Arrived home late last night and have to go straight to work this morning (boy, was it ever a mistake not to take another couple of vacation days). I'll be doing a lot of writing over the weekend to capture some memories before they blur and fade away.
Riding the Cannonball was by far one of the coolest things I've done in many years and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
More to come...
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
I can't begin to explain
If I had a few hours I might be able to write a reasonable recap of the past few days, but I don't. In brief, it was two days of glorious riding followed by two days in a motel parking lot that is part rolling circus, part gypsy camp and part mechanic shop. With nearly 60 scooters and assorted support vehicles with drivers and family tagging along, there are 80+ people here. I won't even try to describe the array of characters and I've only just begun to get to know them.
Since it's looking highly unlikely that I'll be able to keep up with this blog over the coming week, an even better place to follow this unfolding madcap thing is on the Cannonball thread at the Modern Vespa forum. A number of us are posting photos to the thread so you'll get a nearly-real time look at what's happening.
Since it's looking highly unlikely that I'll be able to keep up with this blog over the coming week, an even better place to follow this unfolding madcap thing is on the Cannonball thread at the Modern Vespa forum. A number of us are posting photos to the thread so you'll get a nearly-real time look at what's happening.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Gee, that's a long road
I've been spending so much time looking at our route on the micro level that it sort of took my breath away when I got another look at the run in its entirety. I've been tweaking the routes in my GPS - making sure the checkpoints are entered in the right place, finding gas stations at appropriate intervals, and checking that I haven't inadvertently routed myself down the wrong roads - and some of this has required looking at maps at the street level. I kind of forgot for a bit that all of those streets run together and add up to cross the whole damn country. I knew this was a big deal but now it really feels like it.
I also had a bit of a jolt a day or two ago when I was checking our route from Virginia to Georgia via the Blue Ridge Parkway to get to the starting line. I hadn't looked at the total mileage for each of the two days prior to this and what I discovered is that our first day is 410 miles. D'oh! Oh well. That should make every following day seem like a piece of cake, right?
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Getting there
This morning I have to get my gear to the support truck that's hauling things to Savannah for me. I was wide awake at 5:00 and in my garage by 6:00 to go through everything one more time. I feel like I've got a lot of stuff but somehow it fit into a much smaller space than I anticipated. It makes me wonder if I've forgotten something. I suppose that feeling will haunt me for awhile.
On the forums at Scooter Cannonball and Modern Vespa there is a lot of chatter among the riders. I was just reading a post written by one of the veteran riders and was struck by the fact that she sounded just as amped up and giddy as us rookies. It's not that I expected the vets to be blase and ho-hum about the whole thing, but maybe just more matter of fact and not displaying as much emotion. But I don't think there's any way you can plot out and undertake a trip like this without getting excited. It's a big freakin' deal.
The scooter for Bill Dog arrived from LA the other day. When the driver opened the truck this is what I saw inside.
The wooden pallet that holds the scooter securely upright was smashed to splinters and when we got the case off I found the scooter lying on its side, which is generally not a good thing. There was also a pretty big dent on the front of it. The driver suggested that maybe I ought to refuse delivery. I laughed and explained why I had to accept it. As the rider of some oversized crotch rocket he was pretty impressed by the audacity of what we're about to do. It's always nice when you can educate a motorcycle rider about what scooters are capable of.
Once I got the scoot off of the truck it started right up. Whew! And the dent? Well...it turns out that it was there all along but no one had bothered to tell me. If I'd known in advance it would have prevented me from shitting myself when I saw it. Oh well. It's here, it's running and it's beautiful. Bill should be very happy with his new ride.
On the forums at Scooter Cannonball and Modern Vespa there is a lot of chatter among the riders. I was just reading a post written by one of the veteran riders and was struck by the fact that she sounded just as amped up and giddy as us rookies. It's not that I expected the vets to be blase and ho-hum about the whole thing, but maybe just more matter of fact and not displaying as much emotion. But I don't think there's any way you can plot out and undertake a trip like this without getting excited. It's a big freakin' deal.
The scooter for Bill Dog arrived from LA the other day. When the driver opened the truck this is what I saw inside.
The wooden pallet that holds the scooter securely upright was smashed to splinters and when we got the case off I found the scooter lying on its side, which is generally not a good thing. There was also a pretty big dent on the front of it. The driver suggested that maybe I ought to refuse delivery. I laughed and explained why I had to accept it. As the rider of some oversized crotch rocket he was pretty impressed by the audacity of what we're about to do. It's always nice when you can educate a motorcycle rider about what scooters are capable of.
