First RIDE! :)
- zeligman
- Site Supporter - Diamond
- Posts: 508
- Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:02 pm
- Real Name: Alex
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 2
- My Motorcycle: 02 Suzuki Volusia 800 (in salvage :( )
- Location: Boston, MA
First RIDE! :)
well, i brought the bike home tonight - 4 hour ordeal getting it - i'm lucky to have a good friend and neighbor with a p/up truck who is used to towing his boats! Rented a uhaul trailer and brought it on home.
was a bit scary unloading it and actually looking at it in my driveway. Did I really do this? Am I up to this? Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?
arrrggh.
I shoved all that into the back of my brain, locked it up, pulled up my overpants, put on my jacket, boots, gloves, and, of course, helmet, and made myself get on the bike.
BEST 30 mintues of my LIFE (well, alone anyway). practiced uphills, reintroduced myself to counter steering and turning, began to get the feel for the friction zone of my new friend, It got dark but didn't want to come home quite yet, and actually ventured out onto a road with a few cars, some long curves, and the ocean view. TOTALLY surprised at how strongly I could smell the ocean - I'm usually in a car and it's just different. Just went 5 minutes up the road and then back home (it was dark).
I'm pumped and exhilarated! But man, those road bumps can be harsh on the stock seat!
the doubts and fears have faded a bit, but I'm sure they'll be back. I hope to try to use them to remind me to practice my quickstops, safety, visibility, and defensive riding.
Thank you to everyone for helping me explore a new found source of excitement and fulfillment.
sorry for gushing, but DAMN it was good!
was a bit scary unloading it and actually looking at it in my driveway. Did I really do this? Am I up to this? Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?
arrrggh.
I shoved all that into the back of my brain, locked it up, pulled up my overpants, put on my jacket, boots, gloves, and, of course, helmet, and made myself get on the bike.
BEST 30 mintues of my LIFE (well, alone anyway). practiced uphills, reintroduced myself to counter steering and turning, began to get the feel for the friction zone of my new friend, It got dark but didn't want to come home quite yet, and actually ventured out onto a road with a few cars, some long curves, and the ocean view. TOTALLY surprised at how strongly I could smell the ocean - I'm usually in a car and it's just different. Just went 5 minutes up the road and then back home (it was dark).
I'm pumped and exhilarated! But man, those road bumps can be harsh on the stock seat!
the doubts and fears have faded a bit, but I'm sure they'll be back. I hope to try to use them to remind me to practice my quickstops, safety, visibility, and defensive riding.
Thank you to everyone for helping me explore a new found source of excitement and fulfillment.
sorry for gushing, but DAMN it was good!
still recovering - back to crutches, then walking with a stick, then running - then hopefully riding again!
- Gummiente
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 3485
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2005 11:34 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 38
- My Motorcycle: 03 Super Glide
- Location: Kingston, ON
Re: First RIDE! :)
No apologies are necessary or needed when you're preaching to the choir.zeligman wrote:sorry for gushing, but DAMN it was good!
Congrats!
Mike
It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
It isn't WHAT you ride,
It's THAT you ride
-
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:50 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 2
- My Motorcycle: 2005 Honda Rebel
- Location: Ohio
- Grey Thumper
- Legendary 1000
- Posts: 1434
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:21 pm
- Real Name: Dino
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 9
- My Motorcycle: 2004 BMW R1150Rockster, 2015 BMW R1200GS
- Location: Manila, Philippines
Re: First RIDE! :)
Whoah, talk about someone not minding their own, uh, durned business.zeligman wrote:Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?
But moving right along, congrats Zeligman! It's an awesome feeling, ain't it?
"If you ride like there's no tomorrow, there won't be."
Fathers and husbands undeniably obviously have greater responsibilities to others, and riding a motorcycle is opting to assume some additional risk over staying in the cage. But there is more to life than just avoiding risk.
Learn and master what you're doing, and manage the risk. That's setting a good example on how to be a father and husband. That's responsibility.
Now ride safely and smart, and prove him wrong.
Learn and master what you're doing, and manage the risk. That's setting a good example on how to be a father and husband. That's responsibility.
Now ride safely and smart, and prove him wrong.
Current ride: 2007 Yamaha Virago 250
- PacificShot327
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:51 pm
- Sex: Female
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
- Location: Dallas, TX
- jstark47
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 3538
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:58 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 16
- My Motorcycle: '12 Tiger 800, '03 Trophy 1200
- Location: Lumberton, NJ
Re: First RIDE! :)
IMO, father-in-law is just jealous 'cause he doesn't have the stones to ride a motorcycle......Grey Thumper wrote:Whoah, talk about someone not minding their own, uh, durned business.zeligman wrote:Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?
2003 Triumph Trophy 1200
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S
2009 BMW F650GS (wife's)
2012 Triumph Tiger 800
2018 Yamaha XT250 (wife's)
2013 Kawasaki KLX250S
- PacificShot327
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:51 pm
- Sex: Female
- My Motorcycle: 2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
- Location: Dallas, TX
Re: First RIDE! :)
Actually, there may be some truth in that. I've gotten a few sneers from other women because I rode a bike, only to hear from their friends later on that they talked about how much they wanted one themselves.jstark47 wrote:IMO, father-in-law is just jealous 'cause he doesn't have the stones to ride a motorcycle......Grey Thumper wrote:Whoah, talk about someone not minding their own, uh, durned business.zeligman wrote:Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?
"Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor." Alexis Carrel