Subject: RE: Thinkin about Loopin' - long
Author: Greg Bender
Date: Jan 17, 2005, 7:36 AM
Post ID: 1718223390
Good thoughts and nice report. Thanks, Ian!
Ian Adkins wrote:
Morning Y'all, Up early on this Sunday...catching up on the "Loopchatter". So much fun, all of this stuff. Will get up to 50f today in the north GA mountains... thoughts of a ride dancing in my head. I feel for you folks up north that still have a couple of months to go :-) Last Sunday I felt the need for a ride. My plans to wrench with Ed had fallen through and I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm Jan temps (into the 70's) to take the old 70 Ambo for a run up to Suches,GA. I am very lucky to live on the edge of some of the finest motorcycling roads anywhere in the US and the 15 mile run up to the gas station next to the TWO Waystation (the one always featured on the various bike shows) was the perfect destination. The run up was routine...little traffic and comfortable speeds. Usually, I ride one of my other Loops, which have windshields, however on this day the "resurrected to stock original" Ambo was given the nod. She was the perfect bike for this day. Without a windshield the sense of openess is much more pronounced. As I pulled into the station and parked the normal gathering of city folk that had ridden up for a day of "twisties" on their sport bikes and HD's were there. I suspect that on this day there might have been 500+ bikes passing through. Most were "rice burners" and HD's. A few Ducs came in. Interesting to observe the dynamics of all the various groups. Each group that arrived wrapped themselves in discussions of the twisties they had just ridden or the roads they were intending to ride. Of course, being the only Looper, I was free to sit in the warm sunlight alone and chit chat with the various people that came up to admire the "old girl". For the most part my thoughts were of peace. I thought a lot about what was important in my life, of the friends I wish were sharing the beautiful day with me...and of lost commrades. I have been asked and have wondered why Loops are such special bikes to me. While it is true that motorcycling in general is a "special" experience Loops are truly spiritual. Why? When riding a Loopframe... There are few motorcyclists who ride 30+ year old bikes, who ride a bike they have personally torn into the smallest of components and reassemble themselves, have had their fellow riders come along...only in their thoughts... who spend a day in the saddle....having seen hundreds of bikes but having not seen another bike like theirs. Loops are truly a unique bikes and their riders truly special people. We are a group of diverse peoples, brought together by a love for riding, for wrenching and the internet. We are all brought together...as family....by one machine which culminates these things into one. I never ride without thinking of my fellow Loop compadres. I may ride alone but I am always in a familiar crowd. Ride safe... |
Regards,
Greg Bender
1971 Ambassador
2000 Quota
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender