Our small group fueled in Sheridan, WY, Saturday. An elder gentleman was there on one of those BMW "flying brick" 750 triples. He said it was 32 years-old; had 930,000 miles on it. I asked if he'd ever had the engine open. He said, yes, "at a half-million." Turns out he was from New Jersey and was 82. My brother asked him if he had ridden coast-to-coast. The fellow said, "Three times a year." I seriously doubt he had any bullshit in him. He was dressed in blue jeans and wore a jean-jacket, no doubt his usual riding livery. He said he had a newer bike at home (didn't get, or don't remember, the make/model) and that it only had 87,000 miles. Said he figured he had a good 10 years of riding left. He looked plenty vigorous physically. Yes, he demonstrates most of us are indeed Candy Asses.
Here was a book waiting to be written. Can you imagine his experiences, the stories he could tell? I surely wish we had met the guy at the end of the day where we could sit and talk for a spell. I'd feel like a little kid. I'd love to hear what he had to say. Should have gotten his contact info. Another downside of group riding: never feeling able to interrupt progress to stop and smell the roses...or listen to a grizzled veteran who really rides!
Here was a book waiting to be written. Can you imagine his experiences, the stories he could tell? I surely wish we had met the guy at the end of the day where we could sit and talk for a spell. I'd feel like a little kid. I'd love to hear what he had to say. Should have gotten his contact info. Another downside of group riding: never feeling able to interrupt progress to stop and smell the roses...or listen to a grizzled veteran who really rides!
