Why I Ride. Pt. 1 Youth, Hero & Friends.

Thinking back on my first motorcycle, my first ride … the hook , youth , friendship my late Grandfather rode , The Hero.
The cover shot is from lockdown . My old 1340 evo ‘Jolene’ on the left and my great friend Dougle’s old Harley too . The morning after a wild camp sleeping under the stars in just our bags in Norfolk U.K

[@MotoMark55]

Beautiful words mate 👏 Describes it all perfectly. I'm just back from a solo trip to Europe. 8 countries, 8 days & 2000 miles covered. I returned home with a sense of inner peace & contentment I don't think I could have found by any other means. Keep up the good work 👍

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thank you dude . Wow that’s some going !!! I bet your brain is buzzing and body feeling it . But I hear you … it takes it out of you but also leaves you completely rejuvenated! Best wishes

[@MerrittW]

So very true to many of us 👍

[@YogiMoto108]

As a lifelong biker (currently over 30 years) I absolutely loved this video! Very relatable and highly entertaining. Thanks 🙏 for sharing!

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Appreciate that man ! Happy safe travels to you .

[@Glasshousebc]

“A car will turn you into an arsehole” Best quote ever.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

It’ll read well on my headstone. Haha cheers for watching

[@nsoul8469]

Just fabulous.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers mate !!!!

[@scrrification]

Great story, perfectly narrated!

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thank you !

[@scottgillingham9363]

BEM ! Love it and your lifelong passion. Be safe and keep riding !

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thanks mate … best wishes from us both

[@stephencartwright5046]

Yes 🙏

[@SteveM109r]

Amazing. So many points we can all relate to. Ride on !

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers mate !!!

[@ScottNelson-nk4sx]

Bloody brilliant.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thank you mate

[@charliebaker3389]

Really good film. Make another one.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers fella .

[@luckyone8793]

That was brilliant! It was over too soon! Looking forward to the next episode!

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Hey thanks , glad you liked it

[@lmj5994]

Awesome

[@paulharrison8155]

Wise Words 👍

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers pal !

[@Robinsonfamilyadventure]

Love this… great video ❤

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers you guys !

[@kseth6992]

That’s quite a producton mate ! Solid words .

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Many thanks 🙏

[@jeffsnell6372]

Well done, well said, and well lived my brother!

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thank you dude . Best wishes

[@Rad_Rider]

Perfection

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers!!

[@andyshaw5378]

Excellent stuff mate. Connect with everything you said. Stay safe.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Appreciate you taking time to say .. happy and safe travels back at you mate

[@drewdaism_]

Well wasn’t this just fantastic 👍🏼

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thanks dude .

[@JimmyBlack3308]

Beautiful! You have a penchant for picking the right roads. If you ever wish to ride in India, reply to this message and I’d love to show you around. The quaint back country roads. Not the busy expressways. Ride safe ✌️

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thank you 🙏 It’s on our bucket list for sure and hopefully one day . Best wishes safe happy travels

[@FrensTimmerpens]

It's so true! I recognize this words myself. I drive motorbike since more than 40 years now. It never get boring...! I did a few tarmac tests...broke 11 ribs, collapse lung, perforated liver ...and so on, 1th of April 2006. In September I drove again. Did some stupid things and broke in 2 years (2018+19) tree ribs again and again. But.....I can't quitte!!! its a "decease" thats never heal....luckily:-) Tnxs for your artistic video's.....

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Glad you passed the tests and got straight back up fighting … thanks for kind words … appreciate that .

[@Fradant123]

GREAT VIDEO ! 🤩

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

🙏 many thanks

[@markmoffett6813]

That was heavy , deep , and so true

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Haha … thanks mate …

[@ALPHAFTUCK]

It's true!

[@kennethcalimpong7919]

Hi Lean into the Wind, Liked & Subscribed, lnspired & look forward to all your content, Ride Hard💪🏼Be Blessed 🙏🏽Aloha, Kenneth 🤙🏽

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Many thanks .🙏 happy safe travels to you and best wishes

[@frankmorris2603]

Puppy memories. The good ones are what drives us. This roundup of motorcycling is 100% accurate. 👍

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Many thanks for watching … Too right .. Best wishes mate .

