What I've learned

It's now been over a year since I bought my motorcycle. And I am still glad I have it. Here are some of my thoughts about riding...

- People automatically think that you are tough if you have a motorcycle

- I often wonder if

1. People can tell that I'm a girl

2. If they do realize that I'm a girl, do they wonder if I like girls rather than boys???

- By owning a motorcycle you are automatically entered into an unspoken club of riders. It's like you have an unspoken understanding of each other.

- By being in this unspoken club you are expected to do the rider wave to passing by riders. This wave is fun at first. It makes you feel cool. But when on a long ride, on a nice day, when a million riders are out, you get sick of waving.

- For the most part you wave to all riders, cruisers and sport bikes alike. But there is the occasional cruiser rider who will not return your wave because they do not feel like you are in the same club.

- Mopeds and scooters are not part of the club.

- Things are more beautiful when riding, as opposed to just driving in the car. Which may be why riders love going on rural roads (and the fact that there are less idiot drivers out there.)

- You also smell things that you would not smell if you were in your car. Before owning my bike I never knew that you could smell the bread cooking at the Safeway factory when driving on 520 just before the 520 405 interchange. But I've also experiences much stronger smells of cows when riding out to Monroe.

- You become much more aware of everything around you. Bumps and holes in the road, and what type of drivers are near by.

- You avoid Asian drivers. Elderly drivers. And phone texting drivers.

- You hate construction more than ever before. Grooved pavement, bumps and abrupt lane edges are not rider friendly.

- Gravel and grates are also enemies.

- Riding is a great stress reliever. It's an escape from the world. I love it!