petey
Well-known member
won't let me post a pic....
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Will I know when it's time?
- Thread starter RichDoyle
- Start date
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Bungie
FrostBack #2 - IBA # 44620
Says the guy who bought ANOTHER BMW.I just praise God that I'm not as Old/Decrepit as SacramentoMiguel, Herr Petey, Dr. Rich, Roger of Rog/Deb or "Pops" Niehart! jes' sayin' and nuff said, SENILE!I just wonder what the hell you were doing on one leg all day long.
Wonder if I could do that, but not enough to try.
Dr. Rich
Arrested Development
I have waited to enter this discussion but I feel that a little background is required.... When we were on our scooter tour in Italy last September, we all went to a town that had a history of gold and silver jewelry making.... The central market square was down a very steep and long hill. We all struggled to walk down the hill and then the walk back up was difficult at best. They would not let vehicles into the town... Our buddy Beemerdon, had the guide for the group go down the hill and had him to ride on the back of his scooter up to the top....His excuse for not walking was... The guide offered to drive him up....
As for myself, I turned 65 in December and had my right hip replaced in November. The healing is going amazingly well and the doctor says I can start riding again in April... I feel my right leg is stronger now than before the surgery. I also know of another forum member that had his hip replaced one week after I did. Having the surgery was the best thing I have done for myself in years. The body is anxious to get back on a bike.... Rich
As for myself, I turned 65 in December and had my right hip replaced in November. The healing is going amazingly well and the doctor says I can start riding again in April... I feel my right leg is stronger now than before the surgery. I also know of another forum member that had his hip replaced one week after I did. Having the surgery was the best thing I have done for myself in years. The body is anxious to get back on a bike.... Rich
petey
Well-known member
Just remember this...
Rider
Well-known member
My take is that when you don't know the answer, it just might be time.
Here is a spin on a quote: It's better to know you could've ridden longer than to know you should've stopped sooner...
juniorfjr
Well-known member
I was going to post something snarky like, " shortly after leaving the bike and before hitting the ground" but hopefully it won;'t come to that. A good many of you more "mature riders" that I've met have many years ahead of you, god willing. My oldest friend's father in law hasn't hung it up yet. He's riding a BMW naked boxer with a sidecar and just turned 89. We've learned not to follow doc too closely though. He's said if he goes out on the bike, then life has been good. so keep riding.
bluesdog
Well-known member
One of my uncles, in his 90s, would sneak out of the care home in Nelson BC to ride his HD. A friend kept it ready for him in a nearby garage.
Although he no longer had his license, all the local LEOs knew him and looked the other way when he putted around on the lanes and back roads
Ride on, brothers and sisters. Ride on.
Although he no longer had his license, all the local LEOs knew him and looked the other way when he putted around on the lanes and back roads
Ride on, brothers and sisters. Ride on.
RichDoyle
Well-known member
Food for thought: Last April 1 (2014), opening day of baseball at LAA against the Mariners, the Angels' pitching coach Don Baylor (age about 65) was at home plate to take the first pitch from Vladimir Guerrero. The pitch was a bit low and away. Don reached for the ball and the stress of simply reaching for the ball caused his femur to snap. Very hard video to watch.
This was presumably due to bone-density loss. Something I'm going to start watching. I'd hate to try to rescue the FJR in a parking lot drop in No-we're-not-there-yet, Arkansas and have this kind of thing happen.
On the other hand, I have no worries yet about my mental facilities, as I dredged up the incident, the date, and the names of the principals from my smarter-than-the-average-bear memory.
This was presumably due to bone-density loss. Something I'm going to start watching. I'd hate to try to rescue the FJR in a parking lot drop in No-we're-not-there-yet, Arkansas and have this kind of thing happen.
On the other hand, I have no worries yet about my mental facilities, as I dredged up the incident, the date, and the names of the principals from my smarter-than-the-average-bear memory.
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Uncle Hud
Just another blob of protoplasm using up your oxyg
I've had this conversation with my father several times over the past 12 months; usually after he crashed his car into something -- they've all been stationary objects so far, thank God. He gets angry with me (understandable) and then asks how he's supposed to get to the drug store and the grocery store and the doctor's office in their small SC town with no transit and almost no taxicabs (also understandable).
I forbade my grown children to ride with him -- easy, since neither wanted to -- and their wives quickly added their names to the "no ride list". The last four visits, I rode with him. We had three minor crashes and two near-misses (that I am aware of).
He's accepted the inevitable now, I think. Since New Year's Day, I've been helping move Mom and him into a retirement home which offers a shuttle to groceries, drugstores, doctor's offices, hospitals, performing arts center, etc, etc, etc, and pretty much anywhere you ask them to take you.
Anyway, TO GET TO YOUR QUESTION, RichDoyle, I expect my children to tell me, and I hope to have the wisdom and grace to accept it when they do.
Because of this "issue" with Pop, my children understand what I've asked of them. They've solemnly promised to tell me when the time comes, and I trust them -- my two boys and their wives -- to be honest about it.
======================================
OK. Now I'm gonna go find one of beemerdons' posts with T&A and forget this stuff for a while.
I forbade my grown children to ride with him -- easy, since neither wanted to -- and their wives quickly added their names to the "no ride list". The last four visits, I rode with him. We had three minor crashes and two near-misses (that I am aware of).
He's accepted the inevitable now, I think. Since New Year's Day, I've been helping move Mom and him into a retirement home which offers a shuttle to groceries, drugstores, doctor's offices, hospitals, performing arts center, etc, etc, etc, and pretty much anywhere you ask them to take you.
Anyway, TO GET TO YOUR QUESTION, RichDoyle, I expect my children to tell me, and I hope to have the wisdom and grace to accept it when they do.
Because of this "issue" with Pop, my children understand what I've asked of them. They've solemnly promised to tell me when the time comes, and I trust them -- my two boys and their wives -- to be honest about it.
======================================
OK. Now I'm gonna go find one of beemerdons' posts with T&A and forget this stuff for a while.
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Pterodactyl
Well-known member
I have a 95 year old Aunt that I take care of. She's still sharp as a tack but her sight is about 40%. Once I commented how odd it seemed to me that my oldest brother was 72. My Aunt replied, "Oh, to be 72 again."
It is much to do with perspective.
It is much to do with perspective.
mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
As a mere youngster of 72, I've felt pretty much what this t-shirt says. If I wasn't looking forward to riding/riding/thinking back on my rides, I'd probably be watching day-time television. I cannot think of anything that would drive me to total senility more quickly.
Just remember this...
My memory is shot, but then it's never been particularly good (as far as I can remember
I shall rely on my co-riders/family to tell be when I'm past it, unless I've given up before. I know riding helps me physically and mentally, and shall continue for as long as I can/am allowed to.
If you are aware of the possibility of having to give up, you are probably still ok to ride. Once you take the mind-set that you are going to continue regardless, you probably already should have given up.
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beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Amigo Frederico I personally would like to go out on top of a 19 year old Redhead with **** as big as my head, but Hell that is just the way that we Irishmen roll! JSNS, Slainte!
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hppants
Well-known member
LOL!!!! Don - you are officially on my "I hope our paths cross one day and we can share some miles" list!!
Redfish Hunter
Gone Fishing
Among his other Christmas presents I gave Dear Old Dad a pretty decent book that I thought might be appropriate for him. I just remembered that it applied to this topic as well.
The book was titled "Keep Going: The Pleasure and Pain of Perseverance". It was written by Piet Boonstra and it began with him riding a BMW 650 Dakar from his home in NY state to Alaska. At age 79. This is a book worth reading for any of you/us that are growing older and starting to wonder how long we can keep doing what we love.
Pop and I discussed this book pretty heavily recently. We don't think Pop is quite as bad off as Mr. Boonstra, but then Pop has me to lean on.
The book was titled "Keep Going: The Pleasure and Pain of Perseverance". It was written by Piet Boonstra and it began with him riding a BMW 650 Dakar from his home in NY state to Alaska. At age 79. This is a book worth reading for any of you/us that are growing older and starting to wonder how long we can keep doing what we love.
Pop and I discussed this book pretty heavily recently. We don't think Pop is quite as bad off as Mr. Boonstra, but then Pop has me to lean on.
Pterodactyl
Well-known member
"..........but then Pop has me to lean on. "
The importance of which cannot be over stated.
Locally there are two sons, both in their 50s, who regularly ride with their dad; he is 84. We first met one son and the father while attending an advance riders class. They were both on Harley baggers and it was about 110 degrees on the tarmac. The dad did okay riding, but the heat kicked his ***.
The importance of which cannot be over stated.
Locally there are two sons, both in their 50s, who regularly ride with their dad; he is 84. We first met one son and the father while attending an advance riders class. They were both on Harley baggers and it was about 110 degrees on the tarmac. The dad did okay riding, but the heat kicked his ***.
I think accepting change, at any age, is one of the object lessons of life. It starts with each of us when we are young and continues relentlessly. And it seems to me that the pace of change keeps accelerating, for as I make new connections and relationships, older ones often fade. In the face of inevitable oncoming change, I too hope I will have the fortitude to recognize when it is time to let go of activities that no longer serve me, or at least the grace to accept the advice of my loved ones.
My mom grew up in Colorado Springs, but by the time I came along, her folks had moved down to Albuquerque. We lived back east and would get to visit them every few years. My grandfather was a wonderful man. An Army balloonist in WW-I, he married a Canadian wife and raised a family, worked on the Manhattan project during WW-II (and lost a son during that war), and as kids we all loved his wit and humor.
It was hard for my mother when she finally had to take his car keys away from him. He was in his 80's at the time, and suffering from some of the common ailments that an aging body can offer. I remember us walking into a New Mexico DMV office where he finally surrendered his drivers license. But on the way out the door, he turned to me and say, "It's okay. I still have my Colorado license!"
Did I mention that he had a sense of humor?
My mom grew up in Colorado Springs, but by the time I came along, her folks had moved down to Albuquerque. We lived back east and would get to visit them every few years. My grandfather was a wonderful man. An Army balloonist in WW-I, he married a Canadian wife and raised a family, worked on the Manhattan project during WW-II (and lost a son during that war), and as kids we all loved his wit and humor.
It was hard for my mother when she finally had to take his car keys away from him. He was in his 80's at the time, and suffering from some of the common ailments that an aging body can offer. I remember us walking into a New Mexico DMV office where he finally surrendered his drivers license. But on the way out the door, he turned to me and say, "It's okay. I still have my Colorado license!"
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