Standing on the Pegs
I can’t appreciate standing on the pegs. I’ve done it but for the riding I do it’s always seemed pointless. For those peg standers reading this, you’ll have deep insight into the sort of rider I am.
My friend Paul seems to love standing on the pegs. My archives contant many images of this behavior on myriad machines from Harleys to Vespa scooters. I hestitate to apply meaning to it. His Honda CRF250L provides exceptional opportunities for peg standing including the mount and dismount while the machine is on the kickstand. If you’re not really tall, it’s much easier to mount by stepping on the peg and throwing your leg over that way rather than doing it from the ground.
Or so I’m told.
But this day wasn’t about peg standing. It was a sad attempt in finding a challenging route to breakfast at the Inglebean Coffee House in Millheim, Pennsylvania.
Facing Vespa Scooter Limitations
The normal, leisurely route to Millheim is 20 miles long. All paved and wonderfully winding through farms and forests with only a mile or so of travel on a road where you might expect vehicles to surpass the 55mph limit. Since Paul had a machine capable of more challenging routes I considered a route that would, from old memories, take us through mostly dirt and gravel tracks. In places worn and rocky if my memory was accurate.
It had been 15 years since I last rode this way on my Vespa LX150. I remember the trip as difficult.
I confess a thrill as the “Pavement Ends” sign appears. It’s odd I still ride a scooter when I’m so attracted to that part of the road world. Paul and I moved on through the woods on a winding gravel road for several miles until a more ominus sign appeared, “Bridge Out in 8 Miles.”
And so we arrived at the most serious limitation of the Vespa. Water crossings.
If I was on a motorcycle like the Honda CRF250L I may have continued on knowing that we could probably ditch the road into the woods and find a place to cross the stream. But with the Vespa, the probability of finding a smooth and shallow place to cross is low. So with sadness I told Paul we would have to go another way.
Everything Changes
I remembered a difficult passage over the mountain. There was nothing here save for dirt, gravel and ruts. No winter maintenance was the mark of a bad road so many years ago. Now, as Paul and I moved up and over the mountain I could tell things were different. Power lines running along the road are the first sign of the advance of civilization. And at the top of the mountain was a “cabin.” Estate is probably closer to the truth. Someone with lots of money built a large home. It’s either a part time dwelling or they spend a lot of money in winter to keep the road clear. Regardless, it was a little sad to see another aspect of wilderness evaporate from my memory. This road was too easy.
Breakfast in Millheim
Relaxed and hungry sums up the arrival at the Inglebean Coffee House. Little to report save for a tasty meal and some quiet conversation before heading home.
Wandering Ride, Wandering Mind
Looking at this picture I could remember where we were. But the ride home is largely forgotten. For me, the worst part of a ride is the last leg toward home. It’s where my body begins to complain and my mind begins to draw itself back toward the noisy clatter of living. I pretty much hate it.
Still, it was a pleasant ride with little traffic or concern for weather or time. We drifted along.
As the weather moderates I plan to drift a little more often. A little farther. This breakfast jaunt consumed four hours and added 70 miles to the odometer. I remember a time when if someone suggested driving 70 miles for a bagel I would think them insane.
Now I’m insane.
70 miles for a good bagel sounds pretty normal to me. Or maybe all that visit your blog are in the “insane” category. Standing on the pegs is a great way to stretch as well as saving your fragile spine from jarring due to the all too common bumps and potholes.
Did a 65 mile run this morning. Would have been nice except that it was 34F. Man, I had already forgotten about the cold. Standing didn’t help…
I’m with Richard M. Seventy miles for a good bagel or a decent cup of coffee seems perfectly normal, Steve.
As for peg riding, I most often do that after an hour or more on the saddle.
It’s good to unfold the legs and as nature did not bless me with much padding at the bottom end, it allows the blood to circulate and actually restore feeling to my butt.
Mounting my previously mentioned Enduro without using the left peg , like a horse stirrup, would prove a totally graceless act if not outright comedy for onlookers.
Thanks to you, Steve, I am more willing to take my Vespa down dirt or gravel roads. That’s why i’m considering a set of dual sport rubber.
http://international.maxxis.com/tires/motorcycle/scooter
I’ve run a number of dual sport motorcycles and have always been pleasantly surprised at how well they stick in the corners on pavement.
You may well have been down this road, Steve, and all advice will be welcomed.
Thanks again Steve for doing what you do so well. I am becoming convinced that at some point I must find myself in your neighbourhood on two wheels.
It looks so very beautiful.
I don’t generally have to stand to loosen up because I stop so often for pictures or to look around. More and more I do stop though to limber up. Another request from an aging body I suppose.
I got on the KTM 690 last week. Was able to throw my leg over without mounting the pedal first. But getting off was much harder. It’s a really tall bike. Getting on and off using the peg as a stirrup makes perfect sense. Now…
Let me know if you get a pair of the Maxxis tires. I had been looking at them but just put a pair of Continental Zippys on last Friday. Would love to hear your thoughts on their performance on the pavement. Wish I could offer some insight but in this matter I have none other than to say they have J speed rating. That’s 62mph. Slow for a GTS.
I will say I don’t push tire performance in cornering and such so I don’t worry a lot about performance. I just want something that wears nicely and offers a smooth ride. The Zippys are like riding on a cloud compared to the Heidenaus with 5K on them.
If you do plan to ride down this way let me know!
From one troubled mind to another, welcome!
Hah!
Steve, I have been noticing that rarely do I ride without wondering if I will cross paths with you or with both you and Paul. It’s like I’ve constructed a warm caricature of you guys perpetually out riding, going on 70 mile jaunts for bagels and what-not. Don’t be offended–my rational mind knows this is not the case–but perhaps I find comfort in this thought for some reason. Or maybe it’s my own insanity.
