When it rains it pours...

Gray skies, pouring rain, broken finger...it's enough to crush a bikers spirit! With the intent of riding through the colder months this year I was hoping to avoid my usual diversion.When the weather starts to work against me, and  I get cooped up inside because of rain or snow, I find myself saturating my eyeballs with images of motorcycles. I look at websites with old bikes, new bike, bike parts, riding gear, bike runs, building bikes, motorcycle maintenance, bike trips, customizing bikes, bikes, bikes, BIKES!!!
With this bum finger I have no choice, I can't even brave the weather and get out there if I wanted to. With a broken finger I can't do alot of things I enjoy. So, guess what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna look at websites that have to do with MOTORCYCLES!!! Actually I have another idea...
Since the accident, I've had a large amount of well wishes from my friends, a lot of them bikers. When you're riding with a friend taking in the sights and enjoying cruising around, there is an understanding that takes place as you travel. You can sense the feeling of enjoyment from fellow riders just from a head nod or pointing to the sky. The communication between two riders becomes almost telepathic. When your buzzing through rolling hills hundreds of miles from home and the air is crisp you feel totally connected to the bike. There is nothing quite like it. That sensation is heightened when you get to share it with good people who truly love motorcycling.
It is in that moment that you are removed from daily stress and completely mindful of your surroundings.You become connected to the motorcycle, each other, and your environment. It's an example of  how, if we believe we are all connected and acknowledge that, we begin to appreciate all things on a deeper level.
I've had the chance to meet many people who share my love of motorcycling, some have become good friends. When I told those same people I crashed and got hurt, that I wouldn't be able to ride for awhile, they completely understood how much it bothered me. I didn't have to say much...
I'd like to take some time to show my respect to some fellow enthusiasts and friends who love the open road as much as I do.

My friend Jeff and I have racked up a bunch of miles together. We ride locally and have done some great runs as well. We did the El Diablo Run 2008 in Mexico and more recently the Gypsy Run in upstate New York. Once I'm back in the saddle I hope to get thousands of more safe miles with my good buddy Jeff. He's a stand up dude who rides hard. Here's to you buddy!

Jeff rides hard...

...sleeps harder.

Did you steal my ring dings?

 Thanks for keeping my spirits up through this otherwise bummer of a time, Jeff! 

Night all and be safe out there!

Jim

Dem Bones...

No, I'm not shooting you the bird! That's really not my nature. Unless of course your cutting me off when I'm on the motorcycle then you may get the one finger salute from me. That's the index finger on my left hand and yes, the tip is smashed. I thought about posting the gruesome photos of the tip hanging off but decided that wasn't necessary. I'll save those for Halloween...moohaahaa! The little pieces you see are just some happy little bones floating around in plasma and muscle. After seeing the Doc and having him assess the situation I was getting more concerned when he said "Boy, you really did a number on this finger." It turns out I may be looking at about 3 months to rehab my digit. I felt a wave of panic come over me after hearing that. No riding + no tattooing + no playing the drums = buuuummmmmmeeerrrrrr!!! My head started racing a bit as the reality set in of what has happened and my thoughts started to get way ahead of me. My mind was putting me in all sorts of terrible scenarios and self pity was trying to creep in. Then I remembered something...This crash happened to me the night I went to a benefit show for a friend who is battling cancer. A young guy with a great wife and a beautiful little girl. Everyday I get on my motorcycle I'm at risk for crashing and possibly hurting myself or losing my life and that is a choice I have made as a rider. This young guy didn't jump on a bike and say "Whoa there's a nasty turn up ahead, I hope I don't get cancer!" He is now forced to take each day, each moment as it comes and get the treatment that he needs in hopes that he can beat that cancer. The last thing the doctor said to me was " Don't worry we're gonna fix ya up." I have a feeling that's not what our friend heard from any doctor.
Some people's hardships come to pass quickly, others longer and still others end with hardship. Nothing stays the same no matter what, things will always change for better or for worse. We really have only the moment that we are in. We should do our best not to be carried away by fear and worry. This crash could have taken my life and maybe I was traveling too fast and running away from myself. I've got two banged up hands and a banged up knee and no choice but to slow down. Time to go back to oneself and be mindful in a way that I never lose myself.

