Who's Ride Is It Anyway?
Last week was a bad week for equpment. My trusty First Gear Kilimanjaro Jacket gave up a semi-crucial zipper, one of the massive shest pockets that doubles as a vent. Not a big deal in the summer months. But come winter, thats a lot of open space for wind and rain. Then the *next* day, discover a nice hole in my Held gloves.
Now the gloves need replacement. No one fixes thse things. So there is 120 bucks for new gloves. Held goves rock and so are worth the dough. The jacket is another story. I can send it in to the cmpany and have it repaired. Or so I hear. But that leaves me gearless for an unspecified amount of time. SO I go shopping. Newenough.com is the first stop. They often have gear I like at a discount. Between the jacket and gloves, I'm staring at four century notes. Not in the plan right now. But I can do it.
But lo and behold...it turns out a friend is selling off his exact same jacket plus pants for far less. So I holler at him on the phone and in the thirty seconds he has between customers a deal is struck. And as a bonus, I get to ride my bike down to Oregon's Coast for a weekend to pick up the gear. Oh sure it will cost close to the same as the online stuff...but this is a much better way to burn c-notes. So I hang up, a happy camper.
Then I think it through. Oregon's Coast in the summer is the mating ground for massive waves of lemmings on vacation. The roads are groaning under the weight of thousands of RV's plastered with bingo stickers and Good Sam Club decals. Those that dont have RVs are stacked like cordwood in the hotels. So no hotel for me. My buddy has a sub-year old son who now has possession of the guest room at the house. But I have a standing offer to camp in the back yard. No problem, right? Not quite. See, I am a rather large feller. And so is my buddy. I will have to pack all my regular travel gear; tent, sleeping bag, etc, etc. And then pack on a second set of riding gear to bring home. Now I dont know if you know how big a package the armored textile jacket and pants are that cover a dude who is 6'5" and *ahem* well over 200 pounds...but it makes a pretty big pile. Even if I leave the tools, cooking gear and spare clothes which empties at least one of the panniers...the pants alone will take up an entire saddlebag. I thought about packing it into a duffel...but after putting the stuff tat doesnt fit in the panniers on the back rack and then a duffel on top...the pile will nearly reach my shoulders. Not a good thing.
So I then look at my truck. Nice little truck. Everything will fit nicely in the cab. Gets decent gas mileage. But man, it is a shame to waste a weekend driving when I could be riding.
Which brings me to my point...Why do the ride if it is such a conundrum? Why take the easy way? Or why take the hard way for that matter? Is it so I can brag about riding to carry my goods home? Even though it means I may have to leave potentially necessary items, is it worth the bragging rights? I like to think it is the desire to ride the miles because I like to ride. And I certainly would enjoy it. But I also know I would enjoy the drive nearly as much..until I saw a bike that is...
So...fashion or need? That is what it always comes down to. I like to boast that I dont give a rat's ass about what others think. Otherwise why would I ride an odd italian old guys bike and wear goofy looking riding gear featuring the "fropped a load in my pants" profile? And that is really the crux of the whle thing; Who Are You Riding For?
If the answer is "Me" then you dont care about anything but getting out on the bike and that is what counts. Riding your ride. If the answer is anything else, just put down the fringed chaps and go buy a corvette with a boomin' stereo.
There you have it. I am going in the truck. I need to get the job done. I will enjoy the trip. And I wont risk making it a wretched experience because I have either left something I need or have overloaded the bike both of which will make me worry the whole time.
I wont ride to brag. Even to myself.
Now the gloves need replacement. No one fixes thse things. So there is 120 bucks for new gloves. Held goves rock and so are worth the dough. The jacket is another story. I can send it in to the cmpany and have it repaired. Or so I hear. But that leaves me gearless for an unspecified amount of time. SO I go shopping. Newenough.com is the first stop. They often have gear I like at a discount. Between the jacket and gloves, I'm staring at four century notes. Not in the plan right now. But I can do it.
But lo and behold...it turns out a friend is selling off his exact same jacket plus pants for far less. So I holler at him on the phone and in the thirty seconds he has between customers a deal is struck. And as a bonus, I get to ride my bike down to Oregon's Coast for a weekend to pick up the gear. Oh sure it will cost close to the same as the online stuff...but this is a much better way to burn c-notes. So I hang up, a happy camper.
Then I think it through. Oregon's Coast in the summer is the mating ground for massive waves of lemmings on vacation. The roads are groaning under the weight of thousands of RV's plastered with bingo stickers and Good Sam Club decals. Those that dont have RVs are stacked like cordwood in the hotels. So no hotel for me. My buddy has a sub-year old son who now has possession of the guest room at the house. But I have a standing offer to camp in the back yard. No problem, right? Not quite. See, I am a rather large feller. And so is my buddy. I will have to pack all my regular travel gear; tent, sleeping bag, etc, etc. And then pack on a second set of riding gear to bring home. Now I dont know if you know how big a package the armored textile jacket and pants are that cover a dude who is 6'5" and *ahem* well over 200 pounds...but it makes a pretty big pile. Even if I leave the tools, cooking gear and spare clothes which empties at least one of the panniers...the pants alone will take up an entire saddlebag. I thought about packing it into a duffel...but after putting the stuff tat doesnt fit in the panniers on the back rack and then a duffel on top...the pile will nearly reach my shoulders. Not a good thing.
So I then look at my truck. Nice little truck. Everything will fit nicely in the cab. Gets decent gas mileage. But man, it is a shame to waste a weekend driving when I could be riding.
Which brings me to my point...Why do the ride if it is such a conundrum? Why take the easy way? Or why take the hard way for that matter? Is it so I can brag about riding to carry my goods home? Even though it means I may have to leave potentially necessary items, is it worth the bragging rights? I like to think it is the desire to ride the miles because I like to ride. And I certainly would enjoy it. But I also know I would enjoy the drive nearly as much..until I saw a bike that is...
So...fashion or need? That is what it always comes down to. I like to boast that I dont give a rat's ass about what others think. Otherwise why would I ride an odd italian old guys bike and wear goofy looking riding gear featuring the "fropped a load in my pants" profile? And that is really the crux of the whle thing; Who Are You Riding For?
If the answer is "Me" then you dont care about anything but getting out on the bike and that is what counts. Riding your ride. If the answer is anything else, just put down the fringed chaps and go buy a corvette with a boomin' stereo.
There you have it. I am going in the truck. I need to get the job done. I will enjoy the trip. And I wont risk making it a wretched experience because I have either left something I need or have overloaded the bike both of which will make me worry the whole time.
I wont ride to brag. Even to myself.
posted by Z at
9:58 PM
2 Comments:
Weenie.
Just kidding... right tool, right job. That's always been my idea.
We may not all ride to brag, but all of us brag that we ride, if in no other way than the gear. :)
Any more fiction in the pipe?
Another way to say "ride your own ride". Be it 2,3,4, or 18 wheels, for that matter. Thanks for sharing your time and thoughts. Really enjoy your stuff...
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