Spiritual Enlightenment - Part 2

This is a follow up to the blog I wrote yesterday, which I entitled “Spiritual Enlightenment”.

When I started that blog, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to say. Unfortunately it lost its way and I ended up finishing it before getting to the point I wanted to make. It wasn’t until later in the day that Mrs T-E pointed out that I had missed the point that I realised my error. My problem is that I am easily distracted ..... OO Look, something shiny!!!!

Therefore, back on track .....


I’ve always found bike riding a very immersive experience. It’s like Man and Machine against the World and no outside factors matter. I go into an almost dream like state where there is only room for focusing on the world directly around me. There are no distractions, no outside interference, no mobile phones, no chatter, not even any music. The sound of the engine and wind is my music.

It scratches that itch and cleanses the soul. This is my escape, my freedom, my Spiritual Enlightenment.

I’m sure if you are a biker, you will know about this joy too. Regards



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Spiritual Enlightenment

I’ve been away from biking for almost a year and even before that I hadn’t ridden regularly for a couple of years. The main reason for the lapse is that I took the decision to use the train to commute to work as biking it was getting too expensive. That and the fact that my working locations had varied from week to week. Sometimes I was working nights in London, other times I was in an office somewhere or other. At the end of 2009, I was made redundant and took a new office based job in January 2010. At this point I decided that I would continue to commute by train as it was just easier and safer than biking 50 miles a day. After this I just got out of the habit of regular riding.

Last weekend I decided that it was time I got back in the saddle. So with this in mind I bought 6 months road tax at the post office, bought new oil & filter at the local bike shop and returned home to fire up my bike. I uncovered her, unplugged the trickle charger, removed the chains that stop her from escaping when I’m not watching her and wheeled her onto the front path. As I turned to key, she sprang into life and all was well, right up to the moment I thumbed the starter button. There was a click from the starter and a strange ticking from the back of the bike and then ...... total silence. The battery was completely flat in a split second. Not the start to my re-energising experience that I had hoped for.

In the end I had to bump start her to warm the engine oil to help it drain out easily. I rode her round the block a few times to limber her up a little and everything, except the battery seemed to be in perfect order. Once I had changed the oil and recharged to battery I was once again unable to start her up. It was very clear that a replacement battery was needed, which meant another visit to the bike shop and an overnight charge.

The next morning I was off on the open road with wind in my face and flies in my teeth. Biking Heaven 8-)

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We're On A Road To Nowhere

After months of not being able to ride my bike due to lack of time, work commitments and financial constraints, I’ve finally got my beloved CBF1000 back on the road. In fact since November 2008 I’ve gone from being an everyday hairy arsed biker type covering 12,000 miles a year to a virtual non-rider. In that period from November to May I think I’ve ridden no more than 200 miles.

However, just before Easter I had my bike serviced and hoped to get out that weekend. The trouble was that the service showed up a rear brake problem. The pads where right on the limit and needed changing immediately, but unfortuantly I was unable to get replacements in time. I finally managed to hunt down the required pads last Friday and I fitted them on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, Pablos and I set off at last for our much anticipated trip. The plan was to ride to Bury Hill, hoping to meet up with like minded members of the World famous Bury Hill Bikers. We had travelled about 8 miles from my place, when Pablos pulled into a layby. One of his rear indicators had stopped working, so we set about fixing it at the road side. It didn’t take too long to cure, but that’s when the real fun started.

His bike failed to start and refused all attempts to persuade it into life. Even the usual push start wasn’t working this time around. We spent the next hour and a half sitting at the side of the road watching the world go by, until his Wife arrived by car with jump leads and more tools.

It took under a minute to get his bike fired up and there was just enough time left for a quick dash to his place for tea before I made the short journey home.

It wasn’t how either of us had intended to spend our Sunday morning and I felt really bad for him as he was probably blaming himself for messing up the ride. I tried my best to put him at ease and after all, we did get out and have a laugh. Missing out on our now customary “Bikers Breakfast” probably won’t do us any harm either.

Next time I’ll make sure he’s packed jump leads before we set off 8-)


Regards



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