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Why do we ride?
Blatherings From The Editor Why Over the years I’ve tried to pen the “Why do we ride?” thing more than once with little to no success. Never fails, comes out sounding corny. You know…the bugs in your teeth; the wind in your hair; the freedom of the open road; the power and the glory of being a 1%er who rides off into the sunset. I’ve heard these clichés enough times that I’m beginning to wonder if anyone really does know why they ride a motorcycle. I’ve just never been able to put my “riding feelings” on paper and have them come out right. Over the years I have seen quite a few SEAT members not rejoin when their dues came up. Others are still members but we don’t see them at SEAT lunches any more. A few have dropped us a note or an email telling us they aren’t riding any more. After being so passionate about swinging a boot over the saddle and riding off into the sunset for so many years, what could possibly stop them from hitting the open road and feeling the power of two wheels? Giving up a passion, be it riding, sailing or flying, is a tough one. Why? How about an accident? Most everyone who rides has had a get-off or a fall-down along the line. (For those of you who haven’t, here’s hoping you never do!) This could be as simple as a tip over in the parking lot to a full blown bomb explosion of a collision. It’s a bit of a challenge to get back on after a serious calamity. Some don’t, they lose their “nerve”, wife and kids and can’t put themselves in that situation again. Some, because of an injury, can’t. The end of a riding career can come very quickly. How about getting old? How many times have you heard, “Man, this getting old stuff can really slow you down!” Slowing down mentally is a real problem when decisions have to be made and executed in split seconds. When the eye-to-hand reaction time begins to slow, turns come up quicker and near misses seem to happen more often. Everyone knows it takes serious concentration to ride hard and fast in the twisties. Guess what, it takes serious concentration to ride anywhere! You can’t afford to loose your edge when on two wheels. Smart riders seem to know when it’s time to hang up their helmet and boots. And how about health problems that can suddenly come along and spoil your whole retirement and riding plans? Sugar imbalances, warty growths, lumps and bumps…they can make riding no fun and the medications needed to keep things right may make riding impossible. Being drugged won’t cut it while mixing it up with all that traffic, throwing in an animal or two just for sport. Even over-the-counter drugs can dull the senses and make riding way more dangerous. I may never successfully get the “Why do we ride?” thing down in black and white; but give me a few more years and I’m sure I’ll get the “Why do we stop riding?” thing down…darn it. Deryle Mehrten, getting long-in-the-tooth.
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