The Other Classic Scooter

When you think about classic scooters, chances are that the Vespa springs to mind. That is probably why some modern scooters, including the Honda Metropolitan are styled after Vespa. But the Yamaha C3 brings to mind another classic scooter company: Cushman

Today I went to a swap meet at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. It was mostly Harley and chopper parts. But there were a few classic scooters, including this red one from 1947. Cushman scooters were used famously by meter maids in New York and by the Army in World War II.

The styling cues that make this stand out from Vespas are the lack of a leg shield, a headlight that turns with the front fork, and the oversized, blocky rear bodywork. The seat is more like a stool than a saddle.

See Them While They Last

An article in the local newspaper says that autumn leaves are especially colorful and long-lasting this year. Expect them to hang around for only another week or 2.

Road To Recovery Ride

There will be a 15 mile ride happening this Sunday to benefit families dealing with an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis. Meet at New Holland Community Park at 2pm (ride starts at 2:30) on November 18. The ride is to Ephrata, where refreshments will be served. See http://www.naa-pa.org/ for more information.

This more of a motorcycle ride, so I don't expect it to be 50cc friendly.

Links

It's 6:48am and I'm already at work because I looked at the weather forecast at realized that if I left home right away I would beat the rain. And it's going to be sunny and 60 degrees this afternoon, so I wanted to ride.

How did I know this? Well, the links on the right side of this page! The Weather Channel Hour by Hour forecast I have found to be pretty accurate. As long as they say there is a less than 30% chance of rain, I'll ride. To watch out for that last 30%, I use the WGAL Super Doppler 8 loop. It's will show you where the rain is, and how long it will last. I used that to see that there was a band of rain coming that would hit during my normal commute time. But it was clear at the moment, so I scampered!

By the way, I noticed that the Gas Buddy link wasn't working for the Z level I had it set to, so I've adjusted it. That is getting more interesting to watch. I hear that for the first time gas prices are lower in Philly than here, because of the ethanol they mix in. Ethanol is overstocked right now, making it cheap.

It's raining now. I win!

It's Winter Warmer Time

Yesterday I was watching Superbikes on the Speed Channel and they were in Paris, talking about scooters. They were showing people doing stunts on scooters and talking about why scooters are so prevalent in Europe. Scarce parking and congested streets make motorcycles and scooters a necessity.
Those issues are the same issues that a few are starting to complain about in Lancaster. While I maintain that those people must never have been to Philadelphia, it's true that they are a growing concern. Add in gas prices and the desire to "go green", and I think you will see more scooters downtown next year.
What's all this got to do with the title? Well, Lancaster Brewing Company makes a wonderful beer that they only brew over the winter: Winter Warmer. And as I rode my scooter home from my neighborhood brewery with a re-fillable growler filled with dark, malty micro-brew tucked under the seat, I thought, "How European!".

Country Riding

Even though it was cold today, I put on some long underwear and went for a ride. With the right gear, even at 39 degrees, it's not bad. The trees are probably at the height of their color right now. The countryside is beautiful. Harvest time is over and places are preparing for winter. It's a transitional time of year that is especially noticable in an agricultral area.

Today I stumbled upon Zook's Mill Covered Bridge on Log Cabin Road, just off Rose Hill Road, East of Brownstown. I had to stop and take a few pictures with my cell phone. (Note to self: get a small digital camera to carry on these trips... these cell phone images aren't good enough.) Surrounded by farms, along a small river, it was a very peaceful place.

As I was taking pictures of this bridge, across Rose Hill Road, a trio of Amish men repaired a masonry wall on a farm. The whole experience made me feel that I am lucky to live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It's a place that people come from all over to tour. There are winding roads, small towns, rivers, bridges, and diners. With the exception of switch-back mountain roads, it's the kind of place that motorcycle magazines write articles about it. And all we have to do is walk out the door and enjoy it.

Oil/Gas Prices

Oil is selling at over $98/barrel and gas prices are, for the moment, hovering around $3/gallon. They're likely to go up even further soon, since gas was this price earlier in the year when oil was at $70/barrel. I am so glad to have the scooter. I am going to fill up the tank today, which will cost me less than $3 and last me a couple weeks.
Yes, I am still riding the scooter to work. The cold is actually not as bad as I expected. It can definitely be managed by wearing the right gear. It reminds me of being young and walking or riding a bike to class. Being out in the weather broadens your thoughts more than just moving from one box (your house) to another box (a car) to another box (the office). I'm enjoying it. That's likely to change when it dips below freezing. But for now, I'm thumbing my nose at oil prices.

Scooters to Motards

This past Sunday was the last Ephrata First Sunday Motorcycle Rally of the year. But when they start up again in March, I urge you to go. It's held at the American Legion in Ephrata on the morning of the first Sunday of each month, March to November. They have coffee, muffins and danish for sale, but other than that, it just about people bringing their motorcycles to show off. I have never seen a ride-in that was so accepting of all types of motorcycles.

There were Harleys, of course, but also sport bikes, motards, antiques, trikes, tourers, choppers and a couple Piaggio, Honda and Suzuki maxi scooters. The riders wandered around taking pictures and striking up conversations about the wide variety of bikes. People of all ages were genuinely interested in all of the styles, not just sticking to their own segregated groups. Even my little cruiser got some looks. Its 650cc single made it unique enough to warrant some questions and a photo.

I think a lot of people were looking to decide what their next bike would be. I know I was. You can see more styles here than at any dealer. And see a variety of add-ons. I saw a yellow Kawasaki from Delaware with hard bags and a GPS unit. The Burgman 400s had radios built-in. A local man, Colin, with a green Triumph Tiger gave me a lot of good information.

If you truly like motocycles of any kind, this monthly rally is like a candy store.

Looking for Leathers?

Try Domaki Leathers in Leola. They are an inconspicuous store at the corner of Rt. 23 and Rt. 772. They have a large selection of leather... well, everything: jackets, chaps, gloves, boots, breifcases, and even saddlebags (the only thing I didn't see there were full body racing leathers). What makes them great is that their prices are competitive with outlet prices, but the quality is higher. Their jackets are real motorcycle jackets, not fashion jackets made out of soft, thin calfskin. Their jackets are the real thick leather, the kind that would actually protect you for more than a second in a crash. But the same price as the fashion stuff at the mall. I bought a jacket with a racing collar, vents, a zip-in quilted lining that goes all the way down the sleeves for $169. And there is no velcro on it anywhere.

They are only open until 5:30 in the evening, so try going on Saturday when they are open 9:30-4:30.


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