Thinking of giving up biking...

[Southern man]

When you get on your bike does it make you feel great.Iam currently in plaster from my hip to my toes after a skiing accideent with the kids, stupid silly accident that shouldn't have happened. But hay shit happens. I am sitting here and counting down the days until I can get back on the bike. It is still one of the best most stress releiving things that I can do. I have been riding for over three decades and have a number of falls. Don't let this put you off in years to come you will look back on it and treat it as what it is. A learning experience. Keep on riding and learn from your and others mistakes. Keep riding or you will wake up at 50 an regret the day you put the bike aside.

Have fun, best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cold comfort]

Great advice from all, particuarly Jantar who shares the same circumstance. There are no guarantees, however, although i MAY die or be injured from my interests (motorcycling, diving, snowboarding, flying etc) it is certain i WILL die anyway at some point from something else. I'd rather it was'nt from boredom.
Take time to heal and try again and you will know yourself. Big ups for taking on the Outback. You are obviously made of stern stuff!

[judecatmad]

When I wrote off the ginny in March this year, to even go into a bike shop gave me palpitations (and not the good sort!). I was convinced that it wasn't for me and I was never going to be any good at it. Gave Dave's bike one go afterwards and was too scared even at super-nanna speeds on the gentlest of corners!!!

And mine was only a very minor off - not hard to write off a ginny, eh?!

But now I've had a long, enforced break, all I want to do is get back on.

I guess what I'm trying to say is give it time. You've had a scare. Maybe it will take time for you to feel comfortable getting back on. The last thing you want to do is push it if you're not ready. But I wouldn't say never.......not you, you love it all far too much to be off permanently!

[Taine]

Mate you will never stop falling off it's 1 thing that will always happen, in your riding experience thru your life, I couldn't count how many times I have come off but I can say I have learn't from every single 1.
Some people are naturals but others I do agree should never ride. It all comes down to your love for it, like people say once in your blood always in your blood.
I myself will ride to I can't or not able, I can see no other possibility in my future due to the love of it.
I say get back on go for a good ride on your own then make your mind up, right then and there you will know...
I'm guessing you will love it!!!!!!!!

[Str8 Jacket]

Yeah, good advice from everyone there. No need to make any hasty decisions just yet. Get better first.

DEFINATELY!! And boy do I know! Ive had more than my fair share of crashes. I wrote off my first (brand new) bike within 2 months by being a dick. I bought my 2nd bike with the insurance without even thinking about giving up. Luckily I was still keen on riding AND Uncle B was around to keep me alive by teaching me how to ride in a safe manner! I almost gave up after I crashed my 2nd bike when I had only just written off my first bike 2-3 weeks earlier. I remember leaving the bike parked up in Featherston for 2 weeks and had made all these great plans to sell it. Luckily I missed riding so much that I got it back and kept riding. I still have a completely numb knee and arthritis in it from my first crash but I love bikes to much to give them up. Its a personal choice though and you should only do what makes YOU happy! I say keep at it but if you dont want to then maybe rest up for awhile and review it later down the track!

[EnzoYug]

I remember waking up in hospital with no memory... it sucks.

But you gotta keep pushing on. Your afraid of what might happen? Don't be afraid of 'what ifs' or you'll never smoke, drink, or eat again.

Remember, you're more likely to die of a shark attack out in that desert than die on your bike. (if I remember my road safety stats correctly)

Anyway. Glad you're intact.

[Badjelly]

Well if you're that easily put off then I suggest that motorcycling just isn't for you. Simple really.

Shattered collar bone! Easily put off?

[Bass]

I have skim read this whole thread and I may have missed it, but no-one has pointed out the obvious except JRandom who alluded to it. The Postie Bike Challenge is called a Challenge for a good reason. There is also a good reason that they put Big (as in large diameter wheels) on off road and adventure machines. The front being larger than the rear is also common.

You have recently had a practical demonstration of why.

You bit off a fair mouthful and more power to you for that. However it was always going to take some chewing.

IMHO I think that you need to realise that, in order to put some balance back in your thinking before you make the next call.

P.S. Did you ever connect up with your bike again?

[sels1]

What you think? ... should I just give up .

Mate......4 words.....THIS TOO SHALL PASS

[Ocean1]

There is also a good reason that they put Big (as in large diameter wheels) on off road and adventure machines. The front being larger than the rear is also common.

You have recently had a practical demonstration of why.

