Archive for the ‘Site Review’ Category

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Rider’s Profile – Amerivespa series: Bryan Bedell

July 7, 2007

It’s the weekend and time to end this series with bang! Okay, if that’s too much of a word, then maybe ‘buzz’ is the more appropriate term. ;)

You see, today’s profile features a guy I consider ‘the main man’ when it comes to online scooter news. In fact, he has been scooter blogging back in the days when blogging seemed too geeky a concept meant only for computer nerds and loners. Talk about some pioneering work! His site is well known among scooterists in the States, here in the Philippines, and probably the rest of the world (or at least, the English-speaking part of the world)!

rider_bryn-bedell95.jpg

That’s him back in 1995 on his first ever scooter — a vintage Vespa Primavera. Let’s get to know more about this guy and the work he’s done in the U.S. scootering scene. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Rider's Profile, Site Review, Vespa Overeas | 10 Comments »

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Rider’s Profile – Amerivespa series: Steve Williams

July 5, 2007

A series about American Vespa bloggers wouldn’t be complete without seeing the name of today’s featured rider. His blog was named the “Best motorcycle or scooter blog” in the 2007 Rider’s Choice Awards by the Motorcycle Bloggers International (MBI) — an association of riders who write and maintain motorcycle blogs, which we’re both a part of.

He is a photographer by profession as evident with the scenic and postcard-ish images found throughout his blog. He has (wittingly or unwittingly) created a signature style of photographing a Vespa. In fact, in one out-of-town ride during a certain stretch where I had the chance to be by my lonesome, I took a few pictures with his style in mind. Understandably, my shots turned out way inferior since I lack the talent and all I had was a cellphone camera. :oops: Still, I hope to post those images in the future as an homage to this guy’s artistry.

Just how good a photographer this guy is? I’ll let his picture do the ‘talking.’

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His photographs are usually like the one above: a rural landscape with only his Vespa. Strangely, his images feel so alone but never lonely; instead you get some sense of serenity and contentment. If I were to describe his pictures in a word, I’d say: SOLITUDE.

But his blog is famous not just because of his stunning photographs. He’s a good storyteller as well. I’m just glad he agreed to participate in this series. On with his profile… Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Photos, Rider's Profile, Site Review, Vespa Overeas | 3 Comments »

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Podcasting with SCTRCST.com – a scooter internet radio

June 25, 2007

scootercast1.gifThis morning, I finally got to speak with Dave Magano of SCTRCST.com (that’s read as ’scootercast’). The site is basically a scooter internet radio blog were Dave, who is based in the U.S., comes up with an episode/podcast every week.

Dave has gotten in touch with me last April when he found out about WRAV? through this post in 2strokebuzz.com. He told me he conducts his interviews via free internet phone (Skype) and suggested that we do it in May. Of course I was honored to be picked along with likes of some scooter bloggers like Steve Williams and Bryan Bedell who have gotten very popular with their good work they’ve done in their respective blogs. I knew I wanted to be part of this, but the idea terrifies me. Talking with a foreigner is hard enough with the nuances in the accent and all that; plus the thought that I would make a fool of myself is overpowering. I committed to Dave but for some reason, we have lost touch for a couple of months; which was all good for me since I wanted to delay the interview as much as I could until I could muster the guts.

Fast forward two months later… Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Personal, Site Review | 5 Comments »

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Here’s a tickled-pink Vespa blogger!

June 7, 2007

If its ever possible for grown man to be giddy about something, then that’s exactly how I’m feeling today!

Two days ago, a fellow Vespinoy (thanks bhong08!) told me that this blog has been featured in this month’s issue of FHM Philppines (Maureen Larrazabal on cover!). Wow, my blog mentioned in FHM… that’s a big thing — I told myself. So I bought the magazine and indeed they featured motorcycles in the Essential June: Vroom section. It even has a Brazilian babe (Wanessa) posing half-naked on top of a Harley. So I said, there’s no mistake about it; this should be the issue where my blog’s suppose to be. But no matter how many times I scan each and every page, I can’t seem to find my site mentioned anywhere. I even asked my wife to double check as she was as excited as me, but there’s really ziltch… nada… wala talaga! Risking sounding exposing myself as over-eager and egotistic, I hesitantly PM’d bhong08 and asked what page exactly did he see the feature. Turns out that it wasn’t FHM but the June ish of T3 magazine where he saw it. He got confused since he read the magazines one after the other. Yippee!!! So there really is a feature after all! So we went out again and asked my wife to buy a copy while I smoked and waited by the roadside parking.

As she went out the bookstore, I think I saw a nervous grin on her face. I asked her why, and she told me what’s in there was a review of my blog — the kind that has star ratings! Naturally, my excitement suddenly turned into anxiety. I wasn’t ready reading about how other writers think of my blog, especially not on a well circulated magazine! So while driving, I asked my wife to read it for me and I was blown away with what I heard. Sobrang proud and SOBRANG GALAK!

Here’s how the page (or half of it) looks like:

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Obviously, I made the scan hardly readable so I’ll have the reason to type the entire text here and make this me-myself-and-I post a little longer… bwahaha! Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Article Quotes, Personal, Site Review | 14 Comments »

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A Worldwide Vespa Show & Tell!

April 26, 2007

ciao-vespa.jpgOne popular classroom activity is when a teacher ask the grade schoolers to bring their favorite toy for “Show & Tell.” Since Vespas are essentially toys for the big boys (and cool chicks as well!), someone decided to dedicate a website to serve as a photo database of various Vespas and their owners from around the globe.

Andrew Smith is a Vespa enthusiast who created Ciao Vespa for people to show their Vespas and tell their stories through his website. He started featuring Wasps only last March but there already are submissions that extends from US to South Africa; from Europe to the Philippines. *ehem* :)

If you also want your Vespa to be showcased in the site, here are the info you need to submit. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Photos, Site Review, Vespa Overeas | 1 Comment »