A Personal Journal
It took me a while to embrace a full-face helmet, and it seems like it has taken me just as long to embrace the idea of a modular helmet. The new helmet is an HJC CL Max II—much more accommodating for the person who wears glasses.
Now … it needs a road test.
See you on the highway.
Brent
Book Review: Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons From Friends Who Faced CancerTamela Rich was looking for a cause—something she could get behind and get involved. Although she says she has not had cancer, she picked breast cancer research and joined other women motorcyclists to raise awareness and funds. Then, she turned it into a book.
Live Full Throttle is a collection of photos, essays, women’s stories and a set of exercises for deeper reflection on the eight chapters that relay those individual stories. The cover photo gives a clue with a pink bra strapped across the front of Rich’s BMW G650GS. Inside, more photos of women and men sporting bras on bikes, over clothing and on cowboy hats.
For such a serious topic as breast cancer, there is a lot of laughter along with the tears in this book.
“This book is like an unexpected food to taste buds. Suspend your expectations as you explore, and let yourself contemplate, this memoir and photo essay hybrid that is inspired by the soulful people and places I’ve encountered as a long-distance motorcyclist for breast cancer causes.
These encounters taught me a great deal about myself and through these stories, pictures and suggested exercises, I hope you will learn about yourself too.”
Tamela Rich.
With Tamela Rich on a book tour, and passing through Ohio, I managed to connect with her for an interview. We met at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, and the fine folks there graciously let us use there conference room.
As we sat down to talk, I learned a lot about Tamela Rich, and how she came to produce this book.
Here is the interview:
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[audio:Tamela_Rich.MP3] |
You can learn more and purchase the book from her web site: www.TamelaRich.com.
Thanks for listening. See you on the highway.
Brent
It was a fleeting moment that passed only a few feet from me, so there was absolutely no time for a photo. Let me draw you a picture.
It’s a beautiful November day. The 70 degrees is unusual, but perfect for running errands on the motorcycle. Color is still on the trees, but fading. The sky is a gorgeous blue, the kind of sky that begs outside activities.
I motorcycle through Loveland, and decide to go straight east on Obannonville Road, which turns into Dallasburg Road so that I can catch one of my favorite two laners, Grog Run Road. Generally, there is little traffic, the road is narrow with quick twists and turns and hills—perfect for the motorcycle.
Just after running down the hill, and crossing the creek and roughest set of railroad tracks in the area, the road narrows just a little. There is no centerline and the twists prevent you from looking down the road very far.
Suddenly, around the curve, heading in the opposite direction, comes another motorcyclist. He’s riding a Harley, not wearing a helmet, and he has his left hand up to the side of his face.
OH MY GOD! He’s talking on the phone! This guy is speeding through the twists with one hand on the throttle and one hand on his phone! I can’t believe it! How stupid is that?
We could spend time talking about riding with or without helmets. We could also discuss ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time). But, I don’t think we should really have to have a serious discussion about riding a motorcycle while talking on the phone.
I wonder if this guy complains about stupid cagers talking on the phone when he’s near them on his motorcycle? I bet he does.
See you on the highway.
Brent
D. Brent Miller 