No really, what the fukk is the point, you may as well set fire to your house and go and live in the woods, i'm sure I'd be happier.
once upon a time when I had hair, I'd like to think i was free, i'd grab my boots throw on a leather and lid and go out on my bike... traffic was light, and those that were on the road paid attention to what was going on outside the windscreen, as there were no distractions.... I didn't worry about speed cameras, police, pot holes, back protectors, air-bag jackets, breakdowns or anything else for that matter.... yup I'd like to think i was free.... and rather happy.
25 years on and the world is a different place and to be quite honest a poorer one, one I'd rather not be in. :ohplease: my Sunday ride out was ruined... again... i had to look for petrol.. (still) the roads were bloody dreadful, several people tried to kill me whilst trying to text, fuk about with the sat-nav, talk on the phone and generally ignore what's going on outside the car.
Honestly i wonder whether it's worth going out on the bike apart from trips to Europe and track days... not cos of the safety aspect but because i just don't enjoy it any more.... which is a shame... my life has always been about bikes.... it's all i ever want to do.
Not race... been there done that, didn't get the bug, but just ride my bike as far as possible and let the day and the roads unwind, to start at my house and in 4 days have seen 1500 miles of the world change around me is wonderful thing.......
But.... I'm not sure how long this tiny bit of freedom I will be able to enjoy, France it seems is hell bent on kicking bikers off the roads, and despite the UK having one of the most successful Bike manufactures, in Triumph, the government is following suit, making it as difficult as ya like to get a licence.... easier to get a tin box if you are young..... you know if I was 16 now i'm not sure i would have the patience to go through all the rigmarole to get a full licence.
Oh and type approval rears it's head.... that's coming for sure, you can tell it is as the Motorcycle manufacturers, have already bent the knee to the inevitable... you don't need to be a genius to work that one out, just look at the approved accessory catalogue for BMW, Triumph etc I see the new Triumph explorer has 37 bolt ons you can buy.
I'm going to stop now as the rest of it is just too depressing to think off..... and take the dogs for a walk in the woods, i can still do that (but only in the designated areas ffs!)
Ride Free while you still can.
Mogs
Moving stuff Mogs and, depressingly true, if you continue to see the glass half empty.
Hopefully, you have bounced back since the designated area dog walk and can now see that there are a few sunny uplands left to ride. :biker3:
And to answer the question: The point is the feeling; whether you are passing lines of sweltering still-stand or taking a sweeper through sun dappled woods, overtaking on the N whatever as the nice French guy moves the Renault to let you pass and the on coming bikers give you that low hand wave, the feeling is alive, it's buzzing and your super-wide daft grin could win a photo contest but you will never reproduce it in any off-the-bike situation.
Muck spread lowlands or spring flowered alpine pass, you experience all the invironment has to offer; all your senses involved.
And what is really great is that the run down to Box Hill or a 2kwaks 'n Wolf's Welsh wander can give us all that the Grand St B has but in its own way.....and a meal waiting when you get home.
There will, however always be :asshole: days when every sumbitch and his brother are out to ruin your fun. How else would you know how good it is when they are not (out to getcha)?
So, let's raise a glass, at least half full, and toast this wonderful pastime which we share......for it will be a brighter day tomorrow :smiley:
Moggy, your'e just having a bad day, it'll hopefully pass. We all have those moments when we think what the point. I've set off on the bike before and then just thought, F**k it I cant be bothered and then I've gone home again.
But the good times always outweigh the bad times, and I live for days when I can get out on the bike like I did recently with 2kwacks and just ride for the sake of riding and to hell with everything else.
I need a release valve in my life and my bike is that fix. As for the dogs, designated areas for dogs, WTF is that all about? Just let them off the lead and let them go where they want to go. If someone has a problem with that....let them take it up with the dogs. :mfr_lol:
yeah ... I suppose I am :ohplease: ta for the cheer up posts.... sometimes life does get me down if you know what i mean...
I'll see how the rest of the day goes before flushing my head down the loo... I have to take Smartys Bandit out to the dealers..
Oh the dogs in the wood thing is because apparently they have to stay on the path..... yeah that's gonna work.. try telling a Lab and a Springer not to chase Bunnies and squirrels..
