Maybe its cause Im a dad now?
Posted 30th April 2011 at 18:03 by ElectricCityIron
This week around the corner from my shop a 26 yr old kid was killed on his motorcycle. He was crusing down a pretty busy street right behind my shop when a car pulled out making a left. The side street they pulled out from has a pretty good blind spot, and everyone in the neighborhood is attributing this to them prolly not seeing the kid. Its a pretty busy urban neighborhood, and I hear he was going a little fast. When he hit the front of the car ( a newer grand prix 05ish) he damn near ripped the nose of and got ejected 75 feet....Anyways he was pronounced D.O.A. Now the sensible side of me rationalizes this under this stuff happens, and thats why you shouldnt speed in neighborhoods like this one, but the other day I was gunna ride to work (around here its still early in the season Upstate ny) and I second guessed my self...I kinda thought to myself what would happen if I wasnt around...so I opted out...Im not gunna ride if I second guess myself I gotta be whole hearted when I do things...Its been a week sense it happend and its subsided in my mind....I just noticed that if I was prolly single or didnt have a kid, like 5 yrs ago I wouldnt have cared... Just something to think about I guess...
Total Comments 14
Comments
-
I kind of understand what your are saying. There have been times I gotten on my bike and before I got too far from home I just felt uneasy and went back home to get the car instead. I always just felt like, "I don't feel like riding today" and so I wouldn't. Haven't felt that way for a while now, but I won't ride if I'm not 100 percent into it. Who knows, maybe that has saved my bacon on occasion. I'll never know, but that does sound like what you are describing yourself.
Yes, being a dad certainly has a lot to do with it. Any responsible person takes that role very seriously. You job as a father among other responsibilities it to provide a calm, safe, and secure environment for your family. This cannot be done if you are acting irresponsible yourself. If your post tells me nothing else it tells me one thing ... you are going to be a good father.Posted 1st May 2011 at 15:24 by Baphomet 
-
Thanks alot for the kind words and insight.Quote:Originally Posted by Baphomet
I kind of understand what your are saying. There have been times I gotten on my bike and before I got too far from home I just felt uneasy and went back home to get the car instead. I always just felt like, "I don't feel like riding today" and so I wouldn't. Haven't felt that way for a while now, but I won't ride if I'm not 100 percent into it. Who knows, maybe that has saved my bacon on occasion. I'll never know, but that does sound like what you are describing yourself.
Yes, being a dad certainly has a lot to do with it. Any responsible person takes that role very seriously. You job as a father among other responsibilities it to provide a calm, safe, and secure environment for your family. This cannot be done if you are acting irresponsible yourself. If your post tells me nothing else it tells me one thing ... you are going to be a good father.Posted 1st May 2011 at 16:58 by ElectricCityIron
-
I'm a recovering alcoholic who used to ride drunk. I've had lots of spills and they all happenened when I had been drinking. There're lots of variables or justifications/rationalizations in there, like I was young, ex- military, it's a Harley, etc.
I didn't start riding again until after I had three years sobriety. It's a busy world out there on the street and there are more distracted drivers than ever before. Lot's has changed since I quit riding (temporarily) in 2003 or 2004.
Now, I always wear a helmet and leather, boots and gloves, no matter how hot the weather. Maybe not always boots, but always a helmet and leather jacket. I've lost and regrown lots of skin from roadrash over the years and don't look forward to it the next time. I think it's best to be dressed for a spill and not need it, rather than take spill and not be dressed for it- as far as driving under the influence, no way. I used to think I was lucky, but now I know it was something more than luck. I will not go into details here.
It's nice to hear that some people are using their heads before riding. Take a look around at the motorcycle salvage yard for the results of not using your head while riding.
Motorcycles are great, people are meat. Please be careful and live to ride.Posted 2nd May 2011 at 02:16 by lowell
-
I got on a bike once under the influence...and 20 ft later I was on the ground with my elbow ripped open. I could have fit a golf ball in the flap of skin that was separated from the bone...needless to say Ive never done that again...
Posted 2nd May 2011 at 02:56 by ElectricCityIron
-
On occasion (not very often ) it feels like I'm just not in sync with my bike or my surroundings.....I go back home a ride another day.
Posted 2nd May 2011 at 04:37 by sportyblue
-
I like this thread because it seems like I found a group of people that share a similar mentality about being a motorcycle owner. I have no kids but I am married, I'm young (only 22), and a lot of my friends are in various "clubs". it seems like even my friends with kids can't grasp that we aren't as invincible as we once thought. a good rider can manipulate traffic, but a bike always loses in a car battle. I have a lot of respect for a father that takes his family into consideration before a ride, even if it's only to go to work.