Good night all.
Jim

Bad news bears...

Everyone crashes.  Some get back on.  Some don't.  Some can't.  ~Author Unknown

After sixteen years of safe riding I have finally earned my status of a "real bad-ass biker". I hate to have to say it folks but I crashed Saturday night. Too fast in a turn and a patch of sand makes for a messy ending to an otherwise good week. Trying to ride everyday for a year raises the risk for something like this happening to me and I knew damn well that anything could. I just didn't think it would be so soon into the 3.6.5 ride. The bikes banged up as well as yours truly. I am going to be out of work for about a month or so. I broke my finger and almost lost part of it. I go to a surgeon today to see how pretty they can make it.
I've understood the risks of motorcycling since I first sat on one. I also fell in love with the wind in my hair from the moment I took off on one. Once I rehab the hand and take care of the bike I'll be back on it. At this point motorcycling is in my blood and some of that got spilt the other night to mark my territory!
I am lucky that things weren't worse and they could have been.
There are always people in tougher situations than us and rather than compare our hardships we should relate to each others experiences and be there to help our friends through. I am lucky to have alot of them.
All though this blog was intended to keep you updated about a years long ride, I think I'll maintain it. This ride has shifted from one on two wheels to that of a ride in life to get stronger, mind...body...and spirit.

Peace for now friends...

Jim

354...

Congrats, we made it through another week. I myself have a busy work day ahead of me, but I'm glad it's Saturday. I've got two days off and it will be a nice break.
I wrote this little poem, if you will, a while back.

Monday looms above me as a great dictator
I climb up my soap box and step on his head
Now the weekdays and weekends
To me, are all dead!

I used to always get a case of the Sunday night blues when the weekend was over and I would have to start my week all over again. Half way through the day I would start thinking about going back to work and getting bummed out. Now, I wont tell you that it doesn't occasionally happen but its far better than it used to be. I realized just how fast the weekends were going by and the weekdays seemed to be going just as fast. Next thing you know I have a beard full of grays and my temples to match. I was spending way to much energy getting bummed that my weekend was almost over, I was missing out on enjoying it all together. I also realized that a Monday, or Tuesday , Wednesday or whatever day doesn't mean life stops. So what, you give up a couple hours to earn an honest living, but there's plenty of time to enjoy everyday. If the weather is nice out and I wanna go for a night time ride on a Thursday, you better believe I'm going. I don't want my mind to be conditioned to do or not do things because its a "weekday".  If certain concepts or ideas are going to dictate my path in life I might as well be a robot.
The only way I have found for combating those blues is to try and do my best to be in each moment. It's not an easy task but if you can accomplish that it makes those times more enjoyable and lessens the stress of things to come, or things we "think" are coming.

Don't be fooled by the calendar.  There are only as many days in the year as you make use of.  ~Charles Richards

Enjoy this day and do the same tomorrow, and the next day, and the next...
Jim

355...

Friday usually adds a little excitement to our thoughts of the coming weekend. For some of us its the end of the work week, for others it's just another day. The weekdays and weekends seem to blend together and just pass by with a quickness. A gray day can dull the mind and slow us down a bit and make it hard to look forward to anything really. Eat, sleep, work repeat...
Who knew it would take so much effort to keep the mind steady and stay present with all that happens and changes around us when it looks like nothing is happening at all? Don't believe that for one minute...

"You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back at where you've been and a pattern seems to emerge.
"
-Robert M Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)








Time to "get going..."
Jim

356...

Rain is gone, sun is out, bike is waiting...

"To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top."
—Robert M. Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)

357...

