Mini Moto Madness!Written by Matt Tong
Mini Motos have been around in UK for around ten years now. The first bikes we’re cobbled together with parts that were already available. Small 2 stroke engines, mainly from garden machinery, were used. This type of engine is still used today for a few models and is referred to as an ‘industrial’ engine. But now mini moto has been given an overhaul and has taken off in popularity.Mini Motos are true miniatures of their larger Super bike cousins. All of details that go into high performance motorcycles of today are scaled down. The slick tires, race replica bodywork and “super bike” colours are all present. Although usually only 15 to 18 inches in height and weighing 35 to 55 pounds, it can be difficult to tell they’re not full size when looking at them from a distance. The exactness of detail adds to their 'coolness' and is most certainly what has raised them to such heights of popularity. Although beautiful, Mini Motos go well beyond being mere exquisite scale models. Advanced engineering has catapulted them to high-performance levels at only slightly outrageous prices. European companies like Blata and Polini sell units for £1200-£2000 but less expensive and arguably less reliable ones are made by Chinese manufacturers and cost £180-£400. Most models have two-stroke, 47cc engines, which run on a combination of petrol and two stroke oil. Despite awkward-looking position it takes to mount one, they are a sheer joy to ride. The short wheelbase and overall low weight give them a lightning-fast turn and thrill of riding so fast and so close to terra firma is indeed intoxicating. Safety measures are a must when riding Mini Motos. Gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, a leather suit and a helmet should all be worn for each and every ride. Without them, road rash is quite likely and worse injuries are possible.
| | Colorado Fly Fishing – Bait Huckin' vs. Fly Fishin'Written by Rick Chapo
It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone catches fish but you, you loose six or eight of your most expensive streamers, it rains buckets, and you sink boat. That’s right; I got skunked at Steamboat Lake over Memorial weekend.I was determined to show those meat huckers (worms and power bait) that a well chosen and strategically placed fly was as effective as anything a conventional fisherman could load on a hook and hang under a bobber. Well, no such luck, I got stomped. The fish were rising like mad on a midge hatch, and I threw everything in box at them. I could swear I saw a hefty rainbow nudge my fly to side to eat natural laying only centimeters from my damn near perfect replica. As we watched group of 12 year olds add another 18” fish to their stringer (full loaded, I might add) I decided it must be a lake thing. I don’t fish lakes often. I usually have good luck with a streamer in faster moving water, so I head for one on several tributaries hoping to get boat up far enough to make a make a few good casts. No such luck, here comes wind. Determined and frustrated, I proceed to lose several of my best streamers in dense shrubbery surrounding mouth of creek (can’t retrieve them since current is too strong to get boat any further up creek). On way back to camp we are passed by a couple of boats with stringers of fish crashing off bows of their boats (hmmm, are they just rubbing it my face, or are they tenderizing meat?)Questioning my decision to become a fly fisherman, I head over to dock to pick up my 5 year-old son and a fresh styro of night crawlers. I'll let my son fish meat before I crumble and load one up on spinner myself. Surprising, no luck with meat either, and hear comes rain. I throw my arms up and ponder my karma activity of past year.
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