Well there we go then...

True, true. I have hoisted wheelies, but never good ones...}:8)

Where are you these days old chap?

 

Er ... but you're fairly slow on a bike.

I don't get it.[/QUOTE]

Fairly slow compared to you and Champ and all those other people. But
still like reaching 130 on the commute to work. It's just too tempting
to rag it as hard as I can. ( which isn't as hard as you can maybe, but
still too fast to be sensible)

Hehehe.

 

Get something smaller then. I dunno, got no kids, but the only thing
parting me from my bike is the undertaker. Hmmmm...I may have lost this
discussion eh?

 

Mate of mine binned it trying for a tricky Ikebana, but he was straight
back starting with a simple bouquet as soon as he'd recovered.

 

Gone off stalking Tony.

 

I think it's more common than we realise - it's being cursed with too
much imagination and a perfectly normal reaction to doing a risky thing.
I suppose rock climbers get it too, and the bloke down the circus with
the funny nose probably lives in dread of being sat on by the elephant.

 

Yeah, well I never thought I'd say it either, but the ease with which
I nearly killed myself, and most importantly of all, the pain which
ensued, both immediately and later in hospital, has somewhat changed
my perspective on the whole thing.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

[/QUOTE]

Neither did I. But that was before 'The Pain'.

I'll choose to interpret that as a non-nasty comment, although it's a
close call. There is an element of truth in it, though, in the sense
of becoming aware, not only of your own vulnerability, but the ease
with which a sportsbike can spit you off and throw you against the
road furniture, and the utter helplessness as it's happening.

Heh. Sadly, I couldn't find a single factor to mitigate against my
fuckwittedness - sunny day, dry road, good surface. The only thing I
could complain about was the **** that decided an armco barrier was
called for.

Quite so.

And you can **** _right_ off, as well you know.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Yeah, but how many myopic skoda drivers do you get on a rock face?

LOL.

 

I didn't have any appetite for it over 6 or 9 months after trashing
myself. The enthusiasm returned though and normal service was resumed
within a year. I imagine it's a standard reaction.

 

Pretty much a given.

 

However many have just driven off the top.

 

A valid point that rock climbers by and large only have to worry about
what their actions rather than those of others.

There is, though, the unpredictability of the rock, and on high climbs
the weather. Also equipment could fail. If not doing a solo the other
person on the rope could cock it up or not belay you properly.

You probably do get a few Skoda drivers (myopic or otherwise) on rock
faces these days actually (without the car hopefully). I think your
stereotype of a typical Skoda driver is somewhat outdated.

As to the matter under discussion, I have been fortunate enough not to
have had a really big off only a couple of fairly painful falls when
racing and several tumbles when hill climbing.

When I became a somewhat elderly father I thought about it, and decided
that if I stopped doing anything that carried an element of risk I might
end up not wanting to risk even getting out of bed in the morning. BTW
did you know that more people die as they get out of bed than at any
other time?

So I carried on riding a solo, and also bought a sidecar outfit - "We'll
all go together if we go".

If, as you say, you tend to ride in a way that exposes you to a greater
risk of falling off because of your own actions then I can understand
your decision.

--

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Gotta get right back on that vase.

 

Yeah, I know. As have others. Maybe it's the fact of it hapenning at
an age where you're not supposed to do stuff like that. When you're
young these things just happen, or not - with age is supposed to come
wisdom, or something. Adie quotes Andy as saying he'd pack it up if he
had another big one now, for example. (Although whether he would or
not I've no idea).

It's possible, but as I posted not long before the accident, road
riding for me was all about treating the road like my personal
race-track; I can't see me ever again putting myself in such
vulnerable situations as I used to. I used to think I knew the risks,
but now I'd never feel that way again. And without that all-or-nothing
speed-or-glory approach, biking holds little appeal.

Hmmm. Not sure I quite understand. Or are you just saying in different
words what I'm meaning about my all-out race-track-on-the-road riding
style?

Well of course not. that would be plainly ridiculous.

I think what's really done it for me is that I've come that '' close
to losing my ability to ski. When it all comes down to it biking
always (well, ever since I started skiing) came second in my 'extreme
activities' book, and although I can face a future without biking, I
don't think a future without skiing sounds very worthwhile. It's also
something that me and Jude do together, whereas biking was never her
bag.

Ergo, I'm not going to risk the things I love most by continuing to do
something that's already come so close to losing it for me.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

*ding*

 

Yebbut, you've given it up without the suffering, which is just
wimping out, IMO.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Whatever you want to call it. I don't give a toss. But the sentiments
are the same.

Think of it as forward planning.

 

snip>

If I ended up unable to ride a bike as fast as I wanted because of
either a physical or a mental problem I'd stop riding. I'm not sure if
the pain of a big crash would influence my decision or not, it never
has before.

I'm not really into doing things that I look on as 'playtime' at a
lower level than I'm used to so when I can't carry on as normal I find
something else to do. Bikes are toys, not a life statement and I'm
sure I'd find other stuff to do.

 

Exactly how I'm looking at it now. And also why perhaps dirtbiking
might be in the equation, 'cos I don't think I'd feel constrained in
doing that, whereas I'm sure I wouldn't ride 100% on the road any
more.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 (slightly broken, currently missing)
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`