Ungracious Awakenings
By temperament, I prefer to ride alone. Free to embrace the road at whatever pace I desire. Stopping to look or make photographs without concern for the tempo of others. No need to keep checking the mirrors or adjusting speed. Just the freedom to ride with my tumbling thoughts.
And still I ride with others because finding balance between solitude and connection makes life richer. I didn’t always understand that. Moments and opportunities arrive more frequently now when I realize riding alone isn’t enough.
The plan was a long scooter ride with friends Andy and Paul on an unexpectedly chilly morning. It was the Vespa ET4’s turn to ride and Andy caught me checking the tire pressure, an increasingly challenging operation now requiring knee cushioning and a limber back to engage the tire valve.
There seems to be no end to the reminders that I’m no longer young. Physically at least.
A Flock of Vespa Scooters
Two new Vespa scooters and my 21 year-old ET4. All lovely in their own way. Each capable of providing a fine morning ride. And indifferent to the cold and our collective mistaken assessment of the temperature. Clear skies and bright sunshine at the beginning of May is seductive enough to mislead young boys bent on a long ride to breakfast.
I was grateful I chose to wear my Gerbing battery powered electric gloves. And a wool sweater beneath my riding jacket.
Embracing Reality
I can’t speak for my fellow riders, but they didn’t protest when I suggested we cut our ride short by 30 miles to take fast path to breakfast. Had I chosen to proceed on the longer route they probably would have followed. As cold and miserable as I was starting to feel. And while I had no desire to extend the ride, I realized that tough things are easier in a group. It’s when riding alone isn’t enough.
There are two choices in life that are important for me to discern — accepting reality or fighting with it. Acceptance brings far more peace.
Comparing Scooters
There’s always some kind of discussion around the machines. Especially with the technology on the new ones. Wireless this, Bluetooth that. While not a functioning modern Luddite, I am skeptical, or perhaps bored, with the overwhelming amount of digital technology on bikes and scooters. I remain content with the minor intrusion of the 21st century on my scooters and motorcycles. From riding modes to GPS guidance, I feel more adventurous managing the machine on my own and not always knowing where I am or where I’m going.
I know others desire something different. There’s plenty of room on the road for all of us.
Pittsburgh Pirate Bill Mazeroski
In addition to being a Vespa scooter rider, Paul is a treasure hunter. Regularly, methodically searching the world for items he can share, sell, or adorn his life. Recently he called asking whether Andy might like a signed photograph of Bill Mazeroski, famous for his walk-off home run at the bottom of the ninth inning of game seven of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees. Yeah, I think he’ll like it. In addition to be a committed Vespa rider, professional designer and artist, Andy is a serious baseball fan. Maybe even a fanatic. Serious enough that he’s ridden his Vespa east on Interstate 80 to Yankee Stadium and west to Progressive Stadium in Cleveland just to take in a baseball game. And growing up in Pittsburgh he was sure to appreciate Mazeroski.
It was a fine gift. And reminded me of the power of connecting, even in small ways, with other people. And I’m often left asking myself when riding alone isn’t enough.
Riding with Others
Being alone provides the space to tame the noise in my head. My choice to ride alone is frequent. And necessary to recharge my emotional and spiritual batteries. Some people are energized being with others. It drains me. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy riding with friends or being social. It just means I will use up energy in the process. And honestly, as I get older and hopefully a little wiser, I see how much I need to connect with other people.
Riding has transformed me. Made me more social. Helped shed the shyness armor I carried when younger so I can appreciate the gift of spending time with people. There’s a romance to being a loner on the road. Of being self-reliant and ready for whatever life brings. I like the fantasy. It may explain why my favorite book is Edward Abbey’s “Desert Solitaire.” But a solitary existence denies my biology and humanity. And prompts to wonder when riding alone isn’t enough.
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Hello Steve, as always, you hit the nail on the head. The social aspect of riding seems to me, anyway, to be a variable similar to the machines we operate. Well said, enjoy the roads.
