I’ve heard all the concerns before. It’s dangerous. What if something happens to you. Think of your children. Or, it’s noisy, you get hit with bugs, what about the rain?
Yeah, I’ve heard them all a hundred times. And every time someone brings up another question, I think of the cliche statement, “If I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.”
How do you explain a passion to someone? I’m not talking about those who ride for fairly practical reasons: cheaper on gas (most often, this isn’t actually true), faster commute, easier to park than a car, etc.
But I don’t ride because of some practical reason. In fact, many times, it is less practical for me to jump on my bike than it is to climb into a car. I carry a laptop with me every day. In the winter months, I simply toss my bag (along with my lunch) on the car seat beside me. During riding season, I carry my bag over my shoulder, making sure I have it set just right so that it doesn’t interfere with my arms. Or, I bungie it to the back of my bike, adding another five to ten minutes to my routine before I can head out from the house. No, it’s not very practical.
I certainly don’t save gas during the riding season. When I’m in my car, I find the quickest and shortest route to my office. The vehicle is just a box getting me from point A to point B. On my bike, I debate how long I can go before I have to get to the office. Often I’ll take the long way … the very long way.
Every year, I read about people killed or seriously injured on their motorcycle. I’ve watched many friends go down. I’ve officiated the funerals of a few who have paid the ultimate price. I’ve even experienced my own accident. It’s not fun. And yet, none of these experiences keeps me from my machine. It calls to me and I can’t wait for the next time I press the starter button and hear her roar.
So, why do I ride? Because I’m an addict. I’m addicted to the feeling I have every time I open the throttle and feel the power pull me down the highway. I’m addicted to the peace I experience as I get alone with my thoughts and process whatever may be going on in my life at that moment. I’m an addict to the connection I have with God when I enjoy the incredible openness of seeing his creation from a perspective you simply cannot get in a car.
I’m also addicted to the connections I’ve made with other bikers. While there are idiots in every lifestyle, I am constantly amazed at the number of incredible people I’ve had the honour of getting to know within the biker world. Some are local, some are hundreds if not thousands of miles away. All hold a special place in my heart. It was the love and passion of riding that connected us all.
I write these words and I find myself frustrated at my inability to explain it. Perhaps it really is true … it can’t be explained to those who have not experienced it. It is something you simply understand, or you don’t.
I think it’s time to ride.
