Rode into a sort-of panic situation.

[dentheman]

I went for my usual, twisty road ride yesterday. All went well, until I got this smart idea to explore a 'county road' that I had never been on. Usually, county roads are rideable, even for my Shadow, but they will have their moments that put my cruiser (and me) to the test.

This road started with gravel, not too bad, but then it transformed into a mostly dirt road with ruts running its length. There wasn't a center crown to ride on, it was all ruts, pulling my grips one way then another. That got the adrenaline flowing; but then it got worse. Approaching a sharp curve I see sand. Not just a layer of sand, but the curve is made of deep sand, and turning my front wheel doesn't do much more than plow a furrow. And the rear end is fishtailing from side to side. First my right foot goes down, then my left, in quick succession, in panicky attempts to stay upright. I made it through that OK, but faced five or six more long, deep, sand pits as I rode, requiring the same actions on my part. When there wasn't sand, there were those ruts to contend with. The road took control of where the bike went. I thought about turning back, but then would have to go back through it all again. Maybe the road gets better ahead. No such luck. Maybe the highway is just ahead. No such luck. The road meanders throughout the county, past the most ramshackle habitations that I have ever seen. The closest Texas comes to hillbilly-land, I was thinking.

Finally I see a stop sign ahead. It is the highway! I have been saved!

I bought the Shadow as my first bike, to learn highway riding. Little did I know that my preference would turn to exploring the back roads. I'm not saying I won't do this again, it was invigorating, ONCE IT WAS OVER! And I felt the satisfaction of overcoming my most challenging ride to date. But in a few months I will be looking for a bike more suitable for this kind of riding.