RPC3
XS650 Addict
This has been a tough summer for motorcycling for me. I spent the better part of May and June working on my bike to make some nice improvements (thanks for the help, xs650.com), went on a few short rides, and then had some camping trips that ate up far too many weekends. In the middle of July I broke my wrist in 4 places playing soccer, so my riding for the year was essentially shot. I could maybe get on my bike now, but its cold in Maine and my range of motion is still very poor; not something I'd like to test in an emergency situation.
Motorcycling is mostly an individual hobby for me. I've got a few co-workers who ride bikes, but we've only talked about potentially taking trips together. There was one close friend I had who rode with me, but we couldn't get our schedules synced up earlier in the summer save for a few quick jaunts. A week and a half ago, my close friend passed away. It's been an emotional couple of weeks for me and it'll probably continue to be tough to think about for a long time. I'll always associate riding with my friend, and it's really painful to think that had I not hurt myself, we would have had a lot more quality time to spend together over the summer.
My point is not to mope; shit happens and it'll happen to all of us at one time or another, in some fashion or another. There have been a significant number of injuries and deaths this year in Maine involving motorcycles, and while I've sat on the sidelines this summer I've started to question if the hobby is worth it. My point is this; enjoy the activities you love doing while you can do them. There will come a day when we can't physically do what we want to do, or will run out of time to do the activities we've planned on doing. Use the riding season wisely, enjoy your health while you've got it, and pursue your passions - passionately.
Motorcycling is mostly an individual hobby for me. I've got a few co-workers who ride bikes, but we've only talked about potentially taking trips together. There was one close friend I had who rode with me, but we couldn't get our schedules synced up earlier in the summer save for a few quick jaunts. A week and a half ago, my close friend passed away. It's been an emotional couple of weeks for me and it'll probably continue to be tough to think about for a long time. I'll always associate riding with my friend, and it's really painful to think that had I not hurt myself, we would have had a lot more quality time to spend together over the summer.
My point is not to mope; shit happens and it'll happen to all of us at one time or another, in some fashion or another. There have been a significant number of injuries and deaths this year in Maine involving motorcycles, and while I've sat on the sidelines this summer I've started to question if the hobby is worth it. My point is this; enjoy the activities you love doing while you can do them. There will come a day when we can't physically do what we want to do, or will run out of time to do the activities we've planned on doing. Use the riding season wisely, enjoy your health while you've got it, and pursue your passions - passionately.
