No-Ped in Worcester

Although I called it a moped, my Tomos is apparently a "no-ped" in that it has no pedals. I've been riding it to work and back when weather permits (we had a recent spate of good weather), which is 40 miles round trip. The bike runs great, but I have to say, the seat sucks. Not very comfortable after a mile or so, and very uncomfortable after ten miles.

In spite of this, I've put over 300 miles on the Tomos, which my wife has nicknamed "Zippy," apparently in reference to the pinhead that rides it, moi. A friend of mine, when he saw the Tomos, asked me, "So have any of your friends called you a crazy idiot yet?" I've gotten some odd looks, but drivers seem to assume that I'm on a motorcycle, which in traffic is a good thing -- they come up more slowly -- and I feel much safer than when I've ridden a bicycle in the same circumstances.

Now that I've put on over 250 miles, some maintenence needs to be done. I've got to change the oil and tighten the chain, for starters, so I'm not commuting on the Tomos until I've made sure I don't run out of oil or throw a chain. Throwing the chain would be VERY BAD. But I'm looking forward to spring, and A NEW SEAT.

Scooter, Redux

I like the way that sounds: "Scootereedoo."

I keep looking at my options for cheap, electrical transport to and from my P/T job in Bolton. Since I teach only three classes, it makes sense to keep my commuting costs low. Never mind that I'd feel ever so much more virtuous. So here's what I've found out so far about electric bicycles (as opposed to scooters).

Schwinn is coming out next year with a model called the Streamline, which not only looks so cool any Boomer worth his extra cash would want one, but Treehugger really likes it: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/schwinns_new_line_of_electric_bikes.php And doesn't it look sweet? No idea how many semolians that will set you back, though.

More easily obtainable -- and therefore less desirable -- is the almost-as-handsome Giant Lite, which along with its fellow travelers can be found here: http://www.electricvehiclesnw.com/main/lite.htm although these folks are charging list price; you can get one for $1000.00 elsewhere online. The advantage of the Lite is (no surprise) its weight. Check those specs!

I've investigated a number of electric scooters, too, but I'm still confused by them; some of them don't have pedals, some do, they weigh more, etc. I think if I were going to get a scooter, it would be gas-powered. The electric ones look like they'd run out of juice half-way up a hill, and I'd be left without the battery-powered equivalent of a paddle. And the only electric motorcycle that looks worthwhile (the Vectrix -- Google that one) is still under development (in Mass. as it happens) and unavailable.

To make the whole 2-wheeled commuting seem more practical, I've found a great route for my green commute along routes 12 and 110. It's about as direct as I could hope for, skirts the lovely Wachusetts Reservoir and lands me handily on the West Side of Worcester, not far from the little bungalow I call domus. On a gas scooter I could make it in about the time it takes to commute by car on the highway (the hardest thing about my commute now is getting on the highway). On an electric bike, I'm not so sure; it's 20 miles each way. At about 18 miles an hour, that's still over an hour. Granted, I'd reduce my commuting costs considerably and get fit in the process, but still...On the bright side, if the weather continues as it has, I'll be able to commute by bike all year.