Jerry and I planned our 2024 ride, likely our last long ride together, after more than 50 years of riding together. After meeting in Ogden, we’d head for Idaho’s mountains. My tires needed replacing, so I visited the local Honda shop, ordered tires and new 90 degree valve stems that point to the right. Sadly, when they brought it out, the stems pointed to the left side. That should have sounded a warning. But they quickly fixed it, I took it on our local freeway, up to maybe 72, and it felt smooth.
Until I passed St. George on I-15…
Read MoreI’d ridden a dirtbike once, didn’t even know how to shift. Then “Easy Rider” captivated me with the freedom of the open road, so I bought a Honda 350 Scrambler with plans to head to Canada to see a college roommate. I knew nothing, and a month after the purchase I took off. An idiot. But I became a sponge, reading motorcycle mags, talking to experienced riders. And during every ride, I’d analyze what worked, what didn’t. How to set up a curve safely to do it fast. How to brake most effectively without flipping or laying down the bike. And the experts proclaimed…
Read MoreOn our early long bike tours , music played no role. Instead, we spent a lot of time in our minds: thinking, pondering, praying, questioning. A lot of major life decisions got determined to the gentle hum of the bike’s motor. Or, we’d play “Easy Rider,” set our throttle locks, stretch our arms to the side and flap them like birds, singing the tune, “If you want to be a bird.” No bird brain jokes, please. Other times, the four of us pretended slalom ski, curving between the white paint strips. Right turn, left turn, wash, rinse, and repeat. The rhythm of all four of us matching the others and creating a motorcycle serpent, held beauty brought grace.
Later…
Read MoreLife. No one gets out alive—at least on the physical level. And we can choose a life of safety and little change like the moon, or go out early in a meteor’s blaze of glory. But most of us live in between, so how do we maximize the time we have in a manner that makes God smile? Let’s explore that.
Read MoreI’ve enjoyed every bike I’ve owned, but my Honda ST1300 topped the list—a sport touring bike that was nimble around town and great on long rides. Carving mountain curves on it always caused a smile. But upon entering my 70s, I realized a less aggressive bike might keep me upright—and alive. Enter the Honda Goldwing above, with unsurpassed comfort and protection from rain and cold and heat. A great bike—except for…
Read MorePaul the apostle implied we need to challenge our limits, “…become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants…Instead…we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15). Growth is normal when following Jesus, but we can’t grow when we’re content with mediocrity, when we cling to our current state. So we push our limits. Move beyond…
Read Moreneed for speed. Frankly, that caused some cramping on long rides, and my third bike, a ’78 Goldwing, had a throttle lock that I loved. Get to the speed you want, set the throttle lock, and it held it there, saving your hand and wrist muscles. But when a hill arrived, you slowed down going up, and sped up going down. Not ideal! The first pic shows the throttle lock on my ST1300. Then I…
Read MoreThis post will feature no great event, like being pulled over by cops with drawn guns, like Chapter 36 of God, a Motorcycle, and the Open Road. No heart stopping fear like in Chapter 3 when this hippie biker strolled in a redneck bar. But it has something likely better—an example of how to discover…
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