Why we do it…..

Took the young fella out for a ride at his favourite track yesterday and am so glad I did.
See he hasn’t been riding for a few months due to growing out of his boots, a few bikes issues and home renos getting priority, anyway he had some replacement boots (thank you Sir Mick, they came up a million bux) I fixed his bike and I put aside a few hours to take him out to his mates place where they have a nice little natural terrain course set out.
Anyway got there and his mate appeared on his TTR and off they went, a few steady laps dicing with each other and then whoa, what the hell is going on???

It’s like the red mist descended over my young Bloke, his whole body English changed and his bike speed was at least twofold the bike was being backed into corners, clutch feathered on the apex and sideways out, his braking was aggressive and throttle was either shut or WOT…………………… After 5 years of riding he’s found his “zone”, he’s had moments of it every now and then, but for around a dozen laps he was riding like a demon, his poor mate decided to pull in and just watch with me, the blokes up at the farm shed came out and leant on the fence watching him as the bike wailed up and down the gears (which is the sound that drew their attention) and he looked very fluid and very smooth. Then all of a sudden on an uphill section he lost it, caught it with the throttle and appeared to deliberately lowside. He picked it up rode back to the ute and I could smell the bikes heat coming off it, he calmly removed his helmet and told Jordan & I “that was fun, was I rippin up or what Dad”?, I smiled at him and nodded, didn’t want to break his spell, he had a drink of water, a joke with Jordan and off they went again, for a few laps he just tooled around with Jordan, then he picked up the pace like a switch had been flicked, by this time it’s around 5.00pm and the sun’s getting low, I thought I’d give him 20 mins then wave him in, but he came in after few more laps and told me the “bike’s revving hard, but not accelerating as well”, and I could smell it, he’s fried the fibre plates in the clutch.
Anyway on the trip home he was about excited as can be about the afternoon and as soon as we pulled up he told me him and Jordan were going riding again next Saturday and I had to go as well, so we better fix the bikes up……

I have to admit this fatherhood thing has it’s ups and downs, but this was one of the best feelings’ I’ve ever had, just to watch him and know how he was feeling, the adrenaline pumping, to see the grin on his face right up until bedtime and the pure joy he was getting from being in a place I know so well, and have spent my whole life chasing, was up there with his first words and walking.
It’s a bond all of us who ride share……..