Sure riding a motorcycle can look cool, but is it really worth all the training, and the practice, and the extra hassle? Two wheelers brag about gas mileage and shorter commutes, but in the end they wind up riding around more and spending even more time on the road (not less!). And although we try to show the practical side of riding here at CityBikerBlog, there are still plenty of impractical things – like the required gear and outfit changes, the weather, and how do you take home leftovers from Carmine’s? So why do we ride?
My philosophy on life is that we’re here to make a difference and make the world a better place, through our careers, but also through our lives outside the workplace… This can be heartbreaking work sometimes. In order to balance out a life filled with heartbreaking-and-sometimes-frustrating-yet meaningful work – I believe that we need to have (on a regular basis) fun…not just moderate fun, but a blast – of the kind that doesn’t require hangovers, or addiction problems or relational turmoil. I think the reason why so many talented people get messed up is they don’t really know how to have fun and so they wind up harming themselves trying to unwind… Because the only way you can do the great stuff and make a difference (even when life gets hard) – is if you can unplug from everything and have fun every now and then… Anyway that’s the basis for my personal philosophy on life – and here’s why I ride…
…With the right bike in the right place, there are lots of times when I feel “life doesn’t get any better than this!” You will never get that feeling driving a Prius…
Once a week (at least), I think everyone ought to have a time where they do something they love and feel like “life doesn’t get any better than this!” So that in the midst of our world-changing work (or attempts at) we can let loose and just be in the moment for a while… And for me, motorcycling is it.
Sure there are times when I’m hungry and tired and the ride isn’t exactly fun… But with the right bike in the right place, there are lots of times when I feel “life doesn’t get any better than this!” You will never get that feeling driving a Prius…but zipping through downtown traffic on a scooter, or through some open roads on a motorcycle – yeah, it doesn’t get better than that.
So why do you ride? Put it in the comments…
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Btw – even on a rainy Friday night like tonight – and even on taxi-crowed NY streets – I love being able to carry an extra helmet and raingear and getting home in 20 minutes from just about anywhere… The wet ride in traffic is challenging enough to make me pay attention (esp with a passenger)…but the freedom of being able to get around so quickly is priceless!
The Prius quote is very true. There are sometimes where it just feels like everything is right and good in the world when I hit the road on my motorbike. I makes even my monotonous work commute a thrill. I get to work like I’ve just had a caffeine shower.
-VR
BMW k1200r