Winter blues fixed by being pissed on

[Babelfish]

What I love about biking is how you're always being taught something.

I've been doing a 1hr commute solidly for over a year from Otaki to Wellington, and recently hopping on the bike has been like kissing my wife in the morning; I really want to, but know the bad breath is coming. It's been like a midlife crisis as my once daily delight has been tarnished with lifes stresses.

I used to love smelling the morning, feeling the elements, the push of the torque. I used to take on the thrill of slippy roads, dodgy cars and over-eager rozzers. I used to feel lucky that I could spend two hours a day on my bike. But lately I just think of work for the hour to and hour from Wellybum. I wondered if there was something that could snap me out of the doldrums.

In my rush to leave work today to hit a lawyers meeting, I forgot to grab my wet weather gear. Approaching Mana and seeing the haze of rain on the Pukurua hills my plight became clear as I reached my hand back to check for my wets strapped to my rear seat...oh the chortle I had to smother when I came back empty handed.

I managed to make it to Paraparaumu for the meeting with only a slight sprinkle, the leathers only slightly moist (fnar fnar). Leaving the meeting however I was in for a treat. The heavens had not only openned, they'd fucked off to their bag of tricks, found the thickest, weightiest globs of rain they could find and were taking a solid aim at the fat bastard on the bike below them.

...but here's the crazy bit. Amidst the torrent my winter blues were gone. I was in the elements again. Good old simple biking in shitty weather getting soaked to the bone and I was alive again, laughing like a little boy with a new pair of shoes who's just found a big dirty puddle. No complexities, just pure values. Tomorrows a new day, and I'm looking forward to swinging my leg over to enjoy the ride.

NOTE: No wives feelings were hurt in the making of this post

[Usarka]

I'm always happy when pissed on......

[Bren]

hey man, always good to get back down to the basics, and by the sound of it thats what ya got....

On a side note, whats the Otaki Wgtn commute like? reason I am asking is the wife and I are moving up that way real soon....(the wife is the new Childrens librarian at Otaki...starts next month )

Be good to get to know others up in that area....see ya on the Kapiti roads soon!

[FJRider]

Sometimes you have to laugh... if you cry, nobody will notice. You just discovered the essense of motorcycling. ENJOY it, while, AND WHEN, you can.

[Grub]

But lately I just think of work for the hour to and hour from Wellybum. I wondered if there was something that could snap me out of the doldrums.

Ahhh ... well yes ... a wee diversion at Paekakariki over the hill will fix that ... just make it an hour fifteen commute instead and a damn fine one too. Just don't bother in the wet. The green slime down in the valley and the pines needles from the winds make it fairly 'interesting'

[gijoe1313]

Good on ya matey! I was picking up some things on the bike (use a cage? pfah! ) and ended up riding in rush hour traffic in the wet without waterproofs (just the usual red ninja camo gear!)

Felt great and as I lane split carefully by, the cagers must have felt sorry because a lot of them moved over for me! They must have felt the happiness radiating off me as I zootled on by

Gear is drying in the hotwater cupboard and was funny to read your post!

[swbarnett]

Amidst the lovely **cough* weather we're having in the land of the mighty Aucks our car has finally gotten too old and failed a WOF in an expensive way. Although I don't mind the rain at all but this week I needed reminding that it's something to be enjoyed and not just endured.

[CB ARGH]

I'm always happy when pissed on......

So when you're down for the count ya don't mind if I light a fire on your belly and attempt to put it out myself... "accidentally" getting it all in your mouth as you go eww?

I can aim like an FBI agent.

When not stoned or drunk.

[sunhuntin]

...but here's the crazy bit. Amidst the torrent my winter blues were gone. I was in the elements again. Good old simple biking in shitty weather getting soaked to the bone and I was alive again, laughing like a little boy with a new pair of shoes who's just found a big dirty puddle. No complexities, just pure values. Tomorrows a new day, and I'm looking forward to swinging my leg over to enjoy the ride.

NOTE: No wives feelings were hurt in the making of this post

nice one! sometimes, i hate the rain and wind. but most of time, its a case of bring it on.

i remember last winter. got dumped on so heavy i couldnt see much beyond my nose, and ended up pulling over. got into work, and the only thing dry was the top of head where the helmet was. looked and felt like a drowned rat. typically, by the time i was dry, it was raining again and time to go home, lmfao.

same with wind. first time down south, i damn near went airborne due to a strong gust being funnelled up a cliff and right into me. im cussing at the bike and laughing my head off. never felt a gust that strong before.

[CookMySock]

I'm always happy when pissed on......

hot! I don't a bit of that when in the shower..

DB

[Stirts]

What I love about biking is how you're always being taught something.

That being pissed on is your thang?

Tomorrows a new day, and I'm looking forward to swinging my leg over to enjoy the ride.

As always Mr BJ, you have entertained and enlightened us! Hope you got absolutely and positively pissed on riding in today

[Babelfish]

On a side note, whats the Otaki Wgtn commute like?

Its good actually. It was an upgrade from my Okland commute through the city, giving the bike and me a good stretch. Take the motorway for a cruise and the Pie Cock hill for some action (although it has a little too much action for my liking at the moment).

1. its a case of bring it on....
2. I remember last winter. got dumped on so heavy i couldnt see much beyond my nose...
3. Never felt a gust that strong before.

1. Definately, you can often hear me yelling at the gods like Lieutenant Dan in Forest Gump.
2. Too much info (but tell me more scat man)
3. You haven't met my wife after a curry then.

1. That being pissed on is your thang?
2. As always Mr BJ, you have entertained and enlightened us! Hope you got absolutely and positively pissed on riding in today

1. Only if it involves 10 taught women, a large tarpaulin and 10 gallons of baby oil
2. No I didnt, but it was the best ride I've had all year

[banditrider]

I can relate to ya first post. About a month ago now my mate and I went for a mid-winter 1,000km run to take in the Waioeka gorge and started out early at 6am. Had to deal with some mongrel fog and very frosty conditions but the day fined up beautifully and we had an absolute ball!

Can't let the weather put ya off eh?

Full story of our wanderings here: http://banditrider.blogspot.com/2008...anderings.html

[martybabe]

What a delightful post. Mad innit the enjoyment that can be had from adverse weather conditions.

I got caught in an unexpected blizzard once but struggled on regardless for 100k and arrived at work , plastered in the white stuff, to be met by an appreciative audience, a round of applause and advice like "your a mad c#nt" and "buy a car ya tight bastard". None of which could remove my smile when I looked at the 25mm thick ice melting round the exhaust headers.

My own personal survival expedition and I'd made it like a Goodman. I was really quite euphoric till some one said " Mart your not on duty Today ya twat" Ho hum, a quick coffee dripping all over the carpet and do it all again, yeeha!

[<Rhino>]

Today is the end of My first week of commuting on a bike from Upper hutt to Porirua, I leave real early, still dark.

Been pissing down all week, was shit scared on Monday frosty as hell on Tuesday and raining ever since! Never ridden a bike before last week! and by Wednesday was wondering If I'd done the right thing> Now I just F'n love it, its exillerating, just remember the thrill when you first started, thats where it all begins. Hold on to that.