Extra Rims to Mount Heidenau Snow Tires on the Vespa GTS Scooter

Finally, after years of mucking around mounting and un-mounting tires, I bought a pair of used rims on eBay so I could permanently mount snow tires and make winter Vespa riding a little safer.  Now I just have to swap wheels which is easier and faster.  I’ve looked for sometime for some inexpensive rims.  These arrived from Michigan (left) and California.  I was surprised how beat the California rim looked with it’s completely worn out tire.

So I’m creeping slowing toward full readiness for winter.

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Planning for the Coming Winter Riding Season

Weird, I always seem to find myself writing blog posts in the middle of the night.  It’s just past 2am, the wind is blowing outside and its been cold enough that I just bought two pairs of merino wool base layers, two pairs of heavyweight Merino wool socks, and a new pair of winter gloves from LL Bean.  All part of the process of acclimating to the cold and preparing for winter scooter riding.

I have to play a few mental games to gird myself against the cold weather at this time of year.  Early in the season 30F feels awful.  By March it’s T-shirt weather.  It’s been like this as long as I’ve been riding.  And since my heart attack a few years ago and daily regimen of blood thinners my cold tolerance has shifted 20 degrees.  Long underwear didn’t enter the picture until 20F before.  Now it’s required at 35F.

But that’s all unique to me and my odd mental wiring and physical configuration.  Something that may be more universally useful for any scooter or motorcycle riders considering extending their range of riding — how to approach the appearance of ice when the temperature drops below the freezing mark.

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Tucano 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.

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Doxycycline 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

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.

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