Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Fear on the Road

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But I love Halloween, and I love that feeling: the cold air, the spooky dangers lurking around the corner.
Evan Peters, American Actor

Fall rural landscape with leafless treesLest Imagination Runs Away…

Riding my Vespa scooter through the countryside I began thinking about Halloween.  It didn’t take long for my imagination to begin creating scenarios straight out of the scary stories of my youth yielding a sense of fear on the road.

The healthy, life preserving fear of operating a two-wheeled vehicle, motorcycle or scooter, on the road remained intact.  Respecting, understanding and accepting the risk related to riding and performing accordingly is, at least for me, an essential element of being a competent rider.  But sometimes my imagination runs off…

The bare trees on empty landscape seemed ominous and twinged with foreboding — as if something bad had happened here.  My brain replayed scenes from old horror movies that would leave me spellbound late on a Saturday night as I would watch Bill Cardille’s Chiller Theatre on channel 11 WIIC in Pittsburgh.

Fear, Halloween and being scared was a lovely combination.

Vespa GTS scooter on rural road in central PennsylvaniaTurns in the Road

The weather has been sublime.  With few physical challenges — cold, rain, snow — both the scooter and my imagination could wander through a pre-Halloween landscape.  I’m surprised how often roads play a part in our collective imagination as places of danger.  Not the obvious traffic related stuff, but instead the pathological to supernatural occurrences.  A few movies that fuel the frightening possibilities of the road:

  • Duel — Steven Spielberg’s 1971 directorial debut featuring a truck that terrorizes a driver on the road.
  • The Car — Eliot Silverstein’s 1977 film of a mysterious car which goes on a murderous rampage, terrorizing residents of a small town.
  • The Road — John Hillcoat’s 2009 film of a father and son braving life on a road through a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
  • Walking Dead — AMC’s zombie series (and cable TV’s all-time most watched series) where you know every time a character heads out on the road something bad is going to happen.

I carry a lot of psychic baggage in my head available quickly to concoct a chilling idea of where the road is leading me.

I wonder if kids today are still watching scary stuff on TV after their parents go to bed…

Vespa GTS scooter on rural road with red barnWandering Down the Road

The ride wasn’t nearly as scary as my imagination might create.  The day was mostly a slow, languorous journey through the fine, warm central Pennsylvania countryside. That’s a fine place to be.

But a rider always needs to be wary of the sudden appearance of a zombie.  Or a witch casting a spell that might cause said rider to trade a magnificent Vespa for a URAL or worse…

Scooter in Fog

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Lone tree in the fogMemories in the Mist

Every dog I’ve owned for the past 25 years has peed on this tree.  I’ve walked past it hundreds, if not thousands, of times and it seems unchanged.  I can’t say the same myself. Riding to work on another foggy morning the Vespa seems to have a mind of its own — turning and taking me where it will.  It’s especially strong with a scooter in fog.

Fog.

It’s not an ideal riding environment.  Perhaps dangerous.  Definitely presents more risk that any rider, scooter or motorcycle, should consider.

Vespa GTS scooter and traffic in fogFog and Traffic

I believe there’s no single right decision regarding riding in fog.  Or rain, darkness or wind for that matter.  Some riding skill books suggest only riding in warm weather during daylight hours with nothing affecting traction or visibility.  That path has the least risk.  One could go further and add no rush hour traffic, no heavy traffic, no high speed, no ill cared-for roads.  The list of risks is long.

Very long.

I was talking with a friend yesterday who moved from central Pennsylvania to a place north of New York City.  He described the difference in riding as one of anxiety producing risk where speed limits are ignored and everyone is in a competition to get ahead.  Literally.

Different risk.  Different choices.

Standing along the busiest route to work on a foggy morning I realize there are unique aspects of my riding environment that allows me to mitigate my risk more than my friend in New York.  For those considering riding in fog here are some things in play for me:

  1. Other drivers are largely non-aggressive.  If I slow down for the fog they do as well and not pressure or tailgate.
  2. There are plenty of opportunities for me to pull over and allow traffic to pass and then get back on the road.  This isn’t possible in other parts of the country, especially in more urban areas where traffic never breaks.
  3. There are many ways to get where I’m going.  Often roads with little to no traffic.

