Bikers - Communal Loners?

[slofox]

Maybe riding is a form of meditation. A way of quietening the mind.

It is for me. Riding alone is my time out. It's the only time out I get. Which is maybe why I ride nearly every day...

[2wheeldrifter]

Happy with my own company.... when i ride on my own, it is time for me, my time.

Like people who sit and read for hours.... it's what we all do in some form or another, are we so different?

[bogan]

Maybe riding is a form of meditation. A way of quietening the mind.

Is for me too, and certainly a lot easier to do than sitting cross-legged on a cushion.

[Stormer]

Perhaps not contemplated this in detail. But I do enjoy the ability to ride alone. This might also show my antisocial side.

Then when stopping to fill up petrol and another biker turns up, there is a connection of a sort that you never get when in a car. Then you take off and are alone again.

I just spent 4 days on the road in rain and wind for this reason: to be alone. OK, so I stopped to meet people that I wanted to meet. But all the riding was done alone. It served a purpose: To clear my head, to contemplate where I wanted to go with my life, and to feel some of the freedom I enjoyed when young. I am still waiting for it all to sink in and see what the outcome is.

And there was no i-pods, I stopped when I wanted to, had a JD & Dry for lunch, passed many cars and took side roads.

Right on!!

[howdamnhard]

I've been thinking a bit lately while commuting to Welly each day. Fortunately most of the thinking has been around staying alive but on the odd occasion, usually after waving to another bike, I reflect.

Some of the reasons I like the bike revolve around being alone. I have only myself to depend upon. I enjoy not having the "how about that weather" conversations you get in a car, enjoy the solitude of listening to the bike's engine rather than a radio station. The freedom if you will of being "by myself" (lets not mention all the cars).

And then as soon as I see another bike, I wave. I wave and enjoy the human contact of another biker. And if the other bike heading the same way as me I enjoy getting in formation for a while and sharing the road with them.

Obviously there are times where we ride with other people we know, but the connection the bike provides to complete strangers (if they're amenable) contrasts to the otherwise solitary confinement of being alone on a bike on the open road.


Has anyone else contemplated this? No? I'll get me coat...

You say it so well.

[howdamnhard]

It is for me. Riding alone is my time out. It's the only time out I get. Which is maybe why I ride nearly every day...

Same here, it helps keep me sane.

[Molly]

I look forward to meeting other bikers heading the same direction, but rarely our abilities match. Usually after a few minutes of riding along with them I get bored and I'm gone with a wave. Very occasionally the reverse is the case,

How do you know they're out for a race? Maybe they'd ride rings around you but they're not the sort to race on public roads.

[CookMySock]

How do you know they're out for a race? Maybe they'd ride rings around you but they're not the sort to race on public roads.

How did you manage to put "race" in there? I just hum along quicker or slower than others. I bet you ride at a completely different pace to me. Neither of us are racing, its just different.

Steve

[PrincessBandit]

I am a modern day monastic monk on a bike!

Oh reeeeaaaallllly?

I usually ride alone and enjoy that, but it's also nice to have company too sometimes. If you are in sync with your riding companion(s) then it is great, but solo riding is a selfish pleasure that I enjoy immensely. As a mum/wife/teacher/etc etc it is very much "me" time when I'm on the bike and out on the road alone. Mmmmm.

As for riding with other bikers who happen to be "going my way", I would never "impose" myself on them. I've never had another biker come up and sit with me on the road and I'd feel awkward latching onto another bike. Maybe a different story if there was some verbal arrangement e.g. chatting with another rider at an eating stop and agreeing to co-ride for at least part of your shared journey.

[Molly]

I bet you ride at a completely different pace to me. Neither of us are racing, its just different.

Steve

I'm sure I do. I just ride for relaxation so not fast at all (though fast enough to land another speeding ticket last week - arse).

It's hard to find people who ride at your own, comfortable pace and moving out of your comfort zone is the easiest way to an accident. It's a rookie mistake.

Do wonder how sport bike riders are able to enjoy their bikes' performance in NZ though.

[Pedrostt500]

I do some of my best thinking when on the bike, also as an old friend of mine tells me, " its the closest you can get to flying while still on the ground", in a car you are a spectator watching the world happen around you in your steel and glass cocoon, on a bike we are taking part in that world.

[taff1954]

in a car you are a spectator watching the world happen around you in your steel and glass cocoon, on a bike we are taking part in that world.

That's the way I've always looked at it - watching the sights go by in a car, or travelling IN the world on a bike.

I enjoy riding with a pillion, another rider, or in a group, but nothing beats the honest solitude of a solo ride. Pick a direction, not a destination, and go. No-one to say slow down, hurry up or why don't we stop here. I'm where I want to be. No apologies for being selfish either.

[Pogo2]

There is nothing better than a corner taken at the right speed and angle. It very similar to the approach and landing of an aircraft - getting the speeds and judgement just ride. Both give enormous amounts of freedom. Although highly regulated, flying gives me great freedom and my mind can go to another place (just don't tell my passengers). Both require you to put a piece of machinery in the right place, at the right time within specific parameters. And in both you can fall too.

Certainly parallels between the two.

[CookMySock]

I'm sure I do. I just ride for relaxation so not fast at all (though fast enough to land another speeding ticket last week - arse).

Oops! Yeah I got one some months ago - 119k or some crap.. grr. I'll boof it in a straight line sometimes, or howl around some corner, or pass somewhere shady.. but hey thats my buzz on a bike.

It's hard to find people who ride at your own, comfortable pace..

I don't think there is such a thing. If I follow someone, it's because I like being with them - there is more to biking than bikes. If I know I'm more experienced than them and its my turn in front, I'll tempt them to the dark side somewhat, but I won't plow headlong into tight areas I know they can't handle, just in case they follow me with brain in neutral. So it doesn't matter who is following who when theres a newbie with me - I'll think for them.

and moving out of your comfort zone is the easiest way to an accident. It's a rookie mistake.

I agree, but one day if you want to learn more, there comes a time to try something new. Then it's a matter of how to extend past a comfort zone in safety.

Do wonder how sport bike riders are able to enjoy their bikes' performance in NZ though.

Agreed. That is the main reason I decided to keep my 650 vtwin instead of going to a supersport bike. It crackles along with its' bumpy suspension and whatnot, and I just don't need or want to extend into the twilight zone. There is plenty of mischief to be had as it is.

Sorry, long post.

Steve

[Thani-B]

As for riding with other bikers who happen to be "going my way", I would never "impose" myself on them. I've never had another biker come up and sit with me on the road and I'd feel awkward latching onto another bike. Maybe a different story if there was some verbal arrangement e.g. chatting with another rider at an eating stop and agreeing to co-ride for at least part of your shared journey.

Ive joined random riders when I come up to them, and Ive had a few sit with me. New Years Eve just been I had to work (grumble grumble) but on the way home was joined by two other riders on their way towards their holiday destination (tents, packs etc was the giveaway), and this made my day a whole lot brighter than it was. I dont see a problem with it, if I had stopped where they did I would have chatted to them.