Mine’s got a Steering Wheel Too

This is an old NASCAR tale made new by a recent tandem ride with the bride.

Back in the heyday, seems Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace had a few on track skirmishes. Apparently Mr. Wallace, who was known to be quite loquacious aka whiny, was mouthing off about an alleged incident where Mr. Earnhardt had spun him into the fence. Rusty was all hot and bothered, saying things like Earnhardt was going to kill someone, and he wasn’t going to take it, and Earnhardt better watch his back. Of course the TV reporters were taping every word. It made for good press. Almost as good as wrasslin.

Wasn’t too hard to predict that the same reporter made his way down pit lane, and relayed every word to Dale. Only Earnhardt had no comment, just that old crooked grin. After about the third attempt to get any comment, worded something like “Rusty says he’s going to put you in the wall”, Dale’s dry comment was “Mine’s got a steering wheel, too”.

So, dear bride and I are doing a casual ride in our new home town on Sunday morning. We come to an intersection where we can go right up a slight hill, or left straight back to the car. It’s a beautiful morning and we have only ridden about ten miles, so naturally I head up the hill. Now, said bride is real big on communication on the tandem. Stuff like, we’re stopping, or turn right or left, or even some indication that I am about to stand. She’s just needy about that kind of stuff.

Normally, she is the perfect stoker, perfectly balanced and still. But in this instance, as I make the slight weight shift and handlebar countersteer to head right, she who must be obeyed takes one look at the hill and does a massive weight shift left. Who says the stoker can’t steer the bike. Only problem is that as I am being swung to the left to stay on the bike, I am looking straight into the grill of an oncoming jeep. Quick countermove back to the right to avoid jeep, and another quick move to come to a stop.

Pardon me, but I didn’t take the time to explain all that whilst in action. You may read a slightly different version over at wersquared.wordpress.com. Funny how different perspective can be when we were only inches apart.

So, I steered, she steered, I steered…..hence the mine has a steering wheel too.

Marriage is kind of like that, yes? Everyone has their input, you gather it back up, and head on off down the road.

Advertisement