Fun Ride Today!! Mortality thoughts, Safety and Good Books for Bike Riders! "Use the Force, Luke".
Rode Indiana Highway 135 today on my shake down run. WooHoo! It's been about 2 weeks since I did any decent riding and I was Jonesin' bad. It rained hard last night so I took it easy on the way up. Lots of shit gets washed onto that road when it rains. Sure enough, there were a couple of spots that wouldda' been bad if one blew into them too fast.
I'm still relearning how to ride. I had a 17 year break from everyday riding and sometimes I get frustrated because it seems I forget to pack my Gonads w/ me when I go out for a ride. Yes, I know this is a good thing and represents a strong survival instinct on my part. But it frustrates me that my skill level has eroded so much. Granted, it's probably best that I don't ride like I used to. But Shit. I get weenie-itis going into corners that I know I could take a whole bunch quicker if I just relaxed and let the bike do it's thing. Relaxed is the thing. I took a break in beautiful Story, IN and had a bottle of water. On the return trip, I did relax some and had much more fun and my style points alone had to go up considerably. I have done a good job over the last year of getting my skill level back but I have a long way to go.
I'm really a safer rider than I ever was. I am SOOOOOOOOO much more in touch w/ my Situational Awareness than I ever was before. I have been able to avoid situations that would have been a problem before just by having my head out of my arse and basically, paying attention. This is a good thing for sure.
Speaking of that -
EVERY RIDER SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!! - Proficient Motorcycling by David Hough.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1889540536/103-0445093-1783851?v=glance
Another Reccommened read in the same mode - Ride hard, Ride smart. Ultimate street Stratagies for Advanced Motorcyclists by Pat Hahn
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0760317607-/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/103-0445093-1783851
This one, as the title says, is for those w/ a basic knowledge and skill already. Hahns' book is a little more lively written. Houghs' is majorly in depth. I learned a bunch from both and have reread them twice. I'll read them again I'm sure, as my Ninja/Jedi skills are weak.
"Take the pebble from my hand, Grasshopper". - Sholan Master.
"Not Try, Do!" - Yoda
"OH SHIT!!" - Me
