— FINAL WORD, from Page 17 —
coordination than I did 20 years ago. I’ve also found that I don’t recover as quickly from the new rigors associated with a bike. My back is constantly sore. It’s not because I ride that it’s sore. That pain is from injuries I received while in the military; but, being on the bike does seem to annoy the little pain pushers (imagine microscopic gremlins that cause assorted aches and pains) inside my back. They seem to wake up and prod me in sadistic glee for several hours after I get off the bike. My hands are also pretty sore from operating the clutch, brake and throttle. It’s a strange sensation to have my thumbs numb for a couple of hours at a time. But, I’m getting used to it. I’m getting accustomed to the size, speed and quirks of my bike. Would I recommend it? I guess that depends on the person and the location. I wouldn’t recommend it in LA traffic. Nothing short of an up-armored humvee is even partially safe in that environment. But, a bike out here is a pretty good thing. It does allow you a certain freedom on the road. Yes, you can have a passenger with you; but, the bike is designed to be a one-person kind of an experience. It’s safest when riding solo and it provides time for really getting closer to the road. You don’t have the filter of the car, the noise of the radio (either music or talk, which I never understood as an entertainment medium. Listening to someone’s opinion on things for recreation? Yeah, I do realize the irony here…) or the discussion from other people in the car. Neither do you have the distraction of texting or talking on your cell phone, or trying to eat and drive at the same time. Riding a bike seems to be a purer driving experience because all you can do while on the motorcycle is focus on your relationship with your machine and the road. It’s almost a forced physical and mental introspection. You have to rely on the skills you have acquired as a driver and pit them against whatever the road chooses to throw at you. If there are bumps in the road, grooves, small debris, water or any other obstacles, you can usually ignore them in a car. Not so on a motorcycle. You
Around the District
professional pride
Col. David Turner, commander of the South Pacific Division, congratu