Riding Realizations
Riding alone provides extended opportunities to think. It’s one of the unlooked for benefits of riding that partially fuels my year round riding. That thinking serves to clear out the noise and cobwebs that collect between my ears on a minute by minute, hour by hour basis and can lead to a wonderful variety of concerns, frustrations and generally annoying states of mind.
Spending time on the Vespa is good medicine for the mind. That prescription provides relief that can be described in four simple words — ride more, worry less.
Comfortably reclined in my first class easy chair this evening, I spend some time inspecting those words. I’m generally skeptical of slogans and other textual pablum that infests the interwebs. But this one, it works. So off I went to create a graphic reminder of the discovery I’m sure has already been made by thousands of other riders. To non-riders still grinding their teeth in the comfort of their SUVs, or talking to the terribly under-skilled drivers in other vehicles, I can only suggest their is a path available to improve your mental wellbeing that doesn’t involve Pilates, yoga, therapy or drugs. It merely calls upon you to step away from the maddening crowd and say you’ve had enough.
That and a scooter or motorcycle.
The photograph on the header of your post “Riding Realizations” is priceless.
Hopefully a sign of the future, no cares, comfortable in your location and hopefully no other vehicles about to cross your position. And facing upwards taking a photo,
Best keep it simple, eh?
I’ve always like that photograph for the reasons you list. Hopefully, I’ll find myself working toward that ideal now and on into the future.
Keep it simple. That’s why I was looking at a motorcycle with no electric starter — just a kick start…
That picture does capture the place and feeling that I often pursue. I should say that the man on the road is NOT me. That’s my friend Paul. To date — I have never placed myself on my back on a road. At least not that I can remember…
This is why I ride too. Riding my Vespa is the one of the most satisfying mindfulness experiences I have found.
It’s been an amazing process, made more so by being completely unexpected. And now I seek it out always…
I generally use rides to sort out ideas for any repairs, problems or schemes I have in mind. The solitude and freedom on the road puts me in a place that serves to make things clearer.
Yep. I would add financial planning for retirement, ways to keep the dogs from destroying and garden, and whether I should buy a motorcycle.
Best-Post-Ever!
Aw shucks David. And it’s so short. And uses an old photo. Thanks for the kind words.
Every time I see the pic of you lying on the road, I have to remind myself that surely someone was there watching for traffic as they took your picture……
There was someone watching out for cars — me. The guy in the photo is my friend Paul. He is always doing that. I should create a post about his physical antics on the road.
Ahhh! The Church of Ride. Amen Brother?
The Church of the Ride. I like the picture that creates. I hope you get past winter and can get back to church.
The Church of Ride…Love it!
Yes, it’s a great idea.
I, myself, perfer an SUV. An SUV slowing winding down a forgotten backroad going through small town after small town. Generally these are small communities, villages if you wish, far from the beaten path where for the most part are only visited by people who live there. To each his own when it comes to preferences for transport, and since I generally travel well beyond my home range, the SUV suits me better.
I haunt the same sorts of roads you describe Frank. So much to see in those places that don’t have the regular collection of WalMart, McDonalds, Home Depot and Sams Club. Transport choices support our goals. The SUV is a far better choice for some than others.
I did a 100-mile ride on the KLR today just for the reasons you mentioned Steve. I hope I am not too sore tomorrow.
I eventually found myself in a beautiful wooded state park, lying flat on my back on a picnic table, with my riding jacket folded under my head serving as a fine pillow. I dozed off a few times.
I do understand the joy of being a solitary rider.
I’m jealous. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a hundred mile ride. I hope your body doesn’t punish you too much. The few times I’ve ridden a KLR past the 100 mile mark, what I always find is my shoulders hurt. The bars are so wide compared to the Vespa and it stretches things in a manner that leaves me sore. The rest of me is fine though.
The wooded state park, lying on your back on a picnic table with the riding jacket pillow — I know that experience well. Doesn’t get much better than that. A gift to be able to do it.
Be well and ride safe.
Steve, I recently happened on your website, and I’m hooked. I’m a moped lover myself, and there’s just nothing as exhilarating as a ride.
Hello Miranda. I’m glad you’ve found something useful here. Mopeds are a lot of fun. If you move on to a scooter, or a motorcycle, you’ll find a strange new world. Hope to see you comment again sometime.
I just realized, moped and scooter are two different things. Let me clarify, I am a scooter rider! 🙂
Not a problem. The scooter riders among up have been referred to as moped riders more than once!
As the snow currently falls (and melts, then comes back big-time, and hopefully the last time, early next week), I think about all the therapeutic rides I’ve taken, via bicycle when I was still living in Gotham, and now on the Vespa here in Springsteenville. Almost all of these rides have been therapeutic to a greater or lesser extent, even though nearly all these rides were taken principally for for more-mudane reasons (commuting, errands, exercise, etc.), in a way I could never imagine driving to be. And I’ve been truly savoring the days this winter – more than a few, amazingly – where I’ve been able to hop on Melody and travel in relative comfort (at least as long as the thermometer didn’t dip much below freezing…as mentioned before, my best winter gloves are only good to about 32° F or so), and, in fact, have fun, even if I’m off to Wegmans at night for that one thing I need for breakfast the following morning.
And yes, this therapy doesn’t require drugs (prescription or otherwise), laying down on a couch or yoga mat, has no known side effects (although I suppose you could say it’s “habit-forming”, as we used to politely call it), although the downside is that it’s not covered by any health plan I know of. But we know it works!
I’ve found the same to be true — rides with a specific goal or task yield therapeutic benefits. It’s a gift for me to be able to calm my spirit with the Vespa.
Winter has been mild here but the ups and downs of temperature and snow is making me weary. It’s 14F outside now, the roads are mostly clear, and I want to go for a ride. But 14F… ugh. I’ve done it before dozens of times but I’m already weary of the cold. Perhaps the dogs will inspire me.