Tag: ride

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Oh, Demanding!

Demands.

Are we really that demanding? I don’t consider that trait to be in my DNA but some people have that desire and are capable of making demands. And usually demands are made out loud. I would almost say for the rest of us it is more about silent expectations. We expect our motorcycle to start when we want to ride, we expect a reasonable amount of life from our tires, and we expect that car to pull out in front of us. All of this and more, we expect without saying it.

And let’s face it, we will continue expecting things that are going to happen anyway. And maybe that is more of taking those things for granted. Modern conveniences, such as electric start or pay at the pump gas, is all a part of it. So where is this all going? When I first started riding with little knowledge of what I might demand from my motorcycles or silently expect or even take for granted, had no bearing on the amount of enjoyment I received. What I didn’t have I didn’t miss, and didn’t become frustrated for the lack there of. Kick starting didn’t work? Push start. Nothing is going to keep me from riding.

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The Hurricane Summer

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I had to have it. I couldn’t live without it. Life as I knew it would not continue unless I could get this used Honda CBR1000 Hurricane. Just like a real hurricane it was big and beautiful while being scary and fast at the same time. Sexy in red and black, it was my next bike.

It was a great ride home. The 50 miles went too fast and the weather for the end of May was amazing. Life is good. I spent every spare moment either riding or looking at the Hurricane. Red wheels and all that body work was just cutting edge enough for this small town guy.  “It’s going to be a great summer” frequently came out of my mouth. Twist the throttle and hear me roar! Enough already, you get it!

Now, for years we sold fireworks out of our garage so my kids could have some spending money for the summer. The 3rd of July is my birthday so it’s always a good time of year for me. My wife sent me off to get some sticky dots to write prices on and I took off on the Hurricane the 50 miles to Salina to get them. A hot and dry day to say the least, my birthday today, the 4th of July is tomorrow and I’m riding. What more could I want?

Well, it appears this was the beginning of the end. After picking up the sticky dots I was sitting at a stop light unable to get the light to turn green to turn left. The heat of summer and the abundance of body work was unbearable. Apparently the heat from a hurricane removes all oxygen from the atmosphere as I couldn’t breathe. Something any good meteorologist or a salesman at a motorcycle dealership should mention. 30 seconds seemed like a lifetime and when the light did turn green, I took off the get a little air flow. I pulled over at a softball field to get off for a minute and put my head in their sprinkler. As I sat there, I heard a voice in my head say “you can’t do this birthday boy”. I sucked it up and rode the 50 miles home. On the way I saw dragons and demons swimming in water on the highway mocking me.

I decided a few days later to sell this bike.  I’ve owned it about 45 days and it hit me that I was done with the sport bikes for a while and the little issue of heat might have had a part in it. So I listed the Hurricane in the paper and in a day I had several calls. The most promising was a gentleman that I agreed to meet halfway so I loaded the bike on a trailer and set off with my oldest son Kyle. As we sat at the meeting spot I told my son “if he shows up in a car by himself he’s not buying it, but two in the car or a truck or trailer and it’s his.” Just passing on a little fatherly wisdom for his future in selling motorcycles! He shows up with a truck and his father and I excitedly said “it’s sold!” As they get out of their vehicle I notice the father has an artificial leg. I walk over to the son and introduce myself and ask if he would like to test ride it. He said it was his dad that was the buyer so away we go! He wants to ride it and that’s ok. He pulls out on the highway and from the exhaust are sounds as if he was racing in the Grand Prix of Kansas. I had no idea the redline was that high! Also there was a little concern about the wooden leg. On one hand he wouldn’t feel the heat on that side of the bike but on the other hand…it’s wood.

Well he buys it. I was never so happy to see a motorcycle leave as I was that one. But I miss it in some sort of way. Do I wish I still had it? Yes. I wish I had all the motorcycles I’ve owned. They were all picked for a reason when I wanted them, and they were all a part of my motorcycling history. Good, bad or ugly, and some have been ugly, I miss them.

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And the weather man said……

Winter in Kansas. By all rights it should be cold and windy. So what makes this day any different? The weather man said “high of 50 and a slight breeze by this afternoon”. As I left the house to go to work, I was dressed in the appropriate gear and mentally prepared for at least a cold ride in. Now keep in mind, I live in a small town and I ride about 25 miles one way. It’s all at highway speeds with a couple of spots where you can slow down for a curve or two. Most folks in my home town know me and fully expect to see me riding to work so it’s nothing new to them. On occasion, I will get a look from a motorist not familiar with me or even small town living for that matter when I wave at them.

Sure I have ridden in colder weather than this, and regretted it. This time of year I do wear the appropriate riding gear-Leather jacket, chaps, gauntlet gloves and my full-face Fulmer helmet. No heated gear for me! When your face shield is fogged, and there’s that little leak of cold air coming in around your neck, your waist, your cuff or all of the above, you have to ask yourself  “am I the only guy who loves riding so much that this would be considered fun?”. Of course not. We’ve all been here to some degree. 16 degrees to be exact, with no windchill figured in. Now I have to admit, the first 5 miles were cold. Real cold. At 8 miles my mental fortitude was breaking down.

Don’t breathe because it fogs the shield. Just passed the neighbor on the road and I waved. That’s what we do in Kansas, we wave. Turn my head and the cold air gets to my neck. Focus. Over half way there so the rest should be easy. Down in another valley at mile 11. Wow, now that was cold. Cold? Of course you idiot you’re on a motorcycle! Focus! Meet another neighbor on the road, and I don’t wave. Didn’t have it in me. Now the whole town will be talking about me! Out of the valley and now the sun is coming into sight over my right shoulder and mentally it helps. Who am I kidding, I can’t feel anything. But at least it is helping on the right side of my face shield. Now I’m riding with what appears to be an eye patch over my left eye. Ugh. Mile 16 and I’m speeding, because as we all know the faster you go in the cold, the warmer you’ll be!

Finally, I slow down and make the final turn to work. As I’m riding along in the 30 mph zone I reflect on my adventure to the Arctic Circle. How is it possible to put yourself out there on purpose, on a bike, in the cold, and look forward to the “high of 50” that the weather man talked so proudly about? Because I ride. Not because I have to, but because I want to. It helps me to appreciate the ride when I know that sometimes the weather man gets it right!

Now excuse me while I find my neighbor to return a wave! Because that is what we do.

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A Great Ride

What is “Fun”?

Is it possible to not have fun riding a motorcycle? Of course it is. Riding in the rain a long way from home can be one of the best rides you ever had. Or not. If you are prepared mentally and physically it can be a memorable ride. On the other hand if you aren’t prepared it can become a REAL memorable ride. Maybe the time spent under a gas station awning talking with another rider waiting out a storm is the memory.

But let’s face it, riding is fun. A short ride down a back road with the sights, sounds and smells is plenty to get you reset. Or the long day-ride to get some unfamiliar road under you to get you thinking. A friend of mine told me the other day that a 30 day round trip to Alaska was an epic adventure, but now 45 miles almost seems not worth it. Are you kidding me? Any time I can get on the bike and ride is great. I can use that time to reflect on those epic trips or think of the next one.

Never let yourself think that this ride is anything less than the last one. They are all different but good in the same way. Getting caught in the rain may seem miserable at the time, but the first chance you get, stop and find the fun in it. It’s there somewhere. Probably under an awning!