You may recall me mentioning the Wave in a previous article. It’s not dead, but apparently, it may have suffered a mild stroke, according to the recent experience of one of my riding crew.

My friend shared his experience of taking his spare bike out for a ride and having the famous, ‘minor mechanical malfunction’, which left him on the side of the 405 freeway with no tools other than his expert command of the various Anglo-Saxon profanities. During his stay along the greenery at the side of the road, he shared his disappointment and disgust at the fact that several riders tooled on by, waving at them….but not ONE bothered to stop.

No one. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time of year when the big, bright ball of fire shows up in the sky now and then.  You know the one….It’s been hiding for about eleven months!

It’s also the time when car and other multi-wheeled conveyance operators struggle to remember the fact that there are people out there riding something that weighs less and is harder to see than they are.

That would be US.  Just a bunch of bikers.  Brothers (and sisters) of the road, but, all to often, ones who don’t get noticed until we become a speed bump.  My friend Jena sent me this little soliloquy and I read it twice and knew she meant it to be shared.  So, in that spirit, I dedicate this little observation lesson to those who drive things with four or more wheels. Read the rest of this entry »

I first posted this last year around this time. I still ride on January first every year and I still wish it was warmer for that ride!

There is something about bikers that demands that traditions be observed. I don’t mean the “national holiday” or “it’s your birthday” kind; I mean the ones we make for ourselves.

A good riding experience is often repeated, even named and retold in stories. Same with bad experiences. They get rehashed, shared, and in the case of the unfortunate accident or laydown, they may even become legendary. (at least in the mind of the participant!) Read the rest of this entry »

I ride a motorcycle, so that means that I have a sense of humor. It kind of goes without saying, but, just this once, I’ll say it. You have to chuckle at some of the things that occur around the whole fraternity of riding.

And, let’s face it; there is no shortage of amusing things that happen to you, and around you, when riding down the road. I say ‘amusing’ because saying’ life-threatening’ or ‘idiotic’ may be a little too specific.

Being a barely competent internet type, I take part in several bike and hobby based message boards. On one of them recently, I used the term ‘squid’ to describe a sport bike rider who I observed doing something fairly stupid on the freeway. I was taken to task by one of the readers, who thought I was casting aspersions on all sport bike riders by using that term.

Casting aspersions?; Moi?: Nothing could be further from the truth. Read the rest of this entry »

Winter doesn’t suck. Around here it just drips.

And drips, and drips, and splashes, and oozes. Then, just for fun it drips some more.

Consequently, winter riding drips. I know….I hear you saying it: That’s what rain gear is for, Kick! Yeah, well, I got rain gear. Winter still drips, dammit.

I sit here, in the house, watching the steady drizzle of our glorious Pacific Northwest, thinking, “Hey, that’s what makes this part of the country so green and beautiful all year ‘round!” Read the rest of this entry »