First Commute!

[madtolive]

I promise to not post every single last little detail about my life with my scooter, but I'm very excited because today I rode my scoot to work for the first time!

I have a big nasty term paper to turn in at 3pm today, and knowing what a slacker I am, I asked for the morning off from work so I could finish it. So it was 11 am and time to come to work and I thought, dang, I wasn't really preparing myself for this, but there' going to be tons less traffic than in the mornings, so maybe I should try taking my scooter. And I did, and it was grand!

Few observations:

* i've heard people talk about how much fun twisties are...uh, they're an absolute nightmare! i was freaking out! i had a hard time of maintaining speed going through a curve without taking it too wide. i know i just have to lean better. so i need to work on that big time.

* i passed a ton of other two wheelers and no one waved at me. i could see one guy smile at me, so i beep beeped at him, but that was it. so much for doing the surfer hang ten sign to everyone.

so odometer says it's 10 miles to work, total miles on there are 65, and my gas needle is completely on "e" you guys think i'll make it back home? i was thinking about bugging the guys at urban moto for my rear rack, and theres a gas station next door so i might just fill it with exactly one gallon anyway.

so yeah, i rode on the monster lamar st. thats the street i was too afraid to ride the buddy home on the first day i got her. i think i did pretty okay you guys.

p.s. i decided on a name for her...Ines! its actually the name i had in mind all along, and today i decided it's right for her. "Ines". it makes me think of one of those sultry latin ladies with long dark hair and big dark eyes. except mine's a sexy latina zombie person-eater!!

[tyger23]

Twisties will come with experience. Learn to love them and not be afraid of them, and that will help.

What's your route? There are certain roads I would not travel on in Austin....

[Apiarist]

congrats on finally getting one! i know you were waiting. yay!

[BadBrains]

From what I've read on the forum, the gas gauge is sometimes hit or miss, but mostly miss. Apparently, it's better to go by mileage each time you fill up your tank.

topic3895.html

I can't wait to do the Lamar shuffle! That's my main vein of transport. And as far as the waving goes, I've been doing the hang ten (like you suggested!) and it seems to confuse everyone at first, but they always smile just before we pass each other. I think if enough of us do it consistently then it might seem standard fare to other new-to-the-game scooterists and before long... we'll wonder what we did without it.

"Ines" is a fine name, misleading what with the person-eating and all, but still a fine name. She sounds like a succubus.

[ladyofthelake]

Congratulations!!! I feel the same way about twisties!!!! I guess due to little experience!
I actually dropped my buddy(poor baby) the other day out of pure stupidity!! I was riding with my scooter boy and was behind him. Well, I turned my head to wave at a neighbor, and did not realize he had stopped. Out of instinct, I gripped both brakes hard and fast and before I knew it, she went down. I on the other hand did not.....thank god!! Scared the bejesus out of me!!!! All and all, kinda glad it happened....now I feel more familiar with my buddy, make sense?
Brushed it off after my heart slowed down and proceeded to have a beautiful ride
Have a safe ride home on Ines!!! I still can't think of a name for she-buddy....it was "Oh Sh_t!" during that little collision!

[madtolive]

From what I've read on the forum, the gas gauge is sometimes hit or miss, but mostly miss. Apparently, it's better to go by mileage each time you fill up your tank.

i've read the same, just want to make sure that the not-broken-in aspect of the bud isn't going to have me rolling her to get some gas when i've not put on even 70 miles on her.

lady - sorry to hear about your little incident! alls well that ends well, look at it as a bonding experience.

during my msf course two of the guys that wiped out did so during the quick break exercise.

now i just have to conquer those twisties. damn road not staying straight and sheeet.

[madtolive]

a succubus is a demon, who takes the form of a beautiful woman to seduce men, especially monks

why'd i think it was some sort of desert plant?

great vocabulary, sir. pip pip!

[charltons]

Congrats!!

[jrsjr]

I promise to not post every single last little detail about my life with my scooter...

We promise to forgive you if you do! Seriously, mad, there's nothing I like better than a detailed first ride post. It's one of the great joys of being on Modern Buddy. Thanks again for a great write-up!

The gas gauges on scooters are a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

Bee safe out there.

-John

[jmazza]

Awesome! Before my first commute I took the route on a Saturday... and only half way at first. It wasn't THAT long ago but now it makes me laugh that I was so nervous- I'm sure after a few rounds you'll feel much more comfortable too!

Great ride report!!

[charltons]

Awesome! Before my first commute I took the route on a Saturday... and only half way at first. It wasn't THAT long ago but now it makes me laugh that I was so nervous- I'm sure after a few rounds you'll feel much more comfortable too!

Great ride report!!

I did the same thing, except on a Sunday. I promised my wife I'd take the MSF course before I start commuting, but subsequently broke it as gas kept going up. I'm registered for next month. As I tell my students, it's hard to have a bad day when you ride a scoot to work.

[Ken82]

haha good for you!

lamar is a fun street to ride a bike on...i used to live in austin for about 6 months then my girlfriend at the time wanted to go back to new orleans(it was after katrina) so i, like an idiot ...followed...

but yeah that town seems like it'd be a blassssttt on a scooter

[ericalm]

a succubus is a demon, who takes the form of a beautiful woman to seduce men, especially monks

why'd i think it was some sort of desert plant?

great vocabulary, sir. pip pip!

That would be a succulent!

Re: twisties: They are scary. Then they're fun. You will learn to love them because they require more "active" riding. For me that means a greater awareness of the connection between myself, the scoot and the road. It's like when surfers look out at the ocean and read the water. [Crap, I have totally gone Californian. Need to go drink a 6 of Shiner right now!]

There's a particular curve near here that used to freak me out in an excited kind of way, especially after I nearly lost it there my first few weeks of riding. I just hadn't learned the joy of leaning (and counter leaning) yet. Now I take that thing at 50 without blinking. Many of the local canyon routes and the famed Mulholland Drive used to be big, imposing challenges. I now take them regularly with just the right amount of confidence and reverence for the road.

[madtolive]

did much better on the curves today, i think. felt encouraged. i can tell the scooter is going to help me get my chores done - this semester is the very first one that i returned all my library books on time. and all 8 of them fit in my pet carrier too! too nice of a day to not go out for a ride. 104 miles in my first week! not bad for a scaredy cat.

and yes, austin is indeed a bomb ass town for scooting around. i haven't gone down routes that i haven't scouted before, but on the way to our camping trip i discovered the beautiful road that is southwest parkway. now i just have to find an excuse to get on it.

also got my first wave today! yesss! smiled all the way to campus after that.

thanks for all the encouragement you guys! i'd never heard of a support group that enables your addiction, but i like it!

[ericalm]

i'd never heard of a support group that enables your addiction, but i like it!

It's kind of sick, isn't it? Do more crack! Do different crack! Wouldn't you like some vintage crack?!