TMW Community Topic: Why I Ride

[scbanjoman]

i have severe emphysema,and leg problems,all i did was get up in the mornings andtake meds and pain meds and go back to bed,my wife tried to get me to do something to get out of house(i use to fish) but dont too often now,i play bass in a bluegrass band but mainly at night and on weekends,so we get me a harley and i like ive got desire to be counted with the living again,i was on pain meds for 2 yers and just put them down about three weeks,if im gonna ride its gonna be all me no meds,and the harley has given me reason to get out and do,dont know how long ill be around but death is not gonna find me easy to take,im gonna go and do and ride while i can

[zeligman]

since this seems to be a 'personal story' kind of thread, I thought I'd add mine...

Some of this may sound familiar, because there are others on here who have talked about this in the 'risk acceptance' categories.

I've spent my life being - responsible, predictable, sacrificing myself for others, avoiding most, if not all, risks.

It's partly how I was raised, and part of who I was and became.

I studied hard, was always the designated driver, went to college, then graduate school, got my master's, got married, had our first child, saved money, bought a house, then had our second child - and everything changed.

without going into all the details, our daughter was born with trisomy 21, or Down's Syndrome. It was a complete surprise, and took some time to come to terms with the reality of it.

She was also born with a VSD (ventricular septum defect), in essence, a hole in her heart where there was crossflow between right and left chambers. This occurs fairly often in kids born with Down's.

At three months, she went in for open heart surgery, which was 10 grueling hours and all went well. But sometime during her recovery she went into cardiac arrest and ended up on ECMO for 3 days (its a machine that breathes and pumps blood for the patient).

During the time on ECMO or during the initial arrest, our daughter also suffered a significant hypoxia brain injury.

After another 3 months, she finally came home. She is developmentally (most likely permanently) disabled (although we still have hope - there are certain realities to be dealt with on a daily basis as well).

She doesn't talk, walk, sit up, or eat on her own. Over the last seven years she HAS developed wonderful emotions, getting sad, happy, mad, and can (and does) belly laugh at something the rest of us miss.

We take our moments of joy when we get them, but generally are burdened by all sorts of issues.

I also work in religious education, and my professional life involves teaching and working with families, as well as counseling them - adding additional emotional weights for me to carry around.

I turned 41 this year, and felt that much of what I was carrying around suddenly got heavier and harder to carry. Did some more therapy, did a little drinking, all the fun stuff, but then, for some strange reason, I happened on an MSF course website locally in May. I decided I was going to learn to ride a motorcycle.

I've always admired them as machines, and was simultaneously fairly afraid of them (being risk-averse and utterly uncoordinated in other things).

I took one private lesson to make sure I wasn't going to fall on my "O Ring" just starting up the bike, loved it, signed up for the MSF BRC before I left the lesson.

Loved the coursework, found it challenging for both my mind and body, and worked hard to pass. I did, then nothing for a few weeks while I searched for my bike and gear that would fit (im a big guy).

ordered my gear, bought my helmet, then, finally bought my first bike 2 weeks ago. The first few rides were a combination of white knuckle fear and total exhiliration!! Today's ride was the best yet, and I felt that the bike and I were working together - both on the road and in the parking lot. Did some slow speed turns that I used to feel like would tip me off the bike, but today, I could FEEL the limits of the bike, just adding a touch of throttle to keep us steady...shifting my butt slightly or leaning the bike under me while I stayed straight just all came together....

It was a wonderful feeling.

I avoided risk, was a 'good' person, and still ended up with burdens that are heartachingly difficult (and I know that MORE than a few of you have those of your own - mine are neither worse nor better, they are just hard for me in the same way that yours are for you).

Getting out and riding - concentrating on the complex and beautiful machine, as well as the pattern and thrum of traffic, the intricacies of the road itself, the wind blowing at and through me, and the vibrant smells that I never noticed in my car. All these things combine to create a way to unburden myself, a bit at a time, make me smile inside my full face helmet - and even running mudane errands (today I had to pick up tp and paper towels) gives me an opportunity and a way to recharge my battery, shake the dust out of my heart and soul, and return to the world healthier, happier, and with added strength to help both my family and those around me.

It is perhaps even a holy experience, as the things we see when riding take on different roles, become heightened in importance, and utterly change our perspective of how we see the world - even if only for a short time.

I'm so glad I found that website for the MSF course, and I am SO fortunate to have found this community on TMW who has been supportive, helpful, and positively influential in my new life.

Ok, that was pretty detailed, my apologies for its length and perhaps, its more maudlin aspects.

-Zelig

[RhadamYgg]

I choose sense of accomplishment; however, the reason a person rides changes over time.

For years I had wanted to ride, but never found the MSF and never knew anyone IRL that rode to be able to get past the having gotten a permit stage. So I didn't get a permit and never rode.