Posted 4th May 2011 at 14:37 by sdemp615
-
To me its like for what ever reason this guy bit it and died, weather he was going too fast or the other person didnt see him whatever, I still wanna be one step ahead of everyone out there the best I can. Sometimes early in the morning I feel like if Im not that guy, who practices what he preaches about staying ahead of everyone else always(when one can)and I have all these second guesses about accidents and what not I rather just opt out I guess . It scares the shit outta me to think of my wife and kids living this early in their lives without me. Right now Im the only one working. Shes 10 weeks along pregnant and the babies 10 months old now...I still love riding though dont get me wrong. I dont get to do it as much as I want to now but its all good. Its still me and something I love.
Posted 5th May 2011 at 02:32 by ElectricCityIron
Updated 5th May 2011 at 02:38 by ElectricCityIron -
I quit riding for 25 years because I was a dad. I'm still a dad but my kids don't really need me anymore and I've got enough life insurance to cover any financial needs that may arise due to my death. That being said, you still can't prepare for everything.... what if you dont die and just really messed up in a wreck? I like what my wife said when we discussed my wanting to ride again. She said "well, you can't live your life scared." I don't, I don't want any regrets when I'm sitting on the porch...... I think all that any of us can do is to ride safe/smart and hope for the best.
Take Care!Posted 5th May 2011 at 18:49 by ~Grind~
-
Oh absolutly. Im not gunna stop riding, I just found myself second guesses things after this kid who lived in my city his whole life was a year older then me bit it ya know. Its liked Id wake up like "ya imma ride to work today" Then Id get outta the shower and second guess like ah eff it Ill ride another day. Ive sence bout a nice Hd riding jacket with padded inserts and now I just ride with beter gear to beter prepare myself if something did happen. I know its trivial but it made me feel beter after it all.Quote:Originally Posted by ~Grind~
I quit riding for 25 years because I was a dad. I'm still a dad but my kids don't really need me anymore and I've got enough life insurance to cover any financial needs that may arise due to my death. That being said, you still can't prepare for everything.... what if you dont die and just really messed up in a wreck? I like what my wife said when we discussed my wanting to ride again. She said "well, you can't live your life scared." I don't, I don't want any regrets when I'm sitting on the porch...... I think all that any of us can do is to ride safe/smart and hope for the best.
Take Care!Posted 7th May 2011 at 17:20 by ElectricCityIron
-
I agree and I dont live life worrying, it was just a traumatic event that kinda got me second guessing myself.
Posted 7th May 2011 at 18:31 by Baphomet
Updated 9th May 2011 at 04:08 by ElectricCityIron -
It is good to see that someone mentioned something that many question, but few talk about. Like a song says; "the world is a vampire", and it is just waiting to take a bite out of ya if YOU let it.?.
I am a paramedic by trade, and yes, I have seen some of the worst available out there! I have ran some calls that made me question alot. BUT, I have also became painfully aware that without a scooter, I would be the next one up on a building somewhere... When you feel "Bad JUJU" around you; Stop for awhile, if your riding! Go back in the house, and spend a few more min's. with that someone that makes it all better, if your getting ready to leave. Or even don't ride until you get the groove back.
I am a firm beliver in the powers that be. And i'm not getting religious or phylishopical or anything of the likes. I'm just saying that you need to listen to that little voice in your head, or that tug on your jacket, or whatever it may be that is making you feel uneasy or concerned. For that feeling may make the difference between the life you love and the life you dont have.?.
Keep the rubber down, and your knees in the breeze...Posted 20th June 2011 at 22:59 by 94Basketcase
-
When I was young I decided I did not care to live past 30 so I tramped the hills alone hunting and fishing well away from civilazation when I wasn"t doing that I took up racing motercycles then I turned 30 so I decided I would not pass 40 so I continued to live life to what I considered to be the fullest. Then did wife and children but still lived my life so as to enjoy it fully. Now 69 given up on ever dying so I guess just keep on keeping on.
Posted 10th July 2011 at 23:20 by Deacon Dan
-
Dear ElectricCityIron: No, you shouldn't deny yourself the ride because the kid got killed. But, I can understand that the depression of such an event so close to home can make you feel like throwing up instead of doing anything else. That's the emotional involvement. The rational involvement should tell you that if you go out and refrain from barreling down an alley like a banshee out of hell this will not happen to you. The 75 foot throw speaks volumes. When I gear up and start my 2003 XL1200C in my garage at 7:00 AM in the morning I take a deep breath every time and say two things out loud inside my full head helmet. The first is "I am invisible to everyone once I leave my garage.", and the second is "Everyone out there in the streets, drivers, pedestrians, children and animals is totally nuts and I have to watch out for them because they will not watch out for me since I am invisible." Only then I move out and I try to ride by those two axioms. If every rider did this I think we could eliminate almost all the "accidents" like the one that you described. Ride safe.
Posted 5th September 2011 at 03:21 by YURIJ -
I know what you mean. When you have a family there"s so much to consider. Before my wife and kids came along I lived pretty fast, doing whatever I wanted to do. But then you see some people your close to die or get all jacked up from the same old thing and it makes you think. We just had a 10 year old neighbor boy get hit on his bicycle a few days ago. Don't know whats going yet but it all makes you think.
Posted 22nd December 2011 at 05:24 by zakk1775
