Motorcycle Diamond
Speaking of the diamond, I had an interesting day/night today where, once more, the diamond kept me alive on my motorscoot. Please forgive if I "overshare" it. I just landed, and my adrenalin is only now starting to recede.
I rode from Aspen to Snowbird (400 miles)--leaving in snow flurries and arriving sometime after dark. The temperature never got above 40 degrees, and the wind chill was just breathtaking. (I stayed okay, because I've got some electric heating devices as well as the reasonably warm crash clothes I wear).
Above all, I drew deeply from my Will/Courage resources--even to get on the bike and go. I was scared--knowing the conditions were marginal, knowing that soon the discomfort would set in, but also knowing that I could do this. The Purpose was about joy, discovery, fascination, and staying on the rubber part of the bike. The technical issues (Power) were there on each turn, each passing of another vehicle, each patch of slick road--and the thinking and judgement being constantly challenged by the cold. And my favorite world: Touch--maintaining my sensitivity to the sound, the feel, the suspension in the corners, and the completely light touch on the grips. (Today I learned FINALLY to hold the grips from behind them, pushing forward rather than hanging on them pulling back, so I could really feel all the nuances of the highway.) Moving my mind/awareness from place to place like this....the time went by in an instant, the cold didn't matter, and the feeling of being PRESENT for seven hours was just incredible. It's amazing for me to go more than two minutes without daydreaming. On the dragon, I can do it for hours.
It's an interesting game around the idea of meditation. If meditation calms the mind, letting go of the chattering of my random thoughts, the motorcyling at speed does the same with the added value of threat: if you lose focus, their is no forgiveness, and the crash is very hard.
The biggest and greatest technical moment: I had been riding on dry road for about an hour, and then came around a long sweeper next to the Colorado River, with the sun in my eyes, and knowing that I was going into the shade, I looked up to the outside of the corner and realized that the sun had never hit this section of road today, so I chopped the throttle, grabbed a handful of the front brake, and while lightly rolling back on the throttle, I entered the turn with virtually no lean, and just danced through the corner on the ice. I smiled deeply, aware that the focus had been just exquisite and that this is what I had come for.
Now I happen to know that I'm a pretty intermediate rider, but I'm going to be good--because I really practice and I really focus and I really use all that I've got.
And can you tell that I'm really wired from the ride?
Now look below for the surfing version!
I rode from Aspen to Snowbird (400 miles)--leaving in snow flurries and arriving sometime after dark. The temperature never got above 40 degrees, and the wind chill was just breathtaking. (I stayed okay, because I've got some electric heating devices as well as the reasonably warm crash clothes I wear).
Above all, I drew deeply from my Will/Courage resources--even to get on the bike and go. I was scared--knowing the conditions were marginal, knowing that soon the discomfort would set in, but also knowing that I could do this. The Purpose was about joy, discovery, fascination, and staying on the rubber part of the bike. The technical issues (Power) were there on each turn, each passing of another vehicle, each patch of slick road--and the thinking and judgement being constantly challenged by the cold. And my favorite world: Touch--maintaining my sensitivity to the sound, the feel, the suspension in the corners, and the completely light touch on the grips. (Today I learned FINALLY to hold the grips from behind them, pushing forward rather than hanging on them pulling back, so I could really feel all the nuances of the highway.) Moving my mind/awareness from place to place like this....the time went by in an instant, the cold didn't matter, and the feeling of being PRESENT for seven hours was just incredible. It's amazing for me to go more than two minutes without daydreaming. On the dragon, I can do it for hours.
It's an interesting game around the idea of meditation. If meditation calms the mind, letting go of the chattering of my random thoughts, the motorcyling at speed does the same with the added value of threat: if you lose focus, their is no forgiveness, and the crash is very hard.
The biggest and greatest technical moment: I had been riding on dry road for about an hour, and then came around a long sweeper next to the Colorado River, with the sun in my eyes, and knowing that I was going into the shade, I looked up to the outside of the corner and realized that the sun had never hit this section of road today, so I chopped the throttle, grabbed a handful of the front brake, and while lightly rolling back on the throttle, I entered the turn with virtually no lean, and just danced through the corner on the ice. I smiled deeply, aware that the focus had been just exquisite and that this is what I had come for.
Now I happen to know that I'm a pretty intermediate rider, but I'm going to be good--because I really practice and I really focus and I really use all that I've got.
And can you tell that I'm really wired from the ride?
Now look below for the surfing version!
posted by weems at 2:54 PM
2 Comments:
Weems,
Neil Stebbins encouraged me to visit your site.
Worth it! As a biker since the 60's, I found the trip/ meditation spot on. I've met Laird and am a friend of Derrick's and have the highest respect for both. However, I take exception to the title of a clip, one I could not view. Background opinion: bikes are great, but they have little place in the water. Laird is an innovator and intrepid frontiersman- but the greatest big wave rider of all time? Let me ask you a question: In ANY sport you care to choose, what do you call it when a motorized vehicle ends up used for the first time to turn the hardest part of that activity into the easiest? That's right. The take off. What happens when you remove much or all of the need for great experience, judgement to select the right lineup and spot along that lineup- often within 5 yards of what is viable and the commitment to a standing start freefall- when you remove all this to be towed in like a goon what are you left with? Think about it. Making the hardest part the easiest is what a world of spectators and goon sportsmen do.
Sorry, couldn't let that one go by. Thanks for a great site. Keep up the good work.
Bob Beadle
Bob makes a really good point. Not being a surfer, I have heard this objection to tow-in surfing, and certainly could have no argument against it. From my few attempts at surfing--actually prompted first by Neil Stebbins years ago--I understand fully the magic skill of actually catching the wave. I never did! Never could.
Having said all that, as a non surfer, I'm stunned by the feat of doing what he's doing on the wave itself, and I see the elements of the model very clearly. I guess it's all down to how much you know. Some people are amazed at what we do skiing--yet mostly we just ride the lift up!
Interestingly, I got a similar criticism on my celebration of Chris Bliss's juggling feats below. It turns out, he's not that great a juggler.
That's okay. My point is to appreciate what I see without digging too much.
Nevertheless, Bob's point is really well taken and it represents a strong conflict in the surfing community. Thanks!
Weems
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