Riding to Work Kicks Ass

Riding to work is awesome for many reasons, most of which have already been explained elsewhere by other people. This morning the weather was perfect, and I felt that I had to gloat about how I have an awesome time on my way to work, while everyone else is stuck in their cage fuming about the moron ahead of them (who, by the way, I was able to zip around like he wasn't there).

Now, where was I... Oh yeah, perfect weather. The perfectness of this morning made me think about how hot it was going to be later this afternoon. I'm not going to complain, but the fact is that a black bike on black top surrounded by cars in the 5 o'clock heat in Phoenix is exactly the kind of place a wussier sort would not want to be. And it's only going to get hotter as the summer goes on.

Anyways, I was thinking about how riding to work FORCES me to get up early and ride. This is awesome because I wouldn't get up early on a weekend to go out riding at the perfect time.

Well, ok, yes I would. That's beside the point though. My point is that if you don't ride to work you miss out on prime riding time. Not to mention riding period.

That's my rant for today. Hey, here's a picture of me on the mini-bike as a kid. This was about 20 minutes before I crashed into the tree.




What's funny is that I still have the same haircut.

Something silly

I don't have anything to talk about, so here's a picture of Baldy-Beard posing with his scooter.

Pie Zanos Kitchen - THE REVIEW!

So here's the rating system I'm going to use:

Thumb up = Way to go!
Sideways Thumb = Adequate, but not special
Thumb down = Sucks!

Pizza Posse consisted of: Lucky, Mrs. Lucky, Baldy-Beard, Bo
Date: 6-25-2005
Restaurant: Pie Zanos Kitchen

Overall: Thumbs Up

High praise from Bo and Baldy-Beard above.

The Pie: "Volcano" Sausage, Tomato, Cheese, fresh Jalepeno, hot wing sauce on top.

Crust: Sideways Thumb. A decent conveyance for pizza toppings. Kind of tasted like a saltine, only without salt. Good, but entirely unremarkable.

Sauce: Sideways Thumb. The sauce was also adequate. Unmemorable.

Toppings: Thumb up. Fresh and good. The cheese was kind of weird, almost like velveeta-mozzarella. Sausage was good, but not special. Fresh jalepeno peppers saved it.

Ambiance: Thumb up. Way cool. Kind of like chipotle/pei wei, only with REAL art (by local artist Jason Rudolph Pena. By the way, the N in Pena should have a squiggle over it, but I don't know how to put it there....) on the walls. The staff was super friendly and helpful. They were tatted up, and had long hair/shaved heads. That warmed my bitter little heart.

Sorry about the glare on Willy.

Cool art was plentiful.


They had a cool make-your-own pizza line a la Chipotle/Subway, only without the overwhelming stink of big business.

Really good salads and cheesy garlic breadsticks. Mrs. Lucky's pizza was much better than mine. We will definitely go again, and try different pizza.

They happened to be in a cool strip mall. If you aren't in Phoenix, you probably don't know how a strip mall can be "cool." Basically, Phoenix IS a strip mall. If you want to buy something, even a good something, you are going to a strip mall. After the first couple of years here you get used to the idea and can appreciate the differences in strip mall quality.

I can't believe I just said that.

The ride was boring superslab the whole way. 202 - 51 - Camelback - 24th street. It was better than no ride at all, though.

Who's this guy? He's got a cool bike, whoever he is. Looks like it runs pretty well too.

Pizza review coming soon

The first pizza review should be up tomorrow. I'll have pictures too!

Since Friday, I've ridden about 200 miles. Yesterday I rode out to the middle of nowhere and tooled around for a couple of hours. I should have brought the camera and took some pictures, but that would have interrupted my enjoyment of the occasional twisty bit.

I'm going to go work on that review now.

Pictures coming VERY soon!

I will have pictures very soon.

It's on.

The VX is no longer an expensive garage ornament!

I got it running last night, in true mad scientist fashion, during a lightning storm. No, I'm not kidding.

That means the first OFFICIAL review will be coming very soon. Pictures will also be coming very soon.

Why I Suddenly Feel Dirty

If I'd had any idea that a stupid battery for the VX would be so hard to find, I would have started looking a lot sooner.

I had to go to a certain store that is big, blue, and destroying America. They had TWO of the batteries I needed. And an automatic battery charger for cheap.

I feel so dirty.

