Why I ride

[Blackbird]

I was completely bored at work on the day before I knocked off for Xmas leave so I slipped into holiday mode a bit early! I'd been wondering for a long time what it is that keeps my passion alive for motorcycles over several decades, whereas other interests have come and gone, so I tried to analyse the "WHY". The attachment isn't a literary masterpiece, but it might stir some thoughts up with respect to why others ride.

Have a safe and happy 2006.

Regards,

Geoff

[nudemetalz]

You've hit the nail on the head there, BB. I liked the way you had expessed your reasoning, and it ain't a lot different to why I like motorcycling too....

Cheers

[skelstar]

That was a great peice of 'prose' BB. I really enjoyed reading that this morning. Thanks.

It obviously made me think about what I love about riding. One thing that strikes me is that I ride my bike every day (bar 6 days since starting)...and I wake up every morning with the first thought of when/how I am going to be riding (usually shortly after I wake up). Im already thinking about leaning into the first corner before my feet touch the ground. I NEVER had those kinda thoughts when I was driving my car.

[Sniper]

That was a good read this morning Geoff, thanks

[zadok]

Great read Geoff. I like the pdf format,; very effective.

[Zed]

I was completely bored at work on the day before I knocked off for Xmas leave so I slipped into holiday mode a bit early! I'd been wondering for a long time what it is that keeps my passion alive for motorcycles over several decades, whereas other interests have come and gone, so I tried to analyse the "WHY". The attachment isn't a literary masterpiece, but it might stir some thoughts up with respect to why others ride.

Have a safe and happy 2006.

Regards,

Geoff

Very good Geoff, I've only been riding for 20 yrs and can definately relate to much of what you wrote. Thoughts well expressed mate!

Happy new year to you too!

"...is little doubt that riding a bike makes you a better driver overall."

"Not merely passing, but utterly
annihilating their aspirations is way cool!"

[DMNTD:Me]

You've been blinged! Mate that was superb and covered most things that do it for me and no doubt most others.
Welldone sir

[Colapop]

I don't know how to write what's in my head and heart at times but reading that makes me not need to. I know I've got that biker feeling and memories that make me feel good inside,
Thanks Geoff

[robnz]

that was great geoff. i could not agree more. Some of my friends and my brother have been for a ride on the back of my back. first time ever for them on a bike. first comment they make when they get off is. the freedom. not having this metal shell around you to dull the senses

[Goblin]

Great write up Geoff

I like the mental process of gearing up, pants, boots, jacket....then once the helmet is fastened and gloves are on I feel like a different person, I suddenly have more confidence and seem far more aware of everything around me. I live for it and cant get enough of it

[emaN]

Tokoroa weekdays, Coromandel weekends huh?

well, looks like we should meet up again at Okoroire on one of your weekdays!
could try and get some other 'locals' there too...r4q2,slickD,hdt,weestrom etc...

[Blackbird]

Tokoroa weekdays, Coromandel weekends huh?

well, looks like we should meet up again at Okoroire on one of your weekdays!
could try and get some other 'locals' there too...r4q2,slickD,hdt,weestrom etc...

Hi Jon - compliments of the season! It's doubly tough as Jennie is still at the beach! I did part of the Loop yesterday with Hammer, Nak1d and a couple of others and then carried on south while they went back to Auckland. I have a week's work at the mill to finish then I can head back up there

Cheers

Geoff

[Unit:Me]

After 19 years since I first hoped on a bike, my passion has only grown. Even through a period of being with someone who had a fearful dislike of bikes (it's always easiest to fear the unknown and cover that fear with, "you'll kill yourself on those bloody things") and going without a bike in my life, the first thing I found myself doing post separation was aquiring another motorcycle as a priority. The next most important issue in my life was to make sure my next partner shared that passion with me, or at least encouraged me to retain it for myself. Im fortunate to have that these days, and for my partner and I to go riding together on our idividual steads is something that we will not tire of easily. I believe riding makes me a better person somehow, certainly more consider of others. Its almost like being a part of a secret handshake club, the knowing looks between riders, the alike stories of having not told our mothers in younger days we owned a motorbike, and so on. And as I get older and the body suffers from past excesses in other sports (back operation this year for example), its wonderful to still be physically able to take part in a serious sport, one that you only have to compete with yourself in, one that brings me into contact with people I otherwise would not have had the pleasure to meet. I enjoyed reading your write up very much.

[Colapop]

You didn't say it was Blue anywhere in there.....

As you get older? Pah, you're only as old as you feel - personally I like to feel 18 year olds!

[Pixie]

Regarding the "Zen state"
I read an article in Bike Magazine recently where they tried to explain why some people like to travel fast.
They went deeply into the neuro-physiology and psychology of speeding and used two guys as test subjects.One a car driver who had owned fast cars but never felt any pleasure speeding or felt at ease on the road.
The other guy was a biker who loved all aspects of travelling fast.

The thing that grabbed my interest was the explanation of two visual modes the human brain uses.
Fovial vision -fovial meaning "hunter" is very focused,almost tunnel vision.In this state the viewer is under stress and is not capable of reacting to anything except that which he is intent upon.This was the state the car driver was in when ever he was in his vehicle and obviously a dangerous mode for a driver to be in.i.e The kind that stare at the road ahead but are oblivious to any thing but the rear of the car they are following.

The other state was Peripheral Vision -In this state the subject is aware of all that is around him and is ready to react if necessary.
This was the state the Biker was in when he rode.
The interesting thing was the neuro-physiologist stated it was impossible to be stressed while in the peripheral vision mode.

This sounds to me very much like the state practitioners of transcendental meditation try to achieve.
And I would bet that most bikers would be in this mode,when riding.

Also it equates to the difference between a placid herd animal and those crazy carnivores.