This post is 100% motorcycle related. Read and define why you ride

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Rolling through a strange city on a crowded interstate in the fast lane
with your buddies passing Mac trucks with your feet on the highway
pegs...

-Mike

That " almost " makes me want to go over and play on the big road   


Tough question on why I ride ... Mostly I just like the feeling of the adrenaline rush.

[solo1]

So many thanks to all my friends here for responding to this post.  It has done two things for me.

The first is that it has given me some gnats in knowing what I'm now missing.  Second, it has reminded me of the commonality and fellowship of riding.

In many ways all of the stories here are similar. Many here started on unpowered two wheels.  So did I.

A Schwinn balloon tired bicycle, in 1946, aptly named the Henderson (it was green, Karen), followed by a Whizzer installed in its modiifed frame, followed by a tired 1935 Harley with a tank shift and 'suicide' foot clutch.

Both of these introduced me to the world of "In The Wind"

As many know, I'm still "In The Wind" but with four wheels. The banking is gone but there still is a semblance of independence and cyclotherapy (excellent term)!

This Winter I am going to try to maybe get some of us together as sort of a show and tell during the PMS trials. The experience and stories that we have maybe could be expanded on during a tire kicking session minus the presence of the 'steeds"

Thanks again, EVERYONE! 

[Jersey mike]

for me it's can simply stated as AA;

Attitude Adjustment

[Willow]

Riding is freedom, being part of nature, part of the road, the sights, the smells (especially in farm country or behind a cattle truck  ) the unknown destination, the camaraderie that one feels with like minded folks. It's just something you cannot experience in a cage, even a convertible does not give you the feeling that riding your trusty steed does.

In a car you see the movie of the landscape passes by... On a motorcycle you are in the movie!

I've never been happier than being by myself on my bike on a road that stretched to the horizon. Feel the sun, the wind and the rain, get in touch with your surroundings. To clear my head, I need a ride on my Valk.
Something like that..

These two explanations closely parallel what I tell my friends about traveling on a motorcycle.  On a bike, in the wind, you are part of the world around you with smells, sounds and feelings.  Traveling in a cage is like sitting on the couch and watching the world on TV.

It's not entirely why I ride but it is part of the experience.   

[Reb]

Rolling through a strange city on a crowded interstate in the fast lane
with your buddies passing Mac trucks with your feet on the highway
pegs...

-Mike

That " almost " makes me want to go over and play on the big road   


Tough question on why I ride ... Mostly I just like the feeling of the adrenaline rush.

I second Joe's description, next to picking up fat girls.

I honestly like to ride but prefer the folks I ride with better. Not that I don't enjoy a nice clear morning cruise to myself. It's the people that make it what it is to me.

[Miker]

Solo1,
Riding a horse is almost the same as riding a bike, only in slow motion. These days, costs less to fuel the bike!

[woofred1832]

                                 I have been riding for 48 years more miles some years than others, total of 8 bikes, 6 0f them Honda, by my best guess about 160, 000 total miles. The reason mostly was, and still is,just for the fun of it, to enjoy, yes the freedom, and all, also my brother, and both brother in laws with my sisters on the back and as many as 5 to 6 friends,. Its great to be out on the open curves, and stop for a cold one, only afew a day, can't overdo it thats our code to be safe.
          Hope to keep going for several more years to come , I have 2 great bikes and it is hard to decide which to ride each day, and now my 24 year old daughter will learn from me how to ride and be SAFE!!!!! she will start on a Yamaha 550 Maxium that I found in the back of a guy's garage. Not big enough to go on our group all day rides, but good enough for her and me to ride to teach her the safties of riding,  then she can move up to larger bikes as she gets the miles built up.
                     All of us sarted on something, me it was a 450 Honda that I rode for 5 years 40, 000 miles befor moving up to a 750 , and so on through the years,    ride safe all....... enjoy

[MacDragon]

I ride just so i can come on here and read the political posts...............

Just kidding.

I love the wind. It is so exciting to get out there and smell the air and explore. I feel refreshed when I start a ride and a certain sadness when I know I'm pulling into my driveway. The cage doesn't even come close to doing that for me.