It’s a funny thing how rusty we can get at motorbike riding after a few months off for winter. Team CRM traveled to the west coast in January to dust off our riding skills and catch some much-needed sunlight, but after the brutal winter we experienced, we find ourselves not nearly as fast as we were at the end of last season. That should come as no surprise as everything from our reaction time to several sets of motorbiking muscles have dulled somewhat in the interim. Personally, I’m pushing myself to ride my stationary bike more to strengthen leg muscles while wasting no time in compiling road miles as the weather here in Western Pennsyltucky is simply gorgeous, warm and very much bike friendly. I’m stiff and a little sore after the first few 200-mile journeys of the season, but, as they used to say in cowboy movies after a long, cattle drive it’s a good kind of tired. I recently enjoyed a ride with CRM contributor Rob Bupp who has done a bang-up job of customizing a 1980s Honda CB 1100 (which will be featured as soon as the perfectionist Bupp is finished) and the half-day excursion was a blast as we both began to enjoy the twists and turns of some nearby switchbacks. Yes, we twisted some serious throttle, but there’s still plenty of grit and gravel in the corners and intersections to watch out for and potholes galore. Nevertheless, as spring progresses, riding begins to feel more second nature and our road speeds gradually increase along with our confidence. This would be a perfect time to schedule in a track day, as a day of riding with no traffic hassles and speed limits can bring out the best in our riding abilities. If you’re just getting back into the swing of things, remember to tae you time, watch for dirty road conditions and remember that nearly everyone traveling in a four-wheeler is focused on their smartphone and not on folks riding streetbikes. Good luck and have a safe season.
