Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Cold Weather Riding: The Tucano Urbano Apron on a Vespa GTS

by 20 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter with Tucano Urbano apron along road with snowTucano Urbano Apron

I got the jump on winter this year by installing the Tucano Urbano apron on the scooter early.  The fog and mist this morning was enough to spark the desire to ride.  My disinterest in putting on my armored overpants led me out to the garage to install the apron.  It took less than 10 minutes to put it on and I was ready to ride in 36F air in just my jeans.  The apron is near magic in its ability to keep the cold out.

Most of the recent snow is gone now but the roads are wet and full of gravel.  Plenty to give a rider pause when negotiating curves and turns.  As is the case with all cold weather riding, speed management is critical to staying upright — snow or no snow.

Continue Reading

Ticks and Riding

by 16 Comments

Handful of 100mg Doxycycline pillsDoxycycline Dreams

A handful of 100mg Doxycycline pills have become part of my daily routine because I like to shoot pictures while riding the Vespa. I’m just guessing, but it’s more than likely that a tick climbed on board while I was wandering in the tall grass along the road to compose a picture. And now, after Kim removed a deeply embedded tick from my back, I have a giant rash around the bite area. Hence the antibiotics. No dairy an hour before and after taking them. Take them with food. Stay out of the sun.

I don’t like ticks. Ticks and riding don’t mix.Continue Reading

Take the Vespa Scooter for a Ride

by 32 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter across the Susquehanna River from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

View Along the Susquehanna River

I have nothing to say. There are times when I just want to close my eyes, curl up in a ball and let the world fade away. That’s one option when the noise, duty and details of everyday living seem like more than I want to deal with. Or I can take the Vespa scooter for a ride. That’s what I did a couple weeks ago — chose the scooter. There are times when I have a general idea of where I want to go, a direction at least, a timeframe to ride within, some framework from which to make choices. On this morning though I made an impulsive decision to just get on and go. When I stopped to make my first photograph I was standing along the north side of the Susquehanna River looking back toward Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. I guess I was going north.Continue Reading

Finding the Past

by 28 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter and Ducati motorcycle in shop
My brand new 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie scooter at Kissell Motorsports.

Love at First Sight in 2007

Doing a little housekeeping in Adobe Lightroom, I stumbled upon the first picture I made of my 2006 Vespa GTS 250ie scooter.  It was shot in the shop at Kissell Motorsports, prepped and ready for me to take it home.  One of the cool things about going through digital images, or any photographs for that matter, is finding the past.

My friend Paul had driven me to pick it up and was admiring a Ducati motorcycle — a family of machines that he would eventually buy into to the tune of at least three different motorcycles I can remember.

For me, I was smitten by the lines and shine of the Vespa scooter.  And committed to a long term relationship because of how it was to ride.  I still have the scooter, a little less shiny and rougher around the edges, but I’m still in love.

Continue Reading

Deceived by Sunlight

by 15 Comments

Vespa GTS scooter parked on street
Vespa GTS scooter in the free motorcycle spaces on Allen Street in State College, Pennsylvania.

Early in this season of cooler weather it’s easy to be tricked by the sun into believing it’s warm and pleasant outside. Just as it’s been for the past few months. It took a few hundred yards for me to realize I was cold and should have zipped the quilted liner into my Hi-Vis, lime green riding jacket. And long underwear would have brought personal comfort in line with the sun’s deception. Such is the challenge of cool weather riding.

Even though 52F isn’t really cold, dressing as if it’s summer creates a discomfort that whispers to subsequent rides. Like admonitions by doctors to treat pain early and not tough things out and allow the brain to build a pain cycle, the same holds true for riding in the cold. Stay war — early and often.

That’s my motto.

And I ignored it.

Continue Reading