BORN TO BE WILD . . . . well, not really

i’ve had motorcycles all my life, but i’m not what anyone would call a biker. it takes more than owning a bike to be a biker. things like riding across country for weeks on end with a tent on the back. now that’s a biker. my tailbone was killing me and i was about to pull over after 54 miles a couple weeks ago. things like riding in the rain and cold because they’re tough that way. now that’s a biker. if it’s raining or cold, i’m getting in my truck. sorry, i’m just not that committed.

i love to ride. there really is nothing like the wind blowing through your hair . . . . on your arms. i wear a helmet, plus my hair is only 1/8 inch long. i used to ride without a helmet back in the day, but now that i’m married and have kids i just feel like there is a lot to lose. some of the things i love about riding that most people never experience is the smell. on a recent sunday morning on the way to church, i smelled a dead animal of some sort, i smelled bacon when i passed the waffle house, i smelled gumbo clay when i passed a construction sight, and i smelled a cigarette from the car in front of me. most of the time you never know all those smells are out there waiting to be smelled. i’m glad i could help them out. it’s also neat to feel the temperature differences. on a 90 degree day you feel the temperature change 10 degrees just by going through a low lying area. (that’s a swamp to anyone not from the lowcountry). and of course sitting at a redlight in the glaring sun waiting while wearing a black helmet it feels 110.

speaking of sitting at a redlight. it seems as though everyone around you is watching you as you sit there. last week i was sitting at a light and when it turned i started to take off. well, i was in 2nd gear so it stalled out on me. now i’m pretty sure everyone is watching me. my mind is racing, i’m thinking the guy behind me is probably going to hit me cause we started moving and now we’re not. i’m also worrying about looking like i don’t belong on a bike. and i’m trying to remember to hold the clutch in, downshift, and hit the start button so i can get cranked and get out of the way. the start button is on the right handlebar right where you can hit it with your right thumb. somewhere in my head as all this info is swirling around i have a brain fart and put both thumbs up and hit the buttons under them. the bike cranks when i hit the right button and it blows the horn when i hit the button on the left. now i KNOW everyone is looking at me. i felt like an idiot. all this happened in less than 3 seconds, but it felt like an eternity. needless to say, i got going as quick as possible and left all the onlookers way behind. oh yea, 1 more thing i like about bikes, quick acceleration.