[@davidperkins1765]

Wow, I’ve listened to some stuff in my time, but what an inspirational 6 minutes or so. You must do more of this!! As much as I wanted a bike when I was younger, it just never happened. Job, young family, but the desire never went away, I’m now making up for it as best I can. Keep those videos coming, they’re brilliant.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

That comment .. literally made the whole day editing those 6 minutes totally worth it , I’ve never done the voice over recording thingy , but it was a challenge! Thanks so much for the kind words . Safe travels . Enjoy

[@davidperkins1765]

Hope in some small way it’s given you the confidence to know what you have to say rings true to so many people and resonates with us. Really like the music too! Look forward to more. Kindest regards to Lisa, Megan and all the family .

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

@@davidperkins1765 Thank you 🙏. And from us all back at you … the absolute best .

[@sportsmanjohn8143]

Motorcycles and travelling by bike summed up perfectly 👌. Next May, I'll have been riding 50 years, and boy, some of the stories I could tell. I've enjoyed it all. Looking forward to part 2, 👍.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

50 years that’s incredible and that must be a few books worth ! Cheers for watching and taking time to write ! Best wishes

[@marcbrandvoll9390]

Poetic words from the heart . Fabulous. Thanks for sharing, truly appreciated.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thanks for the support , much appreciated! Best wishes

[@hoozleup]

Spot on mate, whenever I need some mental clarity I jump on one of my bikes. Best place ever to think things through. I prefer solo riding now (to group rides), nothing to prove, ride your own ride. On another note - where was that place with all the rubbish on the side of the road?! They need a kick up the arse. Great video keep it up, some of the best stuff on YT.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thanks for watching. Yeah I hear you . I don’t ride in groups . Done it a fair bit in past just with my mates on trips .. but we all have our own pace , not just In riding , In eating , waking , lifestyles , with just the Mrs on the back we see a lot more stop / leave when we want .. oh the rubbish , Sicily , the mafia in charge of rubbish clearance , I don’t know the whole story but I kinda heard they kinda took all the money but don’t do the job So outside lots of towns They seem to pick a road and just dump it there , the locals just pull up Whole family waves at you as they chucking all their shit out the back of their cars , The smell is insane , and rats scurry across road . That clip was not the worst we saw by far , at one point Only the white line was left Cars couldn’t get by We just bout got through on bike Bout 2ft of road left

[@darrenoconnor9446]

Right that's it fuck work I'm packing a bag

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Have fun !!

[@theguitaristas]

Brilliant mate 🙌 💯

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers Colin … must catch up soon pal , Life is a little more grounded now . Best wishes

[@Mikethebike721]

There’s real poetry in what you do which is probably why I am so drawn to your videos. And I love that rebellious instinct in your nature which seems to have emerged at a young age. It all adds up to refreshing originality in your work. There is a book in you somewhere….

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Way too kind … thank you .. can I just say , coming from someone who can put together a comment like that, it means so much more . Best wishes..

[@BrotherShev]

Dude, this was fucking awesome.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Many thanks, was fun to make

[@harleydelaware6338]

Truely humbling and honest video, hit the spot after a hard day at work. I ride for exactly the same reasons, its pure escapism from the daily meat grinder! On my third HD now, 2 sportys and now on a Sport Glide and just like you and Lisa much prefer riding. Most of mine is pillion with my good lady, trying to build up to longer distances...keep up the good work! By the way loved your video of Rye and Dungeness - my frequent riding roads!

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thanks for taking time to comment , appreciate that . Love those Sport Glides . Perfect for those roads round your way too . It’s a beautiful area . Best wishes from us both .

[@harleydelaware6338]

@@LeanIntoTheWind Cheers, Best Wishes to you both too.

