I guess I'm getting old

FuzzyRider · Feb 7, 2009

So I'm out riding with a friend today. Overcast skies, 70 degrees, an all-around beautiful day. We get to what passes for twisty roads in North Texas - one of life's greatest things, a twisty road and on traffic. Normally I'll push it through a turn. I'll lean over until just this side of comfortable and try to smoothly apply throttle exiting the turn balancing lateral and longitudinal traction with space on the road. I'm by no means "fast" but I do think I qualify as "medium fast"

. Anyway, up comes the first section of turns today and I drop my speed below normal entry and I find myself thinking "I'm just not there mentally today."

So today instead of trying to maximize adrenaline, speed, and thrills I took it easy and enjoyed the scenery and smells and joi de vivre of riding on two wheels. This is something new for me - in times past I would have tried to push myself into the zone. And most times in the past I've gotten lucky enough to get away with it. To find myself thinking "you don't have it today - it's safer to not push it" must be a sign of my old age. Who knows, maybe I'm even over the hill.

Cdogman · Feb 7, 2009

FuzzyRider said:
[SIZE=18pt]"I'm just not there mentally today."[/SIZE]
So today instead of trying to maximize adrenaline, speed, and thrills I took it easy and enjoyed the scenery and smells and joi de vivre of riding on two wheels. This is something new for me - in times past I would have tried to push myself into the zone. And most times in the past I've gotten lucky enough to get away with it. To find myself thinking "you don't have it today - it's safer to not push it" must be a sign of my old age. Who knows, maybe I'm even over the hill.

That is called smart..

Good for you... I mean that.. I have done that too

Patriot · Feb 7, 2009

Been there, done that...

Today was a fast day (for me), chasing a FZ6 with my friend the LEO on Hwy 51 touching 140 and triple digits for about 10 mi

Tuesday, followed my riding podna on his Gl1800 GW (his roads in MS, not mine) and let him go as I was not awake and with it in the morning, but felt better and more confident as the way warmed up and went on.

As my hero Clint would say: a man has to know his limitations (which are different and change constantly)...

I hit 50 last month and have taken lotsa meds over my later years, so I chalk it up to good living through chemistry

Some days I stay home and don't ride at all when I'm not up to it and feeling really dull and/or blah

And there are those days the weather is great and I just go on a scenic "putter along" ride you might call me granny

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

FJRONAMISSION · Feb 7, 2009

==== What he said........ Ditto =======

B.

Cdogman · Feb 7, 2009

Fuzzy, Doode,, Anyone that dont get that is a fucktard and I wont ride with them anyway.... some days I am crazy quick... some days I park it.. some days I ride middle ground.

Got nuthin to prove

FuzzyRider · Feb 7, 2009

Cdogman said:
Got nuthin to prove

That's exactly it. When I'm pushing it I do it for me. Not to develop a reputation (positive or negative). I do it because I enjoy it. I guess that's why I was able to take it easy today - I don't care if anyone's going to call me slow-poke.

ShawnKing · Feb 7, 2009

FuzzyRider said:
must be a sign of my old age.

It's a sign of maturity. Sucks, don't it?

240z · Feb 7, 2009

As they say...... He who rides within his limits, Lives to ride again

204z

madjackdog · Feb 7, 2009

OK, that does it. FuzzyRider thinks he's getting old. He's 41. Fuzzy, you are hereby banned from using the word old. In any context. No synonyms either. That word is reserved for those of us who have somehow managed to stay vertical through, at the very minimum, 60 years. I don't want to hear any whining about how life is getting to be a real bitch because, heaven forbid, you're 41 now. I'm 62 with with one foot in the you know what (watch, TurboDave will write that he's sick and tired of 62 year old youngsters complaining). Congratulations Fuzzy, you're finding out that joi de vivre, celebration of life, is a pretty neat substitute for adrenaline, speed, and thrills. Good luck kid.

Patriot · Feb 7, 2009

From my pilot days paraphrased for motorcycle riders:

There are old riders

There are bold riders

There are no old, bold riders

dcarver · Feb 7, 2009

You are old. Over the hill. Sell the FJR immediately. Join AARP. Never leave the bedroom. Where all you can do is sleep. The best day you've ever had is already over. Just bow down and let it go..

Then again - very smart move, mi amigo.. I'm 11 revolutions around the sun ahead of you and had a moment like yours about 2 months ago.. and I'm still riding today... because I didn't push it and crash my brains out then..