Vespa GTS scooter in foggy forestScooter in Fog

I can’t resist.  The visual stories are too strong.  My imagination overpowers reason and I find myself in magical realms.  When I grow up perhaps it will be different.

There’s fog on the mountains this morning.  The clock counts down to a trip to the chiropractor and then a day of script writing.  The fog sirens are loud though.

Let It Snow

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black dogs in the snowPlay With Us Daddy

Except for the dogs nothing was going to stand between me and a ride on the Vespa.  Each day begins with a moment of revelation as I push the blind aside to see what the world is offering.  Some mornings find a faint, hot glow from the sun yet to breech the horizon.  This morning it was a blanket of white, dragging me into a cold place where body and spirit contested with a strong, serious desire to ride.

Like helpless children, the dogs need me for food, water and a serious amount of action.  I can pace across the garden in myriad pathways collecting steps on my iPhone that easily consume a mile or more as I throw tennis balls for the dogs, wearing them out, draining the energy gathered through the night.

I swear they know my plans to leave them behind, looking at me with imploring eyes, “Play with us daddy”.  Watching the the sky and thinking about a ride on the Vespa I could hear the rider in me chanting, “Let it snow…”.

Vespa GTS scooter along snowy roadSnow on the Road

In minutes, my riding world moved from wet with incidental snow to snow and the road is getting slippery.  For a moment as I stood along the road trying to keep the camera dry and considering the road surface I started to grumble about winter.

I have had enough.

The evaluation of weather and road was inconclusive but without any striking warning signs.  So on I went.

Snow covered farm field with treesSnow Covered Rural Landscape

Riding has its own rewards with a chance to witness the world just being one.  The snow covered landscape presents a world of quiet solitude that I find energizing.  When I see scenes like this I wish I could paint because a photograph just doesn’t adequately reflect the magic of a place — the energy and thrill of being alive — wind and cold and snow striking skin, firing neurons and bringing the brain into communion with the world.

I knew I would enjoy the ride.  Let it snow.

Vespa GTS scooter in a winter wonderlandVespa in a Winter Wonderland

There are times when I look at the scooter along the road and I feel as if I’m in a fantasy — a sudden beautiful moment that I can only describe as a gift.  It’s an experience born of moving slowly, stillness, and generally an incompatible experience from what I read in motorcycle magazines where speed and breathtaking performance are the focus.

But how many horsepower do I really need to ride?

 

Vespa GTS scooter and Mount NittanyA View of Mount Nittany

The weather moved quickly through the valley and after an hour or so the roads and paths were wet with the temperature hovering in the mid-30s.  The biggest challenge was keeping the visor clear of fog.  At some point during a ride the “adult” in me steps up to spoil the fun and guides the Vespa toward errands and chores.  I’ve not yet found a reliable way to ditch that guy.

He does have his advantages including always having enough cash for a stop at a cafe on a cold morning for tea and a biscuit.  And with one last, long look toward Mount Nittany I started toward home, satisfied with a small ride on a snowy morning. Thirty miles of road time can be some fine medicine.

Is this the last snowy ride of the season?

Riding Risk for a Scooter or Motorcycle

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Harley and helmet-less rider on Interstate 80Riding Risk

A few years ago on my way to New York City a Harley rider raced past me.  I was going about 75 mph.  He was wearing a T-shirt, no gloves, and no helmet.  Caused me to ponder risk a bit.

Riding to work today, the first really warm day this year and my marking of the start of spring, I was seeing a lot of gravel on the road at intersections.  Would have thought it would be gone by now.  The desire to carve through turns, even at intersections, is a siren calling to a rider.  A dangerous call at best.  A racetrack can provide a predictable road surface.  Not many other places can.

“I could have dumped the scooter there.” I though to myself on one ubiquitous turn.  And hot on the heals of that thought has a recognition of risk.  It’s something the raises its hand from time to time.

Reflect on Risk

Every couple years I repost the Morning Fall video by Edward McGinty.

