It’s Like Deja Vu All Over Again

Every time I go for a ride, for an instant, it happens. I get the feeling of deja vu all over again and I’m the little guy riding my stingray bike with the banana seat and sissy bar, sailing down the street with the wind in my face and that feeling of total non-responsibility. Remember the imaginative thoughts of every little boy? Winning the motorcycle race as the crowd goes wild? Riding across the wild West at breakneck speeds just one step ahead of the law? Not a care in the world; nothing to worry about, your only concern is if your friend is home.

Every time I go for a ride, for an instant, it happens. I get the feeling of deja vu all over again and it inspires me to come home and write about it, to tell everyone how great it feels!

Every time I go for a ride, for an instant, it happens. I get the feeling of deja vu all over again and I just want to go get on my bike and go for a ride!

Thank a Cager

I went for a great ride today. Between the weather, the road, and the scenery, it was awesome! You know how when you get out and ride and you begin to ponder ideas? I had one today I thought I’d share. By nature I’m a polite person. I might kick your ass, but my mama taught me to be polite about it. So as I was riding on a beautiful two lane country road, I noticed a car up ahead in the left lane waiting to turn across my lane into a driveway. It’s like your radar goes off before your mind recognizes it and you become alert and assess closely if they are going to cut fatefully in front of you. This person sat and patiently waited for me to drive by. As I passed I instinctively waved to them to thank them for waiting and respecting my space. Wow, what an innovative idea! We bitch and moan about how we had this close call and that one. We plaster bumper stickers all over that plead, “Watch Out For Motorcycles!” But do we ever acknowledge the driver that does the right thing? We should extend positive reinforcement to those who give us respect and encourage them to always do the right thing... watch out for motorcycles.

Brooksville

It is a beautiful day. The sun is out and the sky is blue. I had been riding for a couple hours when he rolled into Brooksville, FL on a very quite Sunday afternoon. Riding towards the center of the small town I saw this cool mural painted on the side of an old shop. The detail and perspective was stunning! This beats a day on the couch anytime.

Freedom!

The whisper of wind carried the scent of orange blossoms and freshly cut hay. On the roadside a mockingbird danced with a locust. The crescendoed whir of tires on asphalt and the rush of a passing car brought Ace back to reality. He fired the growling engine of his Harley and gunned the throttle; it always shocked his heart like a defibrillator. Looking back over his left shoulder he kicked the bike into low gear and slowly released the clutch. Ahead the pavement shimmered like water yet as fast as he rode he could never catch it; he knew it but it never ceased to amaze him. To Ace, these fleeting moments are as close as one can get to freedom in America today.

Ol' Buzzard

I think I learned something new this weekend and it only makes sense to share it. My bro and I were riding on a straight, flat piece of road and I noticed something up ahead by the center line. We were traveling at about 55 to 60 mph so I slowed slightly and moved to the right side of the lane following my bro. As we rode nearer, I recognized the shape of a bird and, what I thought may be a crow, I quickly came to realize was a big-ass buzzard on some roadkill. It watched us approach and my buddy was no more than 20 feet from it when it suddenly took off. These large birds do not take off quickly and it flew to our right, back towards the shoulder of the road, right in front of him. Already driving on the right side of the lane he swerved his bike slightly to the right as he rolled his left shoulder back to try and avoid a collision. The bird hit his left shoulder and flew off as we passed. My buddy drove off into the grassy shoulder, miraculously missing mailboxes and culverts. He nearly went airborne over some uneven ground and held on to regain control and ride safely back onto the pavement.

So what did I learn? If you think you’re going slow enough; go slower. Secondly, I think he’d have been better to put his head down and drive straight through the bird than try to avoid it hitting his body, which caused him to lose his balance. Please add your experience and advice so that the next time we can all be that much more safe. Thanks!

One Sweet Moment

Those who ride know of the sweet moments that can happen in the blink of an eye; I just had one of those moments. Accelerating to about 50 in fourth gear I had just engaged the clutch to upshift into fifth. I simultaneously rolled through a dip in the road and felt that moment when the bike feels light and one knows the tire treads are, for a split second, lightly touching the road. The suspension compresses and I feel my heart floating high in my chest I complete the shift; my head hears the increasing roar of my pipes and I feel the power of the acceleration in my forearms and seat. A breath fills my nostrils and feel the wind, the elements, and know for that moment that I am alive and as free from these earthly bounds as one could ever be; for that one...sweet...moment.

A Bright Winters Ride

Damn it’s cold. But as the wind burns my cheeks and the cold air fills my lungs I feel alive. After all, the sun is brilliant and the rumble of my pipes fill my ears. This moment is enough.