Why do I ride? To feel alive.
An Experience of the Senses
Reading reviews of new motorcycles and scooters I often feel the writers are missing the point as they focus on machinery, specifications and performance metrics, reducing riding to a quantitative assessment of engineering. Perhaps marketing research and reader testing has revealed that’s what most people want.
Or need.
Making a decision on what two-wheeled machine to purchase is serious and personal. We may end up looking alike on the road in the way we dress and act, but for a moment, we are unique.
Riding through Bald Eagle State Forest last week I was reminded that the machine often fades away as I’m overtaken by human biology and an experience of the senses.
Weather Drama
There’s almost always a thrill at the beginning of a ride. In part the anticipation of unexpected experience is at work, but a larger measure the thrill of the senses being engaged in ways largely overlooked during everyday life. At least by me.
It starts early when I walk outside to feel the air on my skin as I decide exactly what I’m going to wear. Or the the cold chrome seat rail against my hand as I push the Vespa into the driveway. Feet buzzing in heavy leather boots and the warmth of the sun on my face as I adjust my helmet.
As the ride approaches the senses spin up in a celebration of being alive.
The Scent of Hay and Road Apples
Riding through Amish country provided an array of warm weather fragrances — the scent of fresh cut Timothy hay and the aroma of horse manure from the horse drawn buggies and carriages seen in this part of the county.
As always, I’m struck by how much I miss hurtling down the road in the van with windows closed and the air conditioner removing most references to the outside world.
Sensory Challenges
Riding presents an ongoing challenge to mind as the brain works to process sensory input from the body. Decisions are made at an ongoing and withering pace in hopes of remaining smiling and safe on the road.
The two signs, placed at the apex of a hairpin turn presented a visual question mark, my brain seeking to process the sensory data from my eyes. It only took an instant but in that moment I made a decision to stop, look and make a photograph.
Riding as Spiritual Experience
Moving slowly through Bald Eagle State Forest was like meditation.
The visual changes in light, the vibrations of the road felt in the hands, a passing scent of wildflower or damp leaves in a cool glen, all of these things are part of an ongoing, sustainable orgasm of sensory experience that makes riding more than recreation, expand beyond transportation to something akin to a vital spiritual experience.
A pilot described the first time he could sense the curvature of the earth as a spiritual experience.
So it can be with riding.
Water of Life
It’s hard not to notice the blessing of fresh water in central Pennsylvania. Almost everywhere I ride there are streams, creeks and rivers — slivers of sparkling silver reminding of their value in supporting life. As a rider I appreciate the sudden cool air on a hot day when the Vespa passes under the canopy of trees along the water.
All Terrain Vespa
Even on a clear day the forest can be dark. Riding along the smaller trails in the forest can make a rider think the sun has abandoned the day. I think of the first European settlers moving through these vast forests going days and weeks with barely a glimpse of the sky. The lack of light plays with the mind and for me can create ideas and images of the fantastic. The Vespa scooter continues on in the dark.
There are elves in this wood.
On Into Civilization
Eventually I emerged from the forest for food and fuel and wandered awhile along the Susquehanna River between Williamsport and Lock Haven. Riding in more developed areas provides a different experience of sight, sound and smell. Power lines were everywhere as were fumes from the exhaust of trucks or the strong smell of creosote from freshly laid railroad ties.
Chasing Railroads
Railroads are fascinating creatures whose tentacles stretch across the nation. In another life I might have made a choice to work for one. Or become a railfan chasing trains across the country with camera in hand. Whenever I can during a ride I stop to admire the view and dream of times gone by.
Still an hour from home on a direct route and my phone indicating rain on the way I shifted from wanderer to express rider in hopes of avoiding some of the rain. Ended up riding through two short downpours that were heavy enough to cause me to consider putting on the rain suit.
As the ride drew to a close I saw the world change from bright to dark, the wind and rain transform cozy to cool and the new smells of of wet pavement and moist air join me until I got home — another experience of the senses.
Mr. Williams sir! You are becoming more and more philosophical with each passing essay;
I love it.!
Must be something to do with the passage of time and how you were post-heart surgery a year ago this time. It has been noted patients who undergo some form of major heart surgery often have a change of heart (no pun intended) and they now look on their life, differently.
Your writings “have” changed, more home bound and yet more wistful.
My philosophic leanings are likely a result of being on vacation or the past week. More time to think. Only wish I had scheduled two weeks off…
The heart attack is always there in the background. Taking drugs everyday, watching what I eat, focus on exercise and stress — hard not to have it in the foreground. On a behavioral level my life has changed. The other stuff — thinking about life — that was always there. Just didn’t think it appropriate for the blog. Or maybe wasn’t ready to share those ideas.
Or perhaps, as my father always said in response to just about any question, “It’s hell to get old.”
Maybe I’m suffering a case of the old mellows…
As always, really beautiful photos. And the text makes me think similar questions. I think that most motorcycle magazines just cater to what people want. Have you ever noticed when hanging around other riders that a lot of discussion seems to be centered on “the next bike” or “I need this to make my bike perfect”.
I’ve quite buying motorcycle magazines because there was too little that interested me. And even when there were stories about rides it was the old, “Drove 53 miles east on US66 to this town. Ate lunch at this place. Got on the bike and road north until I reached this town.” Nothing about what the rider was thinking or feeling. No story. Just facts. Ugh.
