The Tao of the Ride: Motorcycles and the Mechanics of the Soul

Author Garri Garripoli examines movement through life, which he terms "the Ride," with a capital R. The Tao of the Ride is Garripoli's deft interpretation of the two worlds of motorcycling and Eastern spirituality, and the relationship between them. In his view, readers can best understand the Ride as it refers to the motorcycle: the need for balance, the confronting of one's own mortality, accelerating, braking, refueling, tuning-up, accepting passengers, being in accidents, and on and on. To that end, the motorcycle becomes the metaphor for freedom - whatever it is that returns us to our natural selves. This metaphor then serves to illustrate principles of Eastern spirituality, including such timeless Chinese philosophies and concepts as Tao and Qi, to name but a few. Tao entails living in a natural way, accepting nature and following its rhythms - in short, Tao is balance and acceptance. Qi is the life force, the cosmic energy that flows through every human being. The metaphor of motorcycling, which requires balance, acceptance and evenly flowing energy, illustrates these principles effectively and concisely.

The Tao of the Ride, with its unique and down-to-earth metaphor, illuminates with crystal clarity and offbeat humor heretofore elusive Eastern philosophical precepts. Its division into concise, easy-to-read chapters, presented with humor, joy and wisdom, render it accessible and especially inviting.

Whether they hail from the beat generation or generation X, whether they drive Fatboys or minivans, all readers who enjoy Eastern philosophy and crave a better, more down-to-earth understanding of it will love this book. The Tao of the Ride, a handbook for the Ride of life, will take readers beyond motorcycles and into the mechanics of the soul. It is destined to become a must-read, New Age classic.

GARRI GARRIPOLI left a full scholarship in pre-med at the University of Colorado during the mid-1970s to study with a renowned master of Eastern healing in Hawaii. These years of his life began a journey that kept one of his feet in the mystical world and the other in the business world. A Harley-Davidson riding entrepreneur in television production and computer-graphics and software development, Garripoli is an Emmy Award-winning producer who has worked with such diverse people as Gene Roddenberry, Madonna, Bobby Goldsboro and Timothy Leary. His passionate studies in traditional Chinese medicine and alternative healing modalities are reflected in his varied work for Public Television. A long-time practitioner of Qigong, Garripoli has traveled extensively throughout China and the world writing his books, television and film scripts and articles for martial arts magazines.