My first time was when I was 14. My friends brother had a mini bike that he & another friend were taking turns riding in & out of an alley. I asked Marcello if I coul ride it, he said no way. "Shit come on Marc, just let me ride it a little PLEASE!" After hounding him a while he said ok. Right then my heart started pounding hard in my chest, I couldn't believe I was about to ride this machine! I got on it & he said "Ok here's the gas & here's the brake. Just take it to the end of the alley & come back." It all happened in a flash, off I went. It seemed so fast! TOO FAST! They were yellin at me but I couldn't hear them over the roar of the engine or maybe it was the blood rushing to my head. Either way I didn't hear their warnings to slow down so down I went after hitting the wall at the end of the alley. Oops! I wasn't hurt but I also wasn't allowed to ride it again no matter how much I promised that I'd take it easy & use the brakes next time. From then on I had that yearning, that call that not everybody gets or at least that they don't heed. It's something in the heart & in the soul that only someone that rides understands. I began riding bitch at about 16, thrilling but lacking. I started saving for my first bike when I was about 19/20. Then something happened, my bestfriends brother was killed on his bike. It was such a hard blow for their family. Soon after a young couple I had gone to H.S. with also died on a bike. These terrible & sad events cooled my blood, so I put it off for a while. For a long time I did more dangerous things like ride the subways in the city at all hours of the night by myself after goin to bars & clubs in the village. Suddenly it's 20 years later!! Where the hell did the time go? That itch began to surface once more, it was always there but I hadn't been paying it much attention. I started browsing ads for motorcycles 4 sale & long story short here I am ridng a 2004 yamaha vstar. I'm blown away by the people I've met in this community. To say the least most are giving, helpful, loyal, warm, affectionate, very understanding & accepting of me for who & what I am. Especially these beautiful women, The Cycle Sisters. They've opened up their hearts & extended their hands in friendship to me & I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this club. We're all different people having led different lives but that one thing, the love of the ride & the wind in our faces unites us because we all know what the other is feeling. When i'm on my bike & the sun is shining on me the air smells different & i see everything around me clearer, like my senses are more acute. I can't say I've ever felt closer to the Gods than when I'm riding. If you're thinking of doing it don't hesitate, you'll be happy you did it.
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