I think sometimes about the next bike but don’t often mention it. And with a Vespa there’s really no need for conversations about needing anything since it’s already perfect…
Steve, I saw your arrows photo and thought, He’s there! He found it! The center of all things… 🙂
Your contemplation of the darkness of the forest and how settlers must have perceived it reminded me of the feel of a Conrad Richter trilogy that I read years ago, specifically the first novel of the three:
The Trees by Conrad Richter
Ry,
I read your post yesterday at 4:15pm. At 4:38pm I was in the local library checking out “The Trees” and another of his books. I had been looking for something to read and your suggestion obviously struck a chord. I’m early in the story, the family has crossed the Ohio and the wife is depressed when Worth decides to head into the sea of trees instead of north to the English Sea.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Right on, Steve! I just remember being impressed by the forest as a character–sometimes provider, sometimes antagonist. It also seems that you share similarities with Richter–his growing up in Pennsylvania mining towns and all.
That Wiki article about The Trees states that Richter researched “the mode of speech of the early 19th-century pioneers of the Ohio Valley, many of whom originally emigrated from Pennsylvania”. I’d be interested to know if you still hear today any of the linguistic quirks or turns of phrase that Richter employed in his narratives and dialogues.
I’ll let you know if I find any similarities between the dialect in the book with what I hear around me. Lots of mining towns still here though the coal industry is a whisper of it’s former self.
Good evening Steve.
After reading your post I was encouraged to take a ride on my Vespa and treat my senses of sight, sound and smell to the great outdoors again.
While I will admit that it is a bit warm at 92, I took the insulated lining out of my riding jacket, opened the vents on my helmet and jacket and left the rest of my riding gear on for safety.
It does surprise me Steve at times when I see people on motorcycles during the warmer months riding with only shorts on the bottom and a thin loose short-sleeved shirt on top and some even without helmets. I have a cousin who told me years ago about a fall he took on his motorcycle and how he was only alive because he wore his helmet. The point is: SAFETY FIRST AND FUN SECOND!!! Don’t you agree?
Glad to be able to inspire a ride. Riding in 92F air is rough. I always have helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and generally riding pants over jeans. It can get hot but like you safety first. A lot of riders think I’m nuts but I don’t want to ever deal with serious road rash if I can avoid it. And the armor provides some joint protection as well. Even though I’ve only been down once (on a snowy road early in my riding career) at a low speed it hurt to hit the pavement. I bought armored pants immediately after that crash.
I just shake my head when I see people riding in shorts and flip flops and cringe a bit imagining tender toes dragging along the asphalt.
And remember, if you get too hot — have some kind neighbor hose you down with the garden hose. Or justt dump a couple of bottles of water over your head and down into your jacket. Feels great riding wet on a hot day. Unfortunately you dry off fast at speed.
Steve,
You always capture the true zen of riding with your writing and pictures. It brings alive the smells and sounds, I love my connectedness with the environment when riding, in the evening I love the loamy smell of the soil and on a hot summer day the sweet tangy smell of pine as I ride through wooded areas. There is nothing like being on 2 wheels, scooter or motorcycle, in the end it is not about the vehicle, but the journey.
You’ve summed it up perfectly Dar. As amazing as it is it does seem strange that there aren’t more younger riders…
I gave up a multi decade subscription to Road and Track for much the same reason. “This month we comparison test the new Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren sports cars in our Half Million dollar budget mobiles Extravaganza”
If you’re looking for more than track times and high speed runs Cycle World does a good job. Plus they have occasional offerings from Peter Eagan who writes like you do.
Wait a minute — I may write like Peter Egan. He doesn’t write like me! And he was far better stories. Wish I could spin yarns like he does. That would probably require me to have more interactions with other people…
You mention reading reviews of motorcycles and wondering if the marketeers miss the point.
I would be curious whether camera reviews strike you the same way.
As a continuing lifelong rider, the reviews I read usually give me a glimpse of what to expect from all categories of bike.
As an accomplished photagrapher…brilliant even…do those camera reviews sway you to material lust?
I have occasional camera lust but I realize it’s more romanticized about past glories than anything having to do with marketing. I’m not looking at new digital cameras but rather 50 year old wooden view cameras or Leica IIIc’s. Had a phone conversation with a photographer friend this evening and we were puzzling over our continued attraction to the darkroom yet once there we hate it.
Past glory and romance. Time to move on. Quit fussing with that. Same with wanting some old BMW airhead. Geez. Who needs the headaches.
The Vespa works fine. I need to quit wasting my time dreaming of other machines. I can only ride one at a time.
Never quit dreaming! You may only ride one machine at a time, but there is something to owning vintage bikes.
Maybe someday I’ll find out!
Soooo…Mr Williams…
Having a different camera wont make me a better photographer?
Correct?
My Ipod Touch is good enough, then my day automatically jumps to my Ipad…no wires…no chemicals…and the editing tools are fun.
Guess I’ll buy an old Triumph…and keep learning what good pictures are…looking at yours.
Of course the subjects are of mutual interest.
The best thing is, I ride where you do, and you capture things from familiar areas I dont see until you share. Thanks.
Ride on….capture on.
A different camera may produce a different picture but won’t necessarily make YOU a better photographer by itself. Just like a different motorcycle won’t make you a better rider. It could inspire you to ride more, or photograph more, and through practice become a better whatever.
Working digitally is pretty simple and fun at times. The darkroom, well, it’s just different. I’ve never attached the term “fun” to it.
I love to see how other people photograph the same things as I do. It’s remarkable how many different ways you can see something.