Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Risk and Responsibility

My uncle just had his first kid at age 47...

FJ, what risk. I have far more risk at work than getting to work. Ya see I am one of them fellas that keeps the lights on so we can have these thoughtful and insightful discussions. I have planted far more friends, acquaintances from work related injuries than bike related accidents. I figure I'm just as dead from the little ole Blue hair laddy trying to peak over the steering wheel, turning left in front of me on my bike as I am with the tractor-trailer driver that didn't see me in my car or truck.

Why would I want to insult you?, all you said was I'm not justified in riding my bike, and you can't expect intelligent conversation from the likes of me. Go suck a fart.

I've avoided replying to this....but I feel now is the time...

My import Grandfather (he was born somewhere in N America) was a biker. Before WWII he was a sucessful trails rider, these days he'd be called semi pro. I don't know what his proper job was, but I know he used to deliver bikes and outfits for the garage who used to sponsor his trails riding and I think also for Brough (he lived in Nottingham at that time) After the war he went back to all this.
I get stories from my gran about their holidays at this time about loading up the outfit with the 3 kids, the tent and dog and going to the seaside for a week.
In the early-mid 50's he had a crash. It's not talked about often and from what I've heard he was quite severly brain damaged. It affected him and he got violent. He use to flip for no reason. He use to beat my mum and I remember her going for therapy for that in the 80's. But being English that was never talked about really either. I was just a nosey kid, and use to hear everything (some would say I still am and do...) so that's how I know.
HOWEVER

That didn't stop mny mum getting a bike. As I've put in here before she had a little accident in the early stages of pregnancy with me...but it got her to learn to drive. She'd driven a Reliant before....but you can do that with a bike licence here... And she still rides. She'll be 60 on Xmas Day and has a Honda 400/4. In 2 1/2 weeks she'll be riding it round Mallory Park.


AND

Now I have a bike licence.

I don't know if they were reported over the pond but of the 5 major train crashes over here in the last 7 years 3 have been for the company I now work for. The last one (at Ufton Nervet) was on a job that I worked the week before and did the same job 2 weeks after. I knew the driver that died. He was a top bloke.
My first boyfriend was in a car crash where the two lads in the front (that were not wearing seatbelts) were killed, but he and the other lad in the back (that were wearing seatbelts) were saved. OK they both had major injuries but both are still alive and kicking.

What is all this saying....?

Well I choose to ride. Ok you may have gathered it's in my blood (my dad also rides) but living in a city I'm as likely to get hit walking on a pavement as I am on a bike. Or stabbed with a knife. Or anything else I can't control.
Life is about risks. Child birth is a risk....yes even in this age of fantastic modern medicine....

I'm happy with my bike, I say to my mates in Bristol that it's the best thing I've done. I've meet so many people that I consider good friends and would miss if my "itchy feet to move" return. And there the people i see in the flesh. There's you lot in here too...


Life is too short to have regrets. I have a couple, but one of them will never be to have got a bike.

If I've gone on a little I apologise. There are things that have to be said to understand my views and so here they are.

I just don't feel that if someone chooses to have children that their life has to stop.

when i think back to my childhood,the thing that would least be a threat to my life was riding on the back of my dads bike,the things i did when he was not watching should of did me in..i ride my kids with caution...the kids next door ride a 4 wheeler without a helmet..that i could not take