Rightous

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“Woody was one hell of a brother. One of the righteous few, and a good man,” Big Keith said, before leaving Jake to rejoin the other patcholders he had been standing with.

The title of righteous was not one that was tossed around lightly. This was something Jake had learned early on in his riding days. Righteous was a mantle that was earned over time, awarded through action, made by honor and held in high esteem by those who followed the silent code of a secret society. To be considered righteous, you earned it by being there for others at a time when no one else could be found. It meant that you gave your last dollar to someone who needed it for food, gas, or drink; or you took a part off your bike for a brother who was stranded on the side of the road and then you both limped home together. A righteous brother would be the first to come to your side in a bar fight and be the last man standing next to you.

And this gathering was another step to earning the title. You showed up to pay respect to a dead man you hardly knew, in a town that is not your own and stand shoulder to shoulder with relative strangers, because you know they would do the same for you. They’d do it because they all know what its like to feel the power of rolling down the highway at ninety miles per hour astride an iron horse, with nothing except a leather jacket between you, the pavement, and the rest of the world."

Chapter 21 / Page 141  One Light Coming: A Biker's Story (Book 3 in a series published by Blockhead City Press to be released 1Oct2011. Available through bookstores everywhere, and Amazon.com and B&N.com)

Success is measured in many ways in this world. Material wealth is important to some, admiration is paramount to others. I've always felt that being a good man is the best measure of success. A good man, someone who is there for others when they need it, not when it's convenient.

In this lifestyle, rightous is a badge proudly worn. As I said in the passage above: Brothers are made, not neccesarily born, to each other.

Let me give you a real life example of what it means to be rightous.

I am involved with a state wide Motorcyclist's Survivors Fund organization. This organization raises money with the only task of giving it all away to the families of downed motorcycle riders who are in need. In need of rent money, grocery money, money to pay doctor's bills, even money to pay funeral expenses.  There are 'fundraising rides' held several times a year to add money to the kitty.

This  year's main fundraiser is coming up, and to publicize the event, pre-sell ride tickets, raffle tickets and other merchandise, the President of our Fund organized a series of free cook-outs at Bike Shops across the area. He got a biker friendly lawyer to sponsor and pick up the tab for the food and drink and lined up the locations. Well, one event was more successful than expected. Maybe  it was the good weather, maybe it was the shop that was the location, whatever the reason, at the end of the night there was no more food left for the next night's cook out. So, after the volunteer crew had cleaned up and packed the truck up, he and his sweetheart headed off to the nearest supermarket at 11PM to replenish supplies. Hamburger meat and chicken breasts by the ton, more hot dogs than you could shake a stick at, and a couple dozen flats of water were loaded up onto the conveyor belt and the poor check-out girl didn't know what to make of this $300+ purchase so late at night. Just as Prez, was reaching for his wallet, a guy behind him slide his credit card into the machine. Surprised, Prez looked over at this bearded, barrellchested t-shirt wearing regular guy.

"My contribution to The Cause" was what he said. "I saw your  truck out in the lot, and want to do something to help."

My Prez, stunned, said thanks and wanted to know this guy's name.

This  guy shook his hand, and refused to tell him who he  was. The last thing he said was: "I hope to God my family never has to be in touch with you, but I know there are others who will."

And with this, he walked away.

He is Rightous.

He earned it.

It's what a person does when a situation arises that defines them.

Be rightous whenever you can.

Ride Hard, Ride Safe,  Ride Often.

Introduction

"It was midnight, and an almost full moon guided Jake down a road that was as smooth as the eighty cubic inches of pulsating motor that hummed beneath him. He was glad to be back on his Harley, for the vibrations that ran through the handlebars and into his hands gave him the same comfort that a baby gets from a mouthful of mother’s milk.

The wind ran through his hair as he cruised east on the narrow two lane roads of northern Virginia. The sound of the engine and the smell of the road intoxicated him. Comfortable, relaxed, and secure, the smooth asphalt made for a perfect night. Small, quaint villages appeared ahead and disappeared behind like pages in a fairytale book, and before he knew it Jake was countless miles from the beginning of his ride.

The hamlets he passed through sported a mixture of older stores, pre-depression era homes, and the inevitable newer fast food joints. Their lights burned in the night’s darkness as they blended together one after another. The few cars he encountered made for a solo journey that seemed at times to be more like a dream than reality.

Jake’s well worn leathers kept the coolness of the evening air from chilling him to the bone. His feet were glued to the pegs of his big twin, a few scant inches from the blacktop, as he turned north on Highway 301, heading for the Maryland border. As he rumbled down the road lost in thought, his encounter with the patch holders earlier that afternoon was front and center on his mind."

- Chapter 12/Page 32 - One Light Coming: A Biker's Story (Book 3 in a series published by Blockhead City Press to be released 1Oct2011.)

We all know the feeling. If you ride, no matter what you ride, there is a feeling of freedom, a feeling of power you get from taking control of a motor machine and making it your own. You're typically on your own, by yourself. You're so much more connected to the road you're on, connected to the locales you're traveling through. You smell the fresh cut grass, that pond that's just on the other side of the guardrail. You can tell when the farmers have just fertilized thier fields  and you don't have to look to know that there are a few horses out in the paddocks either.

I consider myself lucky 'cause I get to experience this every day on the way to and from work, as long as the weather cooperates. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've  arrived home soaked to the skin, pouring water out of my boots on more than one occassion because a weatherman said there was only a 30% chance of rain. Of course to me, when I hear 30% chance of rain, I think of 70% chance of sun. If you ride, you would too. It's all about percentages.

Anyone who rides plays the percentages. And I'm not just talking about the weather, either. Share the road with cagers and you know exactly what I mean. See the statistics, read the newspapers and watch the news and you hear about Bikers going down all the time.

I don't mind  reading  or hearing about them. I do have sympathy for  them, I really do. But everytime I hear about some other biker going down...I figure that improves my chances of not going down. It's a percentage thing. Think about it. 

WIth this blog, I'll give you little peaks at my new novel: "One Light Coming: A Biker's Story" that I co-authored with Edward Winterhalder.  It's the third in the Biker Story Series published by Blockhead City Press and I hope that you'll  like them enough to go out and buy the book. 

I'll also be sharing other stories, observations and opinions about this lifestyle we call our own.

So, gas up and follow along. It's going to be a great ride!!!