[@DanHorbury]

🔥🔥🔥

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers Dan ❤

[@UncleLongbeard]

well said my friend

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thank you . I hope you’re holding up through tough times . Best wishes mate

[@UncleLongbeard]

@@LeanIntoTheWind I'm much better thanks mate. Still, this year will be almost wasted. Nevertheless I'm not dead and riding my bike.

[@johnyoung6498]

Nice one Lean into the Wind, F**kin A. We are the beneficiaries of chance, choose life. What saves you is to take a step, then another step. Thats when your adventures begin.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Spot on John ! Wise words … best wishes to you

[@Christian675rx]

B.E.M too true. Like it might have to borrow that one. Road king looks ace dude. All the best

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Haha … It sums up ‘The Motorcycle’ . Cheers mate ..

[@swiftcaution5170]

How wise you are my English brother.. i will be watching this again.. and I agree with someone else who commented and said there is a book in you! Thank you Mark 👊🏻

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Too kind .. but thank you 🙏 best wishes

[@danielcarroccia1042]

Cool vid bloke

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers for watching ❤

[@XxMsrSzprzxX]

Loved watching and listening to this. A lot resonates with me particularly what I think of cars. I too cannot imagine driving for several hours straight but I reckon I could bike that. For me, the motorcycle is the natural evolutionary step from horse riding we've done for thousands of years. There's always a feeling of disconnect in a car. Have you ever been in a long car journey, then arrived and actually stepped out THEN felt the difference in the atmosphere? I have, drives from Boston to Peterborough when I was a kid with my parents, I only felt the difference when I actually got out, on a bike it would be one long continuous flow of change. Not many people get that, maybe its a thing us January babies understand. Cars have their use and its great that some people love driving for 10 hours a day, someone's got to deliver my riding gear after all. Thank you Mark.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Thanks for such an excellent comment, nah I’ve never driven that long , England is too short … but I can understand and imagine…. But even a 10 hour drive , makes me crazy , if we drive anywhere really far .. I used to drive over night The kids would sleep and I’d listen to an audiobook. Rather than deal with the traffic jams and the fruitcakes . Obviously a lot of what I said about car drivers is tongue in cheek .. but again not really . People loose their marbles in a car . But yeah someone had too .. and some van take it . Most Lorry drivers are superb gentlemen on the road , they’ll always give room for a biker lane splitting etc , where as some cars will pull in and make the gap tighter hah . Thanks again , great words

[@HarleytheBandit]

Perfect brother. My Dad and Uncle used to ride, not sure about my grandad as he died when I was a toddler so can't really remember much about him but 100% agree that the bike gives you freedom the car doesn't. Suffering from mental health (following cancer) the bike is my escape from everyday stress and as you say, once you're on the bike, the only thing that you're thinking about is what you are doing and staying alive on the mean streets. One thing though, as I'm getting older, I'm feeling the cold a hell of a lot more, maybe its from the chemo or just getting older, I don't know but at the end of a days riding, its a nice warm bed I need, not a tent ..

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers pal . Sorry to hear you been through all that struggle and want to wish you a full complete recovery dude , that must be the stress of all stress . Power to you for your strength ! Yeah that chemo could well be the cause of you feeling the cold … tbh Friday night was not cold at all , damp and wet , but I didn’t get much sleep as the foxes were crying and doing that crazy fox sound , so yesterday making this video I was running on two hours sleep , hence the rambling . Best wishes & good health to you from us both .

[@HarleytheBandit]

@@LeanIntoTheWind Thank you both, that means a lot, I'm a fighter and wont give up. TBH, I had a minor heart attack a month before being diagnosed with the cancer and have so far (touch wood) beat them both and come out the other side but my problem is, I can't or very rarely open up and talk which is probably the major cause of the mental health and depression but as soon as I'm out on the bike, my world changes. My eldest son rides too (typically, just after I set this account up as Harley & the Bandit, he sold his Bandit and R1 and bought a Ducati 1200 Multistrada with full tour package) and tries to get me out as much as possible and we are hoping to do a tour of France and Spain, maybe more next year if funds allow (another reason for setting this page up) but still need a decent quality wireless mic as I can't post all the videos with no commentary as my subscibers seem to show (still stuck on 11) God knows how you managed on two hours sleep lol, I need a good 8 hours each night Anyway, thanks again for your well wishes and my very best wishes to you both and to Meghan. Ride safe ❤

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

@@HarleytheBandit so now it’s ‘Harley & The Duke’ !!! Stay strong bro .. 👊 and get that mic when you can . It’ll make huge difference..

