Thursday, October 4, 2007

The Connection

What connects us? The us being the members of the extended family of motorcyclists. The asphalt and concrete ribbons that run all over this great nation certainly connect us physically but I believe the connection is much deeper, more complicated and maybe even primal. What is the draw of two wheeled travel that pulls us into a behavioral altering mind set? So some of you don't think it alters you? Simply look in your closet, there, you see? Did you wear that type of clothing before you acquired your bike? I'll bet that before you started to ride you would run inside if it started to rain. Now you just grin.....

Humans have always succeeded when in groups. A singular of a species will not survive at least not in the long term. But yet our society is hell bent on the singular, possibly not intentionally. We ride in our cars but yet disconnected from our fellow motorists. We surf the web electronically connected to millions but yet alone. More and more things are now individual servings. Your new iPOD helps to put you in isolation as does your new Bluetooth headset for your cellphone.



Our law makers pay more attention to the minority than the majority and that is the survival of the fittest in reverse. There is hope, for there is a small percentage of the population that strives to be together, to maintain a unique individual identity but to function as one and to further the species as they have for almost a hundred years. I am talking about us! The motorcycle riding portion of the population. So when the atomic glow is still barely visible there we will be, on our bikes, smiling and trying to avoid the cock roaches.

But what connects us? Something draws you to ride. It's not how we dress nor what we ride since you were drawn to it before you chose your apparel or brand of bike. It's freedom, it's the difference, it's the deviation from the norm, it's the sound and feel, it's the road, it's good friends, it's......a lot of things. What connects us? It's complicated but yet we understand it and enjoy it. Whatever it is, it's a hell of a lot of fun.

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