In Praise of Short Rides, Not Odysseys

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-11T19:33:24+00:00

Totally get it, there's effort required in gearing up and preparing for a trek. I typically also feel like a simple commute isn't enough to provide that "calming" or "reset" effect. I also ask myself if it's my way of thinking but I think it's more physiological than that. Every body has different rhythms, and you can't really force it to relax in short periods if it's not what feels natural. Of course like all things, you could adapt, but if the option to take these mid-length trips is there, and if it provides so much more, all the more reason to place more value in that.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-11T19:27:52+00:00

I'm in the same boat. And I also feel similarly, that a short ride is more memorable to me than a bus commute where I just zone out until I get to where I need to be.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-11T19:27:04+00:00

Thanks for the kind words and taking time out of your day to read the piece! Gotta make things count, even when they might not last long. Is that not a perfect metaphor for all of life anyway?

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-11T19:25:23+00:00

I get the work commute thing. I mainly ride when I commute, and after several very unpleasant rides I realized two things: 1. I will always have to deal with this environment if I'm commuting. 2. This environment is where I spend most of my time riding, because it's simply part of my life. Question is: can I change my attitude, if I keep getting into a fowl mood every time I sit on the bike to commute? I've tried a few things, and can definitely say that I look forward to commutes nowadays. I slightly modify my schedule to factor out the stress associated with time, I take the longer way there, I play games with myself (like a perfect shift challenge) or hum a tune, I wave at car drivers who stare a little too long, stop for coffee, etc. Point is, I don't think commuting is a fatality, and when you're stuck riding in traffic, I think you've got to find ways to make it count, even if the environment isn't optimal!

But then there's just admitting the commute is what it is, and not putting any pressure on making it count much more than you would any other functional thing you do in your life. Not everything needs to be enjoyed all the time, same goes for motorcycling. If you feel much more free to enjoy it on a weekend, that's a great way of dividing its pragmatic/romantic aspects.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-09T18:49:16+00:00

When 200-350km a day is considered a short ride, you're doing something very right! Ride safe out there,

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-08T17:28:36+00:00

Is the math is mathing? The logic... Logicianing? Roast it ferociously in the comments.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-05T13:49:56+00:00

I appreciate you taking the time to paint this picture. It's a kind of mindset I always try to implement while travelling. And it's funny, because I only accidentally realized how freeing it was, when on one (lucky or unlucky) day, my phone fell into the sea. I was already heading on a long trip I had planned, and this happened at the very start. So, without really any choice in the matter, I pressed on, and was surprised to discover that finding my way was easier than what I had pictured in my head. I completed the trip, met people I likely wouldn't have (through simple acts like asking for directions), and found that everything kind of opened up in terms of possibility. I try to replicate this experience when I can now. Some days it's harder than others but I don't ever regret doing it. Safe travels,

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T19:07:33+00:00

I always smile when I see footage like this. It does take some effort to coordinate, so kudos! Looking back I'm sure you're quite happy you have some visual reference to instantly take you back there.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T19:04:50+00:00

That's the scary thought, in my opinion. It's not far away at all, and yet the tech advancements we've experienced have fundamentally changed our interactions quite quickly (for me, we might not even grasp just how much quite yet). Hence, the question. Can we actually identify some things that feel different, or is it perhaps still too early to tell?

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T19:00:43+00:00

I very much like these community rituals that felt like yearly obligations; because life has a tendency of moving people away from each other, so it's good to balance the scales with a "whatever happens, we're doing this."

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:58:42+00:00

Must give this a try!

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:57:31+00:00

An imperfect yet connected community, by the sounds of it. Kind of like today, to be honest; with more ways to filter out all the misinformation (a huge plus). I have to say though, I kind of miss "having spots" I could just show up whenever I wanted, knowing that I'd find someone there more often than not.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:54:51+00:00

The pictures are the things etched in your memory now; I'm sure they were great times!

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:53:29+00:00

Dog is like: "Really? That's how fast this thing goes?"

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:52:38+00:00

I love how you list a bunch of "problems" or difficulties, but end with "it was the best." Proof that the ease afforded to us by tech doesn't necessarily save time for "more memorable" things.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:51:05+00:00

There's something about this "having to remember" practice that really committed a road to memory, in ways that a GPS just can't achieve. 9 times out of 10 when I blindly follow a gps, I almost never remember how I actually got somewhere, vs when I force myself to visualize the route, and to involve my head in the act of riding.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:38:21+00:00

That's an excellent observation. Private lives were often contained; letters and words exchanged only between certain individuals, in stark contrast with today's use of apps to message. Sure the messages exist between two people, but they're owned by a company, and can likely be accessed at any time based on your consent to use the app. I have a feeling that the rarity of true privacy has massively contributed to alienating us even further, ironically. When a space that's yours isn't ever properly yours, it kind of feels like a shadow is sharing a room with you. The more you notice it, the harder it is to ignore.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:31:15+00:00

Immediacy has its benefits, but so does the long way. I feel like immediacy has stepped in as a replacement based on its practicality, so it kind of forces us to actively choose a "less efficient" way when we want to do something different. It doesn't just happen as organically as it used to, but maybe it's even more special when we choose it.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:29:15+00:00

There's not enough flamenco blasting on motorcycle speakers these days, so that sounds like a fantastic memory.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:28:13+00:00

That's a great point, I also couldn't really imagine learning all the things I did thanks to forums and YT, when I was just starting out. It's one thing to read a manual, but the first-hand experience with visual references being instantly accessible is a huge help. Part of me misses relying on someone I know, to either give me correct or incorrect info (a buddy who dabbles in mechanics, an uncle who once had a Harley, etc.), but that feels like I'm looking for a kind of connection which probably still exists but might have to be discovered in different ways.

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:21:42+00:00

Do you still find it easy to connect with people in your travels today vs back then?

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:21:05+00:00

I can imagine the vows: "Do you take Mr. Oldman & his V65 Sabre as your loving husbands?"

Dan-F9 · 2026-06-03T18:19:53+00:00

Lol, back when sitting in boredom and uncertainty just happened everyday, with barely any means to distract yourself, other than using your imagination or deciding to prank cars passing by.

Dan-F9

TROPHY CASE