The first day of fall brought us nearly 90 degree temps and finished off the night with thunderstorms and lots of humidity. Not quite what I expected as a transition of the end of the summer especially since I've already said goodbye to the Heat Miser. I threw on my leather and headed out this morning and by the time I got to work I was ready to peel that jacket off and throw on some shorts. I've been preparing myself for cool breezes and dodging falling leaves, hot apple cider and chilly Autumn nights. Today I cranked up the AC and thought about a couple of tall cold ones! I've pulled out more cold weather gear and been mentally preparing myself to brave the threat of frozen snot! But noooooooooo... Instead I was staying inside out of the hot humid air looking at the sky waiting for the first clap of thunder and hopes that a good storm would cool us all down. What the heck man, I said goodbye to summer and the Heat Miser throws me for a loop. It's the first day of Autumn dammit and I had expectations! Winter cold, Spring warm, Summer hot, Autumn COOL!
Simply put, things are not always as they appear to be...
If we have such a tight hold on the way we expect things to be they often come with great disappointment. It's very difficult to let go of ideas we may have about our friends and family or certain situations in life, let alone the weather. Mother Nature is certainly a great force that leaves us no choice but to accept, so we learn to adapt and live with it's ever changing seasons and the surprises that come along with it. We have to be open to the idea that things may not go the way we thought and that it might be a good idea to come prepared for a storm even on the first day of Autumn.
If you've ever been caught in a rainstorm on a motorcycle you know it can be quite painful. If you choose to keep going it's best to keep your head up and the wheel straight and keep looking forward. If you look back the bike has the tendency to go in the direction your looking and there is a good chance your going to drive off the road. So even if the ride's a little painful just keep looking forward and know that the storm must always come to and end.

"For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them."
— Thich Nhat Hanh

Bonjour  Autumn...Bienvenue!
Jim

358...

A long day of tattooing, a night of painting and a blast on the scooter left me with one thing to do when I got in last night...sleeeeeeeeep!!! I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, but I was on two wheels once again. It was great weather and I got a reprieve from the other wise chilly nights we've been having. Today looks like its going to be even warmer so I'm ready to get out there. It's the official start of a new season and I hope it's a great Autumn filled with pumpkin pies and lot's of rides. I'll leave ya with a quick video of blue skies from the eye's of route 8.

So long summer of 2010...
Jim

359...

I've been told by my friends that if they happen to see me blastin' by on the bike I usually have a grin on my face. Most of the time I'm smiling just to keep people guessing, but a day off from work and incredible weather like today makes me a happy biker. I took a blast up north today and did some searching, a little for the soul and a little for the sites. Being on the bike today forced me to get out of my own head which is why I believe motorcycling to be such a great meditative tool. It's tough to stay inside the grey matter between your ears when you are surrounded by so many sites outside of yourself. New England has a lot to offer as far as sites go and this time of year just enhances the landscapes. I was taking some photos today and around every turn I saw something else that I wanted to capture in a picture. I realized there was just too much to photograph, so I just rode and enjoyed each point of interest as I passed them by.
As an artist it's difficult to see things in any other way but creatively. I look at the way light hits the trees and how the slightest change in that light creates a new image. The shapes of building and the shadows they cast, a broken down car, a hawk against a pure blue sky...it's endless and there is art in life in everything I see. It comes in many different forms and often it manifests in painful or difficult situations in life. The art is always there for me to step back and observe, but unlike a painting that may appear static, "art" in life is constantly changing. There is not one moment where it isn't, not even when I feel like my routine has nothing new to offer. I just need to be reminded that around every bend in the road there is something to look at very deeply, something to rest my attention on and learn to appreciate it before it's gone or before I am.

Here's a couple of snapshot from today's trek up North.

"That nothing is static or fixed, that all is fleeting and impermanent, is the first mark of existence. It is the ordinary state of affairs. Everything is in process. Everything—every tree, every blade of grass, all the animals, insects, human beings, buildings, the animate and the inanimate—is always changing, moment to moment." ~Pema Chodron

There's still some sunlight left and gas in the tank, hmmmmm........
See ya!
Jim

360...

