The hand painted sign appeals to drivers and riders alike to slow down. Traveling slowly may be the most difficult riding skill of all.
I pass this way frequently and admit how inviting the winding road can be to push the Vespa to soar through the curves like a bird in flight. The bigger challenge is to resist that urge, make a choice to travel at a speed almost foreign to mind and senses. It can be painful at times, like struggling for air, being restrained from what’s good and natural in the world.
The romance of power and speed mixed with self importance and rationalization propels vehicles at speeds far beyond posted limits. Rush, rush, and rush some more. And grumble about the idiots who post roads far below their potential interrupting needs to get to a destination. Traveling slowly isn’t an option. Or so it seems.
Riding at 25 mph can be torture and almost unbearable. I’ve seen drivers so agitated that they can’t go faster that I imagine their heads exploding as I seem them wildly gesticulating and mouthing words of encouragement to those impeding their progress.
There are real benefits to slowing down. Reducing speed in almost every roadway environment provides extra time to evaluate hazards, choices and make decisions. All easily put aside for another day when the highest and best skill is often reflected against speed.
Whenever I talk to riders of big machines the almost universal response when asked about what part of riding makes them nervous the most common response is slow speed maneuvering. If the bike is going down that’s where it’s likely going to happen.
There is something peaceful about going slow. It’s not always possible where heavy traffic forces the pace but I see riders and drivers race over roads like these where speed is a choice.
Going fast can be fun. So can going slow. And the latter is far more difficult because it requires commitment and willpower — even on a Vespa.
Speaking of slowing down on the road….
This morning I was traveling with the traffic flow when I saw a Ring-necked pheasant clip the top of an oncoming car’s windshield and tumble onto the road in the middle of an intersection. The traffic light was red and I knew I had a few seconds to create a barrier in front of the bird. It was alive but stunned, likely dispatched by a passing car in next few moments. Leaving the Vespa on the center stand I motioned for traffic to stop as I approached the bird. For a moment everything stopped.
The bird came to life and raced towards a cornfield on the other side of the road before I could reach it, narrowly missing an oncoming minivan moving slowly through the intersection. I’ve seen this sudden change before as traffic halts to let a family of ducks cross the road. Or a dog. YouTube has a series of video clips from Russian highways of drivers stopping to rescue dogs, help elderly people cross busy roads, or pick up dangerous debris that might cause disaster. Little gifts of slowing down.
A few smiles and beeps of horns acknowledging the event and we were all on our way again. And I was glad I slowed down…
Steve, lately, I have been dealing with this “slowing down” lifestyle. I am just not in a hurry anymore. While the rest of the world seems to speed by, I am slowing down to smell the flowers and take in the wonderful sights and sounds that I pass.
Is this an age thing?
Brent
Driving a URAL, one drives slower than usual on a motorcycle….it likes it better, the driver sees more…
In city traffic, faster usually is not better….I enjoy catching up with cagers in a hurry at the next light after they roar past me beforehand. They never seem to be able to look me in the eye as I look over at them to remind them, yep, it’s the rig you were in such a hurry to pass….caught up with you again didn’t I?
I wonder what happened to that bird?
I must admit, I find myself riding full throttle way to often. On my trip to Nantucket last weekend I had to be asked to slow down for the motorcycle with us while on the Mass Pike. Guess I should enjoy the ride a bit more by slowing down and actually taking in the scenery. Either that or risk the inevitable ticket that has eluded me for years.
-John
John, that’s funny, on my recent road trip to pay Steve a visit, I was asked to slow down too. Damn speedy Vespas!
I was concerned I would hold the MCs up later in the day and figured I’d take advantage of the long downhill section of I-80 out of State College. My riding companions prefered a more sedate 65-ish.
I slowed down and went with the flow.
Enjoyed your post on MV.
Brent: Slowing down and aging may be accurate but not perhaps for the reasons most people think. I’ve been working on an essay about this relationship and trying to explore what getting older means to me.
We’ll see where it goes.
Charlie6 (Dom): For the short time I was piloting a URAL rig I can appreciate the riding sweet spot which is slower than my Vespa. It’s the right place to be in my opinion….
I like to think the pheasant survived to fly and reproduce and choose to remember it in motion. Hunting season is not far off so who knows what it’s future holds.
John Connors: Full throttle, especially on a Vespa, is entirely possible and I understand how easy it is to slip into that mode. I’ve never been asked to slow down though!
Taking in the scenery is a real challenge. When I used to prowl the countryside in a car with my view camera in tow I realized that for me to actually see, process and be able to stop for a picture I couldn’t go faster than 25mph. 20 was better. That meant waving other vehicles around and if I passed a scene having to find a place to turn around.
On the Vespa the turning around is simple but the slowing down remains a challenge at times — almost impossible when riding with others. Might be why I like riding alone…
Trip to Nantucket — are you the person who posted the great photos on Modern Vespa of the Nantucket adventure?
That was my topic on MV. Thank you for the kind words on my pictures. While there I was forced to ride slow, which wasn’t a bad thing. The top speed on the island is 45mph.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been riding through the country or some beautiful place in the Adirondack’s , going entirely way to fast, and missed what could have been an incredible shot. If only I had been going slower, I could have stopped in time.
John C
Nice post Steve, great shots as always. I need to slow down too.
Steve:
I am getting tired of jamming on the brakes and doing U-turns so I can go back for a photo. I prefer to just go slower which makes it easier to stop. I also wave tailgaters by as they are in an obvious hurry to get somewhere. It is also easier to pull over onto gravel pull outs when you are not speeding
But put me on an Interstate and it all changes . . .
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Here in Canada 25 mph works out to
40 km/hour.
So solution is simple, operate on the metric side of the world and
you’ll think you’re going faster;
when in fact you’re not…