motorcyclemeditation.com

A trip to Norwich and conditions perfect for motorcycling, the light a soft evening glow, the sun noticeably lower than even a week ago. Roads dry and traffic thickening in the rush hour, the motorcycle steaming through, ninety, ninety five on the speedo in the occasional clear patches.

Cresting a hilltop, a long valley stretching out ahead, cars moving at good speed. Their progress however interrupted by a truck pulling out to overtake, choosing the bottom of the valley to do so, using the momentum from the downhill. Once pulled out, the overtaking truck then having insufficient power for the rising slope and therefore hovering. The queue of cars behind, fretful and lengthening. All these maneuverings clear for the eye to see from a mile behind.

The motorcycle briskly passing the cars, arriving behind the trucks just as the one in the outside lane finally makes it past its neighbour. The motorcycle pausing, waiting for the truck to pull in. The truck not doing so, staying in the outside lane, starting the long slow process of overhauling the next truck in front. The motorcycle in second gear, a quick glance at the speedo, fifty miles an hour. A cameo of the cussedness of truck drivers.

No problem for the motorcycle however. A squirt of power, a flick to the side, and the motorcycle instantly on the inside lane alongside the overtaking truck. Heartbeat pause, check the space between it and the truck in front. Plenty, but closing, if only slowly. A longer pause, study the relative velocities. Okay, all safe, another squirt, the motorcycle flashing through.

The road in front now empty, the cars still fretting behind. Opening the throttle. The litre engine bullocking, the motorcycle hurtling up the slope into the buffeting wind. Speedo up to a hundred in an eyeblink, quick celebration of freedom, okay, that’s enough ease off.