Pedals. Handlebars. 50CCs of salvaged love.

They buzz around town, vintage European two-cycle machines, carrying their riders on their way to class, to work, to visit friends, or just out on a cruise with no particular place to go. A strange cross-breed of bicycle and motorcycle, the moped is a quick and easy—not to mention cheap—way to get around the 16 Blocks. And to a small and tightly knit group of moped maniacs, it's also a tradition.

The Gang

Out of the silence of a cold fall afternoon there came a faint hum steadily growing into the distinct whine of approaching mopeds. A small group of riders appeared, and swarmed down the driveway and onto the lawn. Riders Pete Chudzik, Greg Glenn, Tom Quigley, Hudson Evans, Tim Butrill, and Matt Sisson have just returned to their unofficial headquarters on Airport Road.

They represent the second generation of the Blacksburg moped gang. The founding members were the older brothers of friends of the current crew. The original gang had a website and a basement full of mopeds on Willard Drive. Their glory days came and went, with the mopeds themselves gathering dust and rust in the older crew's basement. Greg Glenn and a few of the current generation became intrigued by the dormant machines and began fiddling with them. The first completed mopeds, including Solex and Cassidy—which they have also written a song about—were shared amongst this new group of friends, and a passion for building and rebuilding had begun.

The Shop

The gangset up shop in a small garage packed full of Italian and Eastern European machines, all decades old and in various states of disrepair. Running or not, they were all brimming with character, remnants of a dying breed of transportation, pushed to the wayside by cleaner and more modern ways of getting around. Every available space was occupied by mopeds, parts, tools, oil, cleaner, and helmets.

With their interest growing, the current gang began buying up more old mopeds.

"My sister and I drove to Michigan and back in 36 hours [to pick up some old models]," Glenn said.

Pete added, "I had like 12 mopeds in [my] parents' garage that first summer."

Each moped's initial states of distress contributed to an attachment, with each rider putting some of themselves into the gradual creation of a road-worthy vehicle, cannibalizing parts and applying knowledge of bicycles and some ingenuity to make it work.

The Scene

Though they are inherently more polluting than other types of engines, this concern is somewhat balanced by the excellent gas mileage, often exceeding 100 miles per gallon.

"There are a lot of import restrictions on what kind of emissions they put out," said Pete, explaining why all of these mopeds are from the 1970s and 80s. The vintage styling and unique character of each machine adds to their appeal, and they almost always manage to turn some heads and raise some appreciative questions. If you dare to confuse mopeds with the fourstroke, small wheeled scooters, however, you're likely to catch some flack.

"We still look down upon the [scooters] a little bit," Glenn said.

The Ride

The 50 cubic centimeter engines burped to life, and we whizzed down the street for a quick cruise. Down the block and around the corner, the blustery breeze and wind of our speed was quick to chill the bones and the group decided to head back. Some riders broke away, heading out to do their own thing, proud members of what could be the last generation of mopeders here in Blacksburg. More and more people seeking inexpensive and efficient two wheeled motor vehicles are choosing to go with the cleaner, more reliable, though more expensive and decidedly less cool scooter. As these mopeders graduate from school and move out of town, will others rise to fill their shoes and seats, or will these mopeds be left in some basement or garage, waiting for another resurgence that may never come? With rising gas prices and a unique style, it's doubtful moped culture will be going away anytime soon.

Check the moped gang out at: www.jmhuret.com/MopedGang