Hanging up road riding boots for good :-(

pugheaven

pugheaven

pugheaven

Soldato
Joined
22 Apr 2008
Posts
3,927
Location
Bryn Celyn Wales
Well, as title suggests, after the past year with many many thoughts going through head, I've decided it's the right time to hang up my riding boots on the road.

Just come back from a fantastic SPAIN trip that nearly ended badly for my mate riding his bike (he's ok, but broken collar, ribs, toes, bruided lung etc)... and 2 years ago, another mate nearly died (knee caps gone, swelling on brain etc)... luckily both are fine now.

However, over last 12 months I've been having this nagging feeling that something is going to happen... so, after 4 track days, 3 epic tours of Europe and 20k miles plus of epic riding, I've decided to call it a day.

Not going to rush into getting rid of bike as next spring if I have the need I'll get out on the track and possibly think about a race licence, however right now.... it's the last I've ridden on the road me thinks.

Anyone else quit or felt the need to go with gutt feeling? Anyone worry or find they're relieved when they get home after a ride? That's the thing that worries me, the fact I'm glad I'm back home alive rofl... I never thank my stars I'm back in the car, but on the bike, just seems I'm taking my life in my hands and in everyone elses lately so, rather than be a boxer, and go for that last fight... decided to call it.

Opinions or similar feelings from anyone?
 
Last edited:
I don't feel worried or threatened when I ride,just keep your common sense and you'll be fine,its my only form of transport so its vital for me

Without a bike you might as well just shoot me,

I wouldn't pack up if I were you though
 
My bike is my only method of transport and i love it, can't see me giving it up any time soon but will go down the car route in the near future as well.
However, i can certainly empathise with your situation.
 
Same as the other guys at the moment my bike is my only transport and it puts a massive grin on my face, although I will be looking into sorting my car licence soon but I don't plan on driving unless it's too dangerous to ride.

I suppose it's a bit different when people you actually know have come close to being killed or disabled though.
 
Same here - car journey to work would be a good 30+ minutes longer (especially on days like today!) or twice as long and much more expensive on the train.

If you have the feeling of "phew, I'm glad I survived that" when home after a ride then maybe you're pushing it a bit too much on the road? There's 2 things that cause accidents - rider error, i.e. pushing to hard, riding beyond abilities, or round blind corners at stupid speeds - for this there's the 80% rule, i.e. don't ride to the limit of grip/the road/your ability.

The other big cause is other drivers, and again this can to a degree be lessened by riding defensively, being visible at all times, trying to think what car drivers might be doing (gaps in traffic, side turnings etc).

There was a big crash not that far from me (actually rode past the site the other day) where a biker died - now I've seen where the crash happened it's obvious that the biker was overtaking (long straight after a windy village) and a car pulled out of a side turning when the biker was on the wrong side of the road. People coming out of junctions don't always look left, so don't overtake past turnings/junctions.
 
You will be back :)

I did the same thing last year after my second 'serious' accident and 6 months of not riding was hell, and I have had the injuries and risks to myself, but I cant just get it out my system... It has changed how I ride though.
 
I gave up riding motorcycles 15 years ago (aged 35) after 3 near misses in one day after moving to NE London.

Having just moved in with my GF (now wife of 12 years) and 2 very young daughters, the risk was no longer worth the reward as far as I concerned.
 
I had this feeling for the first 2 weeks, but that was mostly due to my tyres which felt like you were on ice all the time. I was originally going to buy a car and wait till I get a full time job to buy a bike, but I got fed up of looking and the 1st bike I went to cameback home with me.

I might get a car when I'm older, but doubt it. Unless I need it, I won't buy one. No traffic and the fact you don't have to worry about parking is awesome. A bike is also cheaper than a car, you just need to fight the temptation of opening up the throttle. :p

The truth is you've a bigger chance of surviving a crash in a car than a bike, no point in lying to yourself its the other way. My mate not that long ago written his bike off, another one nearly written his bike off. They both want cars, the guy who didn't write off his bike rides in till he gets a car. I haven't had a crash yet (touch wood), only close calls from which my reflex got me out.

Edit

Fireskull said:
You will be back :)
Click to expand...

He's right! It's too damn addictive, once you get hooked there's no coming back. :p
 
I still get that awesome buzz today as I did when I first rode out on the public roads by myself after passing my CBT

It will never die
 
I liked bikes since I can remember, instead of playing with toy cars I had toy motorcycles. :p Everytime I see a bike there's a grin on my face, I'm only a beginner so when I sit on something more exciting it'll be like going from soft drugs to hard drugs. :D
 
I gave up in my mid twenties and although I do look on wistfully sometimes, you never feel acceleration like it in a car and a good ride can be so very enjoyable but I would never go back.

