I have had the pleasure of logging in many hours on the open road on my bike and meeting a wide variety of bikers from coast to coast. There seems to be a trend amidst all bikers thoughts, and it's not what you think. It is all too common that non-riders have a misunderstanding of the mind set of a biker. For some unknown reason bikers have earned this 'rebel without a cause' image. And don't get me wrong. I like that people smile at me when i walk into a bar wearing my full leather, for fear that if they don't, I will chew them up and chase 'em with a Budweiser. But has anyone ever actually sat down and thought about, really thought about what goes through a bikers mind before, during and after a ride? Or anytime at all for that matter?
There are so many rules of the road and an unwritten code of ethics that bikers live by. The level of forethought and meditation before a biker hits the road, and the amount of respect and consideration for the open road bikers have is nothing short of astonishing. Now not every biker abides by the rules and not every biker is so respectful. But I refuse to allow a few bad hops spoil the batch.
Riding a motorcycle is pure therapy. People need medication and psychiatrists. (And in this day and age who can blame them?) However, all a biker needs is a motorcycle, an open road and an open mind. A biker knows never to ride angry, unfocused or tired. Emotional reactions while riding are dangerous to yourself and others that share the road. Tired? A biker always knows when to go home. They know and understand their own limitations and its foolish to tempt fate. And the common trend among all bikers thoughts? Never ride intoxicated. Surprised? I thought you might be. There are two types of bikers: those that have fallen and those that will fall. No one wants to be the latter of the two.
Bikers are born adventurers and thrive on going where no one else dares to go. They are passionate individuals who create emotion through throttling. They love life and ride in honor of that. I do not dare try to explain matters of the heart, but i will say that bikers have a lot of heart. I have been fortunate to be a part of many charity rides. So why do people remember stories of the Hells Angels(or what they think they remember) but they fail to recount when bikers give back to the community and ride with the utmost amount of respect. Sure they wear all black and ride 'bad ass' machines... but bikers have feelings too you know.
