Enjoying the Ride Close to Home

[SheRidesABeemer]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2800677925_106275ce68.jpg

The first few seasons that I had my bike I didn’t go too far from home.
Each trip I’d expand my riding world and explored a little more of my back yard.
When I got the hang of that, I started exploring the roads of New Hampshire, then Maine and Vermont.

As I gained skill and confidence, I left those roads behind me and began taking long trips to far off places.
Weekend rides became quests to go as far as I could and still get back by Sunday. New York, Canada, Ohio became weekend destinations.
Miles, miles, miles became the mantra; all of it culminating in my first cross country trip in 2004.

This year, I’ve gone back to my roots. There was no time, nor inclination for a big trip this year,
and quite by accident the theme has become one tank away. And for the first time in 5 years,
I’m not tracking my miles, because they are not the point of my rides.

I’ve enjoyed revisiting Vermont sites that I’ve been flying through on the way to somewhere else.
I’m enjoying my own home state, and on beautiful weeknights like we’ve had this week,
I’m really enjoying the beauty of my own back yard.

Here are a few pictures from my weeknight ride.

Fighting 5:00 traffic
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2802118484_010a709e35.jpg

Seems like a nice neighborhood
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2801269513_284b2f6fe0.jpg

I love New Hampshire
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2802118224_e3a4d8ecea.jpg

Requisite Bike Shot
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2801197217_4b5b2ff3f5.jpg

Back Roads Rock
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2801269121_bf62a2b112.jpg

Apples are almost ready for picking
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2802117816_6d63097db1.jpg

How's your summer riding going?

[jeremell]

Not bad - here is Calderwood Dam on Hwy 129 (The Tail of the Dragon) in TN on 8/23.

[Burnszilla]

I think this smile says it all. Sharon has been promoted to Elementary School Principal. She has been commuting on her bike daily. On the first day of classes one of the student's asked, "Is it true you ride a motorcycle?"
Coolest principal ever...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2742501904_de68d53ef1_b.jpg

[Peter_Krynicki]

I've agree and have been trying to say this bau could not have said it as well.

The perception is that if you own a BMW or another make of bike the be-all-and-end-all of owning it is to pack up and ride over the horizon. Not me. I'm happy to put all my stuff on and take maybe a 30 - 40 minute ride after work. This should be OK, but in many cases I read that I just don't get it or I'm not a real biker because of this. Crap. I get what I want out of riding and I don't feel compelled to conform to anyone else's idea of "gettin it."

With everything else in the MOA I like to see a one page article fro people called Short Rides or Quick Rides.

[The_Veg]

For me the over-the-horizon rides are a lot of fun, but something I rarely am able to do for one reason or another. I do like to tell people that I am a dedicated enough motorcyclist to ride anywhere from up to the corner store to across the country, and the shorter rides make up most of what I do. Being a childless bachelor, grocery-shopping on the bike is usually pretty easy. I don't commute on it, but I probably will after the next career-change. I do like to get out on a Saturday or Sunday and get in a few hours in the countryside, and a weekend run down to the Hill Country or up to the Ouachita region of OK/AR is lots of fun too. That said, I'm always wishing for the next opportunity to saddle up for a week+ and go explore someplace I've never been before.
I don't ride BMW because I want to ride farther than everybody else, I ride BMW simply because it's the bike I want, for wherever I ride. :bikes

[kcallstate]

It is an interesting topic of shorter rides vs the long distance stuff. I'm am definitely part of the long distance crowd but would never suggest that those who ride the shorter stuff are anything but.. well... those that ride the shorter stuff! My "regular" life is so packed with everything other than motorcycling that it is difficult to find the time to get out and take that quick run with my local buddies. When I do fit it in, it is always fun and enjoyable. Work and the three kids' sports schedules tend to dominate though. Therefore, for me, the long distance stuff keeps me going. As soon as I return from one trip, I immediately begin planning the next. I'm in Southern New England so even when we ride up into the mountains of NH, VT and Maine, we ride as many miles as possible. My other buddies ride local all the time and that's cool too!

[Mongo]

“Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor”-William Cowper

[terham]

[IMG]

How's your summer riding going?

Not bad...thanks for asking.;)

http://terham.smugmug.com/photos/312859251_ameLU-M.jpg

20 miles from home.

