Rick has been an avid motorcycle rider since he was fifteen. His mother had hoped that none of her sons would ever own a motorcycle. She was horrified when Randy purchased a Suzuki 200 cc Street Rambler; relieved when he decided to sell it and buy a car; dejected when Rick bought the motorcycle from his older brother. I, too, had a love affair with a couple of deux roues when I was a teenager: a black Solex at first, then I “graduated” to a classic blue Mobylette. But those days are over for me: I traded helmet hair for the comfort and rain protection afforded by enclosed vehicles.
Motorcycles and scooters are a favored mean of transportation for many people in Paris: commuting at peak hours is more efficient than when traveling by car and they are much easier to park. Whenever we run across a herd of motorcycles parked on the street, Rick can’t resist checking them out a length. My interest wears off very quickly but I have found an entertaining way to keep myself occupied until he is done: I look into the bikes rear view mirrors hoping to catch an interesting reflection or an unusual architectural detail. Quelquefois, j’ai de la chance…
Vocabulary
Le deux roues: vehicle with two wheels (bicycle, motorcycle, etc.)
Quelquefois, j’ai de la chance: sometimes I am lucky