Leisurely Motorcycling

I have described the Chrome Nun, my 2008 Triumph Bonneville T100, as a "Gentleman's Motorcycle" and I tend to ride like a gentleman. I don't make unnecessary noise, pull wheelies or drag race. I simply enjoy riding a motorcycle. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere and I usually don't even have a specific destination. The ride itself is my goal.

This came to mind last Sunday when I "went to church" (my term for riding the Nun on Sunday). I recently moved to Northwest Indiana, which is nearly as flat as the Central Illinois flat-lands I swore I'd never return to. There are no exciting hills or curves, but I enjoyed my ride very much. I was doing the kind of motorcycle riding I like best: exploring!

A motorcycle is the best vehicle for exploring. You have the best view and it's easier to turn around than a car. This is important when roads unexpectedly end. And when I pass a road I want to explore I'm more inclined to turn around and explore it if I'm on two wheels. Finding a place to turn a four-wheeler around in the middle of nowhere can be a problem.

I turned around several times last Sunday and the ride was much better for it. I gratified my curiosity and saw new places and things I would have missed otherwise. The speed limit was consistently 30 mph. The only real curve was a wide, banked curve marked "dangerous curve." What was dangerous about it? Nothing, except it was the only curve around.

On the map this area looks like it would be boring to ride. But I've taken two long rides so far and both were far from boring. I found a lot to explore. In fact, the lack of challenge posed by the roads makes the ride more leisurely. I can pay less attention to the mechanics of riding and more to the scenery. That's a good thing for explorers like me.