Morning Fall from Boss Boyd on Vimeo.
by Edward McGinty (a video exploring the meaning of riding risk)

I watched it again today and it holds up well with many reminders of the risks on the road to machine and man (and woman). As the riding season starts again for many riders I think it’s always good to spend a few moments in silent meditation on the amount of risk you’re willing to assume, how your riding skills (or lack thereof) influence the risk you face, and what, if anything, you’re willing to do to mitigate risk.

What Can You Do About Your Own Riding Risk?

There’s no way around it — riding a scooter or motorcycle is dangerous. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, your chances of dying on a motorcycle are 35 times higher than in a car, calculated on a per-mile basis.  Reading that statistic reminds me that I should look for ways to mitigate some of the risk — at least the things in my control.

Things like:

  • Don’t drink and ride — alcohol is involved in a big percentage of fatal motorcycle crashes.
  • Don’t ride beyond your skills — a lot of riding accidents don’t involve another vehicle but instead are caused by a rider getting into a situation they can’t handle.  Most cases that means going too fast.
  • Ride defensively — a motorcycle or scooter isn’t a car.  Don’t pretend it is.  Assume you’re invisible, you never have the right of way, and are not entitled to road rage when on two wheels.
  • Wear a helmet.  (Unless your helmet-less head is an important expression of your individuality and trumps health or survival concerns)

I won’t go on about training or maintenance of the machine.  That stuff is obvious.

So have a look at the film.  If you’ve seen it already it’s worth watching again.  If only for the reminder of the unexpected.

How do you think about your own risk on the road?

Personal Riding Lesson

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Steve Williams portait at Pump StationMan in the Mirror

An honest rider will look in the mirror from time to time and remind themselves of their skills and limits — something different than the summation of years and miles on the road.  This morning while sitting in the Pump Station Cafe after a brisk ride on the Vespa I was quizzing myself on the creeping of complacency into my rides.  It was time for a personal riding lesson.

Complacency equals disaster on two wheels.

Vespa GTS scooter on forest roadJust a Little Ride

Riding experience is seductive and the more comfortable you become the easier it is to believe you’ve gained some magical riding power that will keep you safe.  Things happen on the road — other vehicles behave erratically, animals rush about, weather transforms the day, expectations of the road surface prove false or any of a thousand little things waiting to complicate a rider’s life.

A lot can conspire against me when I ride and if I’m telling myself I’m experienced and ready I might be kidding myself.  I may have what I need between my ears but if I don’t apply it constantly its not much use.  Attention is required second by second when you’re riding otherwise complacency surfaces.  Pile it on a little daydreaming and all the elements for a little personal riding lesson are in place.

That’s what happened on a little ride this morning.

Steve Williams and Vespa on forest roadWild, Happy and Free

Tearing along a forest road this morning like I didn’t have a care in the world.  When I first ventured onto gravel with the Vespa many years ago it was an exercise in slow speed creeping.  And now, with lots of gravel roads behind me I can ride a little faster.  Despite the thermometer hovering at 31F I had dismissed most concerns with ice.  The gravel road was clear as far as I could see and besides — what better traction than gravel.

So on I went on one of those rides where you just have to smile.

Vespa and ice covered roadEnter the Unexpected

Thankfully I was only going about 20mph when I became aware of the ice.  My gut wants me to hit the brakes but it was far too late for that.  Same with maneuvering toward a bare strip on the road.  Had I been paying closer attention I would have seen the ice in time to slow down or stop and pick my way through the hazard.

I was certain I was going to dump the Vespa.

So I’m left applying experience in a hurry.  I knew enough not to brake, swerve or scrub off speed.  The best course was to keep my eyes up, feet on the scooter, stay in a straight line and head for the ice free section about 60 feet away.  No panic or sudden moves — just keep going.  I understood how it would work and did what I had to do.

No slip, no slide, no fall.

Still, a personal riding lesson was in order.  Riding in sub-freezing weather regardless of how tame the road looks always has a risk of unexpected ice.

So some more deliberate looks in the mirror, reminders of who I need to be on the road, and acceptance that my experience is only as good as my willingness to apply it.