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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!

zeligman wrote:sorry for gushing, but DAMN it was good!

No apologies are necessary or needed when you're preaching to the choir.

Congrats!

Congrats on bringing your new baby home, while playing it safe!

And congrats on your first ride!

When you get a chance, please post some pics of your ride.

Congrats Zeligman! You'll always remember that first ride. Nothing like it in the world.

zeligman wrote:Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?

Whoah, talk about someone not minding their own, uh, durned business.

But moving right along, congrats Zeligman! It's an awesome feeling, ain't it?

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.

Velocity wrote: 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.

Well said.

Grey Thumper wrote:

zeligman wrote:Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?

Whoah, talk about someone not minding their own, uh, durned business.

IMO, father-in-law is just jealous 'cause he doesn't have the stones to ride a motorcycle......

jstark47 wrote:

Grey Thumper wrote:

zeligman wrote:Is my father in law right that I'm an irresponsible father and husband for riding a bike?

Whoah, talk about someone not minding their own, uh, durned business.

IMO, father-in-law is just jealous 'cause he doesn't have the stones to ride a motorcycle......

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.