I miss riding.

Riding that is.

The freedom of it.
The individuality of it.
That feeling that it's only you in this helmet to nag.
That adrenaline rush that you get when you step over the line by a small margain.
That loose feeling locking up into a corner purposely and heading sideways into a corner hitting the apex perfectly and thinking your Valentino Rossi.
The ability to get away from almost anything on the road.
The trafficless riding.
Opening your visor on a warm day and feeling the cool air on you.
Going out with your mates for a hoon.
Going out with a big group for sightseeing and beautiful roads.
The early start for a group rideout getting brekkie and coffee wondering what the day holds.
That feeling when you get back from a weekender tired, aching, but still buzzing from the weekend.
Oddly I used to use the sign of the cross before a weekend rideout or days riding, purely for everyone and myself to have a safe day, I do not do that now.
That feeling of brushing on your knee.
That 'hold on for dear life we're pinning this now' feeling.
The reverberating noise of a twin on village walls.
That first startup of a weekend or long days riding, a little chilly but it'll get warm and the twin wakes the street.
Waving goodbye to the missus (ex) or Mum for the weekend, tapping the tank thinking, lets keep the the right way up, dinner will be on the table tomorrow and Dad will be pi$$ed if it gets thrown away.
Seeing those familiar faces at a ride.
Helping rideout newbies understand how things worked, because once I was a newbie and Stretchie helped me.
Those early morning rides where no-one is one the road so you open her up and join up the corners to make one fantastic ride.
Because your not going to be able to ride forever.

I got rid of my bike because I smashed my knee up, but really, I got rid of it for my family and the one I loved. Now she's gone, it's time to work round the family and get back a massive chunk of my life that makes me almost sick I've missed it that much.

Feel free to list some of the things you love.

[Luckypants]

It's pay day dude, start being mega sensible, pay off those debts then get yourself a bike with a clear conscience (or be daft and buy my DRZ!)

What a lovely post Get back in the saddle Stu before it's too late

[Richie]

Stu, and for that reason " I'm out.."













and riding my bike when I can... lol

Get yourself a bike ya big softy!

Im yet to miss my bike, but this morning i lay there at 1.30 am thinking too much about my off, i almost cried, i dont know if i can get back on a bike but saturday if work let me take the 110cc scooter out i shall know, i hope it doesnt come to it but after sliding along the road watching a car wheel go past my head, its not something i like to think about

Perhaps i just need to man up

[chris8886]

Originally Posted by plowsie

I got rid of my bike because I smashed my knee up, but really, I got rid of it for my family and the one I loved. Now she's gone, it's time to work round the family and get back a massive chunk of my life that makes me almost sick I've missed it that much.

Feel free to list some of the things you love.

you man!

you definately need to get yourself another bike as soon as you can afford one! if you ask nicely imight even sell you mine for a miniscule amount.

Get yourself a new bike .... get something that you'll ride with more reserve ... a cruiser or something, and just relax and enjoy the ride !! ....... tell the family that you ride very slowely these days .........

...... then, after a few weeks get an R1 !!!!

Originally Posted by LK-SV

Get yourself a new bike .... get something that you'll ride with more reserve ... a cruiser or something, and just relax and enjoy the ride !! ....... tell the family that you ride very slowely these days .........

...... then, after a few weeks get an R1 !!!!

My Mum and Dad have seen me riding on the road and at Silverstone, and my Dad was the one taking pictures of me on a road getting my knee down, the cruiser excuse will not pass lol.

Chris, unfortunately, having cash at the moment is not an option, I have to go on a big save and I should think the first time I have any form of money to buy a bike will be this summer.

[Jayneflakes]

I love going pillion with the wife, she handles the bike like it is a push bike that weighs nothing, I don't know how she does it. I rest against her back and just let the day blast by me with the speedo sometimes in the naughty. That feeling of holding on to the person you love as they take you both for a ride. The whole point sometimes is not to go anywhere, but to just feel the motion.

I have loved bikes since my early twenties when boys would take me for a spin on their bikes. Real (and scary) Patch bikers buying me drinks at rallies and telling me that I should get a bike of my own and that gorgeous Angel who told me when I was only 18, that getting my nose pierced would not hurt a bit. I have had a ring through my nose ever since and he lied, it Bloody well did hurt, but no regrets.

Biking and bikes have been a part of my life for so long, I can't imagine a time with out them. There is a dark side to this though. Seeing friends with leg braces or in speech therapy after a bad accident. Feeling that heavy sinking in the stomach when you hear that Mate X has lost it in a corner/on gravel/speeding. I remember watching an ex-partner laying in bed in hospital after she got taken out by a car driver who "did not see" her and not knowing if she was going to be OK. She was fine and we split up when she got out.

It is not just biking though that hurts my friends. Every year when I hear of a death in Scotland due to an avalanche, my heart aches because I know that there is a real risk of my dear friend Will being up there. My half brother Pauly drives his 4x4 off road and takes risks that are scary. With climbers and bikers and drivers and divers and what ever else people do, you have to accept that there is a risk.

Biking is often a risky business, but for every scary moment, there is a life affirming afterwards. Last week a driver nearly took me out as I sat parked, because he had his head under the dash and was driving with out looking where he was going.

I still love my bike and I still love riding with the wife, it would take a major change of heart in me for that to go away.

Get yourself a bike again, take it easy, take advanced level lessons if you feel like it. Just ride track days if that is your thing, but don't have regrets. For all of my adventures, both good and scary, I have no regrets.