Everything after this I didn’t understand: “We had two-wheel biker gangs when I was a kid. My treasured candy-apple red Schwinn Stingray with the fat pavement slick on the back.”
But I could “feel” the passion, exhilaration, and connection throughout, even having never been on a motorcycle of any kind.
Love it, Dee. And if there is any creature on earth we should emulate, it is a dog with its face out in the wind of a speeding car. That is what you call a state of grace.
Love this in every way Dee. I was on the back of my father’s motorcycle by the time I was 8 years old. He and my mom later traveled the country on a Gold Wing. Even though I’m a Trauma ICU nurse I’m never afraid to get on a bike, only worry about the distracted MV drivers and the 18-30 year old boys who believe they’re immortal. They find out they’re not when they meet me and I’m always kind to them.
My first love had a Chopper, my second husband had a Springer. I’m tired of being a passenger and will get my own if I decide I want to ride again ❤️❤️
Such bs, my favorite neurosurgeon ever loved to ride.. Take it from me when I tell you there are infinite ways to die. I came off the back once , my bad for drinking all night and thinking I could hold on because I don’t like to put the sissy bar on 😂
I know you’re shaking your head saying that’s my girl. I got back on a week later. Ride free my friend 😘
I knew I liked your comments, banter on Notes, etc. but now I know why I now like you as a human. I have the exact same story, with only some minor changes.
For starters, nobody taught me to ride my first bike. I just got on it, and rode off. My parents were amazed. So, I'm a natural. It's just an extension of my own body.
While you did the offroad thing, I did road racing. Criteriums, time trials, road races, you name it, I did it. Except track, since there weren't any near me. And I was good, won state championship, qualified for the olympic training center course in CO Springs, might've placed or even won Nationals in 1984, but was involved in a pretty horrific crash on the controversial 'hospital hairpin', in San Diego.
Anyway, been riding motorcycles ever since, I'm sure we could swap war stories about that for hours. LOL Currently riding my 'Hondarly', a Honda CTX 1300 bagger. BTW, how you liking that Harley these days? LOL
Ride on.
Dad gum it, can't attach a pic here. I'll restack one.
That’s badass Duke. Cool to hear some of your cycling and moto story. The only serious road cycling I did centered around triathlon. That said—my business kept me close. I helped sell some of the sponsorships for the Celestial Seasonings races over the years in Boulder and the World Cycling Champs in CO Springs in ‘86.
I lived and trained in Boulder, is there a better place for that? I think not. Used to get up on peak to peak highway, and depending on how I felt, would choose what canyon to take home, and if it was the largest, thru Lyons and back, I think that one was over 100 miles. I'd do that all the time. And that thin air is why we train up there, because when you race at sea level you had a big advantage.
You and I share a very common background, may have even crossed paths at some point. We'd do cyclocross in the winter to cross train, ever do any of that?
Yeah did a fair amount of cyclocross. Local CO series for a couple years 92-95ish.
Boulder is the training bombdiddy for sure. That 93 to Estes up to Peak to Peak back to Golden run is a classic with human power or fossil fuel. Especially in late September—whoa.
In fact that one shot from my essay is sitting up there off of the Peak to Peak near Lyons.
.. never saw this post early on - the one about Bartender Training was the very first & commented we might exchange ‘war stories’ - was about then noted ‘content approach similarities / or ‘messaging style between you & Coleman - I defined that as a ‘crusading or enabling pattern or style - yet the astonishing ‘difference between the two of you ‘socially was ‘monumental haha .. Both of you were/are - also succeeding wildly here in ‘stackland & as a ‘student of Media used both of you as ‘reflectors and/or ‘exemplars for my own purposes.. ‘learning experiences .. & might I add the ‘comments & nature of other individuals who were very interested.. in accord or even fascinated & loyal !
Am a firm believer that ‘opposites may certainly attract ! A phenomenon that Fascinates Me ! Yet I did & do wonder how that’s worked in my case re two such ‘different individuals ! Will mull on this Dee .. & there’s others I have my eye on.. & find more most every day .. just as some of my early faves are running out of gas.. Creating Unique Content ? That’s A Tough Gig ! 🦎🏴☠️🎬
Hate to keep it fresh for sure. But ai love posting oldies—Ha! Only a year old—when no one read them. It’s all new to most readers and it comes up fresh again for me 🤷🏻♂️🙏
I've been thinking of you while making my way through the voluminous archive of "Northern Exposure." Chris in the Morning must be a kindred spirit to yours. I've never owned a motorcycle, but I appreciate the freedom it represents. I get something like that on my road bike, which can make it up to 55mph on some descents. But my physical throttle has only so much gas. I imagine the road is much more intimate on a Hog.
Ha! Hadn’t thought about that show in awhile. ☺️
Everything after this I didn’t understand: “We had two-wheel biker gangs when I was a kid. My treasured candy-apple red Schwinn Stingray with the fat pavement slick on the back.”
But I could “feel” the passion, exhilaration, and connection throughout, even having never been on a motorcycle of any kind.
Agree with David above - a great read!
Thank you James. Throttle on 💪🏻💪🏻
Absolutely the most worthwhile read of the day, maybe the week.
Thanks David ☺️
Love it, Dee. And if there is any creature on earth we should emulate, it is a dog with its face out in the wind of a speeding car. That is what you call a state of grace.
