Where Knowledge Rules

Home:

Creative Writing

Get a Widget for this title

Reflections: Motorcycling

rider on a vintage Yamaha removed a fuel line and gave my fuel system a transfusion. We remounted and rode together to the next station where we all fueled up and they headed out in a different direction. My angels were gone and I was back in the rain.

Soon I spotted three cycles ahead and at first thought that my angels had somehow managed to get on the highway ahead of me so I cranked it up to catch them. I finally closed the gap and realized that these were three different riders and they were riding some very new and expensive looking BMW machines. The rain started to come down pretty hard and just before we would be leaving Nevada the lead bike signal to get off the highway and I followed. When we had found cover, to my surprise, I recognized the lead rider. I had often seen her on TV as she rode one of the worlds fastest drag bikes. Two things blew me away. Her small stature and her great riding ability.

When I removed my helmet she said "Wow! How old are you"? Smiling I answered "Seventy-five" and complimented her on her ability. She introduced me to the other two riders. One a female friend and the other a young man who tuned her drag bike, then she turned to me and we talked about what I was doing and she wondered why I was riding alone. I told her how we had first expected to have a follow truck but the driver backed down because he could not afford to do it without pay.

When the rain ceased somewhat I decided to get on my way and, with her reminding me that the road was pretty hard if you went down at the speeds we were riding, I bid them farewell and started out. I later saw on my GPS system that we had reached speeds up to 110 miles per hour and that Yamaha had never even hiccupped. In fact I had no idea that I had reached such a speed since the ride was as smooth as any I had ever taken and there was no sensation of speed whatsoever.

When I reached Rock Springs Wyoming I decided to pull off and get my first service done. I found the local dealer and while the servicing was taking place I started trying to line up a room for the night. Another example of the lack of planning. No rooms available. The town was over run with workers from out of the area. Little did I know that the ride was on the last lap.

I left Rock Springs intending to go to the next town and find a place to stay. The rain had started again and the area was a mud field. I had no idea which way to go but I decided to follow a car with local plates. We were running along at about forty


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Reflections: Motorcycling

  • by Ralph Arbitelle

    At the age of seventy five and still riding I find my thoughts quite often returning to the "old" days.

    Last July I decided

    read more

  • 2 of 42

    by H. James Williams

    Learning to Ride Late, but Learning No Less



    It all started when I took my godson to a motorcycle bike show at a downtown

    read more

  • 3 of 42

    by Bill Scherer

    It was a pretty cozy setting for a guy like me. I was sitting, Indian style, on the floor of my office, surrounded by motorcycle

    read more

  • 4 of 42

    by Joe Symmes

    "Man, I had the greatest ride yesterday!"

    "Really? I was caught in the freezing rain in my car and traffic was a nightmare."

    read more

  • 5 of 42

    by Brad Bowen

    Fun, Fun, Fun

    For guys like me who developed a real passion for motorcycling somewhat later in life, there is almost nothing

    read more

View All Articles on:
Reflections: Motorcycling

Add your voice

Know something about Reflections: Motorcycling?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

136398

Featured Partner

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is an innovator in international nonprofit journalism. It goes beyond the hea...more

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA