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SPRING 2019 ISSUE 01 / VOL . 04
Editor ’ s Letter
Certified Organic
FOR THE SAKE OF EFFICIENCY , major highways bore through mountains , blast through solid rock and travel along gentle curves and grades — the exact opposite of what we look for in a fun , scenic motorcycle ride . Sometimes we need to get somewhere quickly and must resort to taking freeways or interstates , but rarely is the “ superslab ” the most enjoyable way to reach our destination . The silver lining of major highways , however , is that they draw trucks and traffic away from smaller , winding , inefficient roads , making them more enjoyable for us to ride .
The best roads are organic . They follow the natural contours of the land , tracing the irregular shapes of rivers , climbing up the faces of mountains and delighting us with dips , twists and bends . Organic roads pass through small towns , cut across the middle of nowhere and lead us to special , out-of-the-way places . They may be smooth or rough , paved or unpaved , perhaps littered with cracks , potholes or debris . Even roads we ’ re familiar with are ever-changing — fluids get spilled , surfaces may be wet or dry , and animals , bicyclists , pedestrians , cars , RVs or trucks can show up at any time .
Dealing with the novel and unexpected is what keeps us on our toes as motorcyclists . It ’ s part of the challenge , part of the thrill that keeps us hooked . And according to a recent study by UCLA ’ s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior ( funded by Harley-Davidson ), riding a motorcycle increases sensory focus and resilience to distraction , and it raises adrenaline levels and heart rate — factors associated with exercise and stress reduction . In other words , motorcycling is good for us . But we already knew that , right ?
This issue of Favorite Rides & Destinations features stories that include plenty of all-natural , organic roads . Glenn Abbott rides the White Lightning Trail , where he learns about Tennessee ’ s history of moonshining and the bootleggers who evaded “ revenuers ” in the hills and hollows of Appalachia — an area rich with back roads that