Book Review: The Ride So Far: Tales from a Motorcycling Life
A good storyteller draws the listener into the story; like a campfire next to a tent after a long day on two wheels draws a tired rider. Motorcyclists have been telling stories since the first kickstand hit the dirt. The Ride So Far: Tales from a Motorcycling Life draws the reader into the world of author Lance Oliver. He takes you along on the ride; wherever that may be. Whether on the road in America, Mexico or the racetrack you are there for the ride. This is an enjoyable collection of stories divided into two parts: Great Places & Memorable Rides and Ruminations & Meditations. The author writes of road trips, observations and shaggy dog stories, all with a motorcycle theme.
I hope you enjoy these tales and that at some point they make you nod in recognition and say, “Yes, that’s just the way it feels.” I also hope they inspire you to get out and live some new motorcycle stories of your own.
This is not a turn by turn travel guide or a go here and do these sorts of things motorcycle guide book, but you can glean some good roads from the stories Lance presents. His style represents a laid back approach to life and riding. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the motorcycle life.
Whitehorse Press
Title: The Ride So Far
Subtitle: Tales from a Motorcycling Life
ISBN: 978-1-884313-88-2
Author: Lance Oliver
Binding: Hardcover
Format: 5.25 x 8 inches
Pages: 224
Art: B&W drawings and photos
Price: $24.95
Publication Date: October 15, 2010
The Harley-Davidson Reader: Foreword by Jean Davidson granddaughter of founder Walter Davidson
Although this book has been on the shelf for quite some time it contains enough hidden gems to make it a worthwhile read. Motorbooks collected various texts from the usual suspects such as Hunter S. Thompson and Sonny Barger and more esoteric writers such as Evel Knievel, Arlen Ness, Brock Yates and more. Also included are works of fiction such as Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle by Victor Appleton and The Grandstand Complex by Horace McCoy.
The Harley-Davidson Reader is also chock full of illustrations in the form of numerous full page color and black and white motorcycle photographs, smaller black and whites of old bikes, racetrack and movie posters and advertisements from days gone by. Also included are numerous examples of Evel Knievel product illustrations from the 1970’s. God, that brought back some memories. I saved some of my old Hot Wheels and stuff, but the Evel Knievel toys didn’t stand a chance. To emulate the famed daredevil us kids launched that stuff loaded with sparklers, cherry bombs and good old gasoline. I’ll never forget the look on my Moms face when she saw the melted mass of plastic that had been Evels’ Snake River Canyon Jumper at my birthday party a few hours before.
Editor Michael Dregni covers the myth and the legend behind our favorite brand of motorcycle with several eye opening articles. Do you know the year when the Motor Company’s first motorcycle was made? Do you really? You might be surprised. How about the old stories revolving around Elvis Presley and his two wheeled love affair with Harley? Where is his first Harley today? Did he really get a bike as a gift from James Dean? The answers to these fun facts and more are included. I highly recommend this great collection about the legendary Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Format: Paperback, 348 Pages
ISBN: 9780760337127
Publisher: Motorbooks
Illustrations: 197 color photos
Size: 8 x 9 x .9375
Published: February 7th 2010
Price: $19.99
