Across The Horizon. By Eric Cerini

As motorcyclists, how many times have we stood around chatting with fellow riders about our cycling adventures? Many of us rely on these conversations to “live” our dream of riding in the wind since work, family, and time constraints often prevent us from actually riding more than a few hours during the week. As a small business owner, this is compounded because we often feel we can’t leave the business because God only knows what might happen while we’re gone. This July, I had the pleasure of riding on some of the most scenic roads in the states. My journey took me from PA through the plains of the Midwest to Denver south through parts of the Rocky Mountains and Indian Reservations to Albuquerque, New Mexico and finally back via the Interstate (boring) to PA. Pennsylvania is home to some of the best motorcycling roads in the country, Kansas has some of the straightest (boring), but the Rocky Mountains have it all. As a fan of the ‘twisties’, Colorado routes 24, 82, 91, 92, 133 and the list goes on, between Denver and Durango provide spectacular views, sweeping curves,challenging switchbacks, elevations climbing to over 12,000 feet (snow was still on the ground), and some really neat little towns. It’s hard to describe the feeling you get when standing on the side of the road and looking over the horizon that is miles and miles away. I’m not talking miles and miles of straight highway, but looking down at the road you’re on, and knowing that it will be 45 minutes to over an hour of pressing right, pressing left, pressing right, pressing left, pressing riiiiiight, pressing leeeeeeft, (if you get my drift) to get there. Looking over that mountain side, knowing you’re going to have the ride of your life, and knowing you’re doing it all without guard rails. I gotta tell you, that running these roads at 65 -70 miles an hour and coming up on a switchback definitely had the adrenaline flowing and the ‘pucker’ factor working. It was so much fun! The ride from Durango to Albuquerque was full of the same types of roads and excitement. Riding through Indian Reservation land, I imagined myself riding horseback with John Wayne in some western movie. The only difference was teepees were replaced by mobile homes in some areas, sprawling homesteads in others, and the occasional casino which is funding much of the improvement. How cool be to riding down the highway with tumbleweeds to keep you company. So while Pennsylvania has some of the best motorcycling roads in the country, think about taking your next vacation on your bike. Travel to places you’ve been to or only wished to visit, but do it on your bike. The sights, sounds, and smells experienced on two wheels are something you can’t replace with car air conditioning.