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ananga73
 Junior Member
28 Posts
Windsor Mill, MD
USA
Suzuki
M90
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 Posted - 11/01/2009 : 7:28 PM
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After reading more and more about motorcycle accidents triggered by Texasphotographer's plight, I have concluded that Scenic Rides in motorcycling should not be. I have gathered from the more experienced members on this forum that they are or at least attempt to be 100% focused on riding.
How is one then able to enjoy the scenery? Methinks no motorcyclist conscious of safety should enjoy a "Scenic Ride" because by inference, he/she was not completely focused on Riding. Should the fun in motorcycling thus be only about the riding?
Happily for me at this stage I am still a newbie so I have not gotten to the point where I am so comfortable with riding that I can enjoy the scenery.
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scottrnelson
Advanced Member
4748 Posts
[Mentor]
Pleasanton, CA
USA
Ducati
ST2, 888, + XR650L
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Posted - 11/01/2009 : 7:44 PM
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When faced with a very scenic ride, I pull over regularly to enjoy the scenery:
On the ride where I took the above photo, I had the difficult choice of stopping regularly to enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean, or riding on a wonderful road that was virtually traffic free and enjoying the ride. I'm sure that I stopped way too many times to properly enjoy the ride and not nearly enough to properly enjoy the scenery.
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twc
Advanced Member
627 Posts
[Mentor]
Fort Collins, CO
USA
Harley-Davidson
Electra Glide Ultra
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Posted - 11/01/2009 : 7:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ananga73
...I have concluded that Scenic Rides in motorcycling should not be. I have gathered from the more experienced members on this forum that they are or at least attempt to be 100% focused on riding.
As with you, I'm always focused on riding. Even on an absolutely straight road in the middle of nowhere, there's always the possibility that an antelope could pop up and ruin your day. I, too, pull over to admire the scenery.
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Night Train
Moderator
942 Posts
[Mentor]
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Canada
Harley-Davidson
Softail and Touring
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Posted - 11/01/2009 : 8:00 PM
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| Scott summed it up quite nicely. Sounds like the way most of us balance out our rides. In my parts we have the Cabot Trail which is quite similar to the pictures in Scott's post. There are times when we will do the Trail for the sheer pleasure of the ride and other times go back for a long leisurely multi-stop tour to take in the breathtaking scenery. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to satisfy both desires fully on the same day. |
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WSMeders
Junior Member
25 Posts
OH, DC
USA
Yamaha
FZR600
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Posted - 11/01/2009 : 9:49 PM
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I tend to do 3+ hour rides, and when I do my long distance rides between DC and OH, I leave early and take my time. I find it the best for both my nerves (and my butt) and the photographer in me to take 5 minute breaks every 30 minutes or so. Making sure I am off the bike at least 15 minutes every 100 miles or so.
Some things that help are finding great places to eat on the way. If I'm doing a causal ride, I'll ride about half of the time I want to ride for, find some good eats in a nice little town and take my time to look around town.
I think ananga73 is on to something I learned in my off-road days: I don't ride to enjoy the scenery, I don't ride to relieve stress/anger, I don't ride show off, I don't ride to "get somewhere fast."
This is not to say these things cannot be done in conjunction with riding, but it is not why I ride.
I ride to enjoy a sport I have the upmost respect for. |
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Indiana Randy
Moderator
1758 Posts
[Mentor]
Fort Wayne, Indiana
USA
Honda
2000 Magna V4 750
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Posted - 11/02/2009 : 5:34 PM
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quote:
How is one then able to enjoy the scenery? Methinks no motorcyclist conscious of safety should enjoy a "Scenic Ride" because by inference, he/she was not completely focused on Riding. Should the fun in motorcycling thus be only about the riding?
Happily for me at this stage I am still a newbie so I have not gotten to the point where I am so comfortable with riding that I can enjoy the scenery.
