Motorcyclists

Over the last decade I've ridden bicycles both road and Mtn far more than motorcycles. I've had probably a dozen different motorcycles dating all the way back to the 6th grade. I used to race motocross and hare scrambles into my early 30's. 2 years ago I bought a Suzuki street bike and ride on occasion. The odometer just turned 5k so that goes to show how much I don't ride. I just returned from a ride over the Mt Rose highway to Lake Tahoe and back Rt 50 down into Carson. The predominant thought I had during parts of the trip were how hard it is to ride a motorcycle. A lot of bicyclists seem to poo poo the idea that motorcycle riding is tough. They seem to wear a badge of courage that they've pedaled to wherever and back. I'm guilty of it too. But for my bicycle riding friends who haven't ridden a motorcycle on the road I'd just like to take my short trip today in comfortable temperatures and give you a small taste of some challenges. Wind....out of nowhere a gust of wind can blow you off the road. A setting sun can be hard to look into when driving a car but on a motorcycle its really tough. Think Ray Charles. On my way down the mtn pass into Carson they were doing road work so the lane I was in was basically it for approx. 9 miles.. Trying to stay in my lane not knowing if the new pavement was slick and trying not to dare cross the center due to a huge ridge was tough. And of course there was a mini van behind me and for some reason he didn't want to pass on the right. Inside my helmet I was talking out loud telling myself to just be calm and breath. This almost never happens on a bicycle. A quick scare or a fall on the bicycle but the stakes are usually so much higher on a motorcycle. There are exceptions to everything so shut up. I think motorcycle riding even at normal speed is tough. On a different motorcycle note I'm still not sure of the wave. Seems like I always wave late because I don't want to be the guy who waves and doesn't get waved at back. It's cool to feel a brotherhood but damn that wave gets on my nerves sometimes because I then feel guilty if the person waves and I'm late......

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