No one is - but my philosophy is to just keep getting out there and stop worrying about what might/will happen in the future or what anyone else may be doing and enjoy each day as it comes.
MID SET!! Went out today, had the best ride since coming out of Hossi in January, 'thoughts' stop making fcuking excuses for not riding, bad riding, wobbly riding, infact any riding except GOOD!!!!! I rode it at first as I was taught by my very good friend who happened to be an Essex Police bike instructor many years ago, I can still get him into my head when needed as though it was last week, had an hour of that, then let rip!! Everything went perfect, round-a-bout approach's, entrance, exits, observation, speed, gears, braking, pace, could have passed my test again! Got my strength back to hold it up and control it again too, much of it down to riding my set route on my pedal bike every day and forcing myself not to make excuses for not taking the dogs (5 Greyhounds and Border Collie) out every day, although they might complain at the weather! I might have to be a fine weather rider though, still get cold too bleedin' easy and takes days to get warm again, feels like flu, but when the sun shines I'm out!! To think I did consider selling it, am I still?? Am I like hell as like!!! How could I give this up?? The Mobility scoot is going too, I refuse to even use a stick now! BRING ON THE SUMMER!! Terry
Great contribution Terry, nice bike and I am pleased to read that your recovering ok. Hope I am not appearing to be too mouthy on here as I don't mean to be but I have another story. I used to work in the gas industry and ended up in an office, worse thing I ever did but that's another story. Anyway we had a young lad start in the office downstairs to where I worked and he was in a wheelchair. So over time I got to chat to him and he too was a motorcyclist but had to give it up because he contracted MS, what a bugger. His interest now was flying model helicopters but he still loved bikes and still owned the Yamaha R1 he loved. And I suppose it was your comment about loving your bike prompted this memory but he said that there was no way he would ever sell it as he had so many happy memories every time he looked at it. Its a few years since I last saw him but I would put money on it that he still owns it. How many of us would have our bikes indoors if our partners would let us I wonder.
I like your attitude Terry, ferk it, I'm going out on the bike!. I had a bit of a lay off with a busted wrist earlier this year, (not a bike related injury by the way), like you I came up with excuses, too wet, too windy, too cold, bad riding, etc. So when service/MOT time was fast approaching I checked everything out, gave the beasty a good clean and started with short runs to make sure my repaired wrist could take it and to regain the mojo. Started gently and franticly trying to remember all the good stuff I had been taught years ago by a mate who had been a Class 1 bike plod and instructor. Pretty soon I was back in the groove and enjoying life. Enjoy it while you can coz your a long time dead
What really motivated me today was this morning on BBC news, a 7-10 y.0. boy with no legs, 1 arm and other problems leading out a football team on 'spring' legs (like Pistorias) kicking a ball and he was so happy, I really was so near to tears, I thought whooooooooooooooooo, I aint got no problems!!! Sort of puts things into perspective I thought.
Todays motivation was twofold. the sun was shining and better still, Mrs Al went for a ramble with her walking group and took our demented spaniel with her.
Cheers Pete. Now back to racking up a few miles. The one of the physio's, (ex biker) fixed me up with a fairly flexible brace so I can get some bike time in without too much discomfort. The bugger still aches the following day though.
Well Al as long as you are not doing any more damage to your wrist ?? the bad condition of some of these roads don't help councils or highways do not seem to consider cyclists of any kind.
No $#!t. They don't help car driver much either with all the loose chippings they chuck all over the place. the wife gained a chipped windscreen the other day.
Yeah it's all the rage round here. They put a sprayed top coat on later but the damage us done by then.
Makes riding a bike a bit hairy riding on that loose gravel hate to think what mess it would make of your if you came off
Chippings? tar? Dressing? Road repairs? What the fckus them? Round here we equip the bikes with crampons to get back out of the pot 'oles!!!!
The village where I live comprises am almost straight road one mile long - it's not a cul-de-sac but not really a through route either. They re-surfaced half of it claiming that the other half was done before (must be over 4 years ago then). When they'd finished the first coat, you could see oblong patches of the old surface where the'd gone round parked cars!