[paulfinney2]

One way to make interesting local rides is to take a state map. With your town at the center, draw a circle with a 25 mile radius, and ride to those towns. Then do a 50 mile radius. By the time you get to 75 mile radius, you have a lot of places to visit, and probably a lot of towns you never knew were there.

[DPeakMD]

Gail-

Your photos are incredible and leave me at loss for words. I know I could never aspire to your abilities, but could I inquire as to your choice of camera? Thanks!

[SheRidesABeemer]

Gail-

Your photos are incredible and leave me at loss for words. I know I could never aspire to your abilities, but could I inquire as to your choice of camera? Thanks!

You're too kind, all of those pictures where taken at speed (less the bike posing) with my Canon SD750 P&S strapped around my neck.

[DPeakMD]

You're too kind, all of those pictures where taken at speed (less the bike posing) with my Canon SD750 P&S strapped around my neck.

I'm very impressed with how your pictures at speed turned out! The Canon's a great point and shoot. I'm trying to decide on a new one right now. You're definitely working some magic with these in terms of setup and composure!

[beckgr]

What a refreshing post. Indeed, I love the longer rides, but my job which requires a lot of travel. That combined with family needs with 3 teenagers and the time needed post travel makes any "personal time" for a long distance or cross country rides most difficult.

I've only had my RT for about a year now. Before that a Shadow for 5 years. For those 5 years I searched for a bike and it always came back to Harley - the one brand everyone has and everyone who's anyone should have. But, I just couldn't bring myself to fit in that mold and I didn't care for the noise or riding style. (Those are fine by the way, just not for me.) I got turned onto BMW and felt right at home immediately.

I could make easy weekend rides, do a long distance here or there and just really enjoy, thoroughly, riding. Short or long didn't matter, as long as I could ride. I new in time when kids left home my riding would expand. And I was eager to find out what really BMW riders were like. Did they enjoy the same comaraderie as the Harely folks?

But then I joined the BMWMOA and began to feel that if I didn't ride cross country, or have a goal of some major mileage milestone, I was, well, not really a BMW guy after all. Sometimes if I have to make a very long fast trip I would trailer my bike part way. But, I came to understand that BMW people are never to trailer their bike. So - I'm wondering just who are BMW riders? Are there any others out there like me that just love to ride even if that means short trips or heaven forbid - trailering?

All that said, I do enjoy the forums and I had some really great help in PA for a ride I took this June. The people that I've met through BMW have all been great, so this not a rant, just a real relief to see that others too can have a great time on a short trip and not put on 10,000 miles/year.

Thanks for the post.

[kpinvt]

You take great pictures.

[127161]

A variation on PaulFinney2's suggestion is to visit every county seat in your home state. Here in Georgia we've got 159 counties which would make for some serious mileage were you to get to each one.

John

[RJM2096]

Great pictures. :type While we live in the midwest we also enjoy riding close to home. Granted most of what we have to see are cornfields, rolling lands, and river valleys it is still great to get out in the fresh air and and take in the scenery and smells.

[BeemoKat]

I posted a ride on another website with much the same theme...seven great things within a one-tank round trip from your house. I like close-to-home rides, they're inexpensive, fun, and you have time to do other things too.

[Rod Sheridan]

In 2004 I initiated a vintage club "World Tour" event.

The idea was to find cities in your area that had foreign twins, such as Geneva New York, and Geneva Switzerland, then visit one of them. The tour cost $10, the club provided an embroidered crest to all who visited 10 such cities, and supplied photographs of their bike in front of a marker.

I used 8 cities in Ontario, one in New York, and one in Michigan for my tour, and my distance travelled was over 4,000 Km.

A friend of mine visited 10 cities on his 1927 Levis, with a total distance of under 40 Km if I remember correctly. ( My friend completed his trip without incident, while the Vincent that was with him broke down, and retired from the trip.)

Short trips can indeed be fascinating and enjoyable.......Rod.

[SIBUD]

I was so surprised to see on the cover of Road Runner magazine that they had a tour of Southern Illinois! Hey, that's in my back yard! Didn't know the midwurst had such good riding.

Haven't gone anywhere but have a couple of thousand miles on the bike in the last month. :laugh

[rocketman]

As I posted earlier just one of my many alternate commutes....

An Alternate Commute (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=28333)

RM

its all good.....