Once I got the scoot off of the truck it started right up. Whew! And the dent? Well...it turns out that it was there all along but no one had bothered to tell me. If I'd known in advance it would have prevented me from shitting myself when I saw it. Oh well. It's here, it's running and it's beautiful. Bill should be very happy with his new ride.
Friday, April 13, 2012
A note to my colleagues
I wrote a note to my co-workers yesterday to let them know a bit about the craziness I'm about to embark upon. Some knew part of it, some knew none. Most of us work from home offices spread from Massachusetts to South Carolina to Montana, so I haven't had the pleasure of tormenting them with my months of Cannonball obsession. I thought I'd repeat here what I wrote to them. For some of you none of this is new; for others it might be...
I recently heard a new definition of adventure that I like: discomfort retold at leisure. I suspect there's going to be a lot of truth to that in this particular adventure.
Most of you already know what I'm about to do, but for those who don't… a week from today I am hopping on my Vespa to take a 3,000 mile ride. I'll be taking part in an event called the Scooter Cannonball Run (details to be found at http://www.scootercannonball.com/). There will be nearly 60 of us riding from Savannah to San Diego over the course of eight days. Once I get to the left coast I'll be spending a couple of days in LA, then flying home while my scooter gets shipped back east.
If you're at all interested in following my progress, there are a couple of ways to do it. First, there's a map online that will provide live tracking information: http://followride.com/rider/7 (I'm rider #7, alias Scutrbrau). I have something called a SPOT tracker that's often used by backcountry skiers and hikers that sends a ping every 10 minutes, which in turn appears on the map. Also, to Pat's great relief and pleasure, it has a help button and an SOS button so I can summon help even if I'm in an area with no cell phone coverage. The help button dispatches roadside assistance. The SOS button brings a search and rescue team. I'm hoping I don't need to test either of those.
You can also follow me via my blog at http://vesparazzi.blogspot.com/ though I can't promise I'll be doing a lot of writing along the way. I've read a number of blogs from past years' events that have a lot of entries up until the starting point and then fall silent. I suspect my evenings will be spent in motel parking lots with the other riders, drinking beer and telling stories, and not hanging out in my room writing. At the very least I hope to put up some photos along the way.
One side note that's kind of interesting, at least to me, is that I'm going to be riding with a guy, Bill, from England (Maidstone, Kent) who is coming here to participate; I'm picking him up at Dulles next week. We've become good friends via a Vespa forum that I frequent. He is being given a scooter to ride by another member of the forum, David, who is a Vespa dealer in LA. David was undergoing cancer treatment last year. Unbeknownst to everyone, Bill stayed in constant contact with David by phone, e-mail, text messages and postcards to offer encouragement and help get him to the finish line. David is repaying that kindness by shipping a scooter to my house for Bill to use for this cross-country jaunt. Even for a cynic like me I find that very heartwarming.
I've been thinking about and planning this for nearly two years. The last time around the run started in Vancouver and ended in Portland, so Pat and I hung out at the finish line to watch some of the riders come in. Somehow or other the sight of those exhausted and bedraggled riders made me begin to obsess over doing it myself. So here I am. I haven't had a proper vacation in quite some time. While the idea of beating the crap out of myself and my bike for a couple of weeks might not sound like a relaxing break, I can assure you that there's nothing else I'd rather be doing with my time.
Oh, one other thing that's completely unrelated but of some interest - our house in Portland has finally sold; closing is on Monday. With that monkey off our back we can really focus on getting settled in to our new place. Once I get back home, that is.
Cheers,
Rick
I recently heard a new definition of adventure that I like: discomfort retold at leisure. I suspect there's going to be a lot of truth to that in this particular adventure.
Most of you already know what I'm about to do, but for those who don't… a week from today I am hopping on my Vespa to take a 3,000 mile ride. I'll be taking part in an event called the Scooter Cannonball Run (details to be found at http://www.scootercannonball.com/). There will be nearly 60 of us riding from Savannah to San Diego over the course of eight days. Once I get to the left coast I'll be spending a couple of days in LA, then flying home while my scooter gets shipped back east.
