Passion, Experience & Growth

Faster

September 25, 2006

“I fell in love with the sweet sensation” — Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - What Ever Happened To My Rock And Roll (Punk Song)

Late in 2006, I was still a brand new rider, but all of a sudden, 35 mph felt like 25, 55 felt like 35, and 75 felt like 50. Blasting up to 11,000 RPM, acceleration still seemed “slow.”

I have a theory….

Two weekends in a row, I had watched, Faster, a retrospective on MotoGP—world class motorcycle racing. Something about the music, the filming, the history, the rivalry, the bikes… and the speed. I had to do it again; watching "high-sides" frame by frame to see where it all went wrong.

It all had an impact: I absorbed the speed, faced my fears and, obsessed on the intro music. For me, it perfectly captured the thrill of motorcycling at the limit, even though I hadn’t been there… yet.

Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘n’ Roll

by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Spoken: 1…2…3…4!

You want a part of me

You want the whole thing

You want to feel something more than I could ever bring

You want it badly

You want it tangled

I want to feel something more than I was strangled

I fell in love with the sweet sensation

I gave my heart to a simple chord

I gave my soul to a new religion

Whatever happened to you?

Whatever happened to our rock’n’roll?

Whatever happened to my rock’n’roll?

She wants it hallow

She wants it tainted

She wants to feel something more than she was naked

You want to hide away

You’re scared to touch it

I want to feel something more than I care to take

I fell in love with the sweet sensation

I gave my heart to a simple chord

I gave my soul to a new religion

Whatever happened to you?

Whatever happened to our rock’n’roll?

Whatever happened to my rock’n’roll?

She wants your image

She wants your kiss

She wants to get inside your head and tell it like it is

You want it badly

You want it so complete

I want to feel something more cos I can’t fuckin’ breathe

I fell in love with the sweet sensation

I gave my heart to a simple chord

I gave my soul to a new religion

Whatever happened to you?

Whatever happened to our rock’n’roll?

Whatever happened to my rock’n’roll?

Months before, I wondered aloud if anyone has written about “rider’s high”—the answer in this song is an emphatic, yes! And, while “I fell in love with the sweet sensation” could have a lot of interpretations, all bikers will agree on what this is all about for them. Harley riders may have first coined the phrase, but motorcyclists of all sorts have adopted it… “if I had to explain it, you wouldn’t understand.” This sensation is part of the reason why. It can’t be described. It can only be experienced.

So, my theory is that watching MotoGP racers at 200 mph, blowing through turns at 150 mph, over and over again, reset my expectations for what “fast” is.

Now, I want to go faster!