Biker|Geek

I really have been getting back into Iron Maiden these days. I love ‘em. Here’s the Run to the Hills video.

I found this on a forum and felt compelled to post it here. It gave me chills up my spine at the end as I’m sure it will to anyone who rides a Harley or any bike for that matter.

I’m just a biker…

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.

You didn’t see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
You didn’t see me playing Santa at the local mall.I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant.
You didn’t see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by.
You didn’t see me, driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.
You didn’t see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.I saw you stare at my long hair.
You didn’t see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
You didn’t see me and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.
You didn’t see me cry as my children were born and having their name tattooed on my skin and in my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
You didn’t see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
You didn’t see me, when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car.
You didn’t see me pat my child’s hands knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
You didn’t see me squeeze my wife’s leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you, race down the road in the rain.
You didn’t see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
You didn’t see me, trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
You didn’t see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
You didn’t see me. I wasn’t there.

I saw you go home to your family.
You didn’t see me, because I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker and a person with friends and family.
You didn’t see me.

Check this out. It’s the best thing since Google Earth. I have only just downloaded it but the initial video preview is utterly amazing. There’s just something I love about being able to study the earth and all the cities, road, mountains and everything about it. I enjoy it and this is the geekest thing I’ve seen in quite a while that really has me excited. Read more about it and download the free open source program at:

http://www.worldwindcentral.com/wiki/Main_page

Let me know here what you think of it and if it’s as cool as it looks. I’m betting it is.

I’ve been reading many biker mags for quite a while now and I have to say, Hot Rod’s Bike Works is a kick ass magazine. I’m not affiliated with them in any way so this is a working man’s point of view nothing more nothing less. I do however, whole heartedly recommend them as one of the best Harley Davidson related magazines on the market today. If you like howto’s and articles that actually teach you how to do things then this is the mag for you. There are plenty of cool looking bikes but not the $100,000 machines that are hopelessly out of reach for the average working man. Let’s face it it’s great to dream once in a while but sometimes you have to come back to reality and look at bikes that we all ride and learn how to do things that are within the realm of possibility to our bikes. What really inspired me to write this now is one article in particular in the February 2007 issue in the HRBW Tech section called General Welding Tips: Gas, TIG, MIG, and Arc-Welding. It’s a great refresher for the shade tree mechanic. Or and informative precursor to a big welding career. Either way it’s a excellent read. There’s also a great article on how to install forward controls on a Sportster. Also some sexy coverage of Biketoberfest 2006 and the Vegas Bikefest. They review new products every month too so there’s always something new and shiny to look forward to. I just re-upped for another year and as long as they keep up the good work I’ll be subscribing for many years to come. I’d like to express thanks to the editorial staff and wish the new acting editor Greg Friend the best of luck with the future of this magazine.