I rode the Interstate today

[Willow]

I need to burn fuel for about 130 miles before we start tearing it down for paint.  I haven't been on it for a few weeks.

The bike I've been riding is not only a Standard but a stripped Standard.  It's much lighter, flingable, by comparison.  I can feel the difference in weight.  An odd thing is that I have no particular fear when riding the Standard but on the Interstate I feel the apprehension that comes from the memory.  Interestingly it was the least damaging incident of the three.  I tell my friends that if my thumb had not been gouged I could have just picked up the bike and ridden away.

Life is what it is.  I'm still very much at home in the saddle but for the time being I seem to have developed an unreasonable fear of the cages around me.  This too shall pass? 

    

[Gryphon Rider]

I need to burn fuel for about 130 miles before we start tearing it down for paint.  I haven't been on it for a few weeks.

The bike I've been riding is not only a Standard but a stripped Standard.  It's much lighter, flingable, by comparison.  I can feel the difference in weight.  An odd thing is that I have no particular fear when riding the Standard but on the Interstate I feel the apprehension that comes from the memory.  Interestingly it was the least damaging incident of the three.  I tell my friends that if my thumb had not been gouged I could have just picked up the bike and ridden away.

Life is what it is.  I'm still very much at home in the saddle but for the time being I seem to have developed an unreasonable fear of the cages around me.  This too shall pass? 

    

I hope it does pass.  You're way stronger than me if you can fling a 1500cc motorcycle.  I could probably toss a 50cc dirt bike, though not terribly far.

[John Schmidt]

I've kinda developed the same apprehension at times, especially when I've been off the bike for an extended period. That would be in the two week range and around here with these idiots, you really feel rusty at times. It passes once on the move, I just give them extra room until I feel more comfy. Once I hit the open road and am free of the cage traffic, that old thrill kicks in again and I can relax. So yes....like a good meal.....it too shall pass.  

[msb]

I need to burn fuel for about 130 miles before we start tearing it down for paint.  I haven't been on it for a few weeks.

The bike I've been riding is not only a Standard but a stripped Standard.  It's much lighter, flingable, by comparison.  I can feel the difference in weight.  An odd thing is that I have no particular fear when riding the Standard but on the Interstate I feel the apprehension that comes from the memory.  Interestingly it was the least damaging incident of the three.  I tell my friends that if my thumb had not been gouged I could have just picked up the bike and ridden away.

Life is what it is.  I'm still very much at home in the saddle but for the time being I seem to have developed an unreasonable fear of the cages around me.  This too shall pass?  

   

On our recent meetup and riding weekend in Joseph Oregon and a rare occurrence where I was sans the Mrs and thus able to ride those fabulous roads as hard as I pleased, I experienced for the very first time in my 44 years of riding a rider going down in a group I was with on the first day...a good friend to boot. I was two bikes behind and saw the whole thing. Potentially it could have been a lot worse, but thankfully both he and his bike survived without any potential long term injuries. For the rest of that day, I found it very hard to concentrate on the many glorious curves that these mountain roads presented to us...I found myself thinking about that cloud of dust and fallen friend, over-braking and being over-tentative in the curves all day. I've had plenty of "off" days before where I just was not feeling it, but nothing like this. I hope to never experience that feeling again.

[Oss]

Had a similar reaction right in back of trickydick when his interstate went down (his wife was on the rear seat) on slick road near Deer Arkansas

In truth, I never rode the same as he is a great rider and was on a perfect line (but for the pig guts on the road we couldnt see for the wet pavement)  No idea how I missed him and safely stopped as did the riders behind me (Challenger & 007Tncav?)

Got to just keep going out there and try not to think of that and ride your best ride every day

No doubt Carl you will be fine, keep havin fun on hotglues old yeller

[Rams]

Guess I'll eventually find out.   

Rams

[Oldfishguy]

It will pass, if you ride the Interstate a lot more.  I believe it is a matter of getting "in tune" with the machine; more like a feeling of one.  And this only happens with time and recent currency on a particular machine.

The Interstate is a different machine than a Standard, totally different in my opinion.  I have a fleet of five bikes currently (all classics) and the Interstate is the heavy of the group and the only one  with a wind screen;  the ride and feel of the Interstate is totally different from the others without the screen.  The small machines feel like toys at times one can flip around and maneuver at a whim.  But if I run though a few tanks of fuel on the Interstate in short order that feeling returns on the Interstate as well.

Time and recency and that feeling shall pass.

Best of luck.

[Willow]

I guess I should have been more explicit.  I have a lot of miles on Interstates.  This particular one was the one I was on just before I was on the pavement with my hand bleeding like a fountain.

It will pass, I'm sure.

[gordonv]

Try writing off a bike, and then getting back onto a MC as soon as you can. I think it was 3 months later, after I healed and the weather warmed up and it was time to insure the bike again for the summer riding.

Getting back on was a little scary. Took a little while before I could not think of the accident every time I was back on the seat.

[old2soon]

            After my git off in Aug of 16 was bout a year BEFORE I threw a leg over again. Apprehension fear unsure of myself questioning whether or not I still retained the skills I needed to ride. After knocking off significant amounts of rust-Me Not HER-found out I could still dive into the corners again. Ask Ross-I was Seriously considering selling Phatt Ghurl!  Obviously I did NOT sell her. And B T W Carl-not a complaint here But I only have the one Valkyrie-the one I went down with. And I FINALLY figured out it was NOT her fault-it was my physical condition where if blame is to be assessed lay it there-my physical condition. Once I came to grips with that the ridin IS enjoyable again!  You WILL git it sorted out My Friend!  RIDE SAFE.

[shortleg]

   I have always ridden with the thought what is that guy going to do to kill me.
Always felt that before people are allowed to drive cars they should  ride a
bike for a year to learn skills and respect,

[gordonv]

Always felt that before people are allowed to drive cars they should  ride a
bike for a year to learn skills and respect,

I was told most places in Europe require a graduated license. You have to start off on a 50 cc scooter, and progress up to a car. I think that's a great idea.

1st it gets more 2 wheelers onto the road, places future car drivers into a MC mind set.

2nd, start small, finish big. Makes sense to drive a 100 lb mc rather than the 5 ton delivery truck (which I did at 16)

3rd, it gets more 2 wheelers onto the road.  

[solo1]

The last five years of riding I was into the same. Although I never had an accident,  i felt that it was coming. Then three years ago. I backed the Vstrom out of the garage and decided.  It was a glorious day but it just 'didn't feel right"

I quit. The number of problems brought on by being 87 years was enough. I won't go into details except to say that bruising at the slightest bump plus not being in control of my knees.  All of you, at one time or another, will have some or maybe all of these problems. However, you'll probably ride longer than I did.

Right now with cortisone shots in both knees and the non use of NSAIDS, the  problems have resolved somewhat and I keep threatening to ride Chris's Triumph Scrambler on a deserted back road but so far it has made a liar out of me.

What I miss most is the comradeship among Active riders, since I no longer can contribute.

Wayne, Solo