Later on, I took the gas powered two wheeler up New Mexico SR-4 into the Jemez to get some practice remembering to "Look where you want to go, not where you are going" (in the words of General Manager Jim Johnson from Sandia BMW). Its been too many years since I was a regular on a motorcycle and frankly, I've had to teach myself all over again. Once I remembered to let the eyes and mind lead and the body and bike follow, carving through the curves was less awkward. Like Bike Ed, Moto Ed is all about thinking it through and then getting it to feel like a natural thing to do.
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| Good practice run up NM-4 with the big bike. Redondo Peak, a resurgent dome in the Jemez Caldera, in the background |
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| Mooned over Los Alamos. Sangre de Cristos beneath the rising moon |
2 comments:
"Look where you want to go, not where you are going" – This was inspiring. :] Once you’re on your own bike, you instantly gain a sense of freedom and feel like you can go wherever you want. The last clause, however, makes sense in a way that it serves as a reminder of safety on the road. Did you feel the same fear you had on your first ride now that you’re kind of rediscovering your motorcycle skills?
Hi, Erik
I'm much more comfortable and significantly more confident now than I was last winter. But not arrogant. That's what kills you.
I took an Advanced Rider Class this summer through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation/Rider's Edge Program, down in Santa Fe at the H-D shop. They ran us ragged in bike handling maneuvers for seven hours on our own machines. It was exhilarating and confidence building. Just need more saddle time!
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