If you're at all interested in following my progress, there are a couple of ways to do it. First, there's a map online that will provide live tracking information: http://followride.com/rider/7 (I'm rider #7, alias Scutrbrau). I have something called a SPOT tracker that's often used by backcountry skiers and hikers that sends a ping every 10 minutes, which in turn appears on the map. Also, to Pat's great relief and pleasure, it has a help button and an SOS button so I can summon help even if I'm in an area with no cell phone coverage. The help button dispatches roadside assistance. The SOS button brings a search and rescue team. I'm hoping I don't need to test either of those.
You can also follow me via my blog at http://vesparazzi.blogspot.com/ though I can't promise I'll be doing a lot of writing along the way. I've read a number of blogs from past years' events that have a lot of entries up until the starting point and then fall silent. I suspect my evenings will be spent in motel parking lots with the other riders, drinking beer and telling stories, and not hanging out in my room writing. At the very least I hope to put up some photos along the way.
One side note that's kind of interesting, at least to me, is that I'm going to be riding with a guy, Bill, from England (Maidstone, Kent) who is coming here to participate; I'm picking him up at Dulles next week. We've become good friends via a Vespa forum that I frequent. He is being given a scooter to ride by another member of the forum, David, who is a Vespa dealer in LA. David was undergoing cancer treatment last year. Unbeknownst to everyone, Bill stayed in constant contact with David by phone, e-mail, text messages and postcards to offer encouragement and help get him to the finish line. David is repaying that kindness by shipping a scooter to my house for Bill to use for this cross-country jaunt. Even for a cynic like me I find that very heartwarming.
I've been thinking about and planning this for nearly two years. The last time around the run started in Vancouver and ended in Portland, so Pat and I hung out at the finish line to watch some of the riders come in. Somehow or other the sight of those exhausted and bedraggled riders made me begin to obsess over doing it myself. So here I am. I haven't had a proper vacation in quite some time. While the idea of beating the crap out of myself and my bike for a couple of weeks might not sound like a relaxing break, I can assure you that there's nothing else I'd rather be doing with my time.
Oh, one other thing that's completely unrelated but of some interest - our house in Portland has finally sold; closing is on Monday. With that monkey off our back we can really focus on getting settled in to our new place. Once I get back home, that is.
Cheers,
Rick
Thursday, April 12, 2012
It's certainly starting to feel real now
At this time a week from now I'll just be setting out on the first leg of my trip. Holy shit.
I've gotten most of my gear and stuff squared away. I'm carrying enough spare parts to cover anything basic that goes wrong along the way. If there's anything catastrophic that happens, well...game over. The bike goes on a support truck and I ride shotgun the rest of the way. But that won't happen, so I've just got ten days of long rides ahead of me.
For anyone reading who frequents Modern Vespa you'll know some of the cast of characters I'm about to encounter. Bill Dog is flying into Dulles from the UK next Tuesday, where I will collect him and bring him to my place. We'll have a day to finish prepping our rides and ourselves before we leave on Thursday. We'll travel west from Richmond to meet up with Jim and Kristin (JimC and Ivana Tinkle) and spend the next two days riding down the Blue Ridge Parkway and southeast to Savannah. We'll have one full day to enjoy the city and meet up with all of the other crazy bastards doing this thing. At some point during that day I also hope to ride down to the shore and dip my front wheel in the Atlantic.
And then...eat, drink, sleep (I hope), and leave just after dawn the following day. Let the games begin.
I've gotten most of my gear and stuff squared away. I'm carrying enough spare parts to cover anything basic that goes wrong along the way. If there's anything catastrophic that happens, well...game over. The bike goes on a support truck and I ride shotgun the rest of the way. But that won't happen, so I've just got ten days of long rides ahead of me.
For anyone reading who frequents Modern Vespa you'll know some of the cast of characters I'm about to encounter. Bill Dog is flying into Dulles from the UK next Tuesday, where I will collect him and bring him to my place. We'll have a day to finish prepping our rides and ourselves before we leave on Thursday. We'll travel west from Richmond to meet up with Jim and Kristin (JimC and Ivana Tinkle) and spend the next two days riding down the Blue Ridge Parkway and southeast to Savannah. We'll have one full day to enjoy the city and meet up with all of the other crazy bastards doing this thing. At some point during that day I also hope to ride down to the shore and dip my front wheel in the Atlantic.
