Riding 2-up with mortality...

[Chuck B]

My folks were about as anti motorcycle as you can get. I remember just sitting on one as a kid and Mom freaking out. As kids all the neighborhood guys and I would make the long trek to local corner/liquor store. They would be sneaking looks at the girlie mags and I was drooling over the bike mags. At my first opportunity (18yrs old) I purchased my first bike. Did all the wrong things and by 2nd year I was lucky to still be alive. Met a racer at my local dealership and he got me pointed in the right direction regarding building up riding skills etc. By my 3rd yr riding I was full time road racing...or as much as a broke college student could be. I soon there after found off road riding and of course racing. Long story short...did 20yrs racing both venues, actually held a Pro lic for a couple years (quickly realize you are not all that fast lol), got into LD riding, touring, custom etc. Basically, if it had two wheels and an engine I was happy. My life during those years was all about racing/riding and with a little work thrown in here and there. Luckily work was good to me and for many years often bought 1 or 2 new bikes a year and always had a number of previous years in the garage.

Over the years I had quite a few injuries while racing..actually more than just quite a few lol. On the street I've been down twice and walked away from both. However, 3yrs 8 months ago I was involved in a life changing crash (dirt). 5 surgeries in the first 10 days and still have more to go. Yes, had to hang up my racing boots but I'm still riding though far far slower. Took awhile but I'm ok with it now. Started dating my better half shortly after getting out of the hospital (she's medical and it brought us together but we knew each other prior). She's rode pillion before and we began to go for rides together. Our relationship has gotten serious and we are now expecting. All my racing buddy's continue to point out the obvious...You are over 50yrs old! What are you thinking?! I tell them; "I spent the first 50yrs doing what I want to do. I'll spend the next 18yrs doing what they want to do"

Brings me back to MC's. With a child now looking to be coming soon do I give up riding now too? Financially, we are fine. She still works and wants to continue to work. I stopped working after my accident and don't really have to go back to work. I'll do the stay at home Dad thing but once schooling starts I'll figure something out to keep me busy. I've already decided to pair down the number of bikes in the garage; 10 down to 2...maybe a 3rd as a project bike. And will decide how much I'll really spend riding once she gives birth. I suspect probably not that much...While I don't fear my own death I dont want to miss being a Dad....

I suspect my biggest hurdle is getting this beat up body to make it another few years... I've done many things backwards and this next venue/chapter will be no different.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Brings me back to MC's. With a child now looking to be coming soon do I give up riding now too? Financially, we are fine. She still works and wants to continue to work. I stopped working after my accident and don't really have to go back to work. I'll do the stay at home Dad thing but once schooling starts I'll figure something out to keep me busy. I've already decided to pair down the number of bikes in the garage; 10 down to 2...maybe a 3rd as a project bike. And will decide how much I'll really spend riding once she gives birth. I suspect probably not that much...While I don't fear my own death I dont want to miss being a Dad....

Only you can make that call. I can tell you, being a dad is the greatest experience you could ever have. It's truly life changing.

For me personally, I rode during my daughter's childhood. Even got the entire family into dirt bikes and ATVs. It was a wonderful family activity while it lasted.

I believe you are wise to give thoughtful contemplation on if you should put yourself at some elevated level of risk while raising a family. That was my main reason for not skydiving until my daughter graduated college. It's silly, I know skydiving is safe, but still I didn't feel right doing it until she was able to be independent. It's all a personal choice that is up to you. Good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming fatherhood. It's all good.

Glad you are doing better after the accident. Keep on healing.

 

[kmac]

Chuck B
We sound a lot a like...Being a dad was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I had my daughter at 30, not 50, but it really made me a better man. I have had LOTS of racing injuries also but would never want to stop riding.
It can be a great hobby for families and we have HUNDREDS of great memories from desert trips.

My daughter and I had a tradition since she was about 6. The last day of every trip {barring really bad weather} just her and I take a ride together. No matter how bad other people and other kids in camp want to tag along, the answer is NO. Just me and kiddo. I have her pick a direction, usually one she has never gone before, and off we go for at least 30 minutes, longer as she got more skilled and bigger. It was our little special ride time.
We still talk about the times we had. As we approach 2 week till her wedding today, this very topic has come up more than once.

Best wishes with the recovery and the new daddy. ::012::

 

[adventurelounger]

Get healthy, Chuck B. Interesting to hear about all the motorcycle racing history/experience. For me that's mindblowing...the sort of stuff you see on TV, but that there are actually people who DO THAT?! Wow. Very cool. Apparently dangerous, but cool. And great story about your daughter, kmac

Apropos of the "ya never know, you could get cancer" stories, one of the things that provoked this thread in the first place was this:

I went for a 500+ mile solo ride last weekend. Did the Trans-Mass Trail (almost all dirt from CT to MA), and rode all around Southern VT. It was awesome. But the night before leaving, my wife suggested I call and check in on my mom. She's the last living parent of ours...lost my dad 2 years ago.

So apparently, my mom's been sort of "dating" a guy in the complex where she lives (all the folks there are late 70s and up). I chatted with her about him as I was packing my pannier bags, and asked if the gentleman had any kids.

She said "three...he had four, but his oldest died in a motorcycle accident. Terrible."

I know, I know: freaky coincidence. But not what you wanna hear the night before heading out on a road trip. But I went, and obviously made it back. Doing a write up for my blog. It was epic, and included a day that I'd have to call one of the Top Ten days in my life. It was that awesome.

So it's two-up with mortality. I'm with you, DirtDad: missing that kind of joy would just be a life-devaluing crime.

