Monday, June 2, 2008

Oops

If I've learned one thing in life, it's that God has incredible timing and a sick sense of humor. I can remember days when I would say...What a (something or other) - look at them riding a motorcycle in shorts. Ironically I never say anything about short sleeves or no sleeves. That's okay but bare legs, well that's wrong.


So this morning, I'm getting dressed to ride to work. Tshirt, shorts, boots. I'm ready. Husband says...shorts, to which I quickly answer Chaps. Time to leave grows closer and I've made no effort to get my chaps out.


The weatherman says 50 degrees and I know how cold 55mph is at 50 degrees. My rain suit jacket is on the bike, I'll be fine. So I saddle up, shorts, socks and boots. Socks by Nautica, boots by Harley Davidson. I swear I'm a living breathing juxtaposition.


Made it to work, only burned my leg once, that damn primary cover gets a bit warm. But the temperature was fine. I snuck in the back door at work, changed into the politically correct work uniform and away I went.


Quitting time rolled around and it's time to ride back home. Biker boots and sailor socks....short-sleeved shirt and gloves. For some reason, 30 degrees or 90 degrees, I can't ride without gloves - there's another story in there somewhere.


So I'm minding my own business riding on Tuttle Crossing. The minding my own business part is important as I usually try to sneek up on people who are talking on the phone and not paying attention, pull the clutch, roll the throttle and drown out their conversation. But none of that today, I was a sound ordinance obeying, speed limit minding girl in shorts on Harley.


Then I heard it, that sound. The sound of brakes locking and months of good tire rubber being laid down in a single patch. In a car you look in the rear view mirror and hope that you're not their intended target. On a bike, well, you try to look as many places as you can and hope like hell you're not the intended target.


I wasn't the target of this tire screecher, I was the cause. Moral of the story - wear pants when riding...less distracting.