How about suggestions for some good "winter" reading, while the bike sadly sits in the shed?
Here's a few of my all-time favourites:
1.)
Top Dead Center - Kevin Cameron. Kevin, a long time columnist from "Cycle World" magazine, and long time road-racer. Great short stories, some technical, some anecdotal, all great.
2.)
Leanings, and
Leanings 2 from Peter Egan. Peter, also a long time columnist from "Cycle World". Great Short Stories gleaned from his many years of columns. Argueably, the best examples of what riding is (should be) all about. A must read.
Here's a few of my "least" favourites:
1.) Anything by Sonny Barger - what a load of absolute crap. Sorry, my strong opinion. "Train wreck" stories of large children who very unfortunately chose motorcycles as a transportation mode. Embarrassing to realise you actually paid for the book.
2.) Any of the "Undercover" stories of sad men who infiltrate Biker Gangs. Otherwise, I guess we thought they were knitting clubs? Get a life, and don't glamorize simple drug pushers and common criminals! If you don't buy it, no one will write this garbage anymore.
Favorite magazines?
Motorcyclist, Classic Bike, Roadrunner.
I used to enjoy
Cycle World, and still subscribe, but will cancel when the latest runs out. For the past few years, only Egan's and Camerons columns are worthwhile, the rest is becoming elitist drivel, and questionable "evaluations" on paid advertisers products.
A few minutes spent on
Cycle World's internet "Forum" draws out the mean spirited elite, uppity attitudes of the readership, and turns good folks away. "New Age" bikers who don't have a clue, and revel in attempting to "out-smart" each other. These are the guys who would definitely pass you by with a smirk if you had a road-side breakdown. No thanks.
IMHO,
Motorcyclist is currently far more in line with what riding is truly all about, as is
Roadrunner, minus the BMW fully kitted out attitude at times. It's getting better each issue I've noted, and more down to earth. Very good on-line Forums on these two as well. Open-minded, good natured, happy people who love riding for the neighborly and friendly sport that it is.
Is it only me... or does it strike anyone else as "unusual" when you come across a forum member who has 10,000 or so posts in just a few years? These are always the guys who figure they "own" the site, know all that is possibly know-able, and who also seem to have a "posse" of weak natured supportive folks surrounding them.
If a person averages say 25+ posts a day, every day... I say "hmmm", time to get a life? A job? Sounds like fanatacism, or obsessive behaviour to me? When do you actually ride?
Hey... wait a minute... how many times did I post today? Oh-oh!
Spring is just around the corner!
