Looking out over a quiet morning landscape reminds me of the possibility of balance. What it means and what it takes to achieve.
One of the reasons I ride so early in the morning is the world is still a simple place. Returning my father-in-law’s Vespa ET4 on a 60 mile ride at dawn swept everything away but the balance of the moment.
Waiting at traffic lights I try to balance the scooter. Feet up at a dead stop I count the seconds before balance evaporates. One, two, three seconds and the Vespa begins to travel towards the pavement. A 350-pound scooter is easy to manage and keep upright. That’s probably why I don’t see Harley and Goldwing riders playing the same game. This practice has done wonders for my own slow speed balance. Not sure how others practice.
Balance. A simple word with many implications. More than the obvious riding needs to keep the rubber side down. Riding home from work in the ends of a heavy rain called for another form of balance as I worked to manage my position on the road, with other vehicles and water lying randomly in my path. Speed, lane position, my intentions, suspicion of others, everything working together in an intuitive balance that manages risk.
Inputs affecting balance seem endless. When the dance on the road becomes too frenetic an alternative is always available. Stop, slow down, take another route. As long as my brain doesn’t interfere with my willingness to depart from a preconceived plan. Stubborn. Stupid.
Sitting this morning in the Boalsburg Griddle having breakfast I was struck by a sign from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board outlining their attempt to exert balance in the beer consumption arena. You can’t walk out with more than 192 ounces of beer. The need to balance is everywhere.
On the road it is a model of simplicity compared to the choices faced everyday in living. At least for me. Choices are more varied, their impact subtle, gray, and uncertain. As are the motives. Little wonder the struggle for balance rages from eyes open in the morning until I drift into oblivion at night. During that time though is the real juice of living.
It’s been almost a month since my last post. This one has been in my head simmering and blocking the way. Wrestling with balance at home, at work, it’s held my attention. Letting these words finally spill out in my Moleskine journal has brought balance. All is right in my world and the road ahead is now clear…
Its been over a month since my last post too. I realized that I needed a break from a lot of things to concentrate my energy toward achieving some goals. Ha… then I realized that I needed a lot of those things in place because I had set the goals to try to make them better in the first place! My mind boggles me sometimes.
I returned to posting today, and was happy to find your recent entries. It feels good again to sit at the keyboard and share thoughts and experiences with friends.
Have fun,
Bill
I feel like a simpleton.
Bill: The mind is a wonderfully tricky thing. I’m boggled daily.
I had noticed you weren’t posting as much. I thought you had just gone off on a long, long ride…
conchscooter: Being a simpleton explains why you are so annoyed by the plastic wrap on the chairs on your recent Key West Diary post. *grin*
That plastic wrap bugs me too. But you know everyone wants their stuff perfect and without a mar or knick. At least until they use it.
Great to see you back Steve. I too do the dead stop balance challenge at all my stop lights to and from work.
Funny, I do the same thing at red lights…
Steve, you need to get back to regular posts. This stuff needs to be said and you are the one to say it. I mean, I try to balance at stop signs too but I wasn’t going to admit it publicly until you brought it up….
OK, I know the bit about balancing on a stationary bike wasn’t the main part of the post…..but the trick to balancing a large heavy bike like a touring BM or a Goldwing, is to compress the front suspension just at the moment that you come to a full stop. The bike will then rock backwards and forwards on the suspension ever so slightly for a number of seconds giving the stability of movement without the wheels actually going around.
I am picking up my graphite black LX 150 from the dealer in Newport Beach, CA today. Your blog has been a big influence on the decision to purchase. The first post I read was titled ‘Scooter or Motorcycle’. I found that from a Google search when I was making that very decision.
I check in once a week or so, hoping to see something new. The ‘balance’ post was, well, inspiring. I can’t wait to get on the road.
Thanks,
Chris
Balance is so important in all of creation. Being willing to stray from pre-conceived ideas is the height of creativity, I think. What-if? So important in the exploration of life! A thought provoking post … as yours are so often.
The ET-4 looks to be alabaster? My first scoot was an Ivory ET-2, a color I absolutely loved! On balance, though, I recognized while riding that scooter home from the shop that 50cc just wasn’t going to cut it. Less than 6 months later I moved to an ET-4. Two years later I stepped up to my GTS, which purred along on my trip to Montana last week.
Excellent capture of how it feels to be out of balance and one’s desire to re-establish it! I needed this reminder. I’ve felt some unraveling of late. For me the other part is learning to let go, let be and exhale. I too like early morning rides as my shoulders are so much lighter then.
Glad to see you back.
Hi! I stumbled across some of your blogs this weekend and love you guys! I purchased a lx 150 in May and have 3K on it already! I love love love my sweet yellow baby.
thanks for your thoughts, I laugh everytime I read something because ai feel much the same. I to count how long I can balance at the many lights in So Cal- I get plenty of practice.
Chris- I use Newport Vespa for my service- I live in San Clemente.
great fun to read all of you guys..
cherie