One guy I hooked
up with was Jim Wilkerson. Jimbo had been riding for 20 years and sported
the best decked-out R100PD I have ever seen before or since. The man could
also r-i-d-e. Since Jim’s skills were much greater than mine, I figured
I’d tuck in behind him, observe, try to copy and maybe learn something.
For mile after mile, I stuck on him like green on beans, and I will never
forget those early days riding together. We’d stop and eat somewhere
far away, comment on the wilderness scenery and talk about motorcycling. In
the process we became compadres.
Upon coming to work at Bob’s BMW to share the sales duties with Paul
Mihalka, my tutorial was stepped up a notch. Paul is recognized as a high-miler.
I remember casually asking him where he’d typically ride on a Sunday
morning. I guessed maybe he’d say Gettysburg or Harper’s Ferry.
He told me he rode to Deep Creek Lake for breakfast—that’s 175
miles away—then afterward began his “ride,” I thought EUREKA—experience
personified!
Now, I am not going to wax inspired here (nor do I want to swell a particular
head) but the fact is, Paul is a master motorcyclist and in those days I was…
“Grasshopper.”
Let me describe our first riding experience together and then I’ll get
back to the Second Sunday ride.
Paul and I met one Sunday morning for brunch at a favorite restaurant of mine
south of Front Royal, Virginia. To share brunch with me took some selling
on my part, because normally Paul is on the back half of his Sunday ride by
this time of morning. After brunch he suggested we go for a “little
ride.” I said, “no problem.” I thought for sure we’d
angle back towards Baltimore/DC area, and maybe he’d show me a new road
or two.
Instead we swung westward, accelerated up and over the Blue Ridge and straight
across the Shenandoah Valley. From the Shenandoah, we headed even further
west into the Appalachians. As we swept northbound along a winding, deserted,
valley road, it became crystal-clear I was on a ride like none ever before.
This was virgin territory for me with new roads, new scenery, and brand-spanking
new skill level just to keep up!
Paul gradually rolled on the throttle and laid down a spirited groove for
a very satisfying amount of miles. Never overly fast, his style was effortless
and very, very smooth. We had a brief stop to gas up, knock back a hot chocolate,
and share a laugh, then more mountain roads further north. Man, the next thing
I knew I was seeing “City Limit” signs for Berkeley Springs, West
Virginia!
In all, Bethesda to Front Royal, then a back road express to Berkeley Springs,
then more back road riding south into the DC area. My trip odometer read 350+
miles, just like that.
My motorcycling life changed that day. My riding radius had been stretched
and my motorcycling ability stretched even further. My ride with Paul also
introduced me to “Riding Smooth.” Up, down, and along all those
miles of backroads, neither Paul’s speed nor line wavered much. Before
a curve, his brake light might flicker as he’d duck a shoulder, hike
his big K-bike over only to straighten up and pull away in a blue puff of
smoke.
His line wasn’t a line; it was a rail! I asked Mr. Paul how he did this.
He laughed and said simply, “I love to ride.”
“Sheesh, how do you find so much time?” I queried.
“I make the time,” he said.
Ah—“Make the Time.” I must do that, I promised myself.
My riding has never been the same…
And so this is what our Saturday Ride is all about. It’s about making
time to ride our BMW motorcycles on distant backroads.
I would like to share with you some of what Paul and other high-milers have
so generously shown me. Each monthly ride will feature super motorcycling
roads and wilderness landscapes in faraway places
Our ride will be more of an event than merely a ride!
It’s also about riding safe and practicing “Riding Smooth.”
Miles and miles of massaging your gears and setting up line after line of
mountain curves will do this to you. Soon you will feel the polish. We’ll
all get stretched…we’re all grasshoppers!
So if this is what you might like to do call me!
You’ll want to show up on time, which means: make the time to ride to
the ride. And show up with a full tank of gas. No one primed to ride wants
to wait around for someone who’s got to tank up. Make sure you’ve
got warm duds (electrics, fleece) and a rain suit.
One last point and that is I own the responsibility for organizing the Saturday
Ride. Those who choose to come along do so at their own risk…not that
they’re risky, gonzo-go-fast rides, because they’re not. I just
want to be clear. So make sure you’re bright-eyed and your bike is up
to the task of having a full, fun day on the long road.
Hope to see you Zen.
Jim Ford
The Rider’s Workshop
866-767-6900
ridersworkshop.com
The Rider’s Workshop 866-767-6900 ridersworkshop.com
