Exploration, Meditation, and Contemplation

Anyone who has spent much time reading my posts is aware that they touch on the mental and emotional experience of riding. I don’t often spend much time on the machine itself or the reasons why I ride a Vespa scooter.

A simple question. One that I can only answer for myself. And as I’ve shared before, what might make sense for me could have poor results for you. So with that caveat I’ll share my answer to “Why ride a Vespa scooter?”

The photograph of the gravel forest road I traveled recently hints as a reason. Depending on your goals and temperament, this same stretch of road can call on completely different machines. Some may see it as an opportunity to bomb forward as fast as possible, feeling the machine through turns and over bumps, and managing feelings of control over the environment. A perfectly fine approach if speed and control are your goals.

For me, this road presents an opportunity to slow down, explore, and release as much of the tension and noise from my body and mind as possible.

My scooter is perfectly matched for these intentions. Easy to ride, simple in operation, and as silent and invisible as I can get with something powered by an internal combustion engine.

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