Bike: Teacher of Discipline and a Master of Self-expression
Paolo Volpara © 1998
Several times, after the conversation turned hot on motorcycles, I have been asked why I spend so much time on two wheels. After all, friends argued, I am a decently educated person with a broad range of interests and a large library. Still, when I need to establish a sense of sanity and reality in my life, I move toward the garage for a journey on my bike. In 40 long years of biking, the cry "Forget everything I've always got my bike!" sustained my mental sanity trough many ordeals. Now I know what Biking is for me: a Teacher of Discipline and a Master of Self-expression …all we need to a better understanding of life. If it sound exaggerated, follow me for the next few lines then go out biking.
Biking taught me the pride in refining the riding skills and the humility to recognise that every day I have to learn more. With the changes in motorcycles, a road, riding conditions, road companions and objectives, every ride are a new one. If you believe that "you know" reality hits you with violence.
Humility is the only way out. When somebody compliments us for masterly avoiding a potential accident we should be more interested in "why” we placed ourselves in a dangerous spot. In life and in biking self-confidence goes a strict companion of self-improvement.
Biking taught me the joy of expressing myself and meeting people from all parts. The skill of continuously adapting to millions of different messages that the bike and the road send to the driver opens your mind and keeps you alive.
Motorcycle crushes the barrier of status, sex, revenue, education, race or religion: nothing but dedication, passion and honesty can provide you with the True Spirit for Biking.
What you ride, the accessories you have, the clothing you can buy and all latest gizmos can't give you the Spirit to listen to the Road.
If you do not have it, you have to work hard to conquer it. In time of difficulties, when one feels alone and down, when life looses some of the reasons…the bike brings you back to the plain sense of reality.
Finally Biking told me that "going there" is as important as "being there": the trip is as important as the destination. All you have to do is to keep your eyes, your mind and your hearth open.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece”
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