And then...eat, drink, sleep (I hope), and leave just after dawn the following day. Let the games begin.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Counting down
The six weeks since I last posted have felt more like six months. We closed on our new place, packed our stuff, moved in two phases over the course of a couple of weeks, and now we're getting settled in. Compacted into one, short sentence it doesn't really sound like much but it's been a bitch. And I learned something important along the way: DO NOT buy a house and move just weeks before you're supposed to leave on an epic, 3,000-mile scooter trip.
In less than two weeks I'm going to hit the road for Savannah and on the 22nd we set out from there for San Diego. I've been following the preparations of my fellow riders online with some interest and more than a little dread. As they've all been doing maintenance and modifications to their scooters, I've been dealing with things that have kept me from even thinking about my scooter, let alone tinkering with it. I feel like I'm running a bit behind and that's not where I was hoping to be at this point on the calendar.
Thank goodness I started my Cannonball obsession months ago. What seemed premature back in the fall now seems prescient and wise. I started writing lists of gear and parts and things to do back when I had the time and luxury of thinking things through. I ordered parts and marked up maps and entered routes into my GPS long enough ago that it seemed foolish to be giving it so much thought then. But if I hadn't done all of that I believe I'd be in such a state of panic now that I'd consider scrapping the whole thing and waiting for 2014 to ride. This morning I was able to finally begin to use those lists to bring some order to my scooter chaos.
I began by clearing a large spot in the middle of the garage floor and laying out a tarp. I've been unpacking the boxes that I'd been careful to mark and set aside during the move, placing things in several different piles. There are the things that I need to carry with me on my scooter and those that I will put on a support vehicle. I'm only part way into it and already the mounds are growing large enough that I'm a little concerned. By the time I've got it all spread out it's going to look like enough stuff for a small army. How and what I winnow out will be an interesting exercise.
Time to stop blabbering and get back to it. I'll try to get some photos as I go to begin documenting the madness.
In less than two weeks I'm going to hit the road for Savannah and on the 22nd we set out from there for San Diego. I've been following the preparations of my fellow riders online with some interest and more than a little dread. As they've all been doing maintenance and modifications to their scooters, I've been dealing with things that have kept me from even thinking about my scooter, let alone tinkering with it. I feel like I'm running a bit behind and that's not where I was hoping to be at this point on the calendar.
Thank goodness I started my Cannonball obsession months ago. What seemed premature back in the fall now seems prescient and wise. I started writing lists of gear and parts and things to do back when I had the time and luxury of thinking things through. I ordered parts and marked up maps and entered routes into my GPS long enough ago that it seemed foolish to be giving it so much thought then. But if I hadn't done all of that I believe I'd be in such a state of panic now that I'd consider scrapping the whole thing and waiting for 2014 to ride. This morning I was able to finally begin to use those lists to bring some order to my scooter chaos.
I began by clearing a large spot in the middle of the garage floor and laying out a tarp. I've been unpacking the boxes that I'd been careful to mark and set aside during the move, placing things in several different piles. There are the things that I need to carry with me on my scooter and those that I will put on a support vehicle. I'm only part way into it and already the mounds are growing large enough that I'm a little concerned. By the time I've got it all spread out it's going to look like enough stuff for a small army. How and what I winnow out will be an interesting exercise.
Time to stop blabbering and get back to it. I'll try to get some photos as I go to begin documenting the madness.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Two months to go
I've been quiet for the past few weeks and actually thinking very little about Cannonball. We are in the middle of buying a house and every step of the way has been ridiculously difficult. We have our closing scheduled a week from today and literally do not know if the deal is still going to go through. The moments of high drama, stress and worry have not only sucked the joy out of what should be a fairly happy event, but it's kept me from thinking about this whole cross-country thing that's coming up soon.
The Cannonball riders - all 62 of us - will set out from Savannah two months from today. After obsessing over this for nearly two years it's hard to believe the time has just about come. I think I'm supposed to be fretting over what's in my tool kit and making sure I've got the spare parts I need but instead I'm undergoing a financial colonoscopy from the mortgage company and wondering if we're going to have a place to move to or have to start over from square one. With any luck this will all be over soon and my worry over buying the house will be displaced by worry over getting packed and moved in the month prior to Cannonball. I know things are going to work out one way or another.