On the upside, I should be getting the reg/rect for my bike tonight, which means I should have it running TONIGHT. Provided everything works out, I'm going to take a test ride over to my local independent record store and buy Clutch's new album. Baldy-Beard played some of it for me last night and it's pretty righteous.

On a blog-related note, I should have some pictures up soon.

The Agony of Owning a "Rare" Motorcycle

Last night I went to buy a new battery to go with the new Regulator/Rectifier I should be getting tomorrow. I called the store a couple weeks ago and they told me they had it. Since my bike is, you know, rare, I assumed that they would still have that battery. WRONG. We dug through a bunch of the batteries they did have looking for something that would work. Nothing.
So I went to another store, just to check. Nope.

Luckily, the first store was able to find another location of theirs that has one. I'm going to call and ask them to hold it. Also, I plan to explain to them that if they don't hold it and it's gone when I get there, their family will enjoy 7 generations of pain. I'd hate for them to not understand how badly I want to get my bike running.

If I can get the VX800 running before the weekend, I think I'll finally be able to post the first official review. And then, life will be good.

A Challenge!

I see that Mtne (UTMC) has plotted an entire route for me with pizza stops all the way to Denver. This is cool for two reasons. One, I have been looking for an excuse to get up to Denver anyway. Two, it means someone is actually reading this thing. Neat!

Perhaps I'll be able to make that run around Labor Day. Especially since he offered to buy pizza. The catch is finding a time when I'll be able to get enough time off of work. Of course, if I schedule it right, maybe I could make that trip between quitting my present job and starting my new (and currently imaginary) job.

Anyway, you will be buying me a pizza, Mtne.

On to other important news, I have not gotten a call from Hondaboy's shop telling me my part is backordered. That means I'm probably going to actually GET IT, and be able to start riding sometime this week.

Thursday seems so far away....

Joy! and the Official Pizza Review Rules.

So my new best friend, Hondaboy at Champion Honda (Mesa, AZ), managed to find me the part I need for the VX800. It should be here on Thursday. I am excited beyond mere words.

It is general wisdom that when you finally find a good wrench, you should treat him well and buy him beer (if your wrench happens to be a woman, treat her well and buy her beer. Only don't be creepy about it, BECAUSE SHE'S WRENCHING ON YOUR BIKE.). Although he hasn't done any work on my bike, I'm still buying Hondaboy a beer or two.

No pizza review for the weekend. I had papa john's, which is adequate. However, they do not qualify for an official review because they are a huge corporate chain, and I did not ride to the restaurant.

OK! That brings me to the rules (which are really more like guidelines) for selecting a pizza place worthy of review.

The first rule of The Great Motorcycle Pizza Tour is: You do not talk about The Great Motorcycle Pizza.... sorry, I couldn't resist. In reality, please tell everyone you meet about it and tell them how to get here.

Ok, here goes for real:

1. No soulless, corporate chains. A chain will be deemed acceptable if they are regional, independently owned, and small enough that I've never heard of them.

2. No soulless, corporate, non-chain pizza places. I don't care if Disney World has great pizza. It's corporate, they know what a demographic is, I'm not reviewing it.

3. When deciding between pizza review candidates, the one described as a "pizza parlor" will get the nod. They get bonus points if "pizza parlor" is in the name.

4. The location with an entertaining ride to get to it will get higher priority than the one with a boring ride.

5. For an official review, the restaurant must be ridden to. Excellent pizza that I did not ride to get may get an honorable mention now and then, but not an official review.

6. If the staff is described to me as "looking like they just got back from a Gwar concert," they will be preferred over another location. Note that false descriptions of Gwar-fan-itude will result in severe punishment for the fool who described it as such.

7. If you happen to meet me in a pizza place, I will be more than happy to let you buy pizza for me.

8. Places that offer me free pizza/motorcycle parts will get a review if I get around to going to their restaurant(provided they meet the "non-corporate" rules above). If their pizza sucks, they'll still get a crappy review.

9. These rules are subject to change anytime I decide to change them. And I don't even have to notify you.

10. If I really like you, you might be allowed to come with. However, you must ride. Exceptions will be made depending on how ratty your car is and how many pizzas you offer to buy. SUVs will never be allowed to come with, and I will kick you in the shins if you ask. Even if you offer to buy pizza.

So, what I need from YOU, dear reader, are recommendations of places to review. Oh, and comments. Leave me comments, dammit. How else am I going to know if I'm doing a good job?