Sunday didn't start as a funday. I discovered a screw in the tire of my car this morning and was headed out to meet some friends. Only reason I was in the car was because I had some drums I had to take to go make some music. Guess I better look into a small trailer hitch for the bike so I can lug my life around behind me. I decided that throwing the spare tire on might be a good idea incase the tire started to slowly deflate. I discovered that I did not have a tire iron and could not remove the punctured tire. I crossed my fingers and headed towards Auto Zone to grab what I needed. Laying in the hot sun and changing the tire in the parking lot made me wish even more that I was cruising on the bike. I managed to get through the change with little frustration and even managed to laugh at myself.
After a couple hours of banging on drums and hanging with good friends I headed back to ole' faithful. She was waiting patiently for me and ready to get a ride in on this 5th day of the 3.6.5.
With Autumn just 3 days away I have to say I am really excited for this weather and the changes that are already taking place. The sky was great today and I noticed more trees changing and I really have a hunkering for some pumpkin pie! Here's a picture that sums of my favorite time of year for me...

What a handsome couple.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend friends.

Jim

361...

Other than getting through this last work day of the week for me, I've got one thing on my mind...Riding. I'll keep my post short today and leave you with the words of someone else...

And I to my motorcycle
Parked like the soul of the junkyard
Restored, a bicycle fleshed
With power, and tore off
Up Highway 106, continually
Drunk on the wind in my mouth,
Wringing the handlebar for speed,
Wild to be wreckage forever.
~James Dickey (poet), "Cherrylog Road"

Enjoy the weekend ya'll, be safe...
Jim 

 

362...

Coffee please, more coffee...

I woke to grey skies and a bike kissed by raindrops all night long. The sky didn't look too promising early today but the rain had stopped so I wiped off the scoot and fired up the coffee maker. After my black water fix I was ready to throw a leg over the scoot and see what my Friday, "ride"day had to offer. Allthough the bike fired up immediately I was feeling quite sluggish myself, which means one thing...more coffee.

Like the early morning overcast, my mind was feeling the same way and I believe the bike actually took me where it wanted to go today. In light of yesterday's post, I took a left turn today that I've never taken before thanks to some construction up the road I had no choice. The further I rode the more clearing I saw in the sky and  my head started to do the same.

I came across this great garage that restored antique cars and had a quick conversation with the mechanic inside. There were quite a few cars being worked on and you could tell that they were being restored with a great amount of skill by someone who had an absolute passion for these cars. I wondered about the history of these vehicles... the roads they traveled the familes they carried and the fact that they've been around a hell of alot longer than me.

                                                                                                                                                                We are all drawn to certain interests in life outside of our daily lives. They are there waiting for us to discover, to investigate and provoke thought. Like the restoration of these old cars, sometimes our minds need a little tuning up. It may even be a matter of just being quiet and listening to the inner workings to see how things are running. Take some time to pull off the road of the daily grind, ask some questions about the things that we see everyday and have never looked quite deeply at them. There are insights beyond our own thoughts and we must be open to them in order to keep the mind running smooth. Sometimes those old parts just dont work anymore and new ones need to be created and installed. These classic cars want to hit the open road and carry us towards new adventures, and with a passionate hand and skillful means they'll be running in no time.

Just add some fuel for life and away we go...make mine black, no sugar.
Jim

363...

Last nights ride home was a taste of what's to come with the temperature in the low 40's and even colder at some point. I was bundled up pretty good but it may be time to break out the cold weather gear for sure. I'm still expecting a little warm spell before this chill comes in full force and sticks around.

I've got some Fatherly duties today to pick up some food for the pooches so that is going to require the car. Now I've been know to strap various things to the motorcycle. I even did some shopping at Home Depot and brought landscaping items home strapped to the motorcycle, one of which included a roll of chicken wire fencing. It's quite the site flying down Route 8 but not that safe. Now a 50 pound bag of dog food may cause a bit of trouble and I don't think my bungee cords are up for the task. What about today's ride? You might ask... Well I've been up since the crack of dawn and out and about already my friends.

