Wrong Boots

The boots I'm wearing are all wrong. No hooks and laces. No heavy lug sole. And what's with this fleece lining? Snow boots. Phooey. I long for bike boots.

Cabin fever holds extra agonies for us motorcyclists. It's been at least three months too long since my husband Bob and I have been on two wheels. Two on two. That's how we ride.

Now it's the doldrums of late winter and bikers across the Snow Belt are aching for the turn of seasons. While snow blowers still roar, we dream of rumbling pipes wistful for the road. Winds may still be whipping up drifts but we long for the rush of heading down our favorite byway.

In Northeast Ohio the riding season lasts maybe six months and includes lots of rain days. Sometimes November gives us bonus time. Giddy stuff, I say – as if we've gotten away with stealing treasure from the goblin king.

Now we face the dullest of days before riding season truly begins again hopefully by mid-April. How do we pass the time? My husband and I are hoping the following actions will actually shoo out the snow and raise the ambient temperature so we can get on the road. Please offer your own suggestions, too – we may have a long wait ahead of us.

· Bob is going out to the garage and folding back the blanket to polish our steel steed. Some of his favorite products are the line from Mothers.

· I'm getting out the maps to plan some 2010 escapes and escapades. I might use Google Maps where I can save routes and share some favorites with my brother in law and daughter. There's a few other riders in my clan.

· Before we really head out we'll review safety practices – like how to handle those turns where the snow plows have left a swathe of dirt and gravel! It never hurts to refresh the skills. The Ohio Dept of Public Safety offers a lot of information for bikers at http://www.motorcycle.ohio.gov/. They have a link for the skills courses held at Lakeland Community College every spring through fall.

· We're thinking of contributing to the economic recovery by shopping the local stores and online catalogs for some new gear or bike products. Check out some of the latest and greatest motorcycle products of 2009 at webBikeWorld.com.

Y'know – I think I'm going to get those riding boots out and wear 'em. They'll look just fine with my winter coat and I'll feel like I'm that much closer to being back on the road. And they say the temps are looking up next week. Maybe we can even sneak in a quick spin around town for a taste of what's to come - days and days of cruising.