From the time we are children, we are taught there is safety in numbers. In nature, it is certainly true, where being a part of the herd helps protect against predators. With spring coming and gas prices rising, the herd of motorcycles on the road is growing. With this comes a measure of added safety in the higher visibility and awareness of motorcycles. At the same time, it also seems to raise the ire of some drivers.
Think of the typical car driver as the predator, while the motorcycle is the prey. When we are few we hide in the grass. We aren't seen, and we protect ourselves. Aa our numbers grow, we are in view and the awareness becomes a mixed bag. Prey, as it were.
Every year, it seems the same drivers that seem to grudgingly respect those of us out in the cold and rain, start to resent us when the weather turns nice and gas prices soar. I suppose this is natural, they are trapped in the cage. It is about this time of year when I start to see things like the minivan mom enforcer. You know the one, the soccer mom that deliberately squeezes as far to the right at the light to prevent you from slipping past her to turn right at the light.
My personal favorite though is the, any speed is too slow double yellow passer. Yeah, the yellow mustang that seems to think that my running 10-12 mph over the 45mph speed limit is insulting simply because I am on a scooter, and that his manhood requires that he pass me at the earliest convenience, double yellow notwithstanding.
After riding all winter (I have taken a car just two days since turning it over to my daughter over the summer), I saw none of this behavior until it started to warm up and it stopped being just the 6 of us that rode all winter. I don't know their names, but I know the bikes and the gear. We wave, and we all know when and where we ride. We wave, and I think chuckle a bit to ourselves, satisfied that we aren't the only crazy riders on the road.
Mr Harley RoadKing in the half helmet and goggles, he rides very day, and he is a tough guy in my book. Never wears rain gear, and I have seen him bare chin and fingerless gloves in 28 degree snow flurries this winter. Bike is always cleaned up after a rain.
Mr red DL-600 'WeeStrom" that works at the tire shop. His commute is a little earlier in the day than mine, but he is out there every day. Younger, but well geared, and riding regardless of the weather.
Mrs black Rebel with the half helmet and confederate flag face mask. She rode all winter, but now that it's warmed up, I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks. Nothing on the local community boards that hint at any accidents, so I am hoping she is alright and just changed gears for a bit.
Mr custom chopper dude in a t-shirt even at 35 degrees. I haven't made up my mind if you are hardcore or just not that bright. Either way, every time I saw you this winter, all I could do was shiver.
And of course, my favorite of the regulars, Mr 50cc chinese PoS in the cheapest full face you could buy. I don't know what impresses me more, that you have kept it running all winter, or that rain or shine, you where out there, making tracks. You rode with courtesy, even when you had to be absolutely miserable without you any rain gear.
To those of you out there riding year round, you guys are the riders. You are the only ones that can truly understand what I mean when I saw this last. You are crazy, borderline insane. You make riding in cage look almost, but only almost tolerable. For all of that, I respect and love you all. We'll ride our way through the spring and summer, enjoying it, but when the fall comes and most of the herd goes back into storage, we'll be out there, playing the grass, dodging the predators, and living better for it.