You need to have riding buddies.
(Photo by Brett Malin)
I've put 62,000 miles on one of my bikes and 24,000 on the other, plus more on a few other bikes. So I've done some riding.
Perhaps not surprisingly, I've learned a few things over the years and over the miles. In this series I figure I'll share a bit of what I've learned.
Have riding buddies
As with most things you enjoy, sharing the experience with friends can make it even more enjoyable.
Riding is itself a solitary activity. (Unless, of course, you have a passenger or a bike-to-bike intercom system.) You ride along and you're on your own, in your own thoughts, and in your own world.
Even the committed lone wolf, then, has time to himself, and welcomes a chance to talk with the guys at stops. Stopping for lunch? Do you prefer to eat alone or would you rather eat with your friends? Having riding buddies is a good thing.
Plus, if you're in the middle of glorious nowhere and your bike breaks down or you run out of gas, that glorious nowhere is a lot less suddenly dismal if you are with someone who can help.
You never know, either, what your buddies might know that will make for a highlight on your ride. "There's a side road up ahead that is longer but a lot more scenic." "I know a terrific restaurant we'll be coming to in about half an hour. Anyone for stopping?" That kind of stuff.
That's not to say, unfortunately, that more is always better. When my group, the OFMC, was just three guys we could go where we pleased, when we pleased, and make decisions on the fly.
Our regular contingent is now nine and we don't dare head out on our summer trip without our route laid out and motels reserved. There were times as it was when the three of us got the last room in town, and a couple times when there was nothing at all to be had. Extrapolate that to needing three or four rooms in the middle of the tourist season and the problem is obvious.
The result of our growth was summed up a couple years ago by Randy as we left Jerome, AZ. "This is a great little town! It's really a shame we can't stay another night." But we couldn't. We had a schedule to keep.
Small group or large group, however, you share a lot of good times, and maybe some tough times with your riding buddies. And there will be all those stories to tell and retell, and memories to share. That's what friends are for.
Motorcycling lessons learned
#1 - Have riding buddies
#2 - Signal your intentions
#3 - Ride your own ride
#4 - Don't hesitate to ride alone
#5 - Carry proper gear
#6 - Know your bike
#7 - Get training
#8 - Assume you're invisible
#9 - Take your time
#10 - Explore
#11 - Be opportunistic
#12 - Know how to pick up your motorcycle
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