You meet the craziest m*therf*ckers on a scooter.

Honda had a wildly successful advertising campaign "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." I have to say, I've never had anyone on a Honda yell "Get a Harley!" at me so I guess it's fairly accurate.

Actually, I've never had anyone on a Harley yell that either, though I suppose it's only a matter of time.

I have, however, had a pedestrian (in the requisite almost-transparent white v-neck undershirt and stained jeans) yell that to me while I was on Baldy-Beard's scooter. I wonder what that guy would do if I rode by on one of these. If you're on a scooter, people talk to you. A lot. You might think that a dude on a motorcycle gets talked to all the time, but that's NOTHING compared to how many people just start talking to you when you're on a scooter. Most people ask how fast it'll go, followed by asking about the gas mileage.

Incidentally, it's fun to tell someone who just dumped $90 into their ugly SUV that I spent $6 a week on gas while riding 40 miles a day. Choke on it, yuppie scum.

Back to my topic though, people jump over each other to get to talk to the guy on the scooter. People will pull up next to you and scream for no apparent reason. Apparently being on a scooter makes you less intimidating than, for example, someone just standing there.

As weird as people get around scooters, you meet the REALLY crazy f*ckers on THEIR scooters. I met a scooter guy at a gas station who came running over to me to talk scoot. That was pretty cool, but to say he was eccentric would be putting it mildly. Apart from appearance (standard, "just came off a 5 day bender" chic), this guy was REALLY enthused about all things scootery. He told me all about his new windscreen which made it possible for him to hear his motor and listen to his headphones while riding. We wound up at the stoplight next to each other (I swear I heard "born to be wild" coming from his headphones), and dude wanted to drag race. On twist-n-go scooters. The Vino gave it's all, but his higher cc ride took the checkered flag. I'll get him next time, though.

I met a couple other scooterists, and always marvelled at how odd they were.

Now, for you non-bikers, motorcycle riders tend to wave to each other. Scooter guys, on the other hand, DO NOT WAVE. To anyone. Considering myself a motorcyclist temporarily riding a scooter, I waved at everybody. I have learned that you've got slightly less than a 30% chance of getting a wave back when you're on a scooter if you wave at a motorcycle (scooter kids, as I said, DO NOT WAVE.). Surprisingly often, the guys who waved back were the ones who looked the most likely to yell "get a Harley." Of course, a lot of the super macho cruiser guys don't wave, and instead go for a deep nod of the head.

Which leads to the day of my stunning revelation. Here in the east-side of Phoenix lives a man who you WILL notice if you ever see him. I'll name him Cosmic Cowpoke. This is a guy who dresses spaghetti western everyday, and has a RIGHTEOUS handlebar moustache. Cosmic rides an old-school BMW with a sidecar painted to look like a rocket. Have I established that Cosmic was just a bit eccentric? I'd seen him around, but never while riding. This particular day, a stoplight changed and I was braking fairly hard. I spotted Cosmic leaving a parking lot, and gave him the nod. He looked at me for a split second, took in the scooter, the flame-jobbed helmet and grim reaper ornament, then nodded back.

That's when I realized that I am the kind of crazy m*therf*cker you meet on a scooter.

Stupid Backordered Parts!!

Mood: Massively Annoyed
Currently Listening To: Death Is Just the Beginning IV (Nuclear Blast compilation)

I'm starting to think that I'm never going to get my VX800 on the road again. I thought I'd tracked down an alternate supplier, and cancelled my original backordered order. Well, tonight I found out that this OTHER supplier has also backordered my part.

I am so very, very unpleased. If you've got a regulator/rectifier for a '91 Suzuki VX800 and can get it to me before the end of the freakin' month, let me know.

The Somewhat Nifty Return!

Ok, so I'm back.

The trip went well. Pizza was consumed, a motorcycle was ridden, and rain was seen.

First things first: the bike. The bike belongs to my wife's step-father. It's a Yamaha v-star 1100 that he bored out to 1500 ccs. I was expecting neck-snapping launches, but instead I got a very smooth (and loud, due to custom pipes) ride. I was a little disappointed, because I like neck-snapping launches. Perhaps I was just too nice to it. It handled better than I thought a bike that big would. Anyway, it was a nice bike, and fun to ride, but it just didn't get my adrenaline going.

