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Raining all afternoon didn’t mean it would stain the night. In fact, the humidity cooled the summer air as you entered second gear. It was just the kind of night to entice a ride, especially after several days of rain and travel that took me away from the bike.

As I left, it was so nice that I forgot to put on eye protection and had to turn around after a half-mile reminded me. The night was almost bug free and the clean air just felt incredible. I returned and left in minutes with night glasses on my face.

My black bike had just had a couple hundred dollars of chrome added to it and a bit a leather. But I barely noticed as the ride took on that hypnotic relaxation mode that makes you want to keep going and never turn back. I rode with the traffic lights taking the path with as few stops as possible. The motorcycle didn’t seem to want to stop and neither did I. I rode to the next town and circled back.

I was supposed to stop to pick up ice cream, but I just could manage it as I passed grocery stores repeatedly. The idea of pausing the ride; of leaving the cool wind behind seemed ludicrous. But eventually I had to face reality and begin the process to return home. I stopped to pick up the chocolate Hagen Das.

Coming out of the store I noticed my bike for the first time from a distance since installing the chrome pieces and studded leather bra. Sitting there under the parking lot light with reflections bouncing from the studs and chrome, the black bike just seemed to want to be ridden. It was a short trip home from the store with only one true obstacle: stopping.

You can’t beat a late night ride. Traffic is low. The air is cool. It’s peaceful except for the sound of the motor. The solitude of the night and the soft air passing over you defines the feeling of freedom you get riding a motorcycle.

In October, we’re organizing 360-Full-Moon rides. Let us know if you’d like help coordinating one in your area. It’s a great ride with the moon, the wind, and the seduction of the night.

If you’re reading this odds are you’re part geek and part biker. Both attributes will be satisfied in this entry. Recently, I took a 4-leg ride from Colorado to Florida. Thanks to Google Earth you can now take the ride with me.

The first thing you’ll need is Google Earth. It’s a free download and incredible program. It was more valuable than any map program in planning this 2,400 mile trip. Download and install it. You can use the link above.

Once installed you’ll find a great resource for tons of things, but I want to show you my trip. You can download each leg of the trip below. Once downloaded, you open it in Google Earth, click “route” at the bottom of one of the legs, and then click the play button. You’ll drive along as if you’re there.

Click the directions tab at the top and you can create your own trip. It’s easy and it’s very cool. Here are the legs of my trip. The files are small and will download in a second or two…. literally!

INSTRUCTIONS: Right click the link and use Save Target As. Save it somewhere you can remember where to find it. Open it with Google Earth.

Leg One - From Castle Rock, CO to Amarillo, TX
Leg Two - From Amarillo, TX to Little Rock, AR
Leg Three - From Little Rock, AR to Tallahassee, FL
Leg Four - From Tallahassee, FL to Wellington, FL

There are three pleasures in owning a bike. Not all bikers take part in all three with the same fervor, but they all seem to do them all to some degree. The three things that bring pleasure are riding (we would only hope), buying accessories, and working on the bike.

Working on a bike has several perspectives and levels of talent. I find myself in the middle area somewhere with enough tools to make me dangerous and enough fear to compensate for the potential risks. For example, tonight I fixed my passing light which had come loose. It was also loose inside the light which forced me to tear it down a lot further than I wanted to do. There are about 10 parts in the setup for a simple light.

Anyway, I triumphed and, like most men, felt good about the conquest. Tomorrow I’ll finish the oil change and polish the chrome. Another thing bikers do…. polish chrome.

The point is that there are a lot of forums out there to help you with simple tasks. You don’t have to take away the job of your mechanic, but simple things can be done. Explore your bike. Enjoy the simple pleasures of fixing it yourself when it’s within your capabilities. Just watch the line and don’t cross it.