I had too many close calls and things happen that I thought back on and realised had it occurred just a second later or had I been a few inches to the right I could have been off, some my fault, some not.
Its a lottery I don't want to play now.

I do think i'm a much better driver because of my bike time, much more defensive in my driving, noticing gaps, driver eye-line and hazards others seem unaware of.
 
you cant think like that though or youd never do anything,surely the enjoyment outweighs the risks?


I must have come off atleast 5 or 6 times over the years,luckily mild spills but I still live for riding

(biking is scary,but who doesn't like a good scare now and then)
 
Last edited:
I'm the opposite to everyone in this thread it seems.

Been driving for the last 5 years and now I'm looking to switch to motorcycles. Much cheaper to run and much quicker to commute to work. I lost my parking space so now I have to cycle. Seeing as I cycle on the road anyway I can't imagine a motorcycle being much more dangerous.

Everyone has their reasons though. I'm sure if I was in the same scenario I'd feel the same.
 
Had a couple of incidents, a few close calls and just lived with the general idiocy from cagers. I don't see that changing.

I've seen friends abandon biking (mainly from commuting up the A34 at Sports Bike speeds) and outright lost several friends to biking accidents, some of whom were Police and advanced riding instructors, but never felt the need to give it up myself.
With one exception, every one of them who quit riding still misses it like crazy to this day.
 
Terminal_Boy said:
I gave up riding motorcycles 15 years ago (aged 35) after 3 near misses in one day after moving to NE London.

Having just moved in with my GF (now wife of 12 years) and 2 very young daughters, the risk was no longer worth the reward as far as I concerned.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I mean. I've got a 22 year old and a 6 year old girl and married... and I just can't get "death" out my head. I'vbe had a terrible year with luck, anything and everything has failed, broke or whatever, and to me, it's a warning.

Can see where everyone is coming from on this one... and I ride safely... not had any near misses. However the one thing that has confirmed was in Spain. The D511 is what I'd class as the best riding road (if you like tehcnical stuff like me) in the Europe easily and I've riden the best stuff. I basically just went and don't get me wrong, it wasn't speeds like 120mph etc, it was slower speeds but right where you're on the edge...

Now I've always controlled my own speed, however this is the 2nd or 3rd time I've just got in the juju... gone for it and nothing else was regirstering... seriously, I was oblivious to everything else, family, the massive drops down the side of the mountain... I was concentrating that much to get the best out the bike and with the road being as it was, you had to give it 110%... my mate who ended up around 3-4 minutes behind me... everything was perfect and I've never ridden a road so close and perfect ever and won't again. My worry was, when I got to the bottom, I'd not seen a car as road was like a race track, better infact... and I'd ridden so hard, I was exhausted 5 minutes after getting off bike. I couldn't control it, mist whatever you want to call it. Not at a single point was I riding stupidly or anything like that... BUT it's the fact I didn't care what happened to me, I just rode...

The fact that I didn't care worries me. The fact I'm grateful for getting home (not that I'm riding fast) it's the... another ride in the bag.

I love touring, it's incredible BUT, just think I've come to the end of the line.

I'd reccomend biking to ANYONE, it's incredible... I'd never come out with the horror stories, just that it is more dangerous, we're more vulnerable and you play the percentages and ride safe. However, we can't control gravel, idiots on the road... and looks like now and then, my mind is elsewhere.
 
Last edited:
To be fair I've always said I'd do it now while I was young with no kids or wife to worry about leaving behind, it may all change once they come into the equation but I don't think I'd ever give it up completely.
 
I'm still on it :D. Close calls don't scare me or make me think about what could happen (maybe I'm just stupid ). After my accident almost 2 years ago now, all I wanted to do is get back on and ride. Honestly think I would have said the same even if it was a more serious one.

Never know, that might change when I'm older, but at the moment I can't see my view of biking changing at all.

And tbh, you're still doing the track, so you're not going to miss out on that awesome power/acceleration :)
 
Last edited:
tom_e said:
To be fair I've always said I'd do it now while I was young with no kids or wife to worry about leaving behind, it may all change once they come into the equation but I don't think I'd ever give it up completely.
Click to expand...

You can always get a HD... hahaha :p
 
I took an 11 year break and didn't even sit on one let alone ride one.
but im glad to be back out there again.
I did miss it after 5-6 years but though one thing and other I couldn't afford to get one again.
I had been riding bikes since I was 12(1974) in 2002 my then GF wouldn't go on the back and having never had a car
we found it hard to get around.
so I got a car and as I said never sat on one for the next 11 years
now I have both so the bike is just mine
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom