wondering...

Freedom comes in all shapes and colors, especially if it is a SCOOTER!

As I was riding to work today day, I had to stop at a grade school cross walk.

Stepping into the street, were three muslim women in Burkas. The first woman was pushing a stoller with a little child while two others followed behind in sucession, their robes blowing in the morning breeze.

As they walked in front of me, the last one in line, the one entirely in black, turned her head and regarded me steadily until they had reached the other side. She then looked forward and went on.

What did they think of me in my scooter garb? With my pink dragon helmet, gogo gear jacket, all while riding a blue-flamed scooter?

Did she find me offensive? Was a woman on a scooter a normal sight for her? This had to be nothing compared to the other things she had seen in America. (For all I know, they could have been American-born muslims). Was she disapproving? Was she wishing she was me?

Or was she just worried I was going to hit the gas, and super-cracker smack into them?

Probably the latter.

I just hope they enjoyed their morning walk as much as I enjoyed my ride.

How Many Layers...

Does it take to get to the center of a scooterist in the Fall?

So many layers and still no ass?? WTH!

1. Padded Bra
2. T-shirt
3. Pull over sweatshirt
4. Zip-up sweatshirt
5. snap-up padded vest
6. Sport Belt wrap with Ipod
7. Harley Davidson Neck Tube
8. Gogo Gear Military Trench lined jacket with gloves.

Yep, that's about it. And I wonder why I am always running late in the morning.

How I waste my time....

I don't care what you say, I love me some Antoine D.

Breakin' the Law! Breakin' the Law!

http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic72712

Ahhh... the stupidity is great within this one:

There was a post on a popular scooter forum recently where one individual basically related how he did not put license plates on his scooter because he felt that his vehicle was far more gas efficient and also helped reduced his carbon foot print. So the rules should not apply to him.

The thing about scooters is they ride on the streets, roads, and highways so they are vehicles. We want the same respect and rights as other vehicles, yet we want to be treated like bicycles and park on sidewalks. Well, some of us want to park on the sidewalks. Some of us are not disabled or lazy, so we don't mind the walk.

Scooters do not have the heritage here that they do overseas. To see an America filled with scooter riders may be possible some day, but not without huge economic and social changes.

There are ways to change public opinion. This is not the way.

If scooters make it in the United States, it will be because public opinion is changed via marketing and economics. Either people will be forced economically to begin to utilize two-wheel vehicles for cost savings. Or they will be purchased as an affordable second vehicle.

Beyond that, I really don't see America embracing scooter culture the way it is overseas. And not putting a license on your scooter, supposedly as a sign of protest is just plain ridiculous.

Bike Safety for Car Drivers

Just for everyones benefit! I think I will print this out and post it at work.

http://www.forcardrivers.com/quicktips.html

1. Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle - they ignore it (usually unintentionally).]

2. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car's blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.

3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

4. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

5. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.

7. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

8. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."

9. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle - see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.

10. If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.

Shoot the Gap! SHOOT IT!

Typically I am a reasonably safe rider, sticking to a single lane and minding the speed limit and the laws. But.... when you ride two-wheels on a highway you can get stuck next to a truck and this sometimes is not a good place to be.

There are 2 big negatives to being stuck next to a truck:

1. "truck wash or air turbulence "You can be buffeted like crazy. Not to mention the noise.

2. Riding in the trucks, "Blind spot", which are much larger than a cars.

Now that I have two years experience under my belt I handle riding in this position, but it is not a good ride.

Often times a space opens up around a truck and cars do not move over or increase speed, so that others behind them can get around the truck. Most motorists do not know or care that a bike may be riding in a trucks blind spot or be experiencing air turbulence.

When this happens I sometimes take matters into my own hands and perform a maneuver I call, "Shoot the Gap".

This is when a space opens up between the car ahead of me, and the truck next to me. This space would never allow for a car to pass through and move in front of the truck, but it allows for a bike. A "Gap" so to speak.

This takes a lot of judgement on the riders part. You have to wait and see if the car ahead of you is going to speed up and let you get away from the truck. Or are they going to continue to force you to ride in the blind spot and experience truck air turbulence.

If you see that the space does not shrink in size and that the car ahead is indeed NEVER going to speed up enough to allow you to escape the truck and stay in your lane, you can then, "Shoot the Gap".

Is this a safe maneuver? Probably not.

Is riding in a trucks blind spot safe? Probably not.

Should you slow down and wait? Think so?

This is a decision you have to make. But once you do it, and do it successfully, you will feel this frisson of exhilaration, which should prove to you that this is NOT entirely safe, yet very addicting! I speak truthfully here, you who ride know the feeling.

So please. Be VERY VERY careful when you attempt this maneuver. This cannot be done if agitated or irritated. It has to be a calm rational decision.

You have to make sure there is A LOT of space available ahead of the truck. This is incase you and the truck have to make a quick stop. You do not want the truck rolling over you!

So, am I endorsing this move. Not really.

Am I acknowledging its existence. Yes.

Should you do it? You fill in the blank ___________.

Hotter than Justin Bieber and Cuter than My Little Pony - Mini Cooper Scooters!

Can I just say.....these look pretty awesome.

OH NO, I have been sucked in by the glam design and the pretty lights and shiny shinyness of it all. sigh.

Am I really that shallow? Can my interest in a product be manipulated so easily?

YES!