Well well well… It's finally that time… The spring riding season is so close you can taste it. We've had some very nice days lately of 60-degree temps, even 70-degree temps. It's about dang time! Here's a little story that will get you in the mood (if you're not already).

You just can't wait to wake up on a bright sunny morning, the birds are chirping, the squirrels that are sometimes a nuisance because they eat all of the birdseed, aren't considered a nuisance today. They look too cute to be a nuisance on this day. Nothing will get you down today. You probably haven't ridden your bike in weeks, possibly a few months! You head out into your garage. You pull the cover off of your mean machine. You disconnect the Battery Tender. Check the oil. Peek into the gas tank. It's half full (hopefully with a little bit of fuel stabilizer too). Check the chain. Looks a little dry. Spray a little chain wax on it. Check the tire pressure. Hmmmm… Only 22lbs of pressure. That sure won't do. Borrow your kid's bicycle pump and get that tire pressure up to where it should be. 32-34lbs front. 34-36lbs rear. You wheel that beauty outside in the sunshine and look at the dusty tank. Hmmm. That definitely won't do either. Not today. You pull out the water hose and a mop bucket of sudsy water. Give her a quick wash. Dry her off. Maybe even give her a quick coat of wax. Shiny shiny now. Yep, that's much better. While you're at it, you wipe off your dusty helmet that hasn't been used in a few weeks (or months).

Now, the moment of truth. You put the key in the ignition. Turn the gas valve on. Pull that choke lever all the way out (or down). Turn that ignition key to on for the first time in forever. HEY, all the lights are on! The battery can't be too bad. You make sure that kill switch is on. See that beautiful green "neutral" light glowing bright. Reach over and press that starter button… Your baby struggles a tad to turn over, but she finally hits off and vroooooom!! Ahh that sweet sound of your baby coming to life for the first time in too long, there's nothing like it. Let her warm up good. It's been a while, ya know. You slowly bring that fast idle down to the right rpm. Yep, she's smoothin out. Give her a quick chop of the throttle…. Nope, not warmed up yet. Can't have any hesitation. You go back inside to grab your Hein Gericke or your First Gear jacket, your light gloves (don't need no stinking insulated gloves today). Already got your boots on. They're a little wet from washing the bike, but you don't care. They'll be dry in about 10 miles from the warmth of that big, thumping 1440cc twin or that silky smooth 1500cc flat-six or that quick-revving 900cc inline or even that rumbly 750cc V-4!

Back outside and your baby conked out while you were inside. Not quite warmed up yet. No biggie. Pop that starter one more time with a tad of throttle and back up she'll come. You put that jacket on… Hmmm, feels a little tight around the zipper. Yep, that Winter coat your built up needs to be melted off. That's ok. After about 4 hours of riding today you're bound to melt off a few pounds! You manage to get that big YKK zipper up to where it needs to be. Pull those sleeve zippers down to the cuff. Then lay a leg over your beloved bike. Yep, chop the throttle again. Smoothed out nicely now. No more hesitation. There's that rumble you've missed. Put that helmet on. Make sure the cobwebs are out of it! Strap it nice and snug. Slide those leather gloves on. Hmmm, a little tight too. No biggie. You flex your hands a bit. Bend those fingers back a tad to stretch that leather out. Now they fit perfectly. You slip on your favorite Ray Bans or Oakleys or Revos. Yep, adjust and check the mirrors. Uh huh. Looks pretty dang cool. Pull that kickstand up and take that walk to the "promise land".

Your envious neighbor across the street is trimming some limbs in his yard. He waves to you. You wave back. He wishes he were in your shoes. You walk that baby back out into the street. That neighbor is still watching…envious. He won't show you that he's watching though. You know he is, nonetheless.

You chop that throttle one more time. Yep, she's ready. Time to pull that clutch in, push that shift lever down and hear that beautiful clunk into first gear. Two chops of the throttle and you feed that clutch out and off you go. You've been waiting for this moment for weeks and weeks. As you meander through your neighborhood, shifting up to second gear, nice and smooth. People you don't even know are looking, some waiving, some just a "thumbs-up". Some, nothing at all. No matter. They all wish they were you right about now.

As you head up GA400 or 985 to the GA60, 52, 180, either with your buddies or even all alone, you remember one important thing. You are a biker at heart. Probably always have been. And it will always be that way.

You guys enjoy Bike Week. Be safe and have fun. See you at the next Roswell Dirt Riders group ride or meeting. Check out our website at RoswellDirtRiders.com.