Why I Ride and Why I Write
The first time I swung my leg over the 2015 BMW GS 1200, I felt something shift inside me. Not just gears, not just adrenaline - it was the click of freedom. At sixty-plus, I am no longer chasing speed or proving myself to anyone. What I am chasing is space: the wide-open road, the smell of rain on hot asphalt, the long hours that give me time to think, to breathe, to live.
This blog is my companion on that road. It is where I share the soul of motorcycling - not just the chrome and horsepower, but the encounters, lessons, and inner conversations that happen when the engine hums and the horizon keeps calling.
Whether you are a fellow rider, an entrepreneur balancing business and travel, or simply a dreamer curious about life on two wheels, you will find something here for you.
The Bike: My BMW GS 1200
The BMW GS 1200 is not just a motorcycle - it is a philosophy of travel. Heavy, yes, but stable like a rock on wheels. It is built for endurance, not for racing from one café to the next. Every time I turn the ignition, I feel as if I am connecting to a trusted friend. The low hum of the boxer engine is as familiar to me as my own heartbeat.
I remember one ride through the Appalachians where the fog rolled in so thick I could barely see ten meters ahead. Most bikes would have felt nervous, twitching under my hands, but the GS carried me steady, like it had faith in the road I could not see. That ride taught me something about trust - both in the machine and in myself.
Maintenance is not optional, it is part of the bond. Oil changes, tire checks, brake pads - they are rituals that keep the partnership alive. I will share how I prepare my bike for long journeys, the tools I carry, and the lessons I learned the hard way when I ignored a worn tire and had to change it while traveling in Nevada.
It cost me a lot of time and was completely avoidable. I learned my lesson.
The GS is my horse, my partner, and my teacher. Every curve, every vibration is a reminder that mastery is not control, it is harmony.
The People: Encounters That Stay With You
When you ride long distances, solitude is your constant companion. But along the road, people appear like unexpected gifts.
In Montana, I met a man named Rick at a gas station. He was in his seventies, driving an old pickup, and he asked me about my bike. That conversation turned into two hours of stories about how he once rode a Triumph across the country with nothing but a bedroll strapped to the back. Before I left, he pressed a folded map into my hands, with a circle drawn around a mountain road he said I had to see. I rode it the next day, and he was right - it was breathtaking.
In New Mexico, I shared a table at a dusty roadside café with a young couple on a Harley that looked like it had seen better days. They were chasing the sun, broke but happy, with a plan to camp their way across America. Their laughter was contagious, and when I left, I carried with me the reminder that joy is not about money, but about courage.
These encounters are not accidents. The road has a way of introducing you to the right people at the right time. In this blog, I will keep telling those stories, because every person I meet adds another color to the journey.
The Equipment: Gear That Makes It Possible
When I was younger, I thought gear was optional. Now, at sixty-plus, I know it is survival. A good helmet is not just protection - it is peace of mind. Heated gloves are not a luxury - they are the difference between enjoying a ride through Colorado in October or suffering through it.
On one trip across Wyoming, I was caught in a sudden storm. The wind howled, the temperature dropped, and I was grateful for every piece of gear I had invested in: the waterproof jacket, the Gore-Tex boots, the thermal base layer. Without them, I would have been shivering, miserable, and unsafe. With them, I was challenged, but steady.
Gadgets also play their part. A reliable GPS tracker has saved me from wrong turns more than once, but I also carry a paper map, because technology can fail. A compact camping stove, a well-packed tool kit, and a sturdy tent have made the difference between a stressful night and a memorable one.
In this blog, I will review what works, what does not, and how to choose wisely. Good gear disappears into the background - bad gear makes itself painfully known.
The Business: Earning Freedom on the Road
Many people ask me: how do you fund this lifestyle? The truth is, freedom has to be earned, and for me that means building a business that can travel with me.
The backbone of my income is my easy side business. Now you know why it's at the top of the page. It's a great way to build an additional income stream regardless of your background.
For me, it has developed into my main source of income, and I can tell you this: The leverage between time and money that I've achieved with it is great, and it gives me the freedom to take a week off occasionally without hurting my income.
I run My Easy Side-Business from the road, connected through my laptop and phone. Wi-Fi in a small motel lobby, a quick call from a roadside diner, hours spent typing while the bike cools outside - this is my office. It is not glamorous, but it is mine.
The road teaches business lessons too. Delays, breakdowns, and weather remind me to adapt quickly. Long hours in the saddle sharpen my discipline and focus. If I can ride 600 miles in a day, I can also push through the challenges of running a company.
In this blog, I will share how I balance riding with business, how mindset plays a role, and how the freedom of travel can sharpen entrepreneurial instincts.
The Nutrition: Fuel for Body and Soul
Riding all day is physically demanding. The wrong meal can ruin you. I learned this the hard way on a ride through Texas, when I gave in to the smell of a greasy burger. Two hours later, I was sluggish, heavy, and fighting to stay alert. Since then, I have treated nutrition with the same respect as bike maintenance.
I carry nuts, dried fruit, and plenty of water. I choose meals that give me steady energy, not quick spikes. And I use supplements that support stamina and recovery. A tired rider is a dangerous rider, so nutrition is not just about health - it is about safety.
I will share my routines and the products I trust, because staying strong on the road means every mile is a joy instead of a fight.
The Money: Freedom Has a Price
Gas, maintenance, insurance, gear, food, lodging - it all adds up. Some people think motorcycle travel is cheap. It is not. But it is worth every cent.
I budget carefully. I know what I can spend on hotels, when to camp, and when to splurge on a warm bed. I keep a fund for unexpected repairs, because on the road, something always happens.
But here is the truth: money spent on the road is not wasted. It buys memories, stories, and growth. It buys freedom. I will share my methods for planning costs and keeping trips sustainable, so that money never becomes a reason to stay home.
The USA: My Playground, My Teacher
The United States is a vast classroom, and every state teaches something new. The salt air of Daytona Beach is my home base, but from there I have touched mountains, deserts, forests, and prairies.
In Colorado, I learned humility as I crawled up snowy passes. In Arizona, I learned patience as the desert heat tested my limits. In the Midwest, I learned gratitude for the endless skies and kind strangers.
This blog will map routes, highlight hidden gems, and give practical advice for anyone planning their own ride. The USA is too big to conquer, but it is perfect to explore, one road at a time.
Action Plan: Your Takeaways from This Blog
1. Choose your path - Bike, business, or health, pick what speaks to you.
2. Respect the ride - Treat your motorcycle as a partner, not a tool.
3. Listen to people - The road teaches through encounters.
4. Fuel smart - Body, bike, and budget need the right fuel.
5. Dream big - ride steady - Steady miles bring big dreams to life.
Fred, Jessi & iFred - on the Road for You
On the road, living free and sharing our adventures. Fred rides, Jessi carries, and iFred connects the stories. This time, our journey taught us about living with purpose on two wheels, powered by the freedom from My Easy Side Business.
