Are you a REAL biker?

[dpex]

I ride my bike for my daily work.....I do in-home consultations for a product. About 20 per week, so I get around a bit. My product is an eco-thing, so when I rock up on old Zimmer Frame my intro is always, 'Eco-warriors at your service.'

This kinda breaks the ice of some utterly unknown (me) rocking up on a bike instead of in a Porsche or similar. In fact I could rock up in my car but I far prefer to ride.

My market tends to be older folk so an old cunt like me rocking up on what 'they' perceive to be a hot bit (race number/team-name displayed) often starts a talking-point; always good when you're selling stuff.

They ask about stuff. I rattle on with the juicy bits. Then we're done and I flip my leg over Zimmer, to go the the next, and it's kinda like getting home.

She's an old banger, but then so am I. But we now have a working relationship which has developed out of untold road miles and sundry track miles; both racing and messing about. I now know where the 'fuck-you' points are on dry and wet, shingle and stones.

It's now a pretty rare event that I misjudge a surface situation. But it happens, and old Zimmer gives me a wake-up call. It's kinda like the wife. You just know when you've pushed too far and you get the teach.

And so I think it's fair to say I have some sort of relationship with this bike, one which allows me to now feel the slightest nuances of her annoyance at me failing to contain my control within her parameters.

Mind you, I have recently put on a set of second-hand Contis. Bugger me but they're sticky tyres.

I know this sounds sick, like religious shit, but after every ride I always pat my seat and say, 'Thanks Zim. Good ride.'

You'll appreciate that I have only ever been able to do that because at the end of each ride Zim and I are still in one piece.

May it continue.

[elle-f]

I dunno (original question) but I have loved every bike I have owned....I dunno what that makes me but I would think most are like that in here. Maybe its a type of syndrome!

[gijoe1313]

Ahh, always great to read the passion in the posts about our canterkerous steeds o'freedom! I just love it when you have any excuse to go for a ride!

Real bikers? I think of the real people behind that ol'moniker! And like all things in life, you get many shades under that appellation!

[brett7777]

I really enjoy riding. But I don't think it really matters if some people just buy a bike as a mid life crisis, something to talk about, look at sometimes, show to their friends, as an asset, something to collect, have a change from the car, use less petrol, etc etc etc.
It all helps the biking economy circulate, and if someone doesn't find it as uplifting,spiritual, or epiphany inducing as you or I do, then who cares?
I'm not as much of a 'real biker' as some of the guys who ride every single day, several times a day, rain or shine, (I like dry roads) but I like to ride most days. I'm sure there are many,many different levels that people experience bikes at.
Whether your a hardcore 'real biker' or a poser or a commuter with a reflector vest on or an old person on an Enfield, it's all part of the picture.