I want to give a shout-out to David Masse. I was away over the weekend and when I got home I found a package from Canada waiting for me. David decided to send me a couple of turtle lights for my scooter. They are small LED lights that are super bright, have long battery life, and can be used in either steady or flashing mode. He sent a white one and a red one. I can hang or mount them fore and aft on my scooter to make myself more visible. I don't think a driver could fail to spot me with these things on. Thank you, David, for your thoughtful gift. It's a great addition to my kit.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Home sweet home
Right here, right now, in the middle of all of my pre-Cannonball planning, my wife and I are buying a new house. We went under contract this week after some nerve-wracking negotiations with a crusty old bastard who by all appearances didn't really care whether the house sold or not. We got it done - well, at least the first part - and we set an aggressive timeline by insisting on a Feb. 29 closing - yes, that's now less than three weeks away.
In many ways there couldn't be a worse time for Cannonball to be happening. I'm supposed to be saving money, not shoveling it out the door on things like spare tires and riding gear and plane tickets. I'm supposed to be packing my belongings, not spreading them out and cataloging them and deciding what will fit on the scooter and what stays behind. Conversely, I have moments of thinking, "hey, wait a minute, I'm supposed to be doing scooter maintenance and route planning, not scheduling home inspections and radon tests and filling out mortgage applications."
I'm glad that I have Cannonball to think about because it's a pleasant distraction. And I hate that I have Cannonball to think about because I'm already stressed out and the upcoming ride adds to it at times.
I suspect I'll look back on this in the not-too-distant future and get a chuckle out of it. Of all the problems in the world to have, being stressed over buying a new home and doing a scooter ride of a lifetime are not all that bad.
In many ways there couldn't be a worse time for Cannonball to be happening. I'm supposed to be saving money, not shoveling it out the door on things like spare tires and riding gear and plane tickets. I'm supposed to be packing my belongings, not spreading them out and cataloging them and deciding what will fit on the scooter and what stays behind. Conversely, I have moments of thinking, "hey, wait a minute, I'm supposed to be doing scooter maintenance and route planning, not scheduling home inspections and radon tests and filling out mortgage applications."
I'm glad that I have Cannonball to think about because it's a pleasant distraction. And I hate that I have Cannonball to think about because I'm already stressed out and the upcoming ride adds to it at times.
I suspect I'll look back on this in the not-too-distant future and get a chuckle out of it. Of all the problems in the world to have, being stressed over buying a new home and doing a scooter ride of a lifetime are not all that bad.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
seeking support
I knew there was no way to do Cannonball on the cheap. Even if you showed up at the starting line with just the clothes on your back you'd have a week and a half of hotels, meals, beer, gasoline, etc. to pay for. And I'm showing up with much more than that - a spare tire, belt and rollers, exhaust header and gaskets, tools, riding gear for all climates and on and on. Oh, and I have to ship my bike back to Virginia when it's done and hop on a plane to get myself home. I haven't dared to do more than a back-of-the-envelope calculation of what it's all going to cost but it's probably going to be at least $2,500. Nope, not cheap.
But I knew this going in and decided that it was worth it. It hadn't really crossed my mind to ask other people to help since this is a personal endeavor, but I've been watching some of my fellow riders ask for support and see lots of people happily stepping up to pitch in. So here I am.
I've been working in professional fundraising for over 15 years. I've asked people for 6-figure gifts. You'd think I'd know how to do this but I'm discovering that it isn't as easy to do when you're asking for yourself rather than a cause.
I've set up a fundraising page at GoFundMe.com to make it easy. Half of everything I get is going to charity so it's funding more than my crazy ride. Cheers.
But I knew this going in and decided that it was worth it. It hadn't really crossed my mind to ask other people to help since this is a personal endeavor, but I've been watching some of my fellow riders ask for support and see lots of people happily stepping up to pitch in. So here I am.
I've been working in professional fundraising for over 15 years. I've asked people for 6-figure gifts. You'd think I'd know how to do this but I'm discovering that it isn't as easy to do when you're asking for yourself rather than a cause.
I've set up a fundraising page at GoFundMe.com to make it easy. Half of everything I get is going to charity so it's funding more than my crazy ride. Cheers.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
This is Cooper
I'm linking my various accounts and Cooper is my test photo from Flickr. That is all.