Well Andy, we do sort of make more than a few long jaunts for bagels and breakfast. Just this morning we rode to Tyrone to eat. It was far colder than either of us imagined this morning.
It’s a big area so not crossing paths isn’t unusual. We need to coordinate or rides. Let me know if you want to join us when you a free morning. It’s not often you see two Vespa scooters at the same time here!
It was cold this morning! I’ve my fingers crossed the warmth is indeed on its way this week like the weather people are predicting.
I’d love to tag along with you guys, and appreciate you guys are open to it. Taking a morning or day off work would be just fine with me. We can touch base and see what/when works best for everyone.
Looking forward to catching up with you guys at the Moto Hang.
I missed the first Moto Hang. Perhaps we can catch up this week. Warm weather is hear no doubt. Most of the cold is relegated to night.
I’ll drop you a note about a possible ride.
My neighbor has just purchased the same little Honda. He like me has not been dirt riding since high school. He now rides it every other weekend with a couple of guys that ride Hondas 250 dirt bikes. His harley now languishes in the garage.
It’s a great motorcycle in so many ways. After riding a big, lumbering machine like a Harley that dirt bike must feel like flying. I wonder how many men and women will make the switch to smaller machines rather than throw in the towel all together when they get older?
Oddly, one of the feelings I miss from owning my lil Suzuki 250 enduro back in high school was that of stepping up on the peg to swing my leg over, and then standing there to kick into life.
Of course the other feeling is running my fingers thru my hair when I took my helmet off…sigh….
And, yeah, why is the road home so disappointing compared to the thrill of heading out? This may be my “worst” riding habit, as I know my attitude spoils a large chunk of the ride.
Hah. I can still run my fingers through my hair though there’s definitely not as much on top as their used to be. It’s bad enough that I can no longer claim high hairline. Quit cutting my hair last June. It’s getting long now. I remember long brown locks in the 70s. Now it’s long gray/white locks…
Heading home for a ride has that same sinking feeling for me as Sunday evening did as a kid. Looking foward to school on Monday was a drag. I suppose we all have our programming. Need to hack that stuff.
+1 on what RichardM said….and when trail riding, it helps to use the knees to absorb the bumps from the holes and rocks as one rolls along…..but then my old thighs get tired and back down I go….sigh
Old and tired Dom. That’s where we’re headed. As long as my eyes don’t get tired I’ll be in good shape for awhile.
We’ve no excuses left Steve, I found out a fellow Uralista who was riding the same trails as me out in Utah was 76! He made it look easy.
SW: I practiced riding on the pegs across some gravel and small rocks
and up the embankment in front of my house. I hope my insurance company isn’t reading this. It took a little getting used to because the power is on and the clutch is out. On my big motorcycles if you do that and suddenly get startled and twist the throttle (don’t do that) you might fall. So I pull the clutch in when I do that on a large motorcycle. Like the fellow above said, I do that to stretch my back and legs and give my butt a break. The Youtube dual sport riders stand all the time.
Paul “Standing Tall” Ruby
Get comfortable controlling throttle, both brakes, clutch and gearbox, AND direction, while standing on the pegs. It is time well spent for your single track trail adventure dreams….oh and get some good boots that will protect your shins and ankles….no Gucci loafers.!…lol
I didn’t see you standing tall this morning. You were doing more crouching and shivering.
You can do things with that Honda that you couldn’t dream of with your other motorcycles. At least the ones you’ve had during the past 10 years. Just watch out you don’t hurt yourself with your new found freedom!
I’m not a dirt/gravel or peg stander kind of rider, but I am part of the insane group, I’ve ridden a few hours to get a special cinnamon bun about 80km one way and then another 80km back to home. I dunno it just tastes better for some reason, my friends call this ‘ride to eat’.
Pilots have the same problem. They call it the $100 hamburger. That’s the fuel cost to fly their little plane to another airport to eat a hamburger and then fly home.
It’s really not about the food is it?
Steve, do you carry extra fuel for longer rides? I was curious how your range was.
I’ve never carried extra fuel. In the east, you don’t need to worry much about not finding fuel. I’ve only ever come close to running out when an expected gas station had burned down.
I track my fuel usage by miles. When I fill up I set the trip odometer to zero. When I hit 70 miles I look for fuel.
The GTS has a 2.4 gallon tank. At a conservative fuel consumption of 60mpg I could go 144 miles on a tank. Farther even since there are times I get 75mpg. The farthest I remember traveling on a tank was 136 miles. On fill up it took less than two gallons.
Others have already said it, but I think nothing of 200 miles for lunch, so 70 for a bagel is a no-brainer. ?
As for the pegs, I have a GS so it’s easy to do, and I often do it on long paved rides just to stretch the knees and give the bottom a break. Once you’ve tried it, you may be hooked!
The Vespa isn’t configured well to stand while riding. I’m too tall. To hold the hand grips I’m pretty bent over. A GS is a different story. I’ve stood many times on the pegs while riding a BMW. Mostly to stretch.
I’m not hooked on standing though. I am hooked on those long distance meals…
Insane in the good way. I’m looking right now at a patch my friend had made to commemorate his now infamous “Bagel Run”.
One day he asked if I wanted to go do a bagel taste test, so I asked where? He smiles and laughs at me, NEW YORK of course! Mind you, we live in Minnesota. He and a couple friends of his went to NY From MN Via Canada to do a bagel taste test. Of course we’ve always known him to be insane, and incredibly food motivated. New to your blogs, well written.
Insanity gets worse and worse. The bagel run is a great example. Last week Paul and I took a ride to breakfast. By the time we got home we had gone nearly 300 miles.
Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I’ll keep sharing the revelations of the road — insane or otherwise…