Metro-biker!

Those who have been invited to visit me in my natural habitat have mentioned on several occasions (at times with the fervor of a Baptist preacher) that I am a tightly-wound, anal-retentive man with a touch of OCD. I suppose I am to some degree. Though in my defense, I like having everything in its place because when I need something, it makes it very easy to get to. T-shirt, towel, screwdriver, coffee cup, whatever, are always right there at my fingertips and easily put to use.

It’s also been mentioned (on many occasions) that I am a bit “metro.” While I don’t really know if “metro” is really fitting, I will admit that I pay attention to style. Too often motorcyclists are judged by their appearance. Those who don’t ride don’t understand our garb is primarily motivated by the need for safety… not for looking tough.  Nevertheless, they look at us as though we are unwashed thugs and utter “there goes the neighborhood” whenever we roll in.

Yes! I am a metro-biker!

I have always been very concerned with being appropriately dressed for any occasion. My mantra is “presentation is everything.” This is why one should never wear a tuxedo to a garden party. Nor would I ever wear leather chaps to a wedding, unless of course I happen to be attending a wedding in San Francisco. So I’ve taken it upon myself to coin a new term…

Metro-biker

Ah yes! I am a metro-biker…er… metro-motorcycle enthusiast! You know what I mean.

I have style and a sense of fashion even when I’m wearing leather and protecting myself from bugs in my face. That’s right! You will never see me wearing a black jacket with a brown doo-rag. No no no! Black jacket, black chaps, black gloves, and black helmet. My doo-rag matches my shirt (usually) and even my watch is carefully chosen from my collection, with an eye for how well it works with everything else I happen to have donned.

Yes I am anal-retentive, OCD, and now you can add “metro-biker” to what describes me. But hey… at least I don’t carry a man-purse… anymore.

More later…

General, Just plain silly

Johnstown, PA: Local and state police scoured the hills outside rural Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after reports of three animal rights activists going missing after attempting to protest the wearing of leather at a large motorcycle gang rally this weekend. Two others, previously reported missing, were discovered by fast food workers “duct taped inside several fast food restaurant dumpsters,” according to police officials. Read more…

General, Just plain silly, Strange

Body Skating

My mom tells me that motorcycling is dangerous. And while I’ll agree that it is, it’s not anywhere as dangerous as this. This is a video of body-skating. I don’t know if that’s what it is really called but after you see it, you’ll understand. It may not have anything to do with motorcycling but at least you’ll see a few bikes in the clip.

General, Just plain silly

Don’t get me wrong, I have a penchant for speed just as much as the next guy. Which gives some explanation as to why I chose the Rocket III. But when on a road controlled by traffic lights and congested with a lot of cars, the last thing on my mind is thumping it and flying down the road like some entitled adolescent who believes he owns the whole dam road! Nevertheless there are times where I feel as though I represent the minority.

I was on my way home [on my bike] and decided to pull off the road for a quick smoke (Now no one is allowed to bug me about smoking.) and stopped in a grocery store parking lot. While standing by my bike watching the traffic go by I heard it. The annoying scream of a sport bike revving really high and approaching way too fast from one of the side streets. He blasted through the stop sign and turned onto the main road, cutting off a couple of cars, swerving to avoid the center median and punched it. Hard! 

I was watching him head down the road, weaving in and out of cars, winding it out, followed by breaking hard, and it happened. He bumped the side of a car and that sent him into an uncontrolled zig-zag that had other cars stomping on the breaks and leaning on their horns. 

Owing to nothing more than dumb luck he actually managed to stay upright. And after he regained control of his bike he punched it once more and rocketed out of there. 

I thought “jack-ass!”

So I finished my smoke, got back on my bike and headed out. Not five minutes down the road there he was… Pulled over by the side of the road entertaining the nice cop by giving him his autograph on one of those wonderful little yellow slips of paper. 

Justice!

Yes… I’ve had my share of tickets but never for the crime of stupidity. The truth though, is even for those that are just plain dumb, I’m glad all he got was a ticket instead of a ride in an ambulance.

General, Just plain silly, Rants

A young man was stopped by police today after receiving reports of a “bad element” disrupting the otherwise serene Central Valley town of Wasco, California. Residents have recently been plagued by numerous bikers riding through their quiet little town with their loud pipes and rambunctious behavior.

One resident, “It’s about time the local police do something… we don’t need those kinds of people here! Why just yesterday someone walked on my lawn and stole my news paper!”

It’s nice to know the police are hard at work protecting this little town from nefarious types like the young hoodlum pictured here.

Just plain silly