Paul J
Thanks Paul. Despite leaning towards my loner tendencies I am always grateful when I’m riding with others. I enjoyed some time on the road this morning. As the temperature soars above 80F I find myself whining about the heat!
Good morning Steve. I think I told you that I have a Vespa GTS 300. I love to ride that machine. I think it is a perfect match for me.
Have a good day and a nice week.
Rev Dr Karl Stumpf
Yes, I knew you were enjoying your GTS. A fine machine. Best wishes to you and your family for a fine day and great week. Have fun on the scooter!
I enjoy riding alone if I choose to but somehow attending group riding events has a certain charm to me. Observing others and the bikes they’re riding is always interesting to me. It reinforces my opinions of which bike is a better all-around machine, which bike is fine on twisty roads and which should never leave the Interstate.
Like you, I see the value of riding with others. And sometimes I’ll attend a group event and reap the same rewards you describe. As I get older I see the value of a diverse riding experience.
Another wonderful post Steve, just like all your others. I found that it worked best when I “mixed it up”, ie some days riding by myself and other days riding with others. And like your other commentators mentioned, it was fun to compare notes with others and look over their machines.
So now in the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. A new experience as well. With new considerations and adventures. My wife almost always accompanies me in the passenger seat. And I like that. We enjoy each other’s company. And most importantly, we like the same music. So it works for me now.
But I do miss the motorcycle. Always will.
I have seen the light Steel. As you say, mixing it up has more value than I considered years ago. I can’t say I enjoy conversations about machines but I do admire them and enjoy looking.
Embracing the world from behind the wheel of your Fiat sounds great. I’ve always admired those small sports cars — MGB, Triumph Spitfire, Sunbeam Alpine, and the Fiat. Sadly, I’m just too tall for them. My creaky bones need some space now. I sat in a Miata and an MGB and my head was about the windshield.
It’s good you and your wife can adventure together. And even though you aren’t riding anymore, you have a lifetime of memories to call up. That’s a gift.
I also enjoy riding by myself, but when you ride with a partner, and something goes wrong with a bike, the other person can go for help, Been there and done that.
I think about the advantages of riding with a partner. Especially off the pavement. Nice to have someone to help if you need it.
Steve, I feel pretty lucky to have friends who don’t mind–and even encourage–my scooter and baseball habits. You and Paul are generous dudes, and the signed Mazeroski print was quite a welcome surprise. I’m happy to report it is proudly displayed at home alongside my Roberto Clemente baseball card.
Someone once said that laughter is good for the soul, and one thing is for sure: I don’t laugh nearly as much when riding alone as I do when I’m with you and Paul. I’m glad we decided to get out of the cold and catch up.
Paul and I will provide rubber-stamp approval of all your baseball whims, passions, and desires. Including a cross-country Vespa trip to watch a game in every major city!
I’m glad the Mazeroski print fit into your Pirate collection. We thought it might.
Being around Paul certainly enhances my level of laughter too. It’s always great to sit down and catch up.
Riding partners are a tough decision. I usually like the people, but sometimes I need the joys of riding and the solitude to be with myself. I have left my home with my own plan and on the way stopped on the way to say hello to a riding friend. He asked to come along on the three day ride and we had ridden before and rode well together. But this particular trip turned into his trip as he would rather not camp, he preferred to ride on larger roads with more traffic and higher speeds, skip the out of the way places because they did not have fancy restaurants and I got a lot of eye rolling when I stopped too many times to take pictures. With few exceptions, I prefer to ride alone.
Finding balance between riding alone and being with others is easier now for me. Years of introspection about what I was doing and why I was doing it made for good decisions. I just needed to be honest with myself and not just function on autopilot.
Sounds like your particular riding partner on the trip you described just wasn’t a good match. My first indication is the reactions to stopping to take a picture. If your riding buddy isn’t patient and just wants to rack up miles it will never be a good match for me.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate them.