Indeed. Thanks Switt🙏
Love this in every way Dee. I was on the back of my father’s motorcycle by the time I was 8 years old. He and my mom later traveled the country on a Gold Wing. Even though I’m a Trauma ICU nurse I’m never afraid to get on a bike, only worry about the distracted MV drivers and the 18-30 year old boys who believe they’re immortal. They find out they’re not when they meet me and I’m always kind to them.
My first love had a Chopper, my second husband had a Springer. I’m tired of being a passenger and will get my own if I decide I want to ride again ❤️❤️
A refreshing perspective from a Nurse—that’s what you’re my #1. All I ever hear from my friends in health care is “donor cycle.”
Just like guns—it’s not the tool—it’s the fool.
Thanks K. Lemme know when you get ready to climb aboard again ☺️
Such bs, my favorite neurosurgeon ever loved to ride.. Take it from me when I tell you there are infinite ways to die. I came off the back once , my bad for drinking all night and thinking I could hold on because I don’t like to put the sissy bar on 😂
I know you’re shaking your head saying that’s my girl. I got back on a week later. Ride free my friend 😘
Yep. The best drivers I know are also riders. Your awareness is heightened.
Wow. Thrilling! I can feel that leaning way over in the turns, and nope. Not for me any more. 😳🫣 so awesome you two love it.
Thanks Teyani. I’m glad you could feel it. 😎
I knew I liked your comments, banter on Notes, etc. but now I know why I now like you as a human. I have the exact same story, with only some minor changes.
For starters, nobody taught me to ride my first bike. I just got on it, and rode off. My parents were amazed. So, I'm a natural. It's just an extension of my own body.
While you did the offroad thing, I did road racing. Criteriums, time trials, road races, you name it, I did it. Except track, since there weren't any near me. And I was good, won state championship, qualified for the olympic training center course in CO Springs, might've placed or even won Nationals in 1984, but was involved in a pretty horrific crash on the controversial 'hospital hairpin', in San Diego.
Anyway, been riding motorcycles ever since, I'm sure we could swap war stories about that for hours. LOL Currently riding my 'Hondarly', a Honda CTX 1300 bagger. BTW, how you liking that Harley these days? LOL
Ride on.
Dad gum it, can't attach a pic here. I'll restack one.
That’s badass Duke. Cool to hear some of your cycling and moto story. The only serious road cycling I did centered around triathlon. That said—my business kept me close. I helped sell some of the sponsorships for the Celestial Seasonings races over the years in Boulder and the World Cycling Champs in CO Springs in ‘86.
Shoot me a shot of that Hondarly. 💪🏻
I lived and trained in Boulder, is there a better place for that? I think not. Used to get up on peak to peak highway, and depending on how I felt, would choose what canyon to take home, and if it was the largest, thru Lyons and back, I think that one was over 100 miles. I'd do that all the time. And that thin air is why we train up there, because when you race at sea level you had a big advantage.
You and I share a very common background, may have even crossed paths at some point. We'd do cyclocross in the winter to cross train, ever do any of that?
Yeah did a fair amount of cyclocross. Local CO series for a couple years 92-95ish.
Boulder is the training bombdiddy for sure. That 93 to Estes up to Peak to Peak back to Golden run is a classic with human power or fossil fuel. Especially in late September—whoa.
In fact that one shot from my essay is sitting up there off of the Peak to Peak near Lyons.
Whoa! What a great read! Also, your post is as close as I’ll get to riding a motorcycle😀.
I understand Priya—although you’d be safe with me. I appreciate you riding—I mean reading—along 😂
.. never saw this post early on - the one about Bartender Training was the very first & commented we might exchange ‘war stories’ - was about then noted ‘content approach similarities / or ‘messaging style between you & Coleman - I defined that as a ‘crusading or enabling pattern or style - yet the astonishing ‘difference between the two of you ‘socially was ‘monumental haha .. Both of you were/are - also succeeding wildly here in ‘stackland & as a ‘student of Media used both of you as ‘reflectors and/or ‘exemplars for my own purposes.. ‘learning experiences .. & might I add the ‘comments & nature of other individuals who were very interested.. in accord or even fascinated & loyal !
Am a firm believer that ‘opposites may certainly attract ! A phenomenon that Fascinates Me ! Yet I did & do wonder how that’s worked in my case re two such ‘different individuals ! Will mull on this Dee .. & there’s others I have my eye on.. & find more most every day .. just as some of my early faves are running out of gas.. Creating Unique Content ? That’s A Tough Gig ! 🦎🏴☠️🎬
Hate to keep it fresh for sure. But ai love posting oldies—Ha! Only a year old—when no one read them. It’s all new to most readers and it comes up fresh again for me 🤷🏻♂️🙏
Thank you brother!
.. there’s a LOT to be ‘discovered in the ‘early work’ of any of us - & i’ve struggled to express some of that ‘coherently - ie ‘usefully for others..
You dig into that at times - re ‘manner of speaking - which can be flipped into ‘manner of misunderstanding ! haha.. 🦎🏴☠️
I've been thinking of you while making my way through the voluminous archive of "Northern Exposure." Chris in the Morning must be a kindred spirit to yours. I've never owned a motorcycle, but I appreciate the freedom it represents. I get something like that on my road bike, which can make it up to 55mph on some descents. But my physical throttle has only so much gas. I imagine the road is much more intimate on a Hog.
I have never ridden a motorcycle but I did grow up riding bikes the same as you. Enjoyed this essay Dee.
Thank you sir. Bombing around on bikes as kids was a mainstay of our youth, wasn’t it?
The absolute best memories for certain.
Beautiful machines ❤️
Thank you my friend. Yes they are ☺️