Fire and Ice
Recently, I’ve been suffering from a terrible case of PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome).
While it’s not officially recognized in the medical community, every rider knows this affliction’s symptoms all too well. They include restlessness, longing glances at your bike in the garage, and vivid dreams of open roads, all often interrupted by reality’s frosty grip.
PMS strikes hard during the winter, and for those in colder climates, it can last for months.
This winter, though, I haven’t been out of the saddle just because of the weather. I’ve been rehabbing my knee after getting the ACL fixed back in September ‘24.
Four months without being on two wheels has taken their toll on me mentally. There is only so much office work I can take before I begin to go stir-crazy.
All the physical therapy has paid off, though, because my doctor recently cleared me for street riding again. While I’ll stay away from gravel until the late summer, I’ve been eagerly waiting for early-season rides on pavement.
Hot and Cold
Last week, I hopped on a flight to Los Angeles with plans to ride one of the new Kawasaki sport tourers. I was excited to spend a little time in the saddle rather than behind my keyboard. The ride would also serve as my “back on two” icebreaker.
If there is anything I’ve learned from traveling and riding motorcycles, it’s that things don’t always go as planned. The day I arrived, wildfires broke out in the area. Things went from 0 to 100 pretty quickly, with multiple fires surrounding the part of town I was in.
I woke up in the middle of the night, sneezing from the smoke in the air and covering my head with blankets to avoid the strong odor. The 400-acre Eaton fire that had started the night before had grown to over 2,300 acres in just five hours.
Evacuations were in progress nearby, roads were closed, and even if we wanted to ride, the 100-mph wind gusts were relentless. Needless to say, the ride was canceled, and I was on the first flight home.
As soon as I arrived home, preparations for a major winter storm began. Before I knew it, several inches of the white stuff covered the ground. Mother Nature seems to be doing everything she can to keep me off the motorcycle so far this year.
Cabin Fever
As a silver lining, these last few months have given me ample time to plan our next trips. From researching destinations across the country to pouring over maps, looking for roads I’ve never ridden, our 2025 rides are starting to take shape.
We have a few ideas in the works too. Should Florian, Caleb, and I take mini bikes up the Continental Divide? Should we explore the Everglades both on two wheels and via an air-powered boat? What about sampling some of the finest lobster rolls in all of New England?
With so many amazing things to see and do across the country, we’re finding it difficult to decide.
Many of you reading this are in the same boat as me, unable to ride and suffering from a severe case of PMS. Have you started planning your 2025 rides too?
If you are looking for a little inspiration, I might be able to help. Head over to the RoadRUNNER website and click on TOURS at the top of the page. Here, you’ll find a variety of featured tour stories, Classic Road and Destination highlights, and travel guides to help you pick locations for your next trip.
We spend an inordinate amount of time researching, planning, and riding routes throughout the U.S. and beyond, so that you have the best motorcycle tour planning resource possible.