Its good to be back

[Shay HTFC]

I woke up with my eyes blinded by the sun shining brightly through the window. Almost instantly my mind filled with only one thought. The thought of being one step away from getting out on the bike for the first time since my crash in summer. For weeks I'd toiled away getting the bike repaired slowly but surely, doing as much as I could on my brief visits home, all in preparation for a moment like this.

This was the day. I could sense it.
I went online and jumped for joy as the tax disk website found my details on the freshly updated insurance database. Oh how good it felt to get past the "Motorcycle not Insured" screen of death and finally get taxed.
I dashed downstairs, hastily put on my gear and ran into the garage to wheel out my baby for the first time in ages. Sure, I'd wheeled her out recently to prep her for the MOT, but this was different. The sun was bright and she was just sat there waiting, almost expectant it seemed. As if the moment had not built up enough, the sound of 5 bikes making their way out into the countryside filled my ears. I couldn't help but just stand there and smile, revving her gently on the drive.

Then that was it. The months of waiting were over. I was working my way up out of Halifax, heading for the moorlands. Slowly I made my way through the lines of traffic, always looking up to the hilltops to see my destination.
Then I arrived. Ainley Top - the gateway to that pristine stretch of moorland between Huddersfield and Rochdale. Empty roads that cross over an expanse of nothingness, skirting past reservoirs, climbing up hills to those almost magical spots where the panorama just opens up infront of you. At the same moment, mile after mile of dramatic open hillside is revealed, intersected by jaw droppingly beautiful valleys, each containing a small shimmer of glistening blue water sitting at the bottom. The word reservoir sounds so 'man made' and ugly. These were not reservoirs, but lakes, hidden from everyone but me and those lucky enough to be sharing this part of the world with me.
It was un-fucking-believable! To finally be back on the open road without a care in the world, always looking for that next corner, that next stretch where you can really open her up as she begs to be revved hard.

Cars blended into the background, to be replaced by the joyous presence of other bikers. Each one of them riding their pride and joys oblivious to the daily grind going on in the ugly towns below these hills of beauty. Each of them in the same wonderful world as me.

I quickly decided to try a new road. Braked late to take the sharp right having a goodish idea where it would take me. My instincts were right. Out infront of me the hillside dropped away into a chasm that I could not see deep enough down into from my current location. I anticipated the view as I rode closer to the edge and suddenly, the floor dropped away. I had left the hillside behind me.
I looked down to see the motorway, scurrying with ant sized cars flirting between the bug sized lorries. They weaved their way along a ribbon of tarmac that weaved its way through the steep hillsides upto the horizon. To the left of it, nothing but moorland. To the right, nothing but hills and valleys.
I had finally made it onto the bridge that everyone always notes as they pass under it along the M62. I was on top of that impressive arch, looking down onto Scammonden dam that carries the motorway across itself, and it was amazing. Everytime I see that bridge, almost in the heavens, I imagine what its like looking down, and for the first time in 2 years I actually looked down.
It was amazing. A place that I have always wanted to go, on roads I dream of riding, on a bike I have waited 8 months to use again.


I sit here feeling refreshed and alive once again. I will be back out there in an hour. I just can't resist the lure of those open roads.
Summer is back and I am ecstatic.
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Full Motorbike License - GS500E '95

[Paulington]

Nice writing man, you make having a full licence as nice as I hope it is.

Still, enjoy it and ride safe.
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"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[yuri2085]

I want that route!

And yes, how good it feels to be one of the lucky few who have experienced the joy of biking.

[Shay HTFC]

Oh and what made it better was that I stopped briefly to try and reattach my rev cable at the engine side and a biker went past without stopping. But as I gave up because it was too hot to handle, I saw him returning down the road to offer help.

It really does feel good to be back on the bike!
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Full Motorbike License - GS500E '95

[rossyboi]

amen bro, that was aweosme, come ride in scotland, its epic
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rossco ;)
Bike : Suzuki GZ125 Marauder (2003)

[s44678]

Nice work

Got mine out for the first time in about 4 months. Granted it was only to the MOT place and back because I have no tax, but I accidentally booked the MOT about 30 miles away so managed to get little ride out of it.

[Tonka]

Great post, thank you!

I've had my bike out this week for the first time since Christmas (it was being pimped ) and it was such a good feeling to be back out - not as scenic as your ride out, but sunny and lovely all the same!
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[quacker_boy]

You guys are all bastards. I've been out on the FZ6 ONCE and I've been back since Sunday. As to the reasoning behind it, I've just come back from an evening at a friend's watching the lightning bolts and listening to the thunder. This is in Dubai. What a load of shite. Oh and I picked up a nail in the rear tyre when I was out as well
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wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

[Tonka]

[quacker_boy]

Just spent the afternoon tangling with a pair of tyre levers and a Dunlop Qualifier, I want a tyre changing machine

Time to scrub it in and head out, it's been sunny today as well, woo!
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wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.