 

[platty]

David's Story - Helmet Cam Video from the UK

Guys

I read through this thread and found it very interesting ... I suppose I'm in the Helmet, Jacket and Gloves all the time camp with Boots and Adventure Pants added when I'm riding off road.

I am somwhat suprised but I don't think that I've seen this link here before but it's a recently released and somewhat chilling video from the UK.

David's story: Road safety campaign

No personal comment is offered ... but it's a fairly sobering result !!!

Please note that because of the material I cross posted to that "other forum" as well.

 

[pnelson]

I've seen this one. In the last seconds you can see him roll off the throttle and then reach to cover the brake with two fingers. All too late. This video is a good one to watch starting at about 2:45 and look at his passing speed relative to the other car. He was going fast enough that he didn't have time to react to the traffic around him. It's like driving faster than your lights. If he'd been going slower, the other car would have had more time to see him and he would have had more time to react. Time is your friend and the only way to get it is to slow down.

I'll start another thread but I hear from many riders that they don't like riding on Interstates. I can understand the appeal of back roads but those same back roads have lots of intersections, turning cars, cows, deer and cars passing. It's much more dangerous to ride on an undivided highway. It may not be as exciting but I feel safer cruising along in the left lane on a divided highway. On more rural roads, it just seems like crazy things happen.

;-) Paul

 

[maddog5150]

Great thread! Thanks for starting it.

I too have thought about this subject a lot. When my daughter was born 7 years ago, I sold my bike as I figured the wife and I would not have much time to ride and I also worried about the risk of a pregnant wife at home and me commuting every day. I did buy a dirt bike to scratch the riding itch, but to no avail. I only lasted ~12 months with out a bike and had to get another.

I continue to commute almost year round (as much as a Chicago winter will allow) and take big trips, but I still have this fear somewhere back in my head that I am taking a risk at leaving 2 kids and a wife behind if something bad happens. I hope to use this "fear" like many others have noted to make sure I am riding responsibly and doing all that I can to protect myself.

As chance would have it, just yesterday I was sitting in traffic on Lake Shore Drive (downtown Chicago) on my commute into work and I noticed a woman in the car next to me roll down her window and started talking to me. She said how great it was to see a motorcyclist "wearing all that gear". She said she was a nurse as frequently sees a lot of mc accident victims and she mentioned how rare it was that any of them were wearing protective gear. At the time I was wearing my normal get up: riding pants with armor, riding jacket with armor, Sidi ADV boots, gloves, ear plugs, and full face helmet. It was nice to be reminded that my "sometimes-too-hot" riding gear was worth the protection that it can provide. IT also felt really good that a complete stranger took the effort to share those words.

Let's all stay safe out there and take the responsibility to protect ourselves as much as we can through, gear, training, and keeping our heads in the game!

::021::

 

[terryth]

You all just need to get a wife who rides and is at least willing to put up with your obsessions and partipate in them, we just completed a 1200 mile Arkansas twisty road ride with me on my ST and her on a Honda Silverwing scooter this last weekend. Her previous bike was a Yamaha FZ6 that she unfortunely totaled in an accident in 2010. My 17 year old daughter, who has been riding since she was 8, took an MSF course and got her street license when she was 16. We just did some riding a few weeks ago. In the end for yourself and your family, all you can do learn and teach what you can to be responsible and minimize the risks to do what you love to do and trust them.

 

[timothy.davis]

I know that reading and taking the MSF courses taught this person how limited my knowledge really was on what (I thought) I knew about riding. I have purchased the following books and read them all. I do not ride like I used too. Any other suggested reading would be most welcome. I keep the books at work and lend them to the riders who are perceptive to reality.

Proficient Motorcycling, The Ultimate Guide To Riding Well, by David L Hough
MORE, Proficient Motorcycling, MASTERING THE RIDE, by David L Hough
Street Strategies, A Survival Guide for Motorcyclists, by David L Hough
Ride Hard Ride Smart, Ultimate Street Strategies for Advanced Motorcyclist, by Pat Hahn
Total Control, High Performance Street Riding Techniques, by Lee Parks

 

[terryth]

Re: David's Story - Helmet Cam Video from the UK

Definately moving a little fast for the road and traffic conditions and just having a good time speeding and no doing much thinking about the "what if" things the other traffic could do and riding accordingly. The "what if" was a big theme in a 6 hour online safety course I had to complete to get out of a speeding ticket (in a car) about things like, what if that car in front of unxpectantly stopped, how wouls you react, etc

Guys

I read through this thread and found it very interesting ... I suppose I'm in the Helmet, Jacket and Gloves all the time camp with Boots and Adventure Pants added when I'm riding off road.

I am somwhat suprised but I don't think that I've seen this link here before but it's a recently released and somewhat chilling video from the UK.

David's story: Road safety campaign

No personal comment is offered ... but it's a fairly sobering result !!!

Please note that because of the material I cross posted to that "other forum" as well.

 

[adventurelounger]

I just happened to read this on Ride Apart (which used to be called Hell for Leather, which used to be good...it's sort of become what it always reviled. But that's another thread.)

It's called "The risks of NOT riding a motorcycle." http://rideapart.com/articles/motorcycle-risks

Ironically, I found the thoughts and comments about this topic here to be genuinely superior to the published article. Still, worth a glance, and nice to see that it's a rich topic for discussion.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

It's called "The risks of NOT riding a motorcycle." http://rideapart.com/articles/motorcycle-risks

Excellent find. Thanks for posting.