I've ridden since I was 16 and gave up bikes when children started showing up in my life in my late 20's (my choice). My (now) wife always knew I'd had bikes and preferred bikes to cars any day. This year, at the ripe age of 39 I got back into riding, and ride every day to work (55km round trip) in all weather. I pick my 10 year old daughter up from school every day on the bike, and take either her or the wiff on rides on the weekends.
When I first showed up at work with the bike this year, I had numerous numbnuts make comments like "ahh, mid life crisis" , or the "do you know how dangerous that is" lines. The best one was my boss who took great pleasure in telling me about a "mate of his" who had decided to buy a bike (Triumph 1000+cc from memory) at 40, never having ridden before, and how he came off 2 weeks later and broken his leg, blah blah blah.. I then took great pleasure in pointing out that I've probably traveled more miles on 2 wheels than 4, and that his mate was clearly a fuckwit for buying a bike he clearly had no hope of riding properly..
I then was forced to also state that an old fat bastard like him should really give up surfing cause at his age and size as he was a danger to himself and he may get nailed by the Japanese fishing fleet..
Strangely enough, the conversation has never come back up..
My family never make any comments about the "dangers of riding" cause my 70 year old mother tootles around on a scooter (I've seen her, she's a danger to all, doesn't matter what she drives or rides) and my older sister has a bike too.
My in-laws are another whole opinionated kettle of fish though....
People should really learn that if we really wanted their opinion, we'd kick it out of them...
crickey, that post almost makes it sound like your bike isn't imaginary
This is pretty close to the truth! Although I am a cricket fan. The blackcaps have almost made me not one!!
Most people have no issues with ME riding, but the sideways looks I get when I say I take my 6yo daughter out is another matter, no one brave enough to say it to my face yet. Not sure why, I am a skinny little white guy that your average rabbit would take in a fight!
Still, been riding since 15, no plans to quit until I can't ride no more.
never had anyone suggest i give up my bike. the people i surround myself with know the bike and i are a package deal.
there is a doddery old fart at work however, who seems to take pleasure in telling me the latest bike fatality. i simply turn around and tell him i would rather die tomorrow on my bike than live to be 100 and be reliant on some nurse to wipe my arse for me. he doesnt really have a comeback to that.
my blog: http://sunsthomasandfriends.weebly.com/index.html
the really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour.
This is far from being the first thread on this topic.
I don't actually care what people think about me riding, but the ones I really can't fathom are the ones like GadgetSteve at work: he's about six months older'n me, and lectured me about how dangerous bikes (or more correctly, bike riders) were.
What kind of a life is a long and boring life lived safely?
Fuck that for a life - I'd rather die.
But the original post was right: people who don't ride, don't get it. Like AllanB, I started riding as soon as I could - scrimped, saved, did odd jobs, sold everything I could, and bought my first bike (a CB175 - it was a few years before Allan's) when I was 15. Got my licence that year too.
Dunno iffen I'll ride till I'm 95, but I'll certainly do it until my mental accuity or joints are no longer up to it.
... and that's what I think.
Or summat.
Or maybe not...
Dunno really....![]()
if you have to explain to a non rider WHY you ride, you may as well do it in Martian, because they won't understand it anyway !
Last edited by frogfeaturesFZR; 15th October 2010 at 20:28. Reason: Spell like a frog!
RSV Mille: No madam, its an Aprilia, not a Harley. If it were a Harley, I would be pushing it !
too right. Have you seen those crazy tiddly-winks players!!!??? Just try and tell them tiddly-winks is over-compensating for something and they should play a man's sport like chess! I still have to have a band-aid on my left testicle from the bite marks!
Parents with boats are betterEspecially when they're too busy to take it out and say "as long as it's getting used"
Find by me.
Well at least I'm not an imaginary person!!!! So there!!! haha
To tell you the truth I've often thought about whether I would take me kids (well kid at this stage) on a bike. Off road definitely, on road I'm not too sure. Dunno what it is. I suppose it comes down to if I went to avoid something I'm prepared to sacrifice myself and an adult pillion but I'd feel my kids wouldn't really no what to do.
If they start riding themselves from a stupidly young age, sweet, they'll learn themselves what to do. Which reminds me, I really should get the pocket bike going for the little one. He'll be 1 in Feb so don't want him to grow out of it![]()
My Business partner is a multi millionaire, absoutly hates bikes, with a passion, takes great delight in telling me all the latest fatalities. His passion is Tv and golf, thats it, tv and golf, he even took life insurance out on me in case i wipe out!!! I just ignore him now, never tell him about my travels and the great people i meet and the places I go. My parents are in there sixties and think it is great, in fact they know how much it means to me and I have even taken them for rides. When people understand you, they understand you! There is no point even trying to convince those that don't understand. So I don't....
Much like operatic society,some like it others don't.
Hello officer put it on my tab
Don't steal the government hates competition.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Bookmarks