It is a wholly invigorating experience to sit on a bike and cross 100.
There is the thrill - yes, but there is a sense of power also. Before i launch into this explanation, i must structure this emotion called biking.
At first, the process of getting onto the bike is savour-worthy. I say this because the destination or the exercise that ensues holds promise. Otherwise its pedestrian at best.
Turning the ignition and kicking the bike to the point that the engine settles in a low throaty grumble as if awakened from a deep slumber is exciting. Mind you - this process follows a fluid motion, a constancy that comes with time, a natural action like eating - your hand knows exactly where your mouth.
The poetry pours forth as you tap into the first gear and set off, at first there is the movement, the weight of the bike transfers onto the rear wheel and the dashpots ease off lovingly; as you are pushed back gently. Physics was never so romantic!
When i say Gently - it is directly proportional to the open throttle.
The throttle - It must be the most beautiful instrument invented by man, it is...
A device used to increase the speed of the vehicle.
A device that influences the adrenaline levels of man.
A device to look down upon slow drivers.
A device to eat up road.
A device to challenge potentials.
A device to satiate the need to feel like God...
Back to terra firma; Quickly shifting through the gears; the goal is to settle into the gentle growl that emerges from the engine between 80 and 90. This is where my little beast is at its best.
The non-mechanical beauty is of course the Wind, it whips past, there is no other word for it, it whips past making its presence felt as you try and wish it away so that your speed could increase.
It would be appropriate to introduce the concept of drafting here. At high speeds a vacuum cone is created behind the lightningly fast moving vehicle ;)
Entering that cone is equivalent to eating cheese. Ensconced into it, the growly whine that your beast is making because of being pushed to the design limit reduces, so does the drag. As you literally jump onto the vehicle in front of you. And just when you are sure; that any closer and both of ull be plucking harps; you move out of the cone...
and BAM!!!
The Wind starts screaming in your face!
Your Engine decibel levels shoot as you struggle to maintain the the Speedo. Alas! That is not to be...
As your speed drops you stretch the throttle only to watch in dismay as the rpm crosses 9. You push it, and the poor thing gives up. The engine sezies and dies on you.
Redemption is by way of maintaining rpm between 8-9 and speeds at 95-105. Anymore and its screaming time.
Another exquisite stimulus is the high rpm low gear scenario, imagine a situation where you are approaching a red light and it is about to turn green, you are marginally far off and have shifted to a lower gear because of anticipation of stopping, but wait, you haven't shifted all the way to neutral, you are still at 2ND. And voila! its green, and the loser on the kinetic is making a dash for it,
erm errr uhhm ... Excuse me mr. kinetic honda pushing loser, this is how its done...
A flick of the right hand wrist and my steed leaps in all earnest to tear away from the signal.
Eat my dust kiney!!
If there was ever a chance to play Mozart's soundtrack in a biking context, it would have to be during cornering, It is poetry in motion that would bring tears to the eyes of roadkill souls.
Curving road with those ubiquitous white markers, the speedo is reading 80 and some idiot on a tractor is limping his way on the slow lane...
You launch into the overtaking lane and run with the curving white markers, your speed is too much as you start to drift towards the divider; there are two options:
i. Reduce speed by letting go of the throttle/ braking.
ii. Keep going and crash into the barrier.
iii. Do it the right way.
(i know that's 3 you moron; you really wanna try "ii"???)
Out comes the knee as your careening bike rights itself gracefully and you start to flow with the curving road At this point man, machine, road, wind, sound all are one.
It is a singular experience replicated by none.
With this post, i hope to recruit believers, and thus my ode to Biking comes to an end.
