motorcyclemeditation.com

Strong blustery weather promised for the weekend, nothing better on a motorcycle, perfect for blasting away accumulated mental gunk. The weather arriving as promised. Dry, but the wind bumping at the motorcycle, tugging it off line. Rider responses initially sluggish, then warming to the conditions, becoming one with them. Soon, enjoying the wind’s weight. Roadside trees flick flacking.

Reconnected once again with the very best of motorcycling. Hard physical grind amidst elemental nature. The forces implacable, indifferent to human convenience. The right equipment, working hard. Heavy protective clothing, an immense engine, weights in the right places. Neck, shoulders and torso taking the strain. Active mental engagement. Awareness of the fundamentals. One mistake and it’s over, an intense life sweetener.

Unrolling before the motorcycle, a long uphill curve, familiar from countless journeys. Wind sweeping crossways, motorcycle leaning right whilst steering left, wind pushing the motorcycle on line. This effect cancelled in trucks’ wakes, adjustments needed, subtle when going into the shelter, muscular when emerging again. All soon automatic. Thundering past slowing traffic.

Next on the menu, five roundabouts, slow down through the gears to twenty, then back to max. A rare opportunity, usually when you have to slow down that much there are speed restrictions. In front, a Mercedes sports in similar mind, accelerating hard, getting in the motorcycle’s way, its driver hesitating, disconcerted at the motorcycle’s sudden presence out of nowhere. On the motorcycle, pausing, picking the line, opening the throttle, rocketing past, easing off at about a hundred, letting it slow to eighty. On to the next roundabout.

Last fifteen miles, a steady eighty or ninety on uninterrupted straight road. Wind fiercer, first splatterings of rain smacking the visor, light fading. Hard bit over, don’t let the concentration drop, as you hit town the drivers are slow and sleepy, don’t behave as if it’s still the wild outdoors. Thoughts of coffee at journey’s end, looking forward to that.