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Not all Phoenix fun comes with dim lighting and fancy cocktails.
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than endorphins, sunshine, and sweat.
Lover of all things outdoors, The Outsider explores the more natural side of Phoenix.
Let’s be honest: peddling gets old. Sadly, the alternative (meaning anything with a motor) is expensive. Will there ever be a mode of
transportation for the lazy, broke, but ultra-cool? Before accepting defeat, we’d like to welcome to the local rising culture of the classic moped.
Before you start picturing your childhood neighborhood bully riding a neon orange
goped, or worse, the ASU philosophy major riding a Vespa, let us clarify.
A moped is basically a mini motorcycle. The coolest of cool look like
mini vintage Harleys, the lamest of lame look like mini crotch-rockets. Most
moped owners have something that falls somewhere in the middle.
Learn more about mopeds after the jump.
The Tom Cruisers is the official name of the local 20 or so peddlers who
can’t get enough of the moped’s gasoline and grease. Members meet up weekly in Tempe at a member’s house to hang
out, ride, and perfect their mechanic skills. The meet-up spot varies every week and members stay updated via the group’s Facebook page. Every Tuesday you can catch the ride motoring through the streets of Tempe and trying out new routes.
Although speed is half
the fun, the other half is the fixing and tinkering. Most group members troll the Craigslist listings for great rides between $250 to $600. The price varies depending on the year, the manufacturer, the quality, and the overall street cred of the moped. Often this means buying a vintage moped that needs some some extra elbow grease. Anyone with a
moped will admit that the bikes need a lot of maintenance.
“I’d say on
average most peds only run for a dozen or so hours before needing
attention in someway or another,” explains Tom Cruiser member, Ryan
Hayles. But since a major part of the hobby is learning to repair, maintenance can be fairly inexpensive and only requires some good tools and a spare part now and then. Hayles even admits to consistently spending more money on his road bike.
But maybe it’s the maintenance and grease stains that make them look
that much cooler. This isn’t the sport for flawlessly coiffed hipsters
or perfectly groomed ASU students.
“There are people who think its the
cool hip thing to do but those people are quickly turned off by the
idea of getting their hands dirty or having to smell like gas all
night,” says Hayles. But that doesn’t mean he’s not looking for new
members. The Tom Cruisers are welcoming and understanding of novice
apprehensions, and say they’d love to teach a newbie a thing or two about
fixing a moped. Rub your new friends the right way, and they might even
let you ride an extra bike.
Although the group is small, the sport is growing in popularity. You
may have already seen them riding down Mill Avenue looking as cool as
James Dean’s rebel cronies. Check out the Tom Cruisers’
Facebook page for more information.
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