Gerry.GEG · Feb 7, 2009

FuzzyRider said:
So I'm out riding with a friend today. Overcast skies, 70 degrees, an all-around beautiful day. We get to what passes for twisty roads in North Texas - one of life's greatest things, a twisty road and on traffic. Normally I'll push it through a turn. I'll lean over until just this side of comfortable and try to smoothly apply throttle exiting the turn balancing lateral and longitudinal traction with space on the road. I'm by no means "fast" but I do think I qualify as "medium fast" . Anyway, up comes the first section of turns today and I drop my speed below normal entry and I find myself thinking "I'm just not there mentally today."
So today instead of trying to maximize adrenaline, speed, and thrills I took it easy and enjoyed the scenery and smells and joi de vivre of riding on two wheels. This is something new for me - in times past I would have tried to push myself into the zone. And most times in the past I've gotten lucky enough to get away with it. To find myself thinking "you don't have it today - it's safer to not push it" must be a sign of my old age. Who knows, maybe I'm even over the hill.

Nope, not over the hill! You're either in the groove or smart enough to know better.

I found myself last year in the groove except I guess I lost focus before a pretty sharp curve and scared the Sh*$ out of myself! Slowed down and realized I'm not invincible (not that I ever thought I was) but knowing your limitations is what keeps a motorcyclist alive. If I didn't have great respect for riding there's no way I'd ride a 145hp. machine.

Always have fun, that's the goal.

CRMH Eagle · Feb 7, 2009

Dude, always trust your gut instinct. I rarely go against it. The last time I did was a few months ago when I thought it would be fun to plow thru a heap of snow while on a 4x4 trail near Loveland Pass, CO. The inner voice told me to leave it alone. I did otherwise. The result was a torn-up differential lock on the 4wd system and $2k to fix it.

Today I went riding up to Black Hawk on the Central City Parkway. I had a funny feeling when I left I-70 onto the parkway. A few miles up the road there was a lot of sand and dirt all over the road without a sign of letting up....leftovers from the highway dept during the winter. I turned around.

If I'm not mentally and physically up to riding or If I'm not comfortable with the road & weather conditions then I don't ride.

You're not over the hill....you're playing it smart so you can live to ride that hill another day. The next time you find yourself 4wheeling up in the Rockies, be wary of the snow drifts.

Bokerfork · Feb 8, 2009

CRMH Eagle said:
If I'm not mentally and physically up to riding or If I'm not comfortable with the road & weather conditions then I don't ride.

+1 I can remember going out on a ride 2 up one morning. The first 1/2 mile I was riding like I'd never been on a bike before. I told my pillion that if things didn't improve in the next 1/2 mile we were turning around and watching old movies the rest of the day.
As luck would have it, I came out of my fog and resumed the ride with no problems. Years before I would have kept riding regardless of the mental fog.

Welcome to maturity.

DrEvil777 · Feb 8, 2009

They say at 40 you trade immaturity for knowledge and at 50 you trade strength for wisdom.

Some days I'm really fast, some days I'm not. More and more I enjoy riding for the ride, not the speed.

One thing I have learned is to be fast at the track and be smart in the canyons & twisties.

And on those days that I don't feel up to it, I don't ride.

I expect all FJR riders to be smart, let the squids ride the gsxrs and R-1s.

And someday, when we all grow old, we can ride Goldwings!

SilverHound · Feb 8, 2009

Makes sense to me. Heck, I've had a few days where so many things just didn't feel "right" while backing the bike out of the garage that I pulled it back in and hung up the helmet for the day.

madmike2 · Feb 8, 2009

Old Guys Rule #1: "The older I get, the better I was."

You need to look HERE and order a shirt you find that's appropriate. :lol:

GPRIDER · Feb 8, 2009

Some days I feel it and some days I don't. Getting older, you feel less bullet proof. Just be carefull out there. We can go down at any time.

GP

mcatrophy · Feb 8, 2009

QUOTE (FuzzyRider @ Feb 8 2009, 02:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...

To find myself thinking "you don't have it today - it's safer to not push it" must be a sign of my old age. Who knows, maybe I'm even over the hill.

It's not a sign of old age, it's a sign you are probably going to reach an old age. With many more years of riding.

I'm 66. Some times I ride "in the zone", not as hard and fast as many, but on what I consider sensible limits of the road and my skill. Other times I relax the riding style, but NEVER relax the concentration. If you find you're doing that, get off the bike.

Always listen to that inner voice, it's saved me on more than one occasion (one I described here, and a story about lack of attention here - remember for these I'm in the UK, driving on the left - usually

).

I guess I'm getting old

Help Support Yamaha FJR Motorcycle Forum:

esolc oot m&#39;I siht dear nac uoy fI

Bad Boy

Isabella is Lazarus

Flying at the speed of smell ;))

Bad Boy

esolc oot m&#39;I siht dear nac uoy fI

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Isabella is Lazarus

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Shtirrenuppenmeister

Well-known member

Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!

esolc oot m'I siht dear nac uoy fI

esolc oot m'I siht dear nac uoy fI