[@HarleytheBandit]

@@LeanIntoTheWind Nah, I'll just give my son the nickname "the Bandit" lol and thank you, both of you.

[@johnvanbeek5671]

Well said. I guess I’m 50% asshole then 😂

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Yeah guilty here I got a car too haha

[@camouflage962]

yes,

[@robertdaley1194]

Two wheels good ,four wheels bad.😊You poet Mark .B.E.M.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Haha … Why thank you Robert . Best wishes

[@dpinedoblog]

I really enjoyed your stories and the comparison of cars and motorcycles. Freeze to death? Still better than a car! Cars are like social media - people ride nice looking cars they cannot afford to show off, but hide behind the metal to act like jerks. No accountability.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Well said that man ! Cheers bro

[@panam13stx]

Hello,, so so so true. i used to borrow my dad's step-through when he went to the pub on the night & that was every night and that's the last of him. But he did say if you want a bike here it is , it was a bsa bantam in boxes & said son if you want it you build it. Still at school no clue in mechanics but i managed . that was my intro to bikes.. We are just a week back from our trip to Sweden,Denmark , Germany then the Netherlands . Got soaked going to the ferry but after that it was a nice sunny trip. the wife didn't get a lot of gopro film she said it wasn't for her, so I must start doing it myself.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Great story right there … and incredible you got it together at such a young age . Great introduction! Glad the trip went well , why does it always rain on the first day haha I guess it’s to see how much you really want to go ! GoPro is not for everyone, at first it can feel like a lot of messing around , on the Italy trip I wasn’t that into it , I think you only actually get ‘into’ it , once you edited it and made something out of the hours of what feels like a lot of nothing . Only then did I or Lisa tbh Get into it . Best wishes from us both , really sounds like some trip that !

[@RichieTerry]

I waited until 35 to get my first bike. It's only been 6 months of riding and all I can say is what a waste of all the years leading up until now.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Hey , you’re here man ! Well done for finding out the magic !

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

I got mates I known since we were kids been talkin bout passing bike test all that time and are now 50 still talking about sorting it soon . Happy safe travels

[@ttff4385]

🥰

[@Tired_wirey_brandy_look.]

Awesome. Moving and funny too. LOVED it. The story about your grandad was especially poignant. Just my opinion, people?.... 90% good 10% arseholes.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Haha you probably right there , but I didn’t want to upset too many people. My Grandad was a legend and a real kind soul , I could re tell some of his stories for hours , it was hard to even mention him and keep it to a minute. Thanks a lot for taking time to leave such a great comment

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Whoops I thought you said 90 % arsehole and 10% good I’d love to retract my comment . But there it is , my only defence is I live in a town that resembles the tv show TOWIE . Forgive me … ❤

[@clemfandango9534]

F%cking awesome. 👍

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Cheers dude !!!!

[@DDeaduck]

Always wondered why you do what you do! and now I know👌 eloquently put voice full of meaning and passion I will never watch you riding in lashing down cold and rain and think you are mad again👍 keep doing what you are doing (and hats off to the other half for always being there) may you forever “lean into the wind” 💪🫶

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Haha now you know . Thanks 🙏 best wishes to you from us two

[@user-mk5zo7tx1r]

Wow! Two words Mark. I conquer. Motorcycle is my life. We get it. Well put and great video. I’m off on my motorcycle now. Thank you for sharing.

[@LeanIntoTheWind]

Enjoy the ride !!! ❤ Cheers for the kind words