Two-Wheeled Ballet

          There is something balletic about a group ride of four or more riders, particularly when they are as well in-synch as our group was for our early Sunday matinée. Two or three riders? It’s jazz man. A solo ride? Why free-form expression, of course.

          My friend Webster defines ballet as “a kind of dancing that is performed on a stage and that uses dance, music, costumes, and scenery to tell a story.” I think it’s an excellent analogy for our performance this past Sunday. I would only add one thing to Merriam’s definition since most stories and plays are composed of more than one act; we had three with a preamble and a postlude.

          Our prolog as seven characters, and we all are characters, prepared for the day’s ride in private or, as was the case for two couples, in tandem. Our troop was varied in our costuming both in bikes and dress; two Victory Visions, Tim’s U.S.S. Enterprise – NCC 1701 and Jed’s trusted bad-ass version; two Victory Cross Countries, mine and Sue’s who rides hers ever so much more elegantly than I do mine; Bev’s Vegas, a pure cruiser; Mike’s Harley Road King, a nod to the classic, and Vicki’s new Honda Goldwing F6B, it’s sleek and quiet and suites her well. While our bikes are an eclectic group we still had the same theme for the day’s performance; we love to ride, we love the bikes we ride, and we love riding with riders who love to ride.

The seven of us met for the preamble (a statement that is made at the beginning of something and usually gives the reasons for the parts that follow) in Newberry Springs to be followed by Act I, a ride through the back roads to Ventura Harbor for lunch at Andria’s Seafood Restaurant and Market and a little walkabout. I had the best fresh-caught halibut fish and chips…ever.

Vicki heading into Act II
(photo courtesy of Tim and Bev)

          Act II was a quickly planned ride up to Ojai via Highway 33 for ice cream; no one demurred as each of like our ice cream and twisty riding. Two-lane mountain roads are a favorite of mine as I’m sure most riders would agree. The movement of riders along the curves in a nice tight pack is so striking and graceful and being a part of the intricate maneuvers of the group are what, for me, really bring to mind the ballet. And for me, even when seeing a well-rehearsed group simply pass across the stage in a line is a thrill, just like a troupe of swans.

          For Act III we left Ojai and headed out to Santa Paula where we stopped for a quick recap before heading off in our respective home destinations, our postludes, if you will. Any road in and out of Ojai is a fine one for a ride like ours, particularly on a day like we had with the perfect riding weather and ever-changing scenery. Tim took the lead as he had throughout the day and by a fluke I ended up sweeping with several cagers between me and the group. By the time I closed the gap with the rest of the troupe Tim was no longer lead as they had joined other riders ahead and in less than a mile I was no longer sweep as others caught up with us. There were plenty of riders who mostly made the day that much more interesting as troupes passed and complimented each other going this way and that along the way, interlopers (persons not wanted or welcome by the other people in a situation or place) notwithstanding. Really though, we’d have welcomed them but their actions on the road were contrary to our balletic theme, enacting unsafe passes and just generally being unwise to no good purpose.

         

          Vicki, Mike, and I peeled off from JSP Riders onto Highway 5 from the 126 and Vickie informed us later that Mike had a near-accident experience while we were maneuvering the two lanes over to the 210 for our finally. We are all glad that Mike will be with us for another performance.

Y’all keep the iron side up and dance baby dance!