[ralphael]

I've read the posts by Rick's wife and many similar posts of riders that are no longer with us and it saddens me a great deal of how short our lives are. I feel for her loss but at the same time I understand the passion that drives us all within the virtual walls of these forums.

My life has changed ever since I walked into the classroom of PRS (Pacific Riding School); watching the videos of bikers hitting left turning cars head on, lowsiding around a cruve and being runned over by a truck.

As I was committed to finishing the course and just get my license, my life started to change as I started to understand that my days are numbered; and they are, but we just don't know when. Fate delivered my bike and my credit card supplied the means :laughing

I've changed in the manner that I now live life with a passion; not just a passion for motorcycles but I am loving every minute that I am alive. Life no longer sucks as I once thought even though there are sucky things in life but you just have to learn to countersteer those obstacles (corny yes :laughing).

Some of the things that I do before going out for a ride (just in case) is to leave a letter that I've written to my family (in the event of my death) of how much they meant to me and how much I loved them. Also enclosed within the same envelope is my life insurance (sorry none of you are beneficiaries :laughing). I would put this out on the table before riding and put it away after I return; thankful that I survived another ride.

Ghandi said "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever,"

I shared this because I've met some of you and you share my passion. You have become a part of my life and from my heart "Please ride safe" :rockon

Ralphael

 

[penumbra604]

I don't believe that motorcycles induce mortality. It exists all along. I find your post kind of morbid. The vast majority of motorcyclists don't die as a result of the sport. In fact pedestrians actually have it worse.

See:

http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm

That doesn't mean that caution isn't in order but really coming home and smiling because you didn't die doesn't fit my point of view.

My view of this habit is entirely different.

What I noticed is that my formerly sporty car became really dull to drive. You are part of the environment and fully able to control your ride. You need to watch out for sleepy cagers, some of whom are non-sentient due to cell phones or other distractions.

You become part of a community. I likened it to being knights. You have a steed, armour, and peers. Your peers acknowledge your passing with a wave, smile or nod. You notice their steeds and show proper respect for another rider.

I won't give it up.

 

[heisenberg9]

I find your post kind of morbid...

You become part of a community. I likened it to being knights. You have a steed, armour, and peers. Your peers acknowledge your passing with a wave, smile or nod. You notice their steeds and show proper respect for another rider.

I find his post hopelessly romantic -- in the true sense of the word. It would be interesting to fast-forward 2 to 3 years from now and see what his take is. Maybe after a low speed crash, being a first responder on a motorcycle accident on a group ride, after a few "holy shit, that was close!", after seeing the BCSB community mourn the passing of a few 20 somethings from unfortunate accidents and so on.

 

[kuldip]

You're a nerd.
If you need motorcycling to make your life un suck you need some serious help.
Sure it's fun but you and your soap opera posts make it sound like you are a complete nob and have nothing in life and bought a bike in hopes of being less generic.

 

[ralphael]

You're a nerd.
If you need motorcycling to make your life un suck you need some serious help.
Sure it's fun but you and your soap opera posts make it sound like you are a complete nob and have nothing in life and bought a bike in hopes of being less generic.

button pushing again eh kuldip..

hmmm a post from you that I agree with :laughing

I'm a computer geek, Kuldip (there is a difference :laughing) and yes I am a complete noob :rockon

How less generic are you with your bike? :devillook

 

[kuldip]

knob...I meant knob not noob.
How less generic am I?...That's it pal you're fucking toast. Meet me at the monkey bars are recess.

 

[Guest]

I would put this out on the table before riding and put it away after I return; thankful that I survived another ride.

Ralphael

o .................... wow ....................:surrender

is there a cookoo clock smilie ?

 

[penumbra604]

Just because I joined the board this year is no indication of my experience in life or on the bike....assumptions are never a wise thing to base one's response on. I've been on the road for over 20 years so take your "let's see where he is in x years with y accidents" and stuff it somewhere dark and moist.

I've put over half a million miles on various vehicles (2 and 4 wheel) and don't need snap judgements from people who don't know me. My insurance discount is near the top of the scale so oddly the "warnings" of dire experience don't really make a lot of sense in my case. My girlfriend was almost wasted by a cager this year (she broke her windscreen with her body)...anyways - nothing to prove to strangers...

Yeah, it's a "romantic" viewpoint. But seriously - the point I was making is that the parallels are there. You are on your ride, not inside a cage - you are to some extent, a member of a select crowd and there seems to be a large acceptance of that on the road, if not on this board. It beats the hell out of the "Front line mentality" where you assume death is out there one of the next few times you go ride - or the elitist attitude based on assumptions based on "join date".

If there is no poet in your soul then I suppose I understand your inability to grasp what I was describing....live in your mundane world as you will. I like casting things in analogies. The real world is nice and all, but understand where some of the memes that drive us come from is not a bad thing, even if incomprehensible to some.

 

[ralphael]

o .................... wow ....................:surrender

is there a cookoo clock smilie ?

I understand that this post is a bit morbid, but the fact remains that I've made a choice in my life that may affect the people around me in the event of my passing.

The choice of riding a motorcycle is as dangerous as sky diving, scuba diving etc. Although you can remain safe for your whole life, the possibility is much higher and immediate then, let's say, watching TV and dying from obesity.

The letter is my only option in telling them that I've made that choice and that choice has made me happy.

Ralphael

 

[Tengu]

I understand that this post is a bit morbid, but the fact remains that I've made a choice in my life that may affect the people around me in the event of my passing.

So does crossing the street and walkin your doggie.


