How many of you know that the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France? Good. Now, how many of you know that Brigitte Bardot, another statuesque lady, is also French? Very good, guys. Éclairs? Good. Beignets? Yup, those little donuts are from France too. Bungee cords? What? You're kidding right?
Nope, those indispensible, elastic cords, that have been standard equipment for every bike I've ever ridden over the past 40 years are from France. And to me, their most important contribution to society-after beignets. The French, who have brought us such automotive delights as the Citroen, which can still be driven if it loses a wheel, and has no brake pedal-but a big button, in the middle of the floor, got it right with the bungee. The French-it hardly seems likely.
So simple and yet so functional, the bungee cord seems to be fading from the public domain. No, not the extreme games bungee jumping, but the little tie down strap. Seems bungee jumping is more acceptable, and safer. I was shocked the other day to read that the bungee is being replaced by other seemingly less "dangerous" methods of securing a load on your motorcycle. Dangerous? Have any of you ever heard of the carnage these elastic tie downs have caused? In all my miles, I have only had one fail-it was so old,that it had lost its elasticity, and with it I lost a good jacket. But it was my fault-it was worn out and wouldn't keep anything tight. And since new ones are getting harder to find, I just tie a knot in them and still use them. Still the best way to secure anything to your bike. Period.
Cargo nets? Not for me-what about small items? And I have a few of them, not used much-they don't seem to fit anything I own. And when I do, I keep looking back to see if the items are there-they are not a bungee. The past few years cargo cords-a wide bungee, but not the rubber band wrapped elastic cloth covered cord we are used to. I use them on the Tiger for cross country trips, and they are only good for one trip. Compare that to the bungees I have had for many years, still in great shape. And the new, safer bungee replacement is still elastic, but are like tie down straps. Complex, and more expensive. Rare was the time I even bought one, used to get them free from parts, or find them on the ground. I think the last one was a double, and paid $1.69. Not $14.99 for the newer, safer replacement style. But then again, priced an éclair lately? And if the price didn't go up, the éclair got smaller.
And they came in many sizes, and you could always find one to fit. I wonder does that make them collectible since they are being fazed out? Or will it eventually make me a criminal for owning or using them? "Hey old timer, whatta ya in for?" "Got six months for carrying a concealed bungee cord." Hard core to the end, I will use my bungees until they physically remove them from my motorcycle-if they haven't outlawed them first!
But as for now. I will use my bungees, and live with the inherit dangers that go with them. Safe and secure in the knowledge that my load is safe and intact, and that no one messes with them. A rebel till the end. Which raises a question, how dangerous can they really be? Or is it the moron that doesn't have the smarts to attach things properly with them that is really the culprit? They don't come with instructions, I can see that as the next move. Don't remove the tags, like the warnings on mattresses, or again risk jail time. Maybe have classes on how to criss cross them for better load distribution. How to have various lengths for the right purpose. Whatever it takes, we need to preserve our bungee freedom! Riders unite-for the bungee! The alternative is just too harsh for me to face-we all may have to ride baggers.
Let us not look back and say we could have saved the bungee. Let us not take such a dim view of it, as many do with Jesus. "When the kids are older, I'll change." You won't. "He's only for women and children." He's not, men are in heaven too. "He takes away my freedom by too many laws." Wrong, He hated the law too, so fulfilled it with love, and left you grace. "Sunday is my day, I need it to rest." So rest, after church. You may be revived by what you hear. "They only want my money." Note-God is not broke. And a tithe is given freely, 10%. What did you just say about the IRS? You see like the bungee, Jesus has been misunderstood, and often the stories you hear are just that-stories. Lies, fiction, rumor, innuendo. And unlike the bungee, which may save your load, He will save your soul.
Check Him out now, as with the rest of the freedoms you have lost, freedom of worship is coming-soon. Don't look back from your jail cell, and wish you had kept your bungees and ridden into the sunset with Jesus! Jesus and bungees-only the ignorant fear them. They may replace the bungee, with a newer, more expensive version, but don't fall for religion. Accept only the real thing. There is no substitute for Jesus Christ.
So bungee your Bible on your bike where all can see it. But do it soon. It too is on the endangered species list. Another sign of the end times. You can keep your laws, as for me and my house-we will continue to bungee-for the Lord!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com