Russ, I think it's worth an explanation of 'daemon' in its current context for the uninitiated. Surely Jon and Matt and others who may read this blog while bored at work have little or no idea what it means, how to pronounce it, or really what to think of it at all. Is it some Harry Potter wizard shit, mixed with some classic Dunning philosophy and a healthy dose of Aprilia induced adrenaline? Is it Jedi in nature, force from within type mojo? Must I really read this trilogy of British adolescent children's books to wholly grasp the concept?
So, I think it's a suitable place to start with your new blog, and I'll do my best to share what my understanding of daemonism as applied to motorcycling. I'd love to hear more about what it means to you too.
What it's all about to me is really simply that the motorcycle becomes an extension of your body and soul. The more experience you have in the saddle the more in tune to your motorcycle you become. What was once overwhelming becomes instinctual. The power, acceleration, weight, handing, and ergonomics become so familiar to us that our relationship with the moto is able to transcend beyond the physical connection and become directly linked to our minds, even souls.
However cheesy it may sound, there's no denying that many men and some women share an intimate relationship between themselves and their machines. Motorcycles lend themselves to this even more than cars I believe because of the more visceral nature of the experience. When on a bike, you smell, feel, see and hear things that you normally would've missed if you were in a car. Also, the degree of focus that is required to operate a motorcycle at high speeds lends itself to a meditative state, especially when you're in the twisties, far from the troubles and traffic of civilization. Part of what draws me to motorcycling is the fact that the experience can so consistently visceral and meditative. It makes me feel alert, alive, and active. Even just commuting to work 35 miles through dense freeway traffic gives me this sense of connection, a level of awareness that is otherwise elusive and difficult to find and maintain in day to day life.
To summarize, I think Russ and I share the view of motorcycling as a spiritual and meditative experience, and the motorcycle itself becomes something intimately connected to its rider. Thus, the motorcycle achieves daemon status and becomes more than just a hunk of metal, it becomes an intuitive extension of the rider's entire persona, both physical, mental and spiritual.
So, I think this is the perfect place for philosophical ramblings, ideas, opinions and diatribes related to motorcycling and living life as a motorcyclist. I'll be contributing my words as regularly as possible, and I've been inspired to update my own website as well. I'll the link when I've made updates...
godspeed,
Colin
