I need some honest advice...

[roncg41677]

I dealt with this issue big time. I am a minister in a church, and when people found out I wanted a bike I started hearing all of the stories from everyone, about their relatives, themselves. Most of the people in the bike ministry I was going to be riding with had been involved in some major accident and have problems today from them. My wife was VERY uneasy about it because we have 2 small kids and felt like it was a completely unnecessary risk.

... needless to say I was discouraged .

Many, if not all of the people I had talked to had no safety training, at least nothing like the BRC course. The other day I went out with some friends and practiced some maneuvers with someone who is working on becoming a MSF instructor. We did it all, u-turns, emergency stopping, etc. One guy who was there has logged in over 250,000 miles on his Harleys, and he was amazed at how much he learned. As soon as we were done he was asking when we could do it again. He was SO impressed. That says a lot for how much you actually learn in the MSF classes. He was one of the aforementioned riders who had been involved in a major accident.

Another thing, I have only ridden around 100 miles so far. A lot of the fear I had went away when I actually got on the bike and realized cars aren't going to fall out of the sky in front of me. Granted I live in a very rural area. Take it easy, don't ride above your comfort level, and wear all the protective gear you can stand to.

And ditto on what everyone else has already said about risk.

[Shorts]

Hmm kinda late post but I'm reponding anyway.

Bravehearted, growing up I tried to do everything right. My conscience was always at the forefront of my actions, as early as I can remember. I analyzed everything I was about to do, from the rewards to the consequences and risks. I did a lot by golly, usually at the urging of my younger sister who was my partner in crime growing up. And she was more impulsive than I. I think we balanced each other out, got into some mischief as well as avoided some real bad trouble. Best of both worlds you could say.

In middle school and high school, I was a straight arrow. All I wanted to do was play sports and hang out with friends. Didn't drink. Didn't sleep around. Went to church and youth group. In at a decent hour when I'd go to the movies with friends on a Friday night. Went on tons of trips. Always did my homework. etc etc A solid person all-around

Started going to college, again, I was a pretty straight arrow. Went to class, even the darn early ones. Played pick-up games on the bball courts in the evenings with the other residents at my apts. Did my homework. Didn't booze it up. Called my folks. Paid my bills. Had a part time job. The whole 9yards.

The end of my second semester in college, my truck flipped on the highway, rolled multiple times in the median and I was nearly killed. I ended up paralyzed. I had to start my entire life over again. What sucked is, I did absolutely everything right that I possibly could throughout my entire life. I made the best and smartest decision my entire life and I still end up hanging on by a thread.

How is that for a kick in the pants?


Point of that long-winded rambling is, you have to live your life as best you can to do as much as you can when you can because you're still going to lose it all one day. At that point in my life where it stopped and restarted, I had done a lot, but there was so much more I could have been doing.

I'm not saying go take extreme risks and jump of skyscrapers and eat scorpions in the Amazon. But experience the things you can when the opportunity arises. You might not ever get a chance again. Take your precautions, heed them, but don't be held back.

[Lion_Lady]

When folks persisted with their tales of horror and woe, I'd look them in the eye and say, "Chances are good that your friend/relative/aquaintance was doing one of three things: 1. Riding beyond their skill level/riding more bike than they were capable of), 2. Riding impaired, 3. Not riding defensively."

In July, 2005, I crashed my bike and worked at my job with a cast on my arm for 4 months... It was unbelievable the number of folks who asked, "So, are you going to quit riding?" DUH! My response was, "Does anyone quit driving after they have a crash?" I knew what I did wrong, so I can avoid the same mistake.

P

[catwoman]

I'm a 52-year old female professor who just bought my first bike-- a 2007 Honda Spirit 1100. Most people thought I had lost my mind. I am the lowest risk-taker I know, and I'm doing all I can to be safe and make my bike safe (see my posting on the safety part). I used to be a distance runner/racquetball player/biker until I got Chronic Fatigue Syndrome about 15 years ago, which elminated every form of aerobic exercise for me, and almost every pasttime and hobby I had. A friend took me for a ride on his bike about six months ago, and it was almost like running. For the first time in a very long time, I felt alive. I knew then I would buy a bike. I have a 12-year old daughter and a 10-year old son as reminders about how important my life is. A long life means nothing if it isn't lived with flavor and fullness, though. I must ride.

[NancyP]

Exactly!! Catwoman. Couldn't have said it better - on any of the posts here.

Hubby recently fractured 2 vertabrae in his neck after hitting debris on the Florida Tpke. and as soon as he and the bike are back to 100% - I'm going to insist he get back on and ride (which, he's already said he's going to do anyway ).

Point is - he loves to ride - I love to ride - no reason to stop - and when the time is right, we're going to teach the daughter to ride, too. Right now, she's only a passenger, but she loves it. An accident is just that, an accident and, unfortunately, we can't always avoid one - even if we're doing the right thing.

Ride safe - have fun!!

Nancy