There's also a little matter of experience. I'm very aware that my dirt-learned techniques and reactions, (such as they be) are sometimes a potential liability on the road. I know street-learned styles can be just as dangerous off it. Would be nice if you could remember the circumstances of your off, guess you'll never know what went wrong. As someone noted deep soft sand is a bit of an acquired taste, the usual requirement being to get WAY back on the bike to unload the front, otherwise it washes out.

Such a combination of terain and bike is a big ask without some dirt experience, when you've had a while to recover and if you decide to finish the ride maybe you could spend some time on a chook chaser refining your dirt skills first eh?

Rest dude, and don't worry too much about deciding yet, it'll come.

[ManDownUnder]

I was always taught as a learned to "budget" for 3 crashes before you're going to be ok.

Everyone has three and then you're all good.

Sounds like you've simply found a couple of situations you weren't prepared for and paid the price to be honest. Experience is a wonderful thing but it's only gained through time in the saddle.

Either way it's all good though - only you know what you've been through, and what you're willing to put up with. Your call - I'm behind you either way.

[idb]

Don't stress it Steam, if you want to ride bikes you will, if you don't feel comfortable with the possible consequences, you won't.

Also remember, there are other things in biking other than riding in dangerous situations (I class your last off as in that category) so you may well find an aspect of biking that appeals to you. Recently I sold the 1100cc sports bike and now use a big chook chaser because I realised that falling off at my age was going to hurt more than I wanted to put up with. I still miss the beauty of pure cornering, its definately not the same on knobbies, but in balance I am better off.

You will know where you feel comfortable, go there and enjoy life. There is far more to life than bikes (ducks for cover) and you need to get out there and be the best you can in whatever way works for you.

Enjoy the trials of life Steam, this is why you went out into the big wide world, to see what you could learn.

Thinking of you.

Iain

Beautifully put.

[idb]

Um, Lets see: (not counting accidents off-road or on the race track)

1st bin was a head-on into a car after 6 weeks riding;
Next was a bounce off a marker peg 8 weeks later;
Then a slide in some spilt diesel after 9 months riding;
Next was over a bank on a gravel road after only 12 months riding;
A taxi T-boned me 9 months later;
A tank slapper on an icy gravel road saw me eating gravel after another 12 months;
Falling asleep at 3:00 am on a back country road 6 months later didn't do much for my enthusiasm;
A blow out in a rear tyre at 100 kmh that same week caused a bit more pain;
Having a rear hub collapse while sliding on an icy road 18 months later gave me a better insight into how the ambulance service works in a rural area;
Falling off while not paying attention on a CT110 was the latest.

Injuries so far: Bruised knee, broken wrist, broken leg, broken ribs (lost count of how many), Dislocated and broken right shoulder, damaged vision in one eye, dislocated left shoulder and detached tendons, A cut penis (don't laugh, I still have the scars). I'm sure there are others that I have forgotten.

I think I might have to give it away as well. But first, there is another passes ride, the Mini returns ride, next year's 1000 miler, the Rusty Nuts 10,000 km in 10 day ride, a ride around aussie in 42 days, I must complete a postie bike challenge, etc. I should be able to give up riding in about 30 years.

..............

Shit mate...I'm never pillioning with you!!!

[GaZBur]

You have had two bins in a year. Bit of bad luck. Sounds like you don't need to learn how to ride - you just need to learn how to fall. You have reduced the level of injury by wearing appropriate gear. I have had 8 bins in the same time 3 on dirt, 2 on gravel, and 3 on tarmac (mostly when racing coz I'm crap!). Twice I have been hurt a little. Have you ever considered a few Judo lessons? No Seriously!!! The first thing they teach you is how to break a fall so you don't hurt yourself, I was taught that 40 years ago and a breakfall is still as natural now as it was then, even though I am now far more fragile.
I answer this coz I see you are from Dunners too. Good luck with recovery.

Anyway you won't be able to help yourself - you'll be back!!

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

My Mum reckons I should keep riding, she knows how much I love it, but I'm not so sure.

Mums know best yah know, you have been bitten by the bug... you'll be back, you know you want to... however take the time out rest recover etc. You will know when the time is right to get back in the saddle and ride, and as I said when you do, look some of the other Dunedin Riders up and I am sure we can all go for a blat around them hills...

When I was younger I had a few errr misshaps however more experienced now and I haven't had a bin in (touch wood and head) for 15 years of riding, it doesn't mean I won't have one and I certainly don't won't one, but its the risk you take.