On a ride with other guys.

It hadn’t been all that long since my last road trip, a five day run out to Utah back in June. Still, it apparently is easy to forget just how great it feels to be out riding beyond your usual day-ride area. I took off for Cheyenne to test ride a Yamaha Tracer 9 in July was really struck by just how good it felt to be out on the open road. Just “Wow, I love this!”

Part of it may have been being by myself. I had posted the ride on the RMMRC’s Meet-Up page in case anyone wanted to come with me but nobody signed up. That didn’t surprise–or dismay–me. (Although Dave told me later he would have joined me but for the fact that he was in Kansas at the time.)

But I like riding alone. There’s just a delicious feeling that comes with knowing you are totally free to stop, go, turn–whatever–any time you want.

So there I was, heading north mostly on US 287, taking unplanned turn after unplanned turn and it just hit me how really good it felt. I was not expecting this feeling. I savored it.

And I enjoyed moving at my own pace. Sometimes I like to dawdle and when you’re with a group you pretty much need to go at whatever speed the leader sets. Although there have been times when I have peeled off and said you guys just go on, I’ll meet up with you later.

Don’t get me wrong; I like traveling with other people, too. I like both. Sometimes you do one, sometimes you do the other. And I know people who really don’t like traveling alone. What if you break down? What if you need assistance? Well, you just do whatever you need to do. Chances are really good that you’ll figure something out. And then what a great story you’ll have to tell.

That makes me think about buying this Tracer 9. There aren’t many left in the shops around town. What happens if by the time I decide to buy they’re all gone? I’ll tell you what happens. Road trip! I think I could live with that.

Biker Quote for Today

100 reasons not to date a biker: 71. Beer is a breakfast food.