Moto

I have spent a lot of time riding a bike this weekend. 4-5 hrs. each day. Nothing really remarkable about that, except I wasn't pedaling. I was on a motorcycle.

I've always wanted to learn how to ride a moto. Just one of those skills you should have in your quiver, like simple house repairs and replacing a car battery. My wife and daughter are away for a few weeks, so I'm living the bachelor lifestyle - what could be more appropriate than motorcycle lessons?

Oregon has an awesome program - if you take (and pass) a 15-hour basic riding course, they waive the written and driving tests required for your motorcycle endorsement. I just finished the class this afternoon. It was perfect. They give you a helmet and a small bike (200 to 250cc) to use and set you up in a big parking lot with lots of cones, and then slowly build your skills and confidence with lots and lots of instruction and little drills. That's the first half of each day. The second half of the day (and the prior Friday evening) is spent in the classroom. Yep, there's a manual and reading homework each night. I took my manual and studied and re-read everything each day, underlining everywhere and muttering mnemonic devices to myself in Starbucks. This was school, and that's how I study!

The weekend wasn't devoid of real riding. I went for a ride after the class on Saturday. Planned on 3-4 hours. Started late. Flatted twice. The second flat occurred somewhere along a 3-mile climb, but of course I didn't realize it until we were at the top. All I knew was that my buddies where chatting side by side the whole time while my heart rate was through the roof as I tried to hang on. I was pretty tired from the long day on a moto. Once I saw the flat and thought about all that extra work, I really just wanted to give up and go home. Two guys on motorcycles kept on going back and forth along that same stretch of road while we slowly made our way and then fixed the flat. Maybe it was a sign!

A motorcycle certainly won't replace my love of bicycles and there is still much family discussion to be had about me getting a bike. But I've definitely got the fever and now I can get the license. I can't wait to moto again and I dream of a small sport tourer with a bike tray and hard cases (like a few lucky guys have here in Portland). Perfect for my rest days and for getting to summer races!

I'm guessing it will be a bit of time before I get a moto. Until then, I'll be earning that wind in my face the usual way. Now if you see me out there with a big smile it could be the endorphins, but it just might be a daydream of that same stretch road on a different two-wheeled machine!

joshua/cyclosportif