The Vespa World Days 2025 in Gijón, Spain were the most important stage of my speaking career so far — the official launchpad for my first book and a chance to present to the entire international Vespa family in one place.
In theory.
In practice, the World Club and the organisers managed to schedule my keynote presentation at exactly the same time as the official dinner for all national club presidents. Every decision-maker, every club leader, every person with influence in the international Vespa community was sitting at a table eating paella while I was on the main stage telling the story of 27,113 km around the planet.
I have performed in front of bigger audiences. I have never felt more alone on a stage.
On the bright side: the people who did show up were genuinely there for it. And I got a great selfie with Martina.
Preparing for an event of this magnitude turned into a full-time job months before the start.
Logistics: Organising a large van to transport a whole load of Vespas to Spain. Not a small operation.
The Booth: Weeks designing and ordering custom patches, banners, shirts and stickers for my stand in the Vespa Village. The kind of work that sounds fun until you are doing it at 2 AM for the third week in a row.
The Book Launch: Finalising the English version of 10 Inch Tales — ensuring it was printed, shipped and physically present at the event. My first book. On a table. At the Vespa World Days. In Spain.
The Presentation: A bilingual keynote in English and Spanish covering the full story of my 80-day solo world circumnavigation — 27,113 km, 57 technical issues, typhoons, tornados and three Vespas across three continents.
Months of preparation. A scheduling conflict decided the audience. That is the Vespa World Club for you.
I arrived at Camping Deva Gijón on April 30, 2025, ready to rumble.
My booth in the main activities pavilion became a hub for meeting old friends, new followers and people who had been following La Vida Vespa for years without us ever having met in person. Those moments are why I do this.
On the merch policy: I love the community, but I am a solo adventurer without corporate sponsors. The patches, shirts and stickers had to be sold — not given away. Banner swaps with other clubs: always welcome. Everything else: fair price. Future adventures do not fuel themselves.
One of the highlights of the weekend was watching the presentation by Jaf Fernandez and Javier Zabalza about their -40°C winter ride to Nordkapp. Mind-blowing does not begin to cover it.
Friday, May 2, 2025. 6:00 PM. Main stage.
I presented the unvarnished reality of my 27,113 km race around the world to whoever was not at the official dinner. The 57 technical issues repaired roadside. The typhoon in Siberia. The tornado in Kansas. The hurricanes in Virginia. The dislocated collarbone ridden through for three weeks. The fact that Piaggio never sponsored a single kilometre of it.
The first German to circumnavigate the planet on a classic Vespa — telling the story in English and Spanish, at the Vespa World Days, in Spain, while the club presidents ate their starter course.
Some moments you do not forget. Some scheduling decisions you also do not forget — for entirely different reasons.
During the event a friend's scooter broke down in Gijón. I lent him mine.
The consequence: I missed my official Photobox picture — the commemorative portrait every participant gets at the World Days. I got a selfie with Martina instead. I preferred it. The Photobox would have just reminded me of the dinner.
Over 3,500 participants. A meaningful number of them I met, shook hands with, signed books for or took selfies with over the course of the weekend. The event was a milestone — imperfectly executed by the organisers, but a milestone nonetheless.
La Vida Vespa is not a fashion trend. It is a lifestyle of freedom, shared history and the kind of community that lends you their scooter when yours breaks down — and shows up to your presentation even when the club presidents are otherwise engaged.
What is the Vespa World Days? The largest international Vespa event in the world, organised by the Vespa World Club. In 2025 it was held in Gijón, Spain with over 3,500 participants from across the globe.
What did you present at the World Days? The full story of my 2018 world circumnavigation — 27,113 km, 80 days, 18 countries, 3 continents, 57 technical issues. Bilingual in English and Spanish on the main stage on Friday May 2 at 6:00 PM. While the club presidents had dinner.
What is 10 Inch Tales? My first book — the English edition of 10 Zoll Geschichten. Launched officially at the Vespa World Days Gijón 2025. Available on Amazon and Gumroad.
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