If it wern't for the helmet...

I'd have felt the cool morning air rushing passed my head at 68mph. Having read and re-read Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance not only was I touched by his 'Chautauquas' but also the descriptions of his road trip on the old BMW motorbikes. So naturally, when my friend passed his test I hopped on his bike and we spent a weekend biking around. I expected to be terrified and uneasy but (maybe it's a testament to his driving ability) as soon as we set off I was the calmest I'd been for ages; the ride, no matter how fast we went put me in a total trance of blissful speed. I realised my new found 'zen' when I looked into the wing mirror and realised that the entire reflection was a blur from the motion of the bike meeting the road. Perhaps this is the reason so many motorcyclists die, its not from their desire to go faster, it's just that they're so darn relaxed that they zone out. Of course, this is bollocks and the vast majority of motorcyclists willingly break the speed limits over 50 times a day.

Musing No.5 kind sir:
A fantastic book, like Camus meets Sallinger. Perhaps not as good either but certainly a cult classic in its own right. READ this book.