Ok - I have to share.. I finally got to get on a bike and take a ride. I have wanted to for a while, but my parents have been pretty paranoid since Bryan's death, anyway, we were at the parents and my husband suggested I take my dad's Suzuki 600 Bandit for a spin. Dad wasn't happy, but understood and helped me pack on the gear. Jacket with every pad known to man, Mom's helmet and dad's gloves and I was ready to go. The way dad explained the bike to me, you would have thought that I had never been on a bike. For Goodness sake, I ran around on a GS550ES from my Junior year in highschool until I was 22! I digress.
I have to admit I was a little nervous, it has been 2 years since I rode Bryan's Ducati. I took off, taking it easy out of the neighborhood and scanning the road like a hawk, I turned onto the main road, heading for a road that I could open her up on. I turned onto Summerlin road (a 4 lane divided road) right as the oncoming traffic light turned green, Guess I have to open her up. There is not a better feeling than feeling like you are going to be blown off the bike by the wind. Its not the fastest bike, but trust me, 85 is fast on anything! I needed to ride again, I could feel Bryan everywhere, it was almost like he was saying, "it's ok to love it still Laura, don't ever forget me or what we love about bikes".
I know it sounds stupid, but I could feel him and my love for riding surging through my veins.
I only rode it for about 20 minutes, by the time I was coming back into the neighborhood, I was no longer vertical around the corners, not quite draggin my knee, but you get the picture - I was comfortable. I had my respect back and the love I thought I lost on October 18th, 2003 in Daytona.
This may sound stupid to you racers that drag your knees at 85 around a corner, but thanks for humoring me and getting me to this point. Without you sharing and supporting me, I may never had gotten back on one. Thank you for everything!
Happy New Year!
Laura
I'm glad to see that you had this experience to help your healing process along, I admire your courage. I really wouldn't worry about how far over you had the bike, it's the riding that counts.
I hope you have a good New Years. :)
Not stupid at all. I lost a very close friend to a wreck. I rode EVERY DAY for two months after, hating every minute. One beautiful fall evening I suddenly realised that I was enjoying the ride. Healing takes time.
That's awesome Laura, glad to hear it and I can see it as part of the healing. I lost my best friend also who crashed on a cycle, was one of the type of guys that you never would have expected, happy all the time, great father, all around good guy. I raced the weekend after his death, a little shakey at first, but also felt him with me, knowing he shared the same love of bikes as me and that he was the one that taught me how to ride. Glad to hear from you. Hope you have a great New Year.