Thursday 6 September 2012

Relaxing in the saddle

A `glute` of  British monkey bums (and one Dutch) en route to Hanksville, Utah, 2003

 Riding a motorcycle is relaxing in a strange sort of way. When you examine the facts it shouldn't be, but for me it is. There comes a point in a journey when you feel you are in what modern middle and long distance runners refer to as `the zone`.  For me, that zone is the place where one is comfortable but fully focussed, aware of your surroundings, making necessary adjustments to your speed and position on the road, scanning the environment for potential threats and reacting to them promptly and smoothly whilst ensuring that all the time you are making progress.

I think the relaxation comes from focussing on something that I strive to do well and then finding myself achieving that for a prolonged period. It feels slick, you are going with the flow and working well, riding to `the system`. Physically and mentally, riding a motorcycle is more tiring than sitting in a car yet my old back injury is less troubled from sitting on my motorcycle than in a tin box. But there comes a time when the zone moves away from me and I start to struggle to stay with it.  That moment is usually because of physical elements interfering with my part in the journey; feeling cold, hungry or experiencing the annoying pain in the arse that all bikers get and refer to by a variety of euphemisms including `monkey bum`.
Not my actual bum


I'm still breaking in my body to the new bike and currently my monkey bum starts at around the 100 mile mark. If I choose not to stop I can alleviate it by an number of exercises I have developed over my years in the saddle. Taking the weight off a little by pressing up with my legs, not enough to be clear of the seat but enough to ease the circulation, works for a while as does clenching and relaxing my `glutes`. Eventually, one has to stop because physical discomfort eventually reaches a point where your concentration leaves the road and dwells on the pain. That is dangerous. I think I want an Airhawk for Christmas.

 Last Sunday I set off on a 200 mile ride to visit my daughter, son and grandchildren. The 100 mile mark was coming up, as indicated by my backside. I was on a motorway and so reluctantly chose a service area for some tea and a bum rest (Mrs HD had provided my doughnuts!). I walked about, stretched and then waded into the cafeteria, crowded with Sunday travellers. It was the last weekend before the schools re-open and I suspected that, for many, this was the end of the final summer outing because there was a large proportion of children scooting about. I got my mug of tea, sat in a soft comfy chair and tucked in to my Pump Street doughnuts.

But this was not relaxation. The babble of the masses, squabbling and shouting at their naughty children was getting to me after only half a jam doughnut. Adding additional pain to my senses was the bloody `lift muzak` and a really naff version of "The Girl from Ipanima" wailing away somewhere above my head. It was quite nasty, but being a biker I rode through the pain, reached into my jacket pocket and re-fitted my earplugs. It was wonderful hearing the irritating assault on my aural senses start to fade away as the foam slowly expanded in my ear canals. Bliss.

It was good to get back in the saddle, get back into the zone - and relax.

"This is not my beautiful wife, this is not my beautiful bike, how did I get here" (with apologies to `Talking Heads`)



11 comments:

BillB said...

Hogday - as a non rider I am amazed at so many of the Harley riders here - they put their feet up on "pegs" - sort of a motorized Lazy-Boy recliner - looks very uncomfortable. But then I must be wrong as so many do it.

Then you have what we call the "crotch-rockets" - I would suspect - great around the city - not so good on cross country rides. You are bent over - almost contorted -

I always think of this one Harley rider - I was driving from CA to Minnesota via Deadwood SD and Rapid City (like you I suspect the Zen is not so much the destination but the journey) - anyway I had my old MB - 300,000+ miles (which, while you can put down 800 miles in a day still eventually gives you a monkey bum) - I kept encountering this Harley rider - in a duster - day after day - how he managed to put down that many miles in a day - I don't know (500-700) - perhaps you noticed in your cross country in the states you would, over the days, encounter a familiar vehicle - to reappear almost magically after not seeing them for a few days -

On riding - I suspect it is a bit like flying - when I used to fly I would end the flight a bit mentally drained but feeling "refreshed" - your mind should always be working - in the background perhaps - of "where you are - who is around you - what is the weather like up ahead" - all the extraneous "stuff" seems to be pushed out - no screaming children along the way either -

Vetnurse said...

It sounds a mini version of hell in the cafe even with ear plugs probably made worse by the 100 mile bum :-))

Hogdayafternoon said...

Hi C! Emerging from a dark shadow, how great to hear that! I'll be looking in.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Bill. I loved my big Harley but I love my BMW too. Both are mile munchers but the beemer is 200lbs+ lighter :-\

Hogdayafternoon said...

Hi C! Emerging from a dark shadow, how great to hear that! I'll be looking in.

sparkflash said...

Ahhh, I actually find myself experiencing a twinge of jealousy. Haven't got on a bike in nearly 16 years, since as a young man (and despite my occasional whinge about what Greene King are doing to beers, I'm probably only half as old as you likely think I am) I made a pact that I'd quit riding them if they'd quit breaking me. Must be all this late summer sun...

Vetnurse said...

Yup thanks Hoggers am getting out of there and moving on, has been hard is still good bad days but more good than bad although still lot challenges with Mum :-)

Quartermaster said...

I'm up post surgery long enough to look into my regular round of blogs again.

In the spirit of the "The Bum" I came across a joke title in one of Jerry Pournelle's Novels - "40 Days In The Saddle by Major Ashe Burns."

There was one nearly 800 mile day on a bike I did a couple years back that brought that title back to mind.

There's a reason a full dress Goldwing is over 900 pounds. I like the quiet, but the weight makes those long trips a lot easier on you as well.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Am still in Spain. Hot. Sunny. Beer at £1.50 a pint. Homesick already...

Dave Pie-n-Mash said...

You are a braver man than I, HogDay. I have a fantasy about owning a cruiser, riding along the open road and all that. Especially in the Summer and Autumn where I live.... but the reality is that I am a coward. As a kid I couldn't stay on a bicycle for than five minutes without flying over the handlebars. I doubt I'd be any better as an adult on a motorcycle.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Dave, when I next have the funds to ride in America, i'll try and make a detour and give you a lift to your local pie shop.