Peter Egan
For a generation of motorcycle enthusiasts, Peter Egan represented something of a revelation. Here was someone who spoke their language, who found ways to escape the chill of winter to bring them with him across the country, eloquently describing through the pages of Cycle World the flat expanses, curving mountain roads, and scenic coastlines he traveled, often with his wife, Barbara. Egan’s writing first appeared in Cycle World in 1977, and he was a regular fixture in the publication for decades. For the foreword of “Leanings 2,” the second compilation of Egan’s feature stories and slice-of-life columns, longtime Editor-in-Chief David Edwards described his friend and riding buddy as “the perfect writer” for CW, adding, “Peter’s love of motorcycling is deep and non-denominational.” Peter has documented many of his road trips, including detailed accounts of the failings of the vehicles, interactions with the people with whom he traveled, and the characters and weather he encountered along the way. Peter and Barb still live in Wisconsin, near Madison, and we are grateful that he has agreed to join us on this episode of “Driven To Ride” to share some of his lifetime of experiences.