I'm too old to ride anymore

[weymouth399]

My bikes are for sale cheap

[carsick]

Bullshit.

[carsick]

But hey, dibs on the Shiny Black before you snap out of your delusion.

[Mike 86 in San Dimas]

Are you a 120 years old or what! Do like me, just ride old.

Mike
PS I don't believe you.

[Pat Conlon]

Bob, I don't know if you are serious, I suspect not.... but I am thinking along those same lines. i.e. Is it worth it? Really?

I am thinking about giving up street riding......There, I said it.

I'll still enjoy the Glamis dunes and trail riding.

It's not that I am too old to ride, I'm only 58, and I am healthy active, strong, but this last body slam accident with my broken bones has really knocked the shit outta me. (or as my family says, perhaps knocked some sense into me)
I know that it could have been much worse, look what happened to Henry.
However Henry is a young stud. He will be healed by next week and riding in two.

If I did something wrong that I could identify and work on, OK, but I don't know what I could have done different. That's what freaks me out.
Gary was riding about 20 seconds out in front of me. Why the fuck did Gary make the corner and I didn't? Different line? Probably. Better bike? Yea, Gary's Aprilla is a very competent bike and Gary is a better rider. It has been 20 years since my last accident, which was very minor.
But This one HURT.

As Klavdy eloquently explained, Newtonian Physics is unforgiving and does not give a damn about how long you have ridden your bike:
Have you been riding trouble free for years? No matter, it's over in the corner doing push ups, watching and waiting....patiently waiting....
The ghost of Sir Isaac is always there, watching and waiting for the right moment.

My wife and kids are freaked. My 4 year old grand daughter says that (sometimes) she dosen't love me anymore 'cause I fell off my bike and made everyone sad. Out of the mouths of babes, huh.
My wife and I worked for 40 years to get to this point where we have the time and money to enjoy life....together ( the most important point: together)
Here I am shuffling around the house with 4 broken ribs......so is it really, really worth it? **Can I put my wife through the ringer again?**

**I don't have time for this healing shit.**
There are things I need and want to do. I need to do yard work. I want to go outside and play. It Hurts to breathe. I can't sleep. I can't fuck. I can't hike. I can't workout. I can't play volleyball. I can't swim or surf. I can't ______. (fill in the line)   However, I am alive, to which I am thankful. Yes, ATGATT worked.



I shuffle out to the garage, and look at my damaged '84 and I just want to cry, but it hurts to breathe .....
Yea, I think I'm done.    

[Dan Filetti]

I am thinking about giving up street riding......There, I said it.

Wow Pat.  Le me offer this:  This is likely the wrong time to be making such a decision.  You're objectivity is skewed.  While it may well be the decision you eventually come to, if possible I would wait a few months, until your objectivity has a chance to skew back the other way, before deciding what to do.

My $0.02

Dan

[rktmanfj]

Wow Pat.  Le me offer this:  This is likely the wrong time to be making such a decision.  You're objectivity is skewed.  While it may well be the decision you eventually come to, if possible I would wait a few months, until your objectivity has a chance to skew back the other way, before deciding what to do.

My $0.02

Dan

+1

[SlowOldGuy]

What Dan said!!! 

You're in no shape to make that kind of decision right now. 

DavidR.

[E Double]

Wait until you're all healed up to make this decision.  That way, the only ones who are still emotional about this won't be the one giving up such an important part of their life.

[RACER111V]

 A long time ago I made the decision NOT to be a "competitive" street rider. That doesn't mean I don't like some spirited riding. It does mean I have no problem backing off when my comfort zone is reached. I really do enjoy a nice 40 mph commute to work. I road raced my way to an expert/pro license and completed a dream of racing a national event at Daytona,Mid-Ohio, and several at Loudon and Pocono. But I still have no issue riding at the back of the pack with some buddy's on the street.
You can limit your exposure to danger somewhat, but just living is a risk. I will never forget reading in the newspaper of a couple killed in their bed by a bolt of lightning through an open window. I am not a big risk taker, but I do enjoy life. Street riding is on my list as long as I still enjoy it.

[andyb]

Re: Broken ribs

If you notice that you don't have much desire to ride and that everyone around you has turned into a f'king moron, it's you being cranky more than anything.  When it hurts to breathe, you tend to not do as much of it and you will desaturate your blood of oxygen.  The first symptom of this is your mood immediately going into the toilet, but it's subtle and difficult to really catch.

I guess it depends on the reasons that you ride, really.  I love the absolute control, open the gas and it really responds!  Ditto the brakes, etc.  And the other reason that I love riding is probably a silly one, but I love how things smell.  Ride past an orchard and you can really tell, or the smell of freshly plowed fields, or of coming rain.  And yes, I'm a little terrified every single time I throw a leg over.  Every.  Single.  Time.

[markfj]

A long time ago I made the decision NOT to be a "competitive" street rider. That doesn't mean I don't like some spirited riding. It does mean I have no problem backing off when my comfort zone is reached. I really do enjoy a nice 40 mph commute to work. I road raced my way to an expert/pro license and completed a dream of racing a national event at Daytona,Mid-Ohio, and several at Loudon and Pocono. But I still have no issue riding at the back of the pack with some buddy's on the street.
You can limit your exposure to danger somewhat, but just living is a risk. I will never forget reading in the newspaper of a couple killed in their bed by a bolt of lightning through an open window. I am not a big risk taker, but I do enjoy life. Street riding is on my list as long as I still enjoy it.

+1.  I've been riding for so long that some of my buddy's who have recently taking up riding seem to think I must be a gp rider after all of this time.  The truth is that I've slowed down A LOT since my younger days and probably surprise some by how conservative I ride.  I probably took a few too many risks as a young man and now feel like it's time to relax and play it smart.  I don't mind being at the back of the pack either if the pack is moving faster than I like.  These days it's all about flow and enjoying the ride. 

[moparman70]

I was suppose to sell my bike when the first kid was born....never did.  The next two offspring didn't change much either.   I did ride less during their younger years and since then have added a second bike to the mix( technically two more).  I don't ride as fast anymore but still enjoy it and don't think I could give it up.  I mainly stay away from the high speed corners and enjoy the slower corners more ... theory here is less of an impact and more time to stop if need be.  So far so good from that stand point. 

I remember the brief thought of selling my 86 FJ way back when but then I thought what will I ride when I get the itch and its not hurting me sitting in the garage.    Give it some time Pat like the rest said and maybe just ride a little less and ease back into it.

Stevec

[ddlewis]

Pat.. dude that's a bombshell.

I would never attempt to change anybody's mind on this nor do I ever encourage anyone to take up riding.  It really is an unnecessary risk and sometimes I feel selfish for doing it myself..  especially with so many depending on us.

Personally, it such a big part of my life for so long can't imagine that I'll ever be ready to quit, but I am ready to back 'er down a notch.  The only time I ride around like a dumbass these days is rallies, Dean and Henry's bad influence, and I'm going to dial that back too.

Honestly expect you'll feel differently as you start getting over the ribs, but either way I can understand the feeling.

[Arnie]

As Dan said, "Don't make this decision now"
At least wait till you're healed and can determine how much you'll miss it.
By then you'll have been out of the saddle for a couple of months and may be able to make a rational decision.
Periodically, I think about giving up bikes, but as long as I'm capable I think I'll remain a rider.  Stopping now, after 45 years would be like cutting off one of my hands. Well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I know that any time I've been unable to ride for more than a month I get "antsy" and need to get back.

Heal quick, and then think about this without the nay-sayers all around.

Cheers,
Arnie