Is biking too dangerous?

Trouble is, if we wrap ourselves up, do nothing dangerous, thinking this will guarantee us a long life, then you die young from some condition you didnt know you had, then its all cream cheese.
You have missed out on a lot of things which you will never ever get the chance to try again
My Old boss died in 2004 aged 38 from a heart failure he didnt know he had any problems with.
Turned up for work, 1 hour later, dead.
Family man, 2 kids, never took any risks, wasnt much of a smoker, didnt drink much.
Im 38 now, his death had a positive effect in a way on me as it gave me some kinda focus.
Do the things you wanna do, sooner rather than later, dont worry about the small stuff, they don't matter.
Its better to spend your money now and have less when your old, than to save it all to you get old and either die before you get the chance to spend it or your too fragile to do anything.
My point to this...If you enjoy riding motorcycles, do it, but do it so the odds are in your favour, ie ride within your capabilities.

Losing someone close is very hard, it can change how you feel about things...

I feel a little less imortal at the moment, but sometimes thats not a bad thing either.

But I really do think you just have get on with life, if you want to do it then go for it. I would hate to be sat there having lived to an old aged, never taken a risk and played it safe. What kind of life would that be?

Look at this way, my grandparents one set still alive, lived it to the max and are 90 this year and have had amazing lifes.

My nan died a few years ago, my grandad is still alive but in a nursing home medicated. They both rotted away casue they did sweet FA with their lives.

Use it or lose it.

You choose, however I know which grandad I'm going to be.

Originally Posted by jamesw1024

I'm left wondering if riding a bike is a bit daft. I've always been of the opinion 'It's worth the risk (albeit small)' but now I'm thinking otherwise.

I would rather live life and take a few acceptable risks than sit at home. On the other hand I have no wife and kids so I have the option to be selfish.

Originally Posted by jamesw1024

for the first time in my life I realised just how fragile life is.

my best mate died on his bike i had the same feelings as you but i'm still glad i never give up biking! its my life and ive met the best people ever in the bike community.

Originally Posted by plowsie

If we all worried about dying and hurting ourselves...We'd be wrapped in cotton wool!

Whatever floats you're boat but if you're worried about safety I'd recommend leather instead!

While on a cycling holiday in Mallorca earlier this year I got to the bottom of a long decent and wondered what would have happened if I'd have come off, even a puncture could have done this and a bit of Lycra and a block of polystyrene on your head won't give anything like the protection you get if you dress up properly when you ride your m'bike. In some ways that was stupid but there was no way I was going to be third, second was bad enough!

It wasnt until I lost a family member last year to an accident and realised how badly this affected others around me that I have taken the decision to reduce, almost never ride on the road. So I know where you are coming from with your thoughts.

I feel I have acheived what I want through road riding, the buzz and thrill of the open roads. I would still like to do some touring, but that's more to do with the exprience of seeing somewhere new in a way I enjoy travelling - not so much the thrill of going for a burn anymore. I think the track is better for this - or the dirt bike.

I would commute on a bike if it was necessary or if I need to get into town for work - but otherwise if its not necessary I dont bother.

I still love my bikes but prefer to put energy into getting thrills in other experiences as well - rather than just the road riding.

I'd just take some time over this one, there's no need to rush into any decisions.

Take a month or two off the bike, see how you feel then, just don't make any rash decisions like selling it just yet.

[Shellywoozle]

Originally Posted by jamesw1024

Hi All

My Dad nearly died recently, for the first time in my life I realised just how fragile life is.

Surely an experience like this should make you realise life is too short and you should do as much as you can in your life to make you smile and live for the day.

Life is fragile, we are a long time dead so go out and do what you love but do it carefully reducing the risks. Just like when you cross the road, you look left and right first.... still the danger there you are reducing it.

Glad ya Dad is about, sure he will say the same if you asked him his thoughts xx

It's very much a personal choice.

Yes, I absolutely believe that you should try and concentrate on what you can do, not what you can't / shouldn't. Live life to its full - you never know when it will end.

But, on the other hand, I can understand the other view - as Demonz has said - that sometimes you have responsibilities you want to fulfil and you want the maximum possible amount of time in which to do that.

If I got splatted on my bike tomorrow and was asked in my after-life welcome interview "are you happy with that ending Cazza, or would you prefer to go back to the age of 29, never ride bikes and live for another 50 years and die in some other way?" - it would be a tough call.

But, it doesn't work like that, sadly. All I know is that riding a bike, the friends I've made through riding and the huge amount of fun I have all means that I'm going to carry on - the benefits far outweigh the (possible) disadvantages.

As Spidey said, we're born, we pop our clogs - and that's kind of it. You just do your best during the in between bit - and only you yourself can decide what you want to do with it.

No, biking is not too dangerous, Yes it is dangerous but so is anything you do, it just depends on your perception of danger. Some people think it is too dangerous for them to do so don't. Others think it isn't dangerous and end up taking risks in the way they ride and don't wear proper protective clothing, and end up having accidents. The rest of us realise that it is a dangerous and take steps to minimise the danger. i.e, wearing the proper gear, taking extra advanced training etc, people have to decide if they are prepared to take the risk and do what they want.

Daryl.