How is one then able to enjoy the scenery? - You can't and be an alert and safe rider while moving. It's the same driving a 4 wheeler though- Ride in the passenger seat on a familiar route and you'll be amazed at all the stuff you've never noticed before. 
Hopefully you never get to the point of thinking you have enough experience that you can gaze at the scenery when you're riding.
Every second you are looking anywhere other than the road is a second something can happen and require immediate response. A lot can happen in only one second. So you are correct IMO that riding proficiency takes away from scenic enjoyment while moving.
Scott stated it clearly: STOP to enjoy the scenery. |
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bluremi
Junior Member
44 Posts
Brooklyn, NY
USA
Kawasaki
2006 500R
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 11/03/2009 : 7:53 AM
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| I enjoy the scenery in front and pull over to enjoy the scenery to the sides. |
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bkikkert
Advanced Member
796 Posts
[Mentor]
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Harley-Davidson
Ultra Classic-FLHTCU
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Posted - 11/03/2009 : 9:09 AM
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| Perhaps one cannot enjoy all of the scenery but certainly a good deal of it. When I ride into an open valley or other such scenic location, I can feel it around me...something I don't experience in a car. Riding requires that we continually scan the road ahead for possible hazards and other events that may interrupt our voyage. When I do this, I find that as I scan the area, I am also taking in its scenic beauty. If I could not enjoy the trip in this way, there would be no point in riding a motorcycle. |
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SkootchNC
Senior Member
327 Posts
[Mentor]
raleigh, north carolina
USA
Harley-Davidson
road glide
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Posted - 11/04/2009 : 3:45 PM
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on the other hand..... when given the choice, I always take the scenic route.
It's true, that I don't actually ENJOY the scenery, for more than a split second, and the only "scenery" I see, is directly in my field of vision, so 60-75 degrees left and right from my center of view.
My mirrors are well withing that cone, and I'll add neck stretching head turns, when dealing with multi-lane interstates.
But then... while on most group rids, I'll hear others talking about one thing or another, and I'll reply that if it wasn't related to the road, in the direction we were traveling, or posed a threat, I never see those things.
You can still ride AND enjoy the beauty all around you, but if you want to really enjoy the view, then as Scott noted... pull over....find a place to stop, safely. |
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gymnast
Moderator
2211 Posts
[Mentor]
Meridian, Idaho
USA
Harley-Davidson
Sportster Sport
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Posted - 11/04/2009 : 6:01 PM
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It is rather likely that a significant percentage of "run off the road" and "missed curve crashes" are the result of not visually tracking the the roadway to the extent that is necessary to prevent the vehicle tracking error as it develops in real time. The single most significant finding of the "Hurt Study" was that the motorcycle collided with what directly in front of them or came in to the riders path from a lateral position. The amount of attention devoted to the immediate path of travel and the intended path of travel is a constantly changing dynamic that must be balanced against the time devoted to "sight seeing".
Two out of state "sight seeing" riders were killed amidst our beautiful local scenery this past summer on a roadway known to "locals" to be of a nature requiring complete attention. Slow down, stop at the scenic turnouts (on your side of the road) and enjoy the view.
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The Meromorph
Advanced Member
596 Posts
[Mentor]
White House, TN
USA
BMW
R1100R
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 11/06/2009 : 5:31 PM
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| I do prefer to ride 'scenic' roads. And I do get an appreciation of the 'scenery'. It's a 'gestalt' perception of the beauty around me, rather than a detailed observation, and it comes as a necessary part of the automatic scanning process. On occasion, it's strong enough to provoke me to stop and take a better look, but mostly it just heightens the pleasure of the 'Focus - No Focus' state. |
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Born1928
New Member
17 Posts
Bastrop, TX
USA
Honda
1989 GB500
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Posted - 11/06/2009 : 7:25 PM
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| I agree with Meromorph. Good Grief! If you can't enjoy the scenery and still ride safely then you should park your bike permanently. On the other hand group rides make no sense to me for the very reason you can't enjoy the scenery and still ride safely. |
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