I follow very few blogs out there. I find most to be trivial and full of shit. the ones I like are the ones of people who really ride, love riding and think about why they love it. Maybe its because I question everything, and I’ve never nailed that down.
Rob Dale is a guy I follow his blog. We couldnt be more opposite: he’s a christian preacher, and I’m an atheist. He’s a Canadian, I’m an American. He’s a senators fan, I’m a penguins fan. But at the end of the day, we both love riding. I’d like to meet him some day and buy him a beer.
Anyway, his blog post today got me once again wondering why we do it. Seriously, I have no fucking clue why I’m so drawn to 2 wheels over 4. I can’t pin it down, other than a few reasons:
I watched an old Hells Angel Documentary from the early 80s that had an HA member saying “there’s that one kid in every school, who never fit in, who couldnt be told, and he’s the guy that ends up a hells angel. He fits here.”. I’m not 1% (maybe I’m 2%), but I get that. I’ve never struggled with popularity that I cared too much about, but I know I don’t fit in the standard hole of a standard peg. I’m good with that. Maybe that has something to do with it.
There’s something about the road that just resonates with me. My dad loved to fly. had a plane. He found peace in the sky. I liked flying, but I remember tracing the roads from the plane through the clouds, and imagining myself on them. Who knows where that came from, but its a real memory.
I also remember my first real street bike. It was 1988. I’d had a dirt bike since I was 11, and I remember heading back from living in Long Beach CA on it, and about the time I got out of Cajon Pass it hit me: Holy shit, there’s peace out here. Something happened.
I remember getting emotional as I pushed that bike off the back of my truck at the dump, and thinking it was like an old girlfriend: If I cant have it, no one can. It had given up the ghost. I didnt have the money to fix it anymore, and I’d thrown 2 engines in it already.
So here I am, wondering if bikers are born, or they’re made. Maybe I was made, but I think Bikers are born. I have friends who own bikes and barely care. I know if I go 2 days, no matter what the weather I start going nuts. I need to see the world from that bat wing faring.
So the question is: Are bikers born or made? Are we a dying breed? I’m not talking about the guys who own a bike and love the occassional freedom of a saturday ride. I’m talking about the guys who have to ride. I can tell you, I know I have to ride.
But thats just me. What do you think?
Brother (and yes, I feel I can call you that), great post. You took my thoughts and expanded them so clearly into your own. That's what I was hoping with my post – to encourage this kind of response from people. You've given me more to think about now.
I agree 100% my brother… it kills me when its snowing and I cant ride. Unfortunatly with my work I cant tow a trailer with my tools on it with my bike but I will ride to the office and switch vehicles then. Nothing beats 2 wheels, NOTHING. I am the most at peace and relaxed when I am riding. I could ride 500 miles with my best friend, not say a word and enjoy every minute of it.
I would say both Born and Made. My first experience was on the back of my uncles bike when I was 10, been riding since I was 15. Some discover it later in life and some younger. Who cares so long as they ride.
I'm starting to think both born and found. Born to be a bike, but until you get a bike, you never know. Born a biker, but you find it when he do that first ride. Then it hits, and then it all happens. if its not in you, its not in you.
Well Said!!!!!! I have always NEEDED to ride,,,,,but didn't, I had to be "the good mom" first,,,,,but now that nobody is depending on me,,,,,,IT'S ON BABY!!!!!! I ride hard, I ride fast, and I don't fuckin' let up for nobody!!!!! I've got lots of lost time to make up for, now the only time I'm really happy is when I'm haulin' ass thru the mountain roads, and believe me, I spend every hour I possible can puttin' miles on my Heritage, I love that bike, but I ride that bad boy like hell is chasing me……(maybe it is, so to speak)
I'm happy to ride with my BACA family, we have the same burning desire to protect kids,,,,,,other than that, tho, I ride alone. I LOVE RIDING ALONE……I go when, where, and how I want,,,,,but I would love to find that ONE man that I wouldn't mind waiting on,,,,,but till then,,,,,,,LOOK OUT,,,,cause I'm on the road and I ain't slowin' down!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEACE!
Drifter was proud when he mentioned a supporter who left at 4AM to come do a 100 mile ride and headed home the same day. Can't wait to ride with you some day melisssa. Ride on sister!
Thanks bro,,,,,I wanna try the iron butt ride,,,,,I've been close, 912 in 18 hours, hell I wasn't even tryin' (didn't know about the Iron Butt Club then),,,,,I bet I could do it!
It would be an honor to ride with you too!!!
but one correction,,,,I ain't a supporter,,,,I'm full on patched,,,,and the treasurer 😉
are we related? 😉 my dad flew, he rode too, but his 1st love/his life WAS flying. i flew often as a kid as a result. and i clearly remember tracing the roads and landscape from the sky above. wow…thanks for the warm and meaningful memories. i needed this.
My bad Melissa. RIght on, either way its clear you're BACA to the core.
No worries…..and THANKS BRO!!!!!
As for myself,I can honestly tell you that I was born a biker!There was never a question in my mind about what I was going to be when I grew up,when I was a little kid,i drew pictures of motorcycles(always Harley-Davidsons) and pictures of people with long hair,whiskers,tattoos and all!I started riding bikes as soon as I could throw my leg over one and never looked back.By the time I was 20 I had hair to my ass,whiskers,tattoos,and more importantly,my Harley!! A Harley that I put together myself,because that's what I could afford.A rattling rumbling fuckin death trap,way too raked out,no front brakes,just like the old Grey Beards used to ride "back in the day".But I built it,I painted it,I rode and wrenched on it and I loved every second of it!!
(comment continued)
Over the years,many thing have come and gone,some of them I miss and others;not so much.And over the years there have been many people come and gone,some of them,I miss and others….well.But the people in my life that have been "real",and the people that I can really count on,are,and have been,Bikers.
There were times that I went without some of lifes luxuries,like electricity,water,cable tv,and even sometimes,an address,all for the sake of having a Harley.And I wouldn't change any of it!!
Now I am a married man,and the love of my life,rides her own scooter and she loves me just as I am;a foul mouthed,bearded,tattooed,low-life Biker.Together we have two kids,a son who's 18and he rides his own scooter too,and a daughter who's been on my bike since she started walking,and soon she'll grow into Mommy's bike.
Whether I can be called a "real biker" or not,I don't know.Whatever I am,I do know this;I was born this way,I have lived this way,and I will die this way.PEACE,Drifter
I can relate to all of this. Bikers are born and are also very few and far between. Theres only a few of us that sit back and wonder what life would be like with thousands of brothers around you at all times. The sad part is the fear of being to loyal if you were to walk into that beautiful lifestyle. Now days people go out and buy bikes and leathers and don't even know how to change the oil in their scooters, but they're hardcore bikers, on the weekend! After months or sometimes even a couple of years that poor scooter falls victim to another worthless yuppie with to much loose cash. This is a born love! when you can't ride you dream of riding,and regardless of whats going on in your life, nothing means shit unless you and that bitch are in the wind! I'm talking fifty degree weather, hard rain, and still getting it. WE'RE BORN THIS WAY!