I've been fortunate enough to explore a great amount of this country on two wheels. The midwest is full of scenic treasures and the East Coast has an equal amount of winding roads with plenty of things to discover. Sometimes we take our own backyard for granted its just a matter of breaking routine and finally taking that left turn down a road you've wondered about for years. These roads less traveled are much like the facets of our own mind. They can be smooth paths that enlighten us and bring peace as they open up to overwhelming landscapes. They can also be quite bumpy and difficult to travel on, slow us down and make us want to turn back as fast as we can. I remember finding myself on some of these roads out West. In fact I spent almost 2 hours on a gravel road doing about 20 miles an hour in the middle of Wyoming under a hot sun. I remember thinking ,"This is never going to end!" The bumps were uncomfortable, the gravel occasionally flying up to hit me in the face was annoying and I just wanted to go full throttle and get the hell off that road. It was pretty much at that moment I relized what I was missing around me. I was surrounded by rolling hills of lush green grass and incredible mountains off in the distance and herds of cattle basking in the sunlight. I just had to bring myself back to the moment and stop missing the beauty of what this otherwise uncomfortable road had to offer. These roads less traveled, whether across the country, in our own backyard or within our minds have much to reveal and if we don't take that left turn occasionally we are left wandering the same path back and forth with not much more to discover.
Good day all...
Jim

Good Morning Thursday

I hear the train a coming...

364...

Looks like another B-E-A-uuuuuuuuutiful day out there! Clear and crisp like a fine Lager!
I was a bit bummed this morning I woke with some lower back pain. I had a nice ride yesterday and felt great but somehow woke up with that dull nagging pain reminiscent of that pesky sciatica nerve tingling and taunting me like a nasty little child."Your back hurts, your butt hurts, you can't ride your biiiiike and your almost 40! Nah nah nah nah nah!!!" Well listen up you little brat, I'm going to ride and if you do not get out of my way I may have to run you over...I mean that figuratively of course!
I went out for a little walk  to stretch out the legs a bit in hopes to make my ride to work more comfortable. There are people living with constant pain everyday and finding a place in ones mind to overcome that pain or somehow find a way to carry on is admirable. So I'll hop on the scoot, shut my mouth and open the throttle.

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take it's place. If I quit however, it lasts forever."
-Lance Armstrong

Happy Humpday....Dumpty?! Have and eggs-ellent day!
Jim

365...

The door to summer is slowing creaking closed and like all things when ones closes, another one opens. As much as those hot humid days really got me down, I have to say overall it was a great summer with a hell of alot of riding. I figure why stop now so I'll keep on shredding the asphalt until my spirit is completely broken or I loose a digit to frost bite.. I think I could manage in this world without a toe...preferably the second toe cuz it's gangly and considerably frightening. Let's hope I don't lose anything to Old Man Winter, but I'm pulling for my spirit! Without that in this world I ain't got nuttin!

"This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds
To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance.
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky,
Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain."

Buddha (563 - 483 BC)

There's a sexy beast parked in my driveway and she's awfully lonely, so with a tip of  the hat I say "Good morning Tuesday...let's ride."

Jim

Sunny and Share...it with me!!!

9.14.2010

Tomorrows forecast is a bikers dream come true. Sunny, 70 degrees and 0% precipitation. It's as if I'll be waking up in Southern California! With the bike tuned up and ready to go and the start of my work week welcoming me with no less than a perfect climate, I believe it's time to start the 3.6.5 ride! I'll still keep 10.1.10 as the official kick off day but I just can't wait any longer to get this underway. I know the night time will make for a chilly ride home but it's 10 miles I can suck up.
I'll do my best to keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down!

"The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed." — Robert M. Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)

Goodnight Monday!
Jim

It ain't Monday forever!