Getting connected
I'm an early riser, always have been. I generally wake up on my own somewhere around 5:00. I'm not one of those perky, jump-right-out-of-bed sorts but I also don't spend much time lolling around before I decide to get up. My first thoughts of the day are generally things like, "Huh?" or "I don't want to work today" or "Where am I?", but yesterday when I woke up I realized I was already thinking in full sentences and probably had been for awhile. And what I was thinking was, "What sorts of electrical connectors and how many of them should I pack for Cannonball?"
My minimalist approach to gearing up is beginning to give way to concern that I'm going to forget to bring some crucial little piece of something that I discover I need only when I've broken down on a Forest Service road in Arizona that's many, many miles from nowhere. One reaction to that, I suppose, would be to think of and then pack all of those crucial bits of something, which is apparently what I was doing yesterday when I woke up.
Butt connectors? Male and female spade connectors? Good lord, what is happening to me?
My minimalist approach to gearing up is beginning to give way to concern that I'm going to forget to bring some crucial little piece of something that I discover I need only when I've broken down on a Forest Service road in Arizona that's many, many miles from nowhere. One reaction to that, I suppose, would be to think of and then pack all of those crucial bits of something, which is apparently what I was doing yesterday when I woke up.
Butt connectors? Male and female spade connectors? Good lord, what is happening to me?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
In it to win it
There is a handicap system in place for the Cannonball based on the age and engine displacement of the scooter that provides a level playing field for all riders no matter what you're riding (rules [pdf] are here). In theory, anyone ought to be able to win. However, a consensus seems to have developed among many of us on larger scooters that we don't have a hope in hell of winning so we might as well just enjoy the ride. I've been thinking for months now that I'm not going to drive myself all that hard. That I'm just going to have fun riding. That I'm in it for the camaraderie and the beer at night in motel parking lots.
Well, that's all good but I've given some more thought to the spirit of the competition and have decided that I owe it to the Cannonball - if not myself - to approach this with a more competitive attitude, to show up on the starting line thinking that I've got as good a chance as anyone at winning it. While I still have some serious doubt about that, I'm going to give it a try. This isn't a rally or a group ride or some rolling scooter love fest and I don't want to treat it like it is.
Well, that's all good but I've given some more thought to the spirit of the competition and have decided that I owe it to the Cannonball - if not myself - to approach this with a more competitive attitude, to show up on the starting line thinking that I've got as good a chance as anyone at winning it. While I still have some serious doubt about that, I'm going to give it a try. This isn't a rally or a group ride or some rolling scooter love fest and I don't want to treat it like it is.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Countdown to ecstasy. Or agony. But probably some of both.
Less than 3 months to Cannonball. It's far enough off that I can still be a little lackadaisical about pulling all my stuff together but close enough that I'm getting pretty freakin' excited. Eventually it will get close enough that I'll start to panic and worry that I'm forgetting something important. For now it's restless indolence.
I've been looking back through forum posts from past CBRs and riders' blogs. One thing about the blogs really stands out - most of them have numerous posts leading up to the run and then virtually nothing after that. A few post recaps at the end but a lot just fall silent. I assume that everyone who was blogging went into the Cannonball with the best of intentions to post all the way across country. The fact that they didn't tells me that I should not assume I'll do any differently. I'm bringing my computer and can also post from my phone and I really want to believe that I'm going to write. What is more likely, however, is that I will speak with Pat every evening and she will post little recaps and updates while I'm at the bar / wrenching in the motel parking lot / lying in a tub / passed out in bed. I, like others before me, will do my best to return from the adventure and try to capture the high points in a retrospective. We'll see.
Along with my hope of writing my way across the southern U.S., I'd like to return with lots of photos. I've used the Cannonball as an excuse to upgrade to a different camera and I would like to see myself actually use it. There are a few problems with this scheme, however. The only times I'll be stationary during the day are first thing in the morning (when I'm nervously getting myself ready to ride), stopped on the side of the road to pee or refuel (when my camera is apt to be the last thing on my mind), and in the evening (when the scenery consists of 50 other riders and their scooters in a motel parking lot).
We are going to pass through some gorgeous areas, particularly in the Southwest, and it will be a shame if I can't capture some of it. This means I'll have to stop. Since the Cannonball is a timed run, stopping means losing time. If I was riding to win it would be out of the question to pull over to take photos, but the handicapped scoring system makes it look like winning is the longest of long shots for me. This means I ought to be able to stop and get off my scooter whenever I damn well please and not have to worry that I'll ruin my chance at a podium spot and glory since the chance won't be there to begin with. As with writing, we'll see.
