We're on the uphill swing!

[peterbaron]

Ottawa has become a very busy city since I retired. I never ride my bike in city traffic, except to my Honda shop for maintenance or an errand to the mall. I also book any appointments between 10AM and 1PM so I don't have to drive my car in the rush hours.

When I returned to motorcycling 5 years ago I went on a charity run with hundreds of other bikers. I quickly realized being jammed in double lines of strangers of unknown riding ability was very uncomfortable and not much fun.

There are rural roads surrounded by farms 5 minutes from my home. They have little traffic and 80 KPH speed limits. So I can get out of town quickly and safely. Most of my jumping off terminals are small towns 1 hour from my home.

My playground is the Ottawa Valley. It has lots of roads twisting around rivers, lakes and hills in cottage country. As most people only use their cottages on the weekends, I have the roads all to myself. Unlike the weekends, the bikers I encounter at rest stops are retirees with decades of motorcycling experience. They ride safely and are willing to exchange motorcycle stories no matter what you or they ride.

For me the real enjoyment of motorcycling is the freedom to ride when and where I like, at what ever speed I find most suitable or fun on any particular day.

It took me years of quietly suffering through various charity events, club group rides, parades, etc., to realize exactly what you put so succinctly.

It took me years of quietly suffering through various charity events, club group rides, parades, etc., to realize exactly what you put so succinctly.
+1! I find it much more enjoyable to ride by myself, or with a small group of friends that I know have riding skills equal to or better than mine.

It took me years of quietly suffering through various charity events, club group rides, parades, etc., to realize exactly what you put so succinctly.
+1! I find it much more enjoyable to ride by myself, or with a small group of friends that I know have riding skills equal to or better than mine.

+1 solo and single pair riding (preferred)

I ride in any reasonable condition, even profuse traffic, although, I will avoid it whenever possible. Google Maps helps with the traffic pain points.

^ +1, solo and single pair riding (preferred)