September 11th came and went and I felt I'd just keep my mouth silent, or my blog in this case, to think about where I was on that day when the Big Apple and the rest of the world experienced so much loss. I took some time to think about the changes if any that had occured to me on a personal level. I'd like to believe that I am a much more grateful person for the things I have in my life but I have to admit that feeling comes and goes like the tide. If anything I'd say I've embraced the idea of impermanence. It's the one concept that remains constant, that all things will come to an end or change in one way or another. With that being said, the most obvious change I'm aware of is the weather, especially since I'll be starting the 3.6.5. sooner than later.
I got the bike back yesterday and she's tuned up and running cherry! I have a new rear tire and thats alot of peace of mind considering a bald tire and rainy days are a bad combo for any biker.
With this new chill in the air and the skies presenting themselves as the typical introduction to Autumn, I find myself  allowing a little bit of doubt to creep into my mind about this 3.6.5 idea of mind. Now don't get me wrong, I expected this and it's all part what I will experience when I'm putting the jacket and gloves on before I jump on the bike. So how do I transcend that fear of freezing my *** off, or just feeling too damn tired or unmotivated to ride even if it is the subzero jaunt around the block just to say "Hey I rode today!"
Impermanence...The seasons will change, the cold will come and go, my motivation will subside then intensify, and through it all I'm sure my smile will also come and go. Oh, and if the smile stays constant that just means yours truly has really lost his mind, just choose a funny farm thats got plenty of room for the motorcycle.
Enjoy the rest of this Sunday and don't let those Monday blues get ya, cuz it aint Monday forever!
Jim

Fell on grey days...

The scoot is in the shop and I wanted to give props to the great guys at Valley Motor Sports in Ansonia,CT. I've had them servicing my motorcycles for close to 15 years and they are down to earth guys and great mechanics. I've brought the bike in for service before some very long treks across the country and I can ride with peace of mind after I've left their shop, so check 'em out.
I did a bit of shoe leather express early this morning to keep the old bones moving and of course grab some coffee up the road. It's always a good time for reflection and reminds to stop and and smell the flowers.
Most motorcycle enthusiasts wish for clear skies and abundant sunshine, I woke to the opposite today with mostly grey clouds looming overhead. Some riders are deterred by those nasty looking pillows waiting to dump a days worth of precipitation, forcing them to sit on the couch and watch Baywatch reruns. Baywatch? Musta been the pillow reference! Anyway...If you ride you will get caught in rain. it's not a matter of if, it's when. Rain's not fun to ride in but it happens and if your prepared you'll have a little more comfort getting through it. I usually throw on a rain suit and keep going unless its heavy downpour and I've got no clarity. You occasionally have to stop and understand that it will pass. The weather is a great lesson in acceptance and a far greater force than us. It encompasses us and looms overhead as the great analogy to our own minds.
We wake up and hope for clarity but sometimes our heads are cloudy and our thoughts hit us like a hard rain. Those are the days we have a tough time continuing and we sit and wait for it to pass. We can only hang around so long in that uncomfortable place until its time to get moving again. Those clouds aren't sticking around and the rain will always pass. If we pay attention to our own mind, occasionally stopping to smell the flowers we can be a bit more prepared the next time that hard rain falls down on us.
I think I see a bit of blue poking through those pillows, or was that just Pam Anderson's tattoo?!
Enjoy Friday

Jim

Sing me a sweet tune-UP!

So the ol' scoot goes into the shop today for a good once over. That means I'll be in my car for the next couple days and those of you who know me, know how I hate the confines of that cage on wheels! The up side is that I can give this ol' body of mine a little rest, so as the bike gets tuned up I can do a little mind, body, spirit tune up for myself. I'll be pulling out my cold weather gear and looking to see if I need to invest in anything else as the weather starts to change. Today is actually a little taste of Fall. There's a breeze out there and I see a bit of overcast so it's about time to start saying our goodbyes to the summer. I'm hoping for one of those surprise "Indian Summer's" this October so I get a little reprieve from the cold when I'm out there.
As soon as I get the bike back I may get this 3.6.5 underway. Other than the personal aspect of trying to do this there are a couple of other things I'd like to see come out of this ride and as those hopes and ideas become clearer I'll be sure to share them.

Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul...

Jim

Hump day...

Here is a quick video snippet from riding upsatate New York for the Gypsy Run 4 a couple weeks ago. The audio sucks so don't bother. It's a bit tricky to take photos and video while riding, not to mention not the safest thing, but hey I gotta capture some of these Kodak moments who knows what my memory will be like in a couple years! Just don't tell my Mom I'm the guy behind the camera.
I hope to get the bike in this week for service and I am actually considering starting my 3.6.5 sooner. If i do I'll just use the first day of October as the official kick-off. Maybe even get some like minded nutts together for a couple of pops!

