Motorcycle riding brings the rider out of life’s harried rough and tumble atmosphere into an experience of awesome peace inspired by the sheer freedom found only in the wind. Exhilaration, excitement, entertainment and evolution are just some of the feelings that lay within the endless white dashes of hope along the open road.

The windy horse. That phrase was first coined as a description of a religious act of faith in the Tibetan culture. Prayers are written on small paper pieces, which are thrown into the wind to be delivered to heaven. Riding is a similar "pure" experience. Genuine and absolutely real because one is living so precisely in the moment as if astride a windy horse. The rider becomes a living prayer where you whisper all your thoughts and wonderment into the wind. Riding is all the self-help books rolled into one authentic word: freedom. Freedom from all that binds the soul and freedom to embrace the awesome and the wonderful. Freedom to be aware of and live in the very moment.

Upon firing up one’s iron steed, whether it be a sport touring bike, a cruiser, a vintage veteran of the asphalt, or a custom chopper—the connection between rider and ride becomes infused as one spirit. It’s playtime on the ultimate playground: the open road. Stories as to why folks decide to choose to become a motorcyclist range from life transformation, answering the call of an adventurous spirit, a lifestyle choice, healing from a physical ailment or an emotional devastation, or just the desire to have tremendous fun.

A hallmark of the motorcycling mystique is self-discovery. An interesting freedom and strength about one’s self is uncovered while travelling through unfamiliar terrain or tracing the usual curves and twists which lead one into a sort of trance. Perspective becomes grand and superficial judgement diminishes because the view is so expansive from the handlebars.

Every scent, atmospheric change and environmental location transcends the rider into alerting experiences that requires a degree of momentary reaction. Living in the moment is defined on a motorcycle. One must remain extremely aware of each second that ticks; yet, at the same time, a rider is somehow removed from the every day hardships of life.

Live and let live. Life is grander on a motorcycle. Motorcycle riding bonds people. Conversation blossoms between people that may not otherwise exist. "Hey, nice bike," says the sharp dressed stock broker to a tattooed burly biker who responds, "Thanks, man, yeah, it’s a great bike." Then a discussion forms and an unlikely pair shares a moment. Motorcycling fosters camaraderie. You can meet the nicest people riding. And you never feel down on your luck because there’s always another motorcyclist that rides along to help you out. My best friendships were found on two-wheels.

For years motorcycling and motorcyclists have received a bad rap. Motorcycle clubs were depicted as frightening gangs filled with the desire to destroy anything and everything and anybody that got too close. As a result, anybody who rode suffered this inaccurate and negative profile. Times have changed as motorcycling has become increasingly popular embracing all age ranges and folks from all walks of life. Motorcycle manufacturers are enjoying the economic boom as people with disposable income are choosing the two-wheels as their hobby choice. But there are real riders, posers and weekend warriors.

Whatever the classification, it’s actually being in the wind that really matters. Motorcycling is like flying, although close to the ground. The rush of wind erases the woes and refreshes the soul, bringing a perhaps more enlightened attitude at the end of a ride. To ride is to pioneer. I find peace, truth and spirit within the endless miles.  For me, the wind is home, the road is my soul and I live to ride.  I embody the Motorcycle Mystique.

© 2000

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