A 'For Sale', and a general goodbye

[jrandom]

OK, guys. I've had a bit of an 'experience'.

Coming down the northwestern motorway this morning, filtering along, I was feeling pretty energetic. Came up behind a CBR6, swapped into lane 1A, and pulled ahead of him. He decided it was a race, so I thought 'what the hell', and it was all on.

130-ish through very slow traffic around St Lukes, and it was getting pretty hairy. I have no idea what I was thinking, but I was just going with the flow, you know?

And then this truck pulls over in front of him. I saw it happen, he was slightly ahead of me at the time. He had *nowhere* to go. I hit the picks at the same time he did.

I think he used up 8 of his 9 lives, right there. He stoppied, bigtime, right up between the lanes, right up to the back of this truck. I swear I saw a puff of smoke come off his front tyre. He was still moving pretty quick on the front wheel 20 meters or so before he would have hit. Perhaps Rossi is visiting Auckland and commuting on a CBR6 and nobody's mentioned it, because this bloke then managed to put the back wheel down, find a gap to the right, and squirt down the tiny bit of space next to the concrete barrier. We both sort of pulled back into the fast lane together, looked at each other, and wobbled off toward town. I didn't see him again, I think he left the motorway at Newton Road.

Basically, I'm kicking myself. I don't know why I did that, and I sure as hell know that neither I nor my bike would be capable of what that dude on the Honda just did.

And it's had an effect on me. I've just been sitting here, at my desk, thinking about it for a couple of hours, and I know that much as I've loved (and believe me, I really have) riding, I just don't think I can control myself as well as I should. Most of the time I can, but it's that last 1%, the one where I *think* it'll be fine... I don't think I can handle the thought of what might happen.

So, I guess this is it, guys. The Zeal's up for sale, I know quite a few of you are keen on it.

I'll put up a thread in the trading section shortly.

Best wishes, happy riding, and a long and prosperous life to all of you.

Dan out.

[Lou Girardin]

That's sad to hear. Maybe a coffee and some deep breaths combined with an hour or two on this site will change your mind.

[Paul in NZ]

Sorry...

Don't get this? You are selling your bike because someone else is a better rider or because you let the red mist control you for a bit... Um... Are you giving up on cars as well because this is all about self control...

Dan, we all do dumb shit every day. Yours was very dumb of course (no ned to thank me) but how do you think you get to be an old and experienced rider? You will most likely never do that again... You learnt something.

Besides, when I started to ride I had 2 mates that were like the other guy. I worshipped their ability and was dead jealous. Neither of them ride now, it turns out they were not better than me, just LOT luckier and a little braver. As soon as their luck ran out one day they gave up because they suddenly realised what they were all about...

Don't sweat it, what ever you decide but. MAKE SURE it is a rational decision.

Cheers

[svs]

a bit drastic don't you think. After all hopefully you should have learnt something from this. After all you did walk (ride/wobble) away from it and now you are wiser and smarter because of it

Give it a bit of time and see how it goes, but as ever it's your life, and you should do what you want to do. Don't let people like me pressure you into riding, when your hearts not in it.

[TonyB]

Sit yourself down, and crack open a can of fermented hops, yeast and dihydrogen monoxide. Sense will prevail, it'll wear off- prolly at about lunch time.

[Marmoot]

Not an april fools?

[Krusti]

Bye Bye, Can I have your Rep points?

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do....It's up to you....when ya in the poooo....buy a bike like summit new...Oh shit I haven't a clue.

[Joni]

Mate if you need to sit down and talk... give me a yell! As mentioned before make sure the deicsions you make are not based on emotion and are what will benefit you going into the future...

[bugjuice]

apr 1 me thinks..

[Joni]

apr 1 me thinks..

Hmm, come to think of it....mabbe!

[MSTRS:Me]

check my siggy............then read this...........

[bungbung]

Definitely April the 1st. Nice one Dan.

[pyrocam]

I think I can understand your feeling, but shit man. dont give up something so important so hastily.

We all know that after a close call we ride much more carefully after that.

I think youd be pretty gutted a little while after you sold your bike.

but hey, I dont know. ill know youve got years of experience ahead of me.

Good luck and I hope you do what ever makes you happy.

Cheers

[cammo]

check my siggy............then read this...........

dude thats sooo sick...but i was laughing all the way too the end...hahahaha.

i think wer all april fools...i dont believe ull sell your bike!!! its far too addictive(?) ridng a bike!!!

[crashe]

hey you know that you dont normally ride like that...
that this was a one off.

It wasnt you that had the close call it was the other rider.

Dont be hasty in thinking of selling the bike...
take a day or two to think about it... wait til after the weekend.
Then decide.

But in the end only you can decide what you want to do.
All the best.


PS: if this a April fools day thing.... you are gonna get it big time...lol.