The DU Lounge

After 55+ years of riding/racing/wrenching and occasionally falling off, the last ride for me was called by slower reflexes and a failing eyeball.

Increasingly ubiquitous cell phone use and other cabin distractions by car drivers factored into that decision as well. Bikes are often unseen anyway but when an iPhone has the attention of two thumbs and a face instead of the road in front of or alongside them, too many close calls and common sense sealed the deal for me.

There's nothing like the feeling of sliding sideways into a turn, sailing off a jump or carving up a canyon knowing that experience and skill will see you safely through and when it doesn't, you pick yourself up, brush yourself off and carry on - most of the time.

So farewell Triumph, Norton, Royal Enfield and BSA. Farewell also to Ossa, Bultaco, Maico, Husqvarna, the many Japanese marques and the oddball Harley.

It was all fun (most of the time) and I DO miss it.