Category: Lifestyle

Orange helmets!

Orange Helmets

If you read Girlbike, you know that Crystal Waters posts about every pink helmet, jacket, and pair of armored chaps she can find. After I threatened to become the “Crystal Waters of Orange” in Girlbike’s comments the other day, she beat me to the punch (line) and sent 2sb a slew of helmets to match the Blur.

Thanks very much, Crystal! Unfortunately, I’m back where I started: The Shoei TZ-R is the only helmet in that bunch I would consider. Orange or not, I’m always mystified that people actually pay extra for helmets that look like Dokken album covers. Shoei helmets fit me well, but I’m not sure that the TZ-R orange will match the bike perfectly. (I’m actually more concerned that I care about my helmet matching my bike.)

Spring Hazards

Crystal’s handy guide to spring riding hazards. Chicago-wise, the potholes, especially on Lake Street, are killing me. Luckily, they’ve already started fixing them. I’ve noticed that either the roads are a lot slicker than they were in the fall, or I’m getting more comfortable pushing the Blur closer to its limits. My least favorite thing about Spring and Fall is the sun always seems to be right on the horizon during commutes. I’m thinking about moving to a city with an east side.

Tandoori Sizzler?

Hey, I think I’d post about Tandoori Sizzler Doritos even if there wasn’t a sweet junky 80s-vintage Asian-Vepsa sidehack in the TV commercial. (That’s Scootin’ Old Skool’s second most popular post.) 2sb readers of Canadia [that’s not a typo -ed], you have a mission. First bag of Tandoori Sizzlers I get in the mail nets the sender a 2strokebuzz t-shirt so new, it hasn’t even been printed yet. You can even decide what color the shirts will be.

UPDATE ScooterScoopSteve points out that there are three different versions of the commercial on doritosplay.ca (go to ‘screening room’). Exotic Otter!? Allright, people, I NEED these chips.

DOT/Slaughterhouse Meeting

There’s a Slaughterhouse planning meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) night at The Globe Pub in Chicago at 8pm. All are welcome. If you’re coming to/interested in the Chicago Scooterist Roundtable, try to come to this meeting. I met with Charles Roesner from the Chicago DOT on Monday and got a lot of insight into what they’re hoping to accomplish, and I’d like to share the good news and talk about it in a group before the meeting on May 4. As I’ve said, this is the best opportunity we’ll ever get to have our voices heard by the city, they’ve asked us for our thoughts on ecology, traffic, parking, and other scooter-related issues, let’s make the most of it.

If you’re on the email list, sorry to not contact you directly, I seem to have misplaced the list. Please spread the word.)

ABATE “Dogkiller” ride April 29

Dave “Dogkiller” White (the founder of Chicago ABATE and cofounder of ABATE of Illinois, Inc.) passed away ten years ago this month. Each year ABATE organizes a “Dogkiller” memorial ride for motorcycle awareness, this year’s ride is April 29. (details). ABATE member Dan Kay tells us he suspects the ride is starting at Alderman “Billy” Banks office in order to present Banks with the “Dogkiller” Award–the Chicago chapter’s highest honor–for his motorcycle advocacy at City Hall, including his support of Motorcycle Awareness Month (May). Banks is Galewood’s alderman, so we should send a contingent of scooterists along to show support for ABATE and Ald. Banks, both important allies.

Chicago rides/events

  • From Dan Epstein: “If the weather doesn’t suck and your luck holds out on Friday the 13th, let’s meet for a shortish ride this Saturday, 14 April. Meet at Atomix, 1957 West Chicago, near Damen, at 9:30 AM.” The weather doesn’t look too promising, but there’s hope.
  • There will be a Slaughterhouse Rally planning meeting at The Globe on Irving Park Ave., this Wednesday (April 18, 2007) at 8pm. If you’re planning to attend the City of Chicago Scooterist Roundtable next month, try to come Wednesday, I’m meeting Charles Roesner earlier next week and I’ll hopefully have more information so we can prepare for the meeting.
  • Hell’s Fairies’ “Spring Roll,” their first ride of ’07, is Sunday, April 29th at 11am. (more info).
  • Scooterist and ChiTown Siren Michelle Booth is organizing a ride around the Siren’s May 6 match, “Quadrophilia.” Save the date and watch for more details, but the current plan is a mods v. rockers ride to the Cobra Lounge (Ashland and Grand) then a “party bus” to the bout (in Calumet City) and back. If you’re interested, email Kathy.

A few rashers more? Think again, Galewood

mmmmmmmThe folks over at Gizmodo reported on some ‘scientists’ in the UK that have come up with an equation for the perfect bacon sandwich. Further research revealed that my lab rat brethren at Leeds University have defined what is the perfect “Bacon Butty”. I’ve been eating bacon sandwiches with pleasure for the last thirty plus years, but these little pleasures are more akin to what Americans would call a fried ham sandwich (Here is where I give a shout out to my pals in Seattle, Joe and Euan, for introducing me to the bacon butty at a bar down the street from Soundspeed Scooters in the Fremont neighborhood). Being that 2strokebuzz is primarily a scooter ‘blog’, I’ll apologize for going off topic but I know that the subject is close the heart of many of it’s loyal readers. Read on and decide for yourself and let the derision of ‘merican bacon commence (p.s. I like both kinds, but not too crispy).

RIP Eurovespa 1954-2006

Since 1954, (with a decade-long break in the 1970s), Vespa lovers gathered at Eurovespa for the grandest, largest, proudest rally known to scooterkind. John Gerber points out that the Vespa World Club has abandoned the Eurovespa name to call the 2007 event “Vespa World Days.” The “expected date of the event” (what?) is June 14-17 in San Marino. Piaggio continues to somehow exploit and butcher their proud history simultaneously. Here’s hoping they don’t ruin their one failure-proof event.

Piaggio: thinking without the box

Two recent examples of Piaggio’s dedication to customer service have surfaced on ModernVespa.com: First, customers who bought Vespa and Piaggio scooters last year are just now getting their “roadside assistance” cards, some with mere weeks left in their plan. Sure, the plan was active all along, but if you promise a card, send the card, quickly, it’s good business. (Visitors to VespaUSA.com have reported months-long delays in getting brochures, you’d think it’d be in Piaggio’s interest to respond to sales inquiries quickly!

Far worse, some GT60 buyers (who paid $1500 extra for the limited edition) have been waiting over four months for the box of gifts that was promised with the scooter. Dealers claim the boxes weren’t sent with the scooters, or that Piaggio sent the wrong quantity of boxes. Some customers that did get their box complain that their box number doesn’t match their scooter number (a valid complaint, as they were designed to be collectors’ items). Some errant boxes have been sold recently on eBay, adding to the confusion and ire.

UPDATE: read Andrea’s comment below, explaining the timing of the roadside assistance cards.