I've been looking back through forum posts from past CBRs and riders' blogs. One thing about the blogs really stands out - most of them have numerous posts leading up to the run and then virtually nothing after that. A few post recaps at the end but a lot just fall silent. I assume that everyone who was blogging went into the Cannonball with the best of intentions to post all the way across country. The fact that they didn't tells me that I should not assume I'll do any differently. I'm bringing my computer and can also post from my phone and I really want to believe that I'm going to write. What is more likely, however, is that I will speak with Pat every evening and she will post little recaps and updates while I'm at the bar / wrenching in the motel parking lot / lying in a tub / passed out in bed. I, like others before me, will do my best to return from the adventure and try to capture the high points in a retrospective. We'll see.
Along with my hope of writing my way across the southern U.S., I'd like to return with lots of photos. I've used the Cannonball as an excuse to upgrade to a different camera and I would like to see myself actually use it. There are a few problems with this scheme, however. The only times I'll be stationary during the day are first thing in the morning (when I'm nervously getting myself ready to ride), stopped on the side of the road to pee or refuel (when my camera is apt to be the last thing on my mind), and in the evening (when the scenery consists of 50 other riders and their scooters in a motel parking lot).
We are going to pass through some gorgeous areas, particularly in the Southwest, and it will be a shame if I can't capture some of it. This means I'll have to stop. Since the Cannonball is a timed run, stopping means losing time. If I was riding to win it would be out of the question to pull over to take photos, but the handicapped scoring system makes it look like winning is the longest of long shots for me. This means I ought to be able to stop and get off my scooter whenever I damn well please and not have to worry that I'll ruin my chance at a podium spot and glory since the chance won't be there to begin with. As with writing, we'll see.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Yet another farkle post
This one actually hadn't made it onto my list of favorite farkles, but only because I forgot that I had it on the scooter. This --> discussion <-- on Modern Vespa reminded me of it - the Go Cruise throttle control.
While having a cruise control on a two-wheeled vehicle may seem dangerous or even suicidal to some, I think if it is used prudently that it can make for a safer ride. Huh? What's that?
On a short ride you're not apt to have much fatigue or cramping, but on a long ride it's a real problem at times. Holding your throttle hand in the same position for an extended period can be tiring and painful. I use my throttle control for a few minutes at a time to enable me to remove my hand from the grip and stretch my fingers and my arm. You'll often see riders going down the road with their left arm hanging loosely by their side or tucked behind their back. This isn't for show - it helps relieve cramping. The throttle control allows you to do the same with your right arm. Remaining loose and limber and pain-free to me translates into having a safer ride.
Using the Go Cruise is as simple as depicted in the company's demonstration video. It takes seconds to install (and seconds to remove if you don't like it). Engaging it is effortless. Disengaging it is as simple as manually rolling off the throttle. It's not risk free so if you aren't comfortable with the idea of holding your throttle engaged you probably shouldn't use one.
Some people use rubber o-rings to achieve the same result. I have a dozen heavy duty yellow Caterpillar o-rings that I bought (I only needed one but the place I ordered from only sold them by the dozen). The idea is that you put the o-ring on your throttle grip and when you want it to hold the throttle in place, you slip it over the end of the grip so it fits in the groove between the grip and the bar end. It works a charm and really does the exact same thing that the Go Cruise does at just a fraction of the price. Why, then, am I not using it?
When the o-ring is sitting in that groove it's on the outside of your right hand and you can't really see it. Also, when you're wearing gloves it's more difficult to pull it out of that groove. Those downsides kept me from getting comfortable using it. While it may be unlikely that there would be a problem, the thought of taking my hand off the grip and fiddling with the o-ring while hurtling down the road with a stuck throttle...well, you can perform that mental exercise yourself and see how it feels.
While having a cruise control on a two-wheeled vehicle may seem dangerous or even suicidal to some, I think if it is used prudently that it can make for a safer ride. Huh? What's that?
On a short ride you're not apt to have much fatigue or cramping, but on a long ride it's a real problem at times. Holding your throttle hand in the same position for an extended period can be tiring and painful. I use my throttle control for a few minutes at a time to enable me to remove my hand from the grip and stretch my fingers and my arm. You'll often see riders going down the road with their left arm hanging loosely by their side or tucked behind their back. This isn't for show - it helps relieve cramping. The throttle control allows you to do the same with your right arm. Remaining loose and limber and pain-free to me translates into having a safer ride.
