Close to the close

Here it is again.. Sept 30th, and I'm still open for business. I'll keep the scooters running until the bad weather days outnumber the good. I'm guessing a couple more weeks.

We had an incredibly wet summer.. which ended up being the damper for riders, and not so much the economy.

We had 8 "accidents" (all but 1 were lay downs due to gravel and very minor) 1 being a Big Ruckus by a guy who:

1.) Bragged about his motorcycle at home and the fact that he's ridden since in the womb.
2.) Laughed at other injury photos because "..how can they wreck like that? Scooters don't go very fast"
3.) Declined to wear a helmet because "I don't plan on wrecking it"

The guy laid the Ruckus down on a turn with a speed limit of 15mph! THAT'S HOW FAST YOU CAN BE GOING TO LAY A RUCKUS DOWN AND CAUSE $700+ worth of damage.

Look, a 250cc scooter is as fast as... a 250cc motorcycle.
No one PLANS on wrecking..
Remember bicycles? How fast do you go on one of those to get road rash? Not as fast as a scooter!
You previous experience on motorcycles, and your bragging of it not only does not impress me, but makes me more leery to rent to you than a complete novice.

Of the 8 "accidents" this year, only 2 were by people who had ZERO experience on 2 wheeled motorized anything. 1 had ATV experience, and she laid the scooter down in the parking lot after hitting the gas for the first time, and made a bee line for the other parked scooters before falling over with in inches of another scooter.

But now for the good stuff!

Riders told me:
"Seriously, THIS is the funnest thing I've ever done!"
"This is the best thing in Estes Park to do."
"Touring Rocky Mountain National Park on a scooter is the ONLY way to go!"
"Had I known about the scooters when we first got here, we would have done this first!!"
"Next year, we are coming here first, and we are going out all day!"
"OMG! An hour is not enough... we'll be back tomorrow to rent all day!"
"Now I know why people love to ride motorcycles!"
"This was the funnest part of our vacation! We'll definitely be back next year!!"

It's THESE customers who keep me excited about doing this.
They are the ones who bring me the most joy, and make me realize that what I am doing is so very worth it.

And for all the riders who came out AGAIN... to the riders who have been coming to my shop each year since I opened... to the riders who tell me my scooters are now an annual part of their trip to Estes Park...

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

So, for the next couple weeks, I'll be cleaning the shop, getting the scooters ready for winter, and hopefully sending a few more folks out into the landscape of Estes Park on scooters to enjoy the thrill of it.

Corvette Club Estes Park Sept 2009

Time to head to work, so I got in the truck and got to the end of the driveway to see a line of Corvettes driving by.

Obviously a Vet Club was coming up thru Glen Haven to Estes, and I got in line behind them.

As I approached the switchbacks, the sun hit the vets just so, and they were all making the turns in a neat little line, so I started to take some photos.

Yes, photography while driving is a dangerous thing, so do not attempt it at home.. or in the car.


If anyone out there is in this club, or knows of the club that made this run, I have some decent shots of your line headed to Estes.. and I'd be happy to share them with y'all.

Beware of Drop Elk

A few weeks ago, I was up in Rocky Mountain National Park hiking around from Fern Lake to Cub Lake. I saw the strangest thing..

I swear to you, I saw an Elk in a tree. It was sort of snorting at me as I hiked by, and I'd guess it was about 50 yards away or so.. it was sort of high up there in a pine, and I can't figure out how it got there. There was also something hanging in the tree from a large branch. It almost looked like a cocoon, but very large. I'd say, about the length of the Elk itself.

After my hike was over, I asked a ranger about seeing an Elk in a tree, and he thought I was crazy. I even told him I'm local, as to not sound like a tourist..

So, yesterday while hanging out with friends around the fire, I brought up that Elk.

I was told by a guy who has lived in Estes since the late 50's that there is a type of Elk, called a Drop Elk. He went on to tell me that a Drop Elk is very dangerous... and it will fall out of a tree and onto it's prey, pretty much knocking it out with the the Elk's weight alone. Once the victim is out cold, the Drop Elk will eat it!!

I could not believe what I was hearing! He didn't know much else about it, and has never seen one himself, but swears that once in awhile a story comes out about an encounter with a Drop Elk.

Just wish I had my camera with me.

STOP WRECKING MY SCOOTERS!

Owning a 1 million cc motorcycle does not impress me.

I don't care if you have been riding motorcycles all your life... it's not a scooter.

I'm beyond tired of hearing these motorcycle owners say how "dorky" or "gay" they will look driving a 50cc scooter...

I'm sorry if your penis can't handle riding a 50cc scooter.

But, if you are going to ride it... then pay attention to what I say. I have great information for you. Using your hips or body to steer really works.

Two Weeks: One Big Ruckus goes down. One Vino 125 goes down. 3 Metropolitians go down.
4 bikes in one week.

Guess what? 3 of the 4 had motorcycle licenses. 1 had riding experience, but no class M. That rider wanted a Big Ruckus, and was very upset he was being demasculinated to a Metropolitan.

This year, of the 8 riders who have dumped bikes.... only ONE was a novice.

An ATV'er hit the gas, and drove right into the other parked scooters.

LEAVE YOUR EGO IN THE CAR, AND LET ME TEACH YOU HOW TO RIDE!