.33 miles, 489 curves, 3 mountains, and 1 valley make for one fun ride!
Ending up at Shady Valley, in Tennessee I am referring to the road known as the
Snake, US Highway 421, in eastern Tennessee. A wonderfully designed road, using
all the topography God has provided, and allowing you to make a choice of four
ways to leave the Valley when you are done. With your destination The Country
Store, on any day many bikes can be found there, bikers and sport riders meeting
up, but on weekends it is packed, so take a day off to ride it if you can. But
an interesting phenomena greeted us the second time we arrived there, riding out
of Boone, NC, hometown of Billy Graham. On one side of the parking lot was all
Harleys, while most of the lot was sport bikes-or guys who ride fast. An
interesting dichotomy of riders, split by riding type, at least at first glance,
but really by brand prejudice, as it was really Harley and others. Even the BMW
riders, were among the others, which numbered Ninjas, GSXR’s, Triumphs, Ducatis,
Moto Guzzis, and an occasional Norton or Vincent. With shades of the Mods vs.
the Rockers, it is one meeting place, with two different neighborhoods. But the
roads....even a guy dragging floorboards, which belong on old cars, can still
have fun.
Now fun is only good if it is enjoyed, and many times slower riders clog
the curves, with no intention of pulling over, no doubt they own the road, and
can be as bad if not worse than the family truckster wobbling through the curves
20mph slower than the posted limit. But in their defense, but not condoning it,
I have been passed on the wrong side by suicidal sport bike riders, who think
the road is their personal track-don’t invade it! So each type tends to stay
within their own ranks, safe within a group at 25, or safe at 75. But rarely do
you see them mix outside of their own. Which surprises me when Mr. Road King,
after hogging the road, no pun intended, tells me later how he owns a Ninja, but
prefers to ride with the HOG group-less intimidating. But I see a trend where
more sport bike riders have a Harley at home, for cruising, and if the used
Harley section at most Japanese stores are any indicator, many are switching, or
trading up, I see very few Ninjas at Harley stores. Maybe it is as I had it
explained to me once, a friend in HOG when offered a ride on one of my press
bikes, a Speed Triple, told me they would all refuse, confiding in me that no
one could ride one! So I am very surprised when I see someone riding outside of
their kind. I tend to take the attitude of a friend at the local Harley store,
who loves all the bikes I bring by, and is knowledgeable about them. “We have a
common disease, motorcycles,” we both readily admit, and we know a cruiser will
never keep up with Mr. GSXR, but they weren’t designed to, and the opposite
applies to, but can’t we just welcome our fellow rider into the group-we all
ride, right? A good case in point is Black Sheep Harley Davidsons for Christ,
who we minister with, despite our Triumphs. They call us moped riders, and I
tell them I bring the slow bike, my Bonneville, so I can keep up with them. But
our commonality is Jesus, who rides all types. Don’t bother arguing, I can’t
hear you at 80mph with my Arai on. Or over your radio-so there. Let’s just
ride-OK!
King Solomon is regarded as the smartest man who ever lived. Among his
fortunes, were over 1000 wives, think of the alimony he faced, and many hundreds
of concubines, aka girlfriends. And to add to that, he married outside of his
nationality, which invited in many strange and sacreligious customs. Which
diluted the bloodline, bringing sin into the family, and creating deviant
practices. Right under his roof and in his garage. God had told them
specifically not to marry outside their own kind, if even the smartest man fell
into temptation, what chance do we have? And God wasn’t trying to be mean, or
keep us unhappy, He was protecting us, as they brought foreign gods with them,
taking their eyes off the one true God. God calls it sin, and today many still
fall prey to it. Jesus admonishes us to date within only those who are saved,
and I see too many marriages unhappy as the Christian is never fulfilled by
their spouse, and the spouse always feels left out, because they don’t believe,
and just don’t get it. Like trying to explain how hard it is to ride slow to a
cruiser, who thinks it is too hard to ride fast. Unequally yoked, each will go
their own way, if one rides at 65, the other at 62, after an hour they are only
3 miles apart. Riding together...just not with each other. So, don’t try to
compete...trust God, from the start, and unto the finish. Many pretty faces and
bikes out there competing for your affection, but only one, Jesus Christ who
will and can fulfill it.
Which doesn’t mean we can’t ride together, it is the matter of the
commitment. And who you make it to. Remember that next time a faster bike goes
whizzing by you, or when you get backed up behind a group going 50 in a 65 zone,
in the fast lane. We all ride, let’s show some consideration for each other.
If we can’t get along within our own kind, how do we expect those in cages to
respect us? Or pullover to let us pass, or not interfere with our group while
talking on their cell? We must live in this world, but we are not to become
part of it. You set the tone of the ride, not them. Stay within your own kind,
as God advises, but respect others for theirs. You never know when you might
need a metric wrench buried in a Harley techs tool box, and dusting it off,
laughs as he lends it to you, under the no tools loaned sign, as has happened to
me. Even funnier when a Harley friend asks for a tool, and is pointed to the
“NO TOOLS LOANED” sign. Or stopping to help a Harley rider who missed the
curve, and helping him get back on the road, which has also happened to me. And
listening to him telling how he wished his bike stopped and handled like yours.
Riding within your own kind may be a well advised thing, but living within God’s
love will bring you joy unspeakable, no matter how fast, how far, or what or who
you ride with. To some it comes down to brains and brawn vs. horsepower and
handling, to others we just love to ride. No matter which group you fall into,
let God’s love guide your riding, and your choices. Or next time Ricky Johnson,
motocross legend asks you to go riding, and you don’t accept because there is no
way you figure you can keep up, and then find out he was going to ride his
Harley bagger, you find you missed out on the ride of your life, like I did.
Don’t miss out on Jesus, ride what ya brung, let the corners define the ride.
Not all roads are the snake, but not all riders are Ricky either. Ride your own
ride, and when we meet at the intersection, you go first, but leave me room to
pass. Courtesy...the decision is yours. Let’s just ride.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com