The Joy of Motorcycle Country Riding

Motorcycle rides in country areas are some of the most beautiful rides that can be experienced. From the state of Minnesota with the vast wooded areas and lakes, to the mountains in the Black Hills of South Dakota — what sites there are to be experienced, just in those two adjoining states!

From the different types of flowers, trees and other vegetation, to the animals that roam freely in these areas, this is something not to be missed by any bike enthusiast.

Riding in these areas, although some of the most relaxing, can also be the most stressful to a biker. This stress derives from all the critters that enjoy running in these areas as well. The country areas are home to many critters in Minnesota and North Dakota, as well as adjoining states. These critters can include our winged friends; eagles, owls, geese, ducks, and, yes, even vultures. In addition, we have our four-legged friends, those that become most active at dawn and dusk, such as deer, and then those that prefer nighttime wanderings, such as coyotes and wolves. In Minnesota and South Dakota it is not uncommon for bear and elk to be roaming as well.

God’s critters from the wild have moved from their home territory, i.e., wooded areas and areas near bodies of water, into our areas where we have roads and civilization. Or, is it the other way around? Have our roads and civilizations moved into their wild? I believe with all the trees I see coming down from time to time, that it’s the latter. Regardless of why, civilization must continue, and the work still goes on, so we have to be extra diligent in watching out for the critters for their own continued existence, as well as for our own safety.

During the daytime, the stress level of riding in the country is a little lower because we have a clear line of vision, and there’s typically more traffic to help deter daytime critters from roaming near the roads. That won’t stop the squirrel that sees the shiny nut across the street from making a dash, nor the neighborhood cat that’s spotted a shrew, however. There’s been more than one time I’ve seen birds get way too close to windshields on cars while they are driving down the road. There’s nothing saying they can’t inadvertently do that with a biker as well. Suffice to say, however, due to the daylight, we can usually spot something that might be trouble, and we have time to react.

At dawn, dusk and nighttime, however, things change drastically. I hear dozens and dozens of news stories about deer/vehicle accidents. In these accidents, there typically is some major damage to the vehicle, however, most times anyway, the driver walks away with minimal injuries. There’s a blessing to having all that metal surrounding you in situations such as that. On a bike, we are nothing but flesh and bone and air out there. If we are on the road and an animal darts in front of us, there’s nothing but air between our flesh and bones and the deer. This is why we, as bikers, have to be extra careful in our nighttime driving. Although the temptation of the ‘wind in our face’ may be to go the speed limit on these roads that divide the wooded bliss on either side, we have to stay aware of what is looking at us in those woods that may decide to cross that road at any moment. Because of that, we must keep a slower speed. We must drive at a slower speed and be extra meticulous in our monitoring of our surroundings in the dark.

This same type of caution holds true with our flying nighttime beauties as well, such as eagles and owls. Oh, I guess vultures too; not real beautiful, but God’s critters just the same. If there is some kind of small critter on the road and these winged beauties are in the vicinity, there isn’t much that’s going to stop them from making that dive. Most times they stay in the woods, but I have seen an eagle or two on the side of the road in Minnesota enjoying a feast, seemingly unaware of what’s going on around them. They have become very accustomed to the sights and sounds of traffic. And, as we all know, those vultures love those ‘road kills’ as they are affectionately called here in Minnesota, and there isn’t much that will stop them from diving for a feast either.

In summary, as a biker, you must use extra caution when riding in the country. Be aware of everything surrounding you, not just what’s ahead of you. If you are nervous about driving at night or don’t see well at night, avoid taking your bike out. If you do enjoy night driving, be extra careful. Riding in pairs can really help here, as you can both pay extra attention to a particular side of the road. Also, do research every now and then. There may be new devices coming out that help to make us more visible to deer and other critters, maybe something will be there that can help you.