Next: the pizza. This isn't an "official" review, as I didn't RIDE to the pizza place. I just want to make sure that's clear. I'll talk about my rules for "official-ness" later.

Ok, so the place was called Sarpino's. Our chum Wolfie (HI WOLFIE!) recommended it, and he didn't lead me astray. They're located in Otsego, MN (which is right outside of Sh*t-Splat-Nowhere, from what I could tell). They've got a few other locations too, and I seriously hope they aren't a soulless corporate chain because they make a MEAN pie. Quality toppings, spicy sauce, good crust. The pizza was delivered, so I don't know what the restaurant itself was like. I'd like to imagine that it was run by a crew of mohawked freaks, but the delivery guy looked awfully wholesome.

And now for some REALLY important news, I should be getting the part I need for my VX in the next few days. I'm just about jumping up and down with excitement. Also, I should have some photos soon.

The great escape

Ok, so I know it's kind of weak starting a blog that promises frequent updates and then going out of town for a week, but that's exactly what I'm doing.

My younger brother, Noodles, is graduating from high school this weekend. My sister-in-law is also graduating. I can't think of a nickname for her, but I bet I'll figure one out while we're visiting. Anyway, since we're making the trip to the great frozen north anyway, we're going to visit as many of our friends as possible. Since one of them has asked me what his nickname will be, I hereby dub him Wolfie. I guess, since he wants a nickname, I could just call him Nicky. You know, short for nickname.

Nah. Wolfie it is. Hi Wolfie.

Hopefully, while out of town I will get to eat pizza. And if I'm really lucky, I'll get to ride a motorcycle. And it would be just super if I get back from this trip and the part I need for my VX is waiting for me. Props go to my friends Bubbles and The Incredibly Deadly Viper for trying to hook me up with the part I need.

And now, I'm off.

Is this thing on?

Hi there.

My name is Lucky and this is my blog about two of the greatest things in the world: pizza and motorcycles. Basically, I'm going to figure out routes to pizza places, ride to them and tell you about it. I'm going to drag my wife with me, of course, so she'll tell you what she thinks too. I might bring some friends along now and then too. Yes, you'll get to hear what they think. If you're lucky you'll get to see some pictures too.

But enough about that, let's talk about me for a change.

Pizza and I have a long history. When I was barely old enough to eat solid food, my mom took me out to lunch with my grandma. That was my first taste of pizza. Naturally, I wanted another taste. And another. And another. And that's how a 2 year old ate half of a large pizza. I cried when the pizza was gone.

To be honest, I still cry when the pizza is gone.

Motorcycles and I have almost as long of a history. I believe I got my first ride on a motorcycle when I was about 3 or 4. My uncle, Big Red, had a 60's era Yamaha something-or-other that he gave me a ride on (off-road, of course). He sat me in front of him, and told me to put my feet on the engine guards. It was a terrifyingly loud bike (at least to a 3 year old). I'm sure my mom still hasn't forgiven him.

My next ride was on another uncle's (Uncle Speed Racer) honda minibike. I was about 7, and after teaching me how, he let me ride it all by myself. I puttered around the yard for a while, and then decided to let 'er rip. I rode it straight into a tree. After my folks had pulled all the pine needles out of my nose, I wanted to go back out. I'm sure my mom hasn't forgiven him either.

When I was 16, I got to learn how to ride Big Red's Yamaha (yes, the one I got my first ride on). It was the coolest thing ever (and still amazingly loud). Naturally, after a month of riding I thought I was hot stuff and crashed. I told my mom I just tipped over, but you and I both know that I was going way too fast for that. From the stories I've been told, I think that I high-sided it ("You flew off it!! Are you OK???") . I know it was a long walk back to the bike. Apart from some scrapes, I was A-OK. Some of my family started calling me "Evel." I still haven't forgiven them.

A friend recently hurt his back, so I loaned him my Rat Buick (more about that later) while he recuperated. My friend, Baldy-Beard, rides a Yamaha Vino 125 scooter. Since he had my car, I took the scooter and rode it for a month or two. No crashes. Scooters rock and anyone who says otherwise is just jealous.

Recently, I bought a '91 Suzuki VX800. I'll tell you more about it later but for now I'll just say that it rocks. And that it isn't running. It broke down the day after I brought it home. I'm waiting for a part for it. So far, I've only ridden it 4 times.

That also makes me cry.