the surroundings. It’s the road, with it’s sinuous nature and change of texture that I am in touch with. The experience of me connected with the bike, flowing with the road is the sensation I enjoy. That’s probably even the prime difference between the average scooter owner and a motorcyclist. Especially since motorcyclists have to shift. Viewing scenery could leave us in the wrong gear at the wrong time.

I think you hit the bell first Mike with a mention of THC. Horses, cows, Florida and 1972 — makes perfect sense. Back then I wasn’t mindful of much save for girls and ping pong balls. I’m in a better place today though my back will disagree on some days. But mostly things are well.

Time to have breakfast again.