Jim

B-e-a-uuuuutiful day!

So the weather is great and I've been out on the scoot today already. I definelty need some maintenance on the bike to make sure I'll be riding solid. Someone pointed out my treads on the rear tire the other day and I can certainly use a new one. I'll have to get her into the shop within the next two weeks so I'm ready for 10.1.10.
I think the 1200 plus miles I did last month may have something to do with that that rear tire. I vowed to ride as much as I could this year seeing as last year was a complete wash out. I've manage to do some great trips and I look forward to the fall riding but we'll see how I fair when the winter starts to creep in, Hmmmmmm.......
OK back on the bike and off to work!
Jim

Old Faithful

Two wheels and a bright idea...?

What is the 3.6.5 ride?
Well folks, simply put the 3.6.5 ride is my attempt to ride my motorcycle everyday for 365 days straight. I’ve been into motorcycling for about 16 years and you can say it’s become somewhat of a religion to me. I have found it to be the best way to truly experience the world around me. It heightens my senses and connects me to this place we call Earth. There is truly no other experience like the sounds, the smells, the temperature changes and breathtaking scenery this world around us has to offer while the asphalt buzzes underfoot. If you ride, you understand.

I’ve come to realize that motorcycling mimics my everyday life. Some days are smooth and I smile through them without a care in the world. Other days I find myself struggling to hang on and uncomfortable in my own skin, much like some of the days on the road atop two wheels.

Some of us look to prayer or meditation to find some peace of mind and a will to keep moving forward. I find mine on my motorcycle.

What’s the motivation to do this ride?

I was becoming more aware of myself and that I have been distracted by everyday life and losing sight of some simple ideas that I have tried to live by for quite some time. I’ve been less mindful and frustrated with racing thoughts that leave me anxious and sometimes aggravated throughout my day and the people I care for the most seem to suffer as a result. When I am on the motorcycle it forces me to think of one thing, and that’s riding. I have to be clear and present with every little action or it can cost me my life. Much like riding the motorcycle, there are some days that are uncomfortable, but I have no choice I have to get myself to another place, a better place. There are obstacles that I have to maneuver around and I have to do so carefully and mindfully without hurting people or myself. There are lots of things in life that we don’t want to do but if we stay present in each moment and follow through we live free of the fear and anxiety that create suffering in us all. This will be a daily reminder to appreciate the world around me no matter how harsh it may seem, always knowing that there is a more comfortable place to be just up the road a ways.

Will there be exceptions to riding on certain days?

Of course the elements are the main deterrent for motorcyclists as New Englanders. The goal is to get the bike moving. Each day will consist of some type of ride. It may be a trip to another part of the country or a half block trudge through a fresh snow fall. The point is to always make an honest effort even when I’m feeling like I can’t do it. There are days I don’t feel like showing up to life but it’s not stopping to wait me or any of us. The only days I will not ride is if the weather seriously jeopardizes my safety, if I experience some mechanical problem that renders the bike useless, if my health doesn’t allow for it or if I happen to take a vacation (although I will make an effort to rent or borrow a motorcycle during that time if mine can’t come along).

When does the 3.6.5 Ride start?

I’ve chosen the first day of October to start the ride not for any particular reason other than this will give me enough time to get the bike tuned up and running solid and 10.1.10 sounds kinda cool. I’ll keep everyone posted about the kind of riding I am getting in and armed with my trusty iPhone I hope to get some photos to share with everyone. Anyone interested in riding hit me up on here and I’ll let you know where I’m headed.

I started thinking about doing this awhile ago and I’m sure there will be some people who think I may be a little crazy, but that’s nothing new. Do I think I can really pull it off? Well like a close friend of mine said to me “How will you know if you don’t at least try?” If it sparks one persons interest and can act as a reminder to not take the world we live in for granted and to push an individual to look at their own mind and find their own practice to remain present and mindful, cool!