TWO WHEELS GOOD?

While I was a little downhearted to see reference to bicycles in a recent issue of MSL, I do find it rather interesting to see that motorcycle manufacturers are building mountain bikes to expand their product lines. I wonder if that is more to do with having an extra revenue stream to bolster their sales of powered two-wheelers, or if it’s anything to do with the development of electrically-powered two-wheelers?

Although I am a cyclist as well as a motorcyclist, I’m not one of the lycra-clad packs of fitness fanatics that I see each and every weekend on the roads of the North York Moors, but more of a lone wolf who prefers to ride alone, exploring lanes and trails on a bike that is closer to a trail bike (it’s a fully suspended mountain bike) than a superskinny, rigid-framed flyweight road bike.

Regardless, and fully aware of the reasons why so many road users get a little frustrated at the actions of groups of cyclists (sometimes numbering in their dozens, often blocking roads when riding two or three abreast, and stopping in the most inconvenient of places for a quick chat), I really think that motorcyclists have far more in common with cyclists than they do with car, van and truck drivers.

We all have to deal with inclement weather, poor road surfaces, inconsiderate drivers, and stigma from blinkered pub and café owners. I’ve travelled throughout mainland Europe and the situation there seems very different indeed – there’s no friction between groups and all users of two wheels seem to get on very well indeed. Is it just us Brits?

John Herbert