You're over dramatizing just a little.

 

[Skiela]

Ralphael, I can relate... I think the same way but then I did prior to biking just to a lesser degree. I can also relate to penumbra604. Ironically it comes full circle for me because due to the brotherhood and community that penumbra604 is talking about, all the bumps and losses within that small community feel closer to home and then bring me back to Raphael's train of thought.

As for:

If you need motorcycling to make your life un suck you need some serious help.QUOTE]

:surrender I'm definitely in that boat!!! Need it but don't want.. that's for sure. Basically I'm a fricken addict. :coffee What's your excuse?

 

[kuldip]

I have the same letter at raphy. i put it on the table every time I drink a glass of water. Water could go into my lungs you know.
Once the glass is safely back in the dish washer I return the letter to it's velvet pillow next to my bronzed baby shoes on my night table.

 

[ralphael]

So does crossing the street and walkin your doggie.


You're over dramatizing just a little.

just a little :laughing

but I don't take out the letter and put it on the table when I walk the dog

I have the same letter at raphy. i put it on the table every time I drink a glass of water. Water could go into my lungs you know.
Once the glass is safely back in the dish washer I return the letter to it's velvet pillow next to my bronzed baby shoes on my night table.

hmmm a velvet pillow eh? I just toss it into my underwear drawers....

I guess you have a hard time swallowing things (like this post), don't you :laughing

Ralphael, I can relate... I think the same way but then I did prior to biking just to a lesser degree. I can also relate to penumbra604. Ironically it comes full circle for me because due to the brotherhood and community that penumbra604 is talking about, all the bumps and losses within that small community feel closer to home and then bring me back to Raphael's train of thought.

Thanks Skiela. Nice to have someone that understands my train of thought. :rockon

 

[Skiela]

I have the same letter at raphy. i put it on the table every time I drink a glass of water. Water could go into my lungs you know.
Once the glass is safely back in the dish washer I return the letter to it's velvet pillow next to my bronzed baby shoes on my night table.

Your water must look like mine!!

 

[ralphael]

Your water must look like mine!!

:cheers

 

[TeeTee]

Ya see, this is the thing..... too many of the folks that ride sportbikes seem to have this idea that you need to live on the edge of death to get any fun out of sportbike riding. And unfortunetly we've seen a lot of them over the past few years either hurt themselves badly or leave us far too early.

But it does NOT have to be so. There's a time and place to play hard and a time and place to just go with the flow. YOU pick where it's time for one and time for the other. And hopefully you come out the other end in one piece. The SMART way is to choose to go with the flow if there's any doubt in your mind. The times where it's great to play hard are typically obvious. If in doubt go with the flow until you develop the smarts to know when it's time to play hard in those questionable times.

So it's actually OK to ride behind a scooter or a Harley when the traffic or road conditions suck or you're just plain tired or having a bad day. Just because you ride a sportbike does not mean you are expected to ride like a Rossi ALL THE FUCKIN' TIME!

PS: I'm 53. I've been riding steady since 1972 with a couple of years here and there where I was motorcyle'less. I plan in dieing in some manner not connected with motorcycles. I haven't even had an injurous crash in all that time. Yet I've piled on over 100,000 kms and raced for 5 years. So it is possible to ride without dieing. But it's up to YOU to have the self control to pick and choose and, more importantly, to learn from your own mistakes and those of others to better your judgement as it pertains to riding.

I'm not saying that riding isn't more risky. It is. But we accept that risk or we choose to NOT ride. But it doesn't need to be an instant ticket to a hospital any more than a host of other activieties... one of which is walking for your health. Crossing streets is dangerous too you know.......

 

[Guest]

I understand that this post is a bit morbid, but the fact remains that I've made a choice in my life that may affect the people around me in the event of my passing.

The choice of riding a motorcycle is as dangerous as sky diving, scuba diving etc. Although you can remain safe for your whole life, the possibility is much higher and immediate then, let's say, watching TV and dying from obesity.

The letter is my only option in telling them that I've made that choice and that choice has made me happy.

Ralphael

Ive written a letter to all of BCSB members , each time i post i will leave a letter in on my desk to explain what this site really means to me incase i get banned from something i say . If i don't get banned i will put the letter back into my bag of over dramatic nick knacks and completely over the top curios



.

 

[ralphael]

Ive written a letter to all of BCSB members , each time i post i will leave a letter in on my desk to explain what this site really means to me incase i get banned from something i say . If i don't get banned i will put the letter back into my bag of over dramatic nick knacks and completely over the top curios



.

ban him tee tee.... and lets see what is in that letter of borderline... :laughing

 

[TeeTee]

I have to admit to a certain curiosity..... :evilgrin

Raph, I accuse YOU of being too melodramatic. My call for penance is for you to go riding this weekend and ponder that riding is not as complex as you make it out to be. It's just riding and it makes us feel better. It's usually the simple things that do this. Often the simpler the better.

 

[ralphael]

Raph, I accuse YOU of being too melodramatic. My call for penance is for you to go riding this weekend and ponder that riding is not as complex as you make it out to be. It's just riding and it makes us feel better. It's usually the simple things that do this. Often the simpler the better.

I love the penance :laughing

Actually after putting together this server, I'll be heading out for my usual midnight ride :rockon (yes in the dark, in the rain with my dark visor on :laughing ) and doing the Anti-hibernation ride at RMS tomorrow.

hmmm... that letter on the velvet pillow idea might make it look more official (oh heck, I'll just use one of the sofa pillows) ... :coffee