Using the Go Cruise is as simple as depicted in the company's demonstration video. It takes seconds to install (and seconds to remove if you don't like it). Engaging it is effortless. Disengaging it is as simple as manually rolling off the throttle. It's not risk free so if you aren't comfortable with the idea of holding your throttle engaged you probably shouldn't use one.
Some people use rubber o-rings to achieve the same result. I have a dozen heavy duty yellow Caterpillar o-rings that I bought (I only needed one but the place I ordered from only sold them by the dozen). The idea is that you put the o-ring on your throttle grip and when you want it to hold the throttle in place, you slip it over the end of the grip so it fits in the groove between the grip and the bar end. It works a charm and really does the exact same thing that the Go Cruise does at just a fraction of the price. Why, then, am I not using it?
When the o-ring is sitting in that groove it's on the outside of your right hand and you can't really see it. Also, when you're wearing gloves it's more difficult to pull it out of that groove. Those downsides kept me from getting comfortable using it. While it may be unlikely that there would be a problem, the thought of taking my hand off the grip and fiddling with the o-ring while hurtling down the road with a stuck throttle...well, you can perform that mental exercise yourself and see how it feels.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
This is a test. This is only a test.
Just trying out the public tracking map for my SPOT GPS Messenger. If it works properly, it should get pinged by the unit every 10 minutes while it's on and the track will show up on the map. If not, well, I guess I need to keep working at figuring out the settings on it.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
My favorite farkles: Part II
Okay, this one maybe doesn't qualify as a farkle since it's not a modification. Eh, so what.
Airhawk seat cushion: This runs a close second to the back rest on my list of favorites and the two work well in tandem. The Airhawk was developed by a company that makes products to relieve bed sores in hospital patients. It’s an inflatable cushion with a sort of waffle pattern and a nylon cover. You inflate it only enough to provide a thin cushion of air between you and the seat so you just barely float above it. It adds about ¾” of height so anyone with short legs who already has trouble reaching the ground might have trouble with it.
I can say tons of good things about how much better my scooter ride is with it, but as additional testimonial for this product I offer the following: In October 2010 I broke my collarbone in an accident. I was unable to sleep lying down for the first two weeks so I stayed in my recliner in the living room during this time. To make myself as comfortable as I could in this very uncomfortable situation, I put the Airhawk on my chair seat. It made my already comfortable chair even more so. I liked it so much that I left it in place for a number of months afterward. It’s that good. I also recently spent a few nights in my chair again because I had bronchitis and lying down made me hack. I used the Airhawk again and it's staying there for good now.
Most people on Modern Vespa advocate for the medium cruiser size. I have both a medium and a large and have to say that the large is the better of the two by a long shot. It covers from the front end of the seat all the way back to the ridge that separates the rider from the pillion. I found that the medium had a tendency to slide forward during long rides; the large never does. I won't argue though; use whatever works for you.
Airhawk seat cushion: This runs a close second to the back rest on my list of favorites and the two work well in tandem. The Airhawk was developed by a company that makes products to relieve bed sores in hospital patients. It’s an inflatable cushion with a sort of waffle pattern and a nylon cover. You inflate it only enough to provide a thin cushion of air between you and the seat so you just barely float above it. It adds about ¾” of height so anyone with short legs who already has trouble reaching the ground might have trouble with it.
I can say tons of good things about how much better my scooter ride is with it, but as additional testimonial for this product I offer the following: In October 2010 I broke my collarbone in an accident. I was unable to sleep lying down for the first two weeks so I stayed in my recliner in the living room during this time. To make myself as comfortable as I could in this very uncomfortable situation, I put the Airhawk on my chair seat. It made my already comfortable chair even more so. I liked it so much that I left it in place for a number of months afterward. It’s that good. I also recently spent a few nights in my chair again because I had bronchitis and lying down made me hack. I used the Airhawk again and it's staying there for good now.
Most people on Modern Vespa advocate for the medium cruiser size. I have both a medium and a large and have to say that the large is the better of the two by a long shot. It covers from the front end of the seat all the way back to the ridge that separates the rider from the pillion. I found that the medium had a tendency to slide forward during long rides; the large never does. I won't argue though; use whatever works for you.
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