I suppose mid-life crisis would be the term for it - I've changed a lot lately.

It was a quest for a little while. It involved a lot of temptation that some people witnessed before I took the MSF on this site.

So, it was with a great sense of accomplishment that I took and passed the MSF course, purchased my first bike (from another member of this site, no less!) and immediately began riding chunks that were probably too big for my riding level.

Now, though I tend to ride for the feeling of oneness with the universe I get while riding. Sometimes when I'm riding it definitely reminds me of that feeling you get when you can fly in dreams.

I suspect that over time this feeling may wear off - especially as I spend more time in stop and go riding on my commutes.

Definitely, I feel better on the days that I ride in to work as opposed to taking the car.

Life, of course, intrudes on plans - and mother nature. I haven't ridden as much as I would like this year, but there is a chance yet that I can accumulate a good number of miles.

Someday, I'll do a SS 1000. Although that might present some difficulties given the mpg and tank size of my current bike. I would love to graduate to a fuel cell, electric or hybrid powered motorcycle and do a SS 1000.

I'm not sure what the next reason will be that I ride - or even if I will continue to ride. I'm not sure what other outlets there are that would be as efficient as riding a motorcycle.

Oh, and definitely, part of me wants to ride because I'm so dead average that riding a motorcycle might be the only thing that makes me unique - at least compared to everyone around me.

RhadamYgg

[XB08]

When I am on my bike on the back roads , it's just me and the bike..

[tymanthius]

I don't know if I can sort it out. I ride b/c that's just me.

I grew up with horse trainers as parents. Being mounted is second nature to me.

My PawPaw had a bike and it was so much a part of him that even though I knew he hadn't ridden in years, the first time I went to his house and the bike was gone I was shaken.

Being on a bike, even for mundane reasons, is just SO much better than driving. Even in the rain.

Oh, and I can't seem to find a dragon to ride . . . .

[Richardvz]

I choose all of the above.

Why?

Because I can.

[Long_Rider]

So many great replies.... so many great stories... so many great reasons...

Like Zelig, I was raised overly-cautious, risk-averse (thanks, mom ;D)... and Like Tymathius, there is a fantastical reason behind my riding..

... This is the closest I will ever get to feeling like The Rocketeer...



I loved that movie as a kid.. but although a little reckless and careless at that age, as I grew older, I became more and more careful. Really, although I probably avoided grief and who knows what else back then, I do believe I missed out. Eventually I said 'shove it' and joined the military (for more noble reasons than to shake my life up of course). It was while serving that on a road trip with army buddies, I stopped at a gas station, and while having a stretch, a guy pulled up on a BMW GS650 or 800 wearing a great leather jacket... and accompanied by a gorgeous long haired brunette beauty... He took off his helmet, and it was all surreal, like I was living a commercial... and he saw me standing there looking on half-mesmerized, and smiled a smile that understood... I'd always thought it'd be cool and fun to have a sport bike since the age of 16... but this really sent it home for me.

So finally, when I could afford it, I went out and bought my beamer, and now feel that surreal existence when I'm geared up, and on that bike.

There is no other feeling on the road that can compare with riding, the openess, the vulnerability, it is the closest one can get to be at one with the road and the journey and the surroundings (well, maybe long-boarding.. but no thanks).. it is exhilarating and absolutely lovely.

So I ride for many reasons, freedom, sense of accomplishment (never really riding a bike, I bought it, hopped on with just a learners and made myself learn on the backstreets of Edmonton for a day before heading 500 km's home on 'the highway of death' lol, and I've already done nearly 10,000 klicks from time of purchase in early september to beginning November, and had my first thunderstorm ride only 2 weeks into getting my bike; an awe-inspiring 493 km's to Edmonton from Fort McMurray in the dark, not to mention 4500 km's around eastern europe on a rented bmw funduro, and feel quite comfortable and at home on two wheels now), fun, , but mostly, and above all, for the excitement...

[NYRIDER]

My riding story isn't much different then many here, freedom, adventure and just fun are some of the reasons I enjoy riding.

Remembering back at the age of 5 I loved to ride the motorcycle/cars carousel in Coney Island NYC, flashing lights, big wheels, comfy seat. LOL ,, By the time I was thirdteen I rode my stingray two wheeler everywhere, lov that lil bike.

But I had to grow up, become responsible and the whole sh-peal.

Found my passion years later at the New York Motorcycle Show @ the Javits Center in 1999, The rest is history, I ride as much as I can and have met great folks along the way. I look forward to many more years on the saddle.

BB,
Walt

[Hondagirl]

I am so surprised the category I voted (freedom) is a main poll contender! And so happy to know that Im not the only one that values freedom as a main reason for riding, yay!!

[jstark47]

I ride because my wife bought a scooter in May 2004, and it was too hard to keep up with her by running alongside!