Virginia Wind From Where I Sit October 2003

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Email Michelle at clooliss@hotmail.com.

Backseat - From Where I Sit

October 2003

It's A Matter Of Perspective

Cars are different than motorcycles. That is a no-brainer. Yet, despite the obvious differences, there seems to be a more deep seeded level of division. On the highest level, they are both modes of transportation. They travel the same roads, sit in the same traffic and most of the time obey the same rules of behavior so why does it seem like we come from two completely different worlds?

Maybe the answer lies in the way we view life. I am not referring to the obvious things like the fact that bikers interpret a gentle spring rain as more of a road hazard than a welcoming gift from mother nature. I am referring to the more subtle nuances that at first blush seem meaningless but when considered all together, it becomes easy to understand why the gap between 2 wheels and 4 wheels is more than just 2 doors and a roof apart.

For example, what appears to be a minor inconvenience to a car person become matters of life and death to a motorcyclist. In order to understand this phenomenon, try the following experiment - sit in your car (if you have one, if not borrow a friends), next drop a French fry. Even if it lands out of your reach under the seat, what is the worse that happens? It will just fester and stink up the car leaving you a little reminder of your folly. Now, ride down the road on your bike at 65 mph and drop a French fry. The least that could happen is that the fry is gone, literally snatched from the jaws of victory into the wild blue yonder. In this scenario, the worst that could happen is that you have now created a dangerous projectile weapon and it's probably headed straight for your loved one in the back seat. Never underestimate the impact of a French fry that has suddenly discovered its freedom.

On the other hand, there are times when something equates to danger for the car person and means nothing to the biker. Consider the do-rag - to the non-motorcycling world a do-rag can be an intimidating gang related symbol. It is something to be feared or at the very least something to be avoided. This same article of clothing to a motorcyclist is considered a basic hair care product. With such vast differences between safety and danger it is no wonder the two worlds can't see eye to eye.

Even something as simple as a beautiful butterfly viewed by the rest of the world becomes something that will need to be scraped off your clothing later to the biker. This negative viewpoint of wildlife from the motorcyclist's view increases exponentially with the size of the creature being considered. Namely, I am referring to road kill - Something that can be viewed harmlessly from a car. Its presence would probably evoke moods of sadness and possibly disgust to the occupants of a 4-wheeled vehicle. This situation is easily remedied with denial, which is achieved by rolling up the windows and looking away. Bikers don't have that luxury. This is the main drawback of being "up close and personal" with your surroundings. Just try and look away on a 95+ degree day when you are stopped at a red light right next to an unidentifiable animal that is baking a few feet away from you. Even if you close your eyes, you are unable to deny what your nose is telling you. Something that is benign behind the air-conditioned closed windows of a car becomes a challenge as to how long you can hold your breath while waiting on the green light for the biker.

One area where there initially appears to be a big difference may actually be one in which the two worlds of motorcycling and automobiling may share common ground - yard sales. In the car world, you hunt for great bargains and buy whatever nets you the best price. When you are on a bike, you buy items based on size; Price is secondary. The best deal is what can be fitted comfortably on the bike. Even though the strategy is different for car people and motorcycle people, the end result probably isn't that different. If you doubt this, just take a look at some of the cars loaded down after a big day at the sales. Instead of trunks tied shut with string to hold the lime green velvet recliner shoved inside, you may find a similar theme on a smaller scale on the motorcycling. Nothing says "I've been to a yard sale" like riding your bike down the road with an exclusive one-of-a-kind hand-woven Easter basket hooked around a fishing pole, with a thigh master bungee corded down over the back rack. With a little planning, there is virtually no limit to what your chosen vehicle can carry.

In spite of the fact that, car people and motorcycle people literally view the world from different perspectives, from where I sit, it looks like we all have to go down the same road to get where we are going.

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