motorcyclemeditation.com

Three lanes of flowing traffic, heavy enough for speed to be dampened, maybe seventy on the speedo, sixty three real. Not nearly quick enough for the motorcycle. Especially with long queues in the outside lane, the inside ones relatively sparse. The choice, sitting patiently, or undertaking.

A dilemma long since resolved. Sitting patiently, mister law abiding goody two shoes waiting his turn, containing dangers, the soporific tempo carrying a serious risk of losing concentration. A sudden braking in the queue ahead, hitting the car in front, being rear ended, carnage. Forget that. Therefore powering through in the middle lane, filtering where necessary.

Firm strong lines and resolute speed, partly to cut out danger on the motorcycle, partly not to spook the motorists. Self interest, also courtesy. The result, safety and a lot of fun.

Adrenaline slowly building at the sinuous flow plus the old inexhaustible thrill at motorcycle muscularity. Speed rising, undertaking at nearly ninety. Far ahead, a truck on the inside pulling out to overtake. A test of riding skill. Coming up to the back of it at about eighty.

Aiming for a space between cars in the outside lane, just a little surge and timing will be perfect. But the road now curving, view of the traffic ahead occluded by the truck. Not enough clear safety bubble in front, holding off. The road straightening. Revealed, a vast queue of slowing traffic in all lanes, a sea of brake lights. Surge would have got me straight into the back of them at a hundred miles an hour.

Another victory for the safety bubble, saved my life again. Like the microlight pilot’s adage, the three most useless things in the world, the height above you, the runway behind you, the fuel you left on the ground. Motorcycling’s simpler, there’s only one truly useless thing, the safety bubble you didn’t leave in front. As I was reminded again today.