'Course the impending snow does nothing to lift the mood... :no:
Mr Mogster.. we all feel like that sometimes. Agreed it's more now, than years ago. and it most likely because the roads are much busier or may be were getting older and can't be botherd. it was not so long ago, I thought of selling my zzr1400. which was a big decision for me :yes: had it from new since 2008, and it's part of the family now. I was thinking of selling because I don't seem to I've the time to enjoy both gtr and the zzr enough. what dosen't not help! is the fact the wife won't go on the bikes, so end up using the car more than the bikes or the wife ends up staying, in which causes me no end of grief. but now the better weather is here the miles will soon build up :smiley: I've often got up in the morning and thought to myself, I think I will go a dam good ride today, done 20 miles and turned round and came home. then other days I've been out all day and coverd in excess of 300 miles and enjoyed every minute. it dose help if we have a purpose to ride, instead of turning right or left out of path and hoping for the best! I seem to enjoy the day more when meeting the mates and were heading to agreed destination, instead of making it up as you go along ride out. also when I'm off work my mates are usaully working and vice versa! so lets arrange more forum meets i.e long weekends for distance meets and day meets, say! within a 100 mile radius of the organiser for local meets. I recently arrange to meet Mr wolf and had a excellent day ride around nothwales. and even mangaged to stay out all day :mfr_lol:
I HATE going out on Sundays, escpecially in the morning, in the spring summer, living 2 miles from Boxhill the roads are infested with 'power rangers' and plod. However go out on a Sunday afternoon, or better still any other day of the week and once your clear of the town, it is still a gloriuos thing to be on a bike.
Had the GTR 10 months and done 7200 miles, nothing better than a bike IMO, and until I'm too old and broken to ride one I will continue to do so. Tests for bikes and cars are harder now, and car insurance if your under 25 is the best advert for not driving ever, most of my neighbors kids have scooters or bikes, getting back to where we were when i started, cheap, fun, transport.
The world of bikes is not as bad as some people and MCN would have you believe, just twist that throttle and let it all slip away :grin:
Nil desperandum
Wow bad mogs, sorry about that. Will it cheer u up or pee u off if I tell u about my w end?
Just got back from Shropshire with the v strom boys. Wot a great part of the world. Loved it . Some 'minor' off roading on sat a nd some brill rides on sun, place called the devils mouth near Church stretton was the high light. 2 nights 'wimpy camping' in a bunkhouse for £22 on abeautiful remote farmhouse. Gotta get back there sometime :-)
Ps Bishops Castle - literally a stones throw from Wales. Met a bunch of people I didn't know (just wot they say on the strom forum. All good guys and gals, had a reet laugh, so maybe ..... that's the point??
Keep your dander up- prob the next time u ride you'll have a brill
time (hope so anyway)
Moggy ... come on mate .. you are having a bad day that's all ... don't worry about all that stuff, don't let it worry you.
Just think of getting on your bike and riding about, more so now that the decent weather is here / coming :smiley: That's what matters .. you and the bike, don't worry what other people are doing or may have to do ! :laugh: :laugh:
Mr Cartman,
You are of course right....and yet, I find it quite pleasant to run down to Box Hill, have a coffee, admire the bikes and then get on with the real business of the day......a ride out to wherever, a spot of lunch and a ride back...priceless and not available from Access.
I came to all this late in life; fifteen years ago. And now that I am retired and rent/testing GTR........ well, I have already covered that to "death" and yes some days are just :censored: :asshole: :censored: :shit: :censored: But all the rest have been a many splendid thing :yes: :yes: :yes:
Quote from: Nok12rs on April 02, 2012, 05:48:54 PM
Mr Cartman,
You are of course right....and yet, I find it quite pleasant to run down to Box Hill, have a coffee, admire the bikes and then get on with the real business of the day......a ride out to wherever, a spot of lunch and a ride back...priceless and not available from Access.
:mfr_lol: I understand, I still pop down to BoxHill and West Meon Hut from time to time, but it gets wearing when you live next door :rolleyes:
I am one of the strange breed that have ridden since I was 17, on the road all year, and I am prone to occasional bouts of cycnism for which I apologise :surrender: I went down to Goodwood a couple of Fridays ago, my favourite ride and one i've been doing since I had my first bike, cup of coffee and a roll then on to Chichester and back the the alterntive route. Shown to me by an old boy, probably younger than I am now, from Box Hill and as enjoyable today as then, just perhaps in a different way.
In reference to the first post, I can recall doing 'the ton' down the Mickey Bends, in jeans and a leather jacket, without a care in the world, different times!
But I do genuinely love bikers, even Harley riders :whistling:, of all shapes and sizes and posts like yours remind me not be such such a cycnical sod and get out and socialise a bit more! Enjoy the bike and have fun, for that is what it's all about, I must practice what I preach
God hates me....... no really he does.... it's ok cos i hate him back...... I got out to the dealers on my other halfs 1250 bandit then went up to the Little Chef in Royston where I had left my specs on Sunday (ARRRRSE!!)
About halfway down the Buntingford to Baldock road, which was for a change car free, things got a bit 'bouncy' hmmmm strange, the ole Bandit has a new Hagon shock in it...which has blown the seals :hammer: :001_9898: ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!! so now i have to take it off and send it back...
after retrieving me specs i take the non pogo option and come back via the A505 and A1 ..... nice uneventful trip... yes... :ohplease: :no:
'why is my left foot cold' i ask .........
'that's because the zip on your boots has just parted company' says God :tt2:......
