"Hard to put into words...."

[James Burleigh]

When I'm on the bike your senses are so alive, the fresh air, the connection between you and the bike, is so sureal. Hard to put into words really.

Thanks for your comment, Pain. Funny, I was just thinking about this on my ride in yesterday. Yes, hard to put into words. But I'm in the mood to try:

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While toodling along on my mellow back-roads neighborhood route to work yesterday morning, I followed a car turning onto a road curving off to the right, then sweeping to the left. And I thought about how mundane an activity I was engaged in (commuting to work in rush hour), yet how much I was enjoying being there on that bike at that moment doing that activity:

>Back in the garage getting ready to get on the bike, you are like an athlete in the locker room preparing to get on the court or field: first you suit up, preparing your mind while adjusting your gear; then you warm up, moving slowly at first until you're ready for maximum exertion, and then you perform;

>You're in your gear all warm and toasty, your boots, heated Gerbing vest and gloves, 'stitch, helmet--all functioning together as a perfect tool designed to keep you comfortable and safe;

>Your feet and hands are poised at the controls, moving with automatic machine-like precision, toes on the pegs, fingers hovering over the brake and clutch;

>You push right to lean right and make the turn, choosing your point of turning without consciously thinking of it but based on thousands of miles of experience and dozens of books and many classes;

>You look through the turn and see 1,000 things you have no idea you are seeing but that your mind has instantly categorized into threats and non-threats that your hands and feet adjust the bike to accordingly;

>The bike bobs over the uneven pavement surface, front and rear suspension separately dialed in for comfort and performance, transferring the feel of the road to your feet, your nervous system, your head through the foot peg contact points;

>The satellite radio is playing a classic rock song you'll never tire of hearing if you live to 150;

>And unlike the person in the car ahead of you, cut off in a steel cage, you feel a part of your environment, that you are there in that place at that moment, 100 percent engaged in what you are doing.

In my philosophy of life, that's what I define as being alive.....

JB

 

[someguy]

nice!

 

[dsmack]

JB, my man~ I like this a whole HELL of a lot better than some of your recent musings... sounds like you are back to enjoying the moment. Good for you!

I certainly don't envy you that ball buster of a commute you've ridden on the freeway the past few years. Have you found alternative routes that allow you to "smell the roses (coffee/bacon/etc.)"?

I look forward to reading your thoughts for years to come...

Don

PS: I'm looking out the front window here at approx 2" of new snow and a reading of 22.9 degrees F on the ol digital thermometer... damn!

 

[FJRBluesman]

Very eloquently put Hans! You have that gift of superlative written communication. :yahoo:

 

[Niehart]

You, Han's, are a :wizard: with words. Thanks!

 

[James Burleigh]

JB, my man~ I like this a whole HELL of a lot better than some of your recent musings... sounds like you are back to enjoying the moment. Good for you!

I certainly don't envy you that ball buster of a commute you've ridden on the freeway the past few years. Have you found alternative routes that allow you to "smell the roses (coffee/bacon/etc.)"?

I look forward to reading your thoughts for years to come...

Don

PS: I'm looking out the front window here at approx 2" of new snow and a reading of 22.9 degrees F on the ol digital thermometer... damn!

<snip>

 

[James Burleigh]

You, Han's, are a :wizard: with words. Thanks!

Very eloquently put Hans! You have that gift of superlative written communication. :yahoo:

Aw, shucks. Thanks, guys.... :blush: