motorcyclemeditation.com

A ten thirty meeting in the West End, normally for the eight mile trip the drill is to dispense with heavy motorcycle gear and wear just a light shell over business clothes. But an afternoon meeting scheduled out of town, ergo, full motorcycle gear needed, take business clothes to change into.

Motorcycle parking generally awkward during business hours, but local knowledge offering hope. The bays in Portland Place mysteriously underused, all others for a mile around jam packed. As today, it turns out.

Parking the motorcycle, dismounting, surveying the rolled bag of business clothes. The usual practice, a furtive change, brief minute of semi nakedness whilst scrambling into trousers, well, that might be okay in some far corner of a deserted carpark, not so okay here, thick flowing traffic and crowded pavements, feels like one of those dreams where suddenly you have no clothes on.

Pondering, looking around. Aha, a plan. The Langham Hotel, flags flapping, canopies over the windows. Striding resolutely forth. Tophatted doormen looking askance at the motorcycle gear, conflicted however by the familiar sight of someone carrying a bag. A microsecond pause, then opening the doors, good morning sir.

Mixed expression on the receptionist’s face, words formulating, deliveries at the back please. Preempting, best businessman voice, hullo, I’m here for a meeting, just need to change into my suit, where should I do that. Receptionist clicking into five star service mode, oh, that’s fine, go down to the leisure club in the basement sir. Thank you, I’ll do that.

The basement club containing cloying luxuriousness, fine by me unless forced to endure for more than ten minutes. Towels, sir. Would you like to leave your equipment in a locker sir, here’s the key. Will you be using the swimming pool sir. Businessmen emerging from the steamroom, one of them asking me, fly in this morning did you. Well, sort of.

Motorcycle gear stowed in locker. Besuited, easier for the staff to respond to. The doormen opening the doors for me again, snappy this time. Would you like a taxi sir, no that’s quite all right thank you, don’t have far to walk.