Bastard! :hammer:
Great piece of story writing Mogster. Now pull yourself together , think of those people who can't do the things you and I can do, and go out and enjoy yourself for a couple of hours. Do the things you want to do most, take the wife and the dogs, kids if you have them and then come back and write us a happy story that we will all be jealous of. Forget the bad day, tomorrow is just a few hours away. :smiley:
Quote from: Mogster on April 02, 2012, 06:42:16 PM
God hates me....... no really he does.... it's ok cos i hate him back...... I got out to the dealers on my other halfs 1250 bandit then went up to the Little Chef in Royston where I had left my specs on Sunday (ARRRRSE!!)
About halfway down the Buntingford to Baldock road, which was for a change car free, things got a bit 'bouncy' hmmmm strange, the ole Bandit has a new Hagon shock in it...which has blown the seals :hammer: :001_9898: ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!! so now i have to take it off and send it back...
:clap:
after retrieving me specs i take the non pogo option and come back via the A505 and A1 ..... nice uneventful trip... yes... :ohplease: :no:
'why is my left foot cold' i ask .........
'that's because the zip on your boots has just parted company' says God :tt2:......
Bastard! :hammer:
On the up side Mr Mog, your specs were there :clap: Never been so fortunate myself. :sad:
Now boots: This old sod can't get flash racing footware because of :shit:ty great feet. My Daytona touring boots have done 40k plus whatyever walking that involved. Zip parted once and soles were wearing thin so, nice tony of Prestatin sent 'em back to Krauterland where they were splendidly refurbed. Will your boot maker do the same for you :nono: or maybe :smiley: yes.
As for afte rmarket suspension, Wilbers are Brillbers :rolleyes: keeeeeeeeeeeeep :smiley:
Mr Cartman,
Quote: Chichester and back the the alterntive route.........
Chichester is a favourite day ride of mine. But, nothing so sweet as going to the Sunday at the Goodwood Revival on the bike (period costume in panniers of course); sweeping past at least six miles of still-stand having left home 90 minutes after them.
I know shadenfreude does me no credit :rolleyes: but aren't they one of the times when you just know: bikes are right :cheesy:
Mog have an early night my son and tomorrow will dawn a much better day. You know that to appreciate a really good day you have to endure a truly :shit: one, so keep smiling, tomorrow is another day, and it will be better. :smiley:
Specs..... I'm not good with them... i only need to wear em fer driving, and i'm rubbish at remembering to put 'em on..... Usually I remember the first time I flip the visor open, 'Gosh it's windy on my eyeballs.....ARSSSEEEE! not again' :oops: sometimes one can get 'em back and sometimes they stay where i left 'em on a picnic bench somewhere in Europe...
Usually I have 3 pairs of the cheapest frames i can get me hands on... :mfr_lol:
on the bright side i do mean i can go Bike boot shopping! :smartass:
:grin: For sure you are on the mend :clap: :banana: New Jimmy's :banana:
STOP wingeing !! get on the bike wring its neck for 5 minutes then pull over and think why did i do that???, then you will ride the next couple of hours in sensible total delight, regain your memory and remember this is why i love my bike !!!!!!!!!!!!!!, now then you tell me what else gives you this type of adrenalin rush???????????? ( remember its got to last more than a minute :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:)
Your Ryton the money there Zedmeister :rolleyes:
Mogs the roads these days, as you say, are over populated with idiots, and Sunday riding can be a chore, plus sometimes things seem to go from bad to worse
BUT
Just think about all those drivers in their tin boxes who have NEVER been on a bike and NEVER experienced the pure pleasure of biking.
NOW... how sad do they seem and just how good does your biking feel...even with recovered specs a bouncing bike and a cold foot :yes:
BUT
Just think about all those drivers in their tin boxes who have NEVER been on a bike and NEVER experienced the pure pleasure of biking.
NOW... how sad do they seem and just how good does your biking feel...even with recovered specs a bouncing bike and a cold foot :yes: [/b][/color]
[/quote]
Here, hear,here :clap: :agree: :clap:
Today will be a good one Mr Mog :banana: :biker3:
Smarty came out to go to work this morning to find a flat tyre on our 4x4.... :no: :ohplease: you couldn't make this up!!
I wonder if i can get God with my crossbow.. :gun_bandana:
I may as well go and stand on a hill,during a thunderstorm, in a suit of armour, waving a sword shouting 'All the Gods are Bastards'.... :hang: :rip:
:ohplease: Mr Mog, it still hurts like :single fuck:nwhen I :mfr_lol:
I get runs of :single fuck:up biorhythms like this. I handle it by believing that I am having several smaller catastrophes rather than one :single fuck: :censored: big one.
Not sure where my prang sits in that philosophy. :huh:
Nail in the shoulder of the tyre.. non repairable.... ARSE!!!!!!..... :hammer: