Does old age bring laziness ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think it might, at least for me. I normally wash my bike every couple weeks. I don't like it with bugs and dirt all over it. But....I have been slacking. Well I finally did today. I think it must have been 2 or 3 months.  I'm going to try to do better in the future. 

[Serk]

I think I washed my Valk back in 2010 or so...

...general rule of thumb, if the weather's nice enough to wash it, the weather's nice enough to ride it...

(Besides, that's what riding in the rain is for!)

[Valker]

My main Valk was last washed at 22,000 miles. It has 164,000 now. I agree with Serk about the benefits of rain.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think I washed my Valk back in 2010 or so...

...general rule of thumb, if the weather's nice enough to wash it, the weather's nice enough to ride it...

(Besides, that's what riding in the rain is for!)

It rains once or twice a year here.   A few years ago on the way to Spearfish we encountered bugs, dirt, rain, snow. My bike looked bad. I was embarrassed and got up early Monday morning and washed it. It was really nice having the bike wash station and meeting guys there.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My main Valk was last washed at 22,000 miles. It has 164,000 now. I agree with Serk about the benefits of rain.

Wow ! I starting to feel like Felix. 

[Hooter]

I think retirement can bring on laziness....Old(er) age and retirement I guess can be one and the same.?

[Jess from VA]

I'm not a fanatic (anymore) about keeping the bikes spotless, but I don't leave the buggies all over the front end.  They are full of acid guts that can etch paint, and it's much harder to get them off later once fully petrified.  

I keep a wet microfiber in a cheapo plastic sandwich container in a saddlebag, and it stays wet indefinitely (it doesn't stay clean indefinitely though, so swap it out).  As soon as I get home, I pull it out and wipe the bug guts off the shield, fairing, pods, fork shields, timing cover, and mirror backs (IE the front end).  None of this is polished up shiny, and is streaky wet, but the bug guts are gone.  Proper cleanup later is much easier with less scrubbing.

I'm definitely getting lazier in retirement.  And to be fair, hard work is harder on the old bones and muscles than it used to be too (especially anything involving bending, stooping, squatting, or crawling around).  I took last year off on keeping my wheels clean, and now I have a miserable job waiting for me (mainly the rear, which is my single most detested job on the bike.  I'd rather wash the bike ten times than scrub and polish that wheel once.)

I've been putting off my taxes (like every year) though, so lawn work, fence work, and housework has all suddenly become interesting to me, because I hate doing taxes.  Today was rear wheel day, but it was just colder than I like for getting soaked all afternoon.  I still have all next week to do the taxes, no rush.

In my relative poverty of retirement, I still underpay state and fed a few hundred each every year (by design).  I just wish there was a toll free number I could call up and toss a coin for double or nothing of last year's debt.  Rather than doing them again this year.  Sadly, as sloppy as they are, this idea has never caught on.

The 27 emails I've got from TurboTax all promise me my refund is waiting... and they are big LIARS. 

[msb]

I've always loved cleaning my bike...don't think I'll ever get too old or lazy  to do that. I've never been afraid to ride in rain  (be a pretty short riding season here if one doesn't like to get wet) or dirty roads so it always gets dirty...it just never stays dirty.  I'm not fanatic about cleaning it daily on longer multi-day or week rides, but it NEVER goes to bed or leaves  the garage dirty when I take it out for the day on local rides. The Valkyrie is certainly a bike made for riding and I've certainly done that over the past 16 years, but I think it's also a bike made for cleaning and polishing....running my hands over all that gleaming chrome, those nice soft curves, smooth suptle surfaces, bulging sexy lines... OK...better stop now, I'm starting to get excited     mmm...think I'll put this computer down and go polish that fairing again

[Jess from VA]

Hey Mike, whatever works for you buddy.   

[Robert]

Posted these on the 1800 board was doing some maintenance as far as an oil change and new tires but also did some cleaning. I keep a micro fiber towel in the saddle bag and also some spray wax that I use on the whole bike. Here when you ride out west the bugs can be pretty intense and as mentioned the acid eats the paint and even digs into the plastic. Once on the windshield it makes it hard to see through but keeping it waxed and the spray wax bugs and road dirt come right off.

[Jess from VA]

Robert, I don't think I've ever seen one of you FL guys with a bike that doesn't look showroom. (From Jeff in the panhandle, all the way down state.)

I know you guys have bugs and rain as bad as anyone.

You guys all probably ante up for some Cuban to go around cleaning all your bikes, and keep it a secret. 

Or something. 

[Robert]

Dam dont let the secret out   

[cookiedough]

Yes,  for the most part old age brings laziness, IMO.

I use to back in my 20s wash/wax my cars and my one cycle back then religiously once a month or so, now lucky to wash cycles/cars 2-3 times per year and wax once per year. 

I also think I had lots more FREE time on weekends than I do now as well, but laziness also comes into play am sure..

[Hef]

When I retired several people asked me if I GOT lazy after I retired. My reply was NO, I was already lazy!

[Hook#3287]

I think it might, at least for me. I normally wash my bike every couple weeks. I don't like it with bugs and dirt all over it. But....I have been slacking. Well I finally did today. I think it must have been 2 or 3 months.  I'm going to try to do better in the future. 

Rob, it's not laziness, it's a change of priorities.  Maybe a little eyesight diminishing also.

I used to spend a lot of time cleaning and polishing, now, not as much.

My bikes still look somewhat clean, but not Florida rider clean anymore

[Ramie]

I think it might, at least for me. I normally wash my bike every couple weeks. I don't like it with bugs and dirt all over it. But....I have been slacking. Well I finally did today. I think it must have been 2 or 3 months.  I'm going to try to do better in the future. 

Not laziness I just look at it as conserving my moves as I only have so many left.

[DDT (12)]

Rob,

I've not noticed any connection between advancing age, retirement, and laziness... I strongly suspect that's because I came 'hard-wired' from the factory with laziness!!! Apparently a standard equipment feature on my model...    

DDT

[0leman]

If I remember correctly I washed my Valk three time last summer, normally she get two if she lucky.  One to wash the winter gunk off, the second to wash the summer gunk off.   But ran into a swarm of recently hatched flying ants which required a total wash job.  Haven't noticed any paint problems from the bugs, and she's a '99 with 110K on her.   Though do clean off the windshield every couple rides. 

Not partially lazy, just don't like washing bikes nor other vehicles.  Do take the SUV thru the car wash ever month or so, truck is lucky to get washed twice a year.

[John Schmidt]

I'll get back to you later on that question, I'm late for my afternoon TV watching. Make that the TV watching me. 

[Willow]

"Does old age bring laziness ?"

Yes.  We do have some control over how soon and how much. 

[Jess from VA]

"Does old age bring laziness ?"

Yes.  We do have some control over how soon and how much.

Really laziness has such a negative, accusatory, and reprehensible sound to it.

Old age actually brings restfulness, thoughtfulness, contemplation of all of life's learning and experiences, remembrance of past loves and passions, innocent and undisturbed sleep, expanding waistlines, and an overall slower pace of life.

It's just with all these new experiences and slower paced activities going on, not much else gets done.

We've also learned nicer and more polite forms of bullshit than when we were younger.

For instance, you might be reading some right now.

But really, bullshit has such a negative, accusatory, and reprehensible sound to it........  

[DDT (12)]

"Does old age bring laziness ?"

Yes.  We do have some control over how soon and how much.

Really laziness has such a negative, accusatory, and reprehensible sound to it.

Old age actually brings restfulness, thoughtfulness, contemplation of all of life's learning and experiences, remembrance of past loves and passions, innocent and undisturbed sleep, expanding waistlines, and an overall a slower pace of life.

It's just with all these new experiences and slower paced activities going on, not much else gets done.

We've also learned nicer and more polite forms of bullshit than when we were younger.  

That covers it nicely!

DDT

[Jess from VA]

Bruce, not being lazy and laying out under my bike working on that crummy rear wheel, I had a better idea for an ending to the above post, so I came back in to add two more lines.  

[ray072852]

I don't know about getting lazier but sometimes during the warmer days we are having now I think so hard trying to decide  if I want to ride the Valk or go fishing for the crappie I get a head ache and have to take a nap. Without a doubt retirement is the best part of working.