Modern Vespa

Ever since I hurt my knee last week, friends and family have been coming out of the woodwork with 'friendly advice' and 'folksy stories', all of which share a common thread: Stop riding so you will live to see your kids grow up.

I've asked a few of them whether they have said the same thing to their friends and family who have been in car accidents... who smoke... who use recreational drugs (including aclohol)... who ski... who [fill in the blank with behavior more dangerous than sitting at home scratching one's privates].

I don't want to piss anyone off, but they are really starting to freak me out.

I'm about at the point where the next do-gooder who tries to button hole me with a story about 'his friend's cousin's brother who lost a leg riding a motorcycle', I'm going to yell into their well-meaning face something like:

"This kind of crap is seriously shaking my confidence. If I die on the road because I was riding timidly or without conviction, I want you to tell my wife and kids it was all your fault!!!!"

I like that answer. It might just shut them up. By the way, how are you feeling?

so are you giving up riding?!!!!!

hope ya mend real quick and get back on two wheels.

I took my dog to the Vet last week and was talking to the Vet about scooters. His son is a Vespa Nut, and he himself is interested in getting a scooter for riding around town. When his wife heard this, she came up to me and started telling me how dangerous motorcycles and scooters are (as if somehow I have missed the memo that there are dangers on the road.)

I tried to be polite and point out the hazards all around us, and let her know that I was aware of the inherent dangers, but she continued unabated. Turns out she has been "working on" one of their employees who rides a motorcycle to work ever since he bought it, and she is also "working on" her son.

So I went ahead and got into the discussion with her, and at the bottom of it? She was mostly worried about not losing her source of income, because if her husband got hurt, he couldn't work. She wasn't concerned so much for his safety, but for his income stream.

Easy solution: buy more life insurance.

Fine, with the exception of my left knee and inner thigh. Those areas are still on strike. -)

I got the same crisp from my wife before I got the Vespa.

For all the selfish reasons.

If I had to answer this question I might say, "Nobody is more concerned for my health, safety and life and that of my family than I am".

TREP tell living where you do is more dangerous than riding is on any given day. Be nice to that knee of yours and get better soon. I've found that getting into a discussion with folks like that doesn't do much good. I thank them for my concern and change the topic.

Humph...those folks preaching the dangers of two-wheeled transportation are often the same ones out there texting and driving and "not seeing" us until it's too late.

In high school I had an article about a woman that was hit by a meteor while sleeping in her bed. I'd drag it out whenever the "you're going to ride your scooter all the way to Santa Barbara" conversation came up.

This chart may help:

http://www.nsc.org/NSC%20Picture%20Library/News/web_graphics/Injury_Facts_37.pdf

Just pin a note with large letters on your shirt that says, I'm not interested in hearing your opinion re. my riding two wheeled vehicles. Thank you.

ask them to stop everything they do. no flights to anywhere, no driving, no drinking, no chocolate, no sodas ect, ect. and when you stop all those things then I will consider stopping riding.

Love all the responses. I would add something that my dad used to tell my mom when she was worried about all of the hiking me and my friends did in the mountains. "If something happens and he doesn't come back take solace that he went out doing something he loved."

Reminds me of the half dozen time I've had strangers tell me about their "friend" who went off one of the causeways coming back to Houston from New Orleans and went off the road. Stayed half in, half out of a bayou with the motorcycle on top of him. Wasn't found until after dark when the headlight shining up to the road. Depending on who tells the story you get anything from a broken leg to a broken neck. Guy sure must have known a whole lot of people.

My take is that life isn't 100% safe anyway. Aren't falls at home supposed to be the most common type of injury? You are an adult with more than a fair share of intelligence so are more than capable of evaluating what risks you are willing to take. If you were the type of person who would want to play it safe you wouldn't have left the US for Israel. You'd think your friends would know that and respect your decision.

post deleted by Salima

Friends who question my riding have been known to see my middle finger. One of my best friends is a rock climber. I've been bouldering with him and seen him climb 20 feet in the air in nothing but shorts, t-shirt, and chalk on his hands. All he does is put a big mat at the base of the rock, but he tells me all time how crazy I am to ride. There's just no reasoning with some people.

I like what Morgan Freeman's character says in Shawshank Redemption. "Get busy living, or get busy dying." I think that's good advice.

My father had his first heart attack before he was 35, his 6th was fatal at 44. He was a Detroit Cop, riding a motorcycle all year, rain, snow, 8 hours a day. He told Mum that he could not live in a cage, or working a desk.

I am doing better. I had my first heart attack at 50. I had a triple bypass at 63, should have been a fourth but my heart is partially dead with a Ejection Factor of 25%. Which means I *cannot* run more than about 25 feet, or briskly walk more than 300 feet. The heart surgery involves internal clots and 3 weeks later one broke loose, causing a stroke. Fortunately did not break anything physical. Unfortunately it broke language, I could only say "I'm Fine!" I now have Apraxia & Aphasia. And I am losing my hearing. But it could be worse. At least I can still ride.

And that is the bottom line. As we age, the pains increase. But as long as I can ride, the pain is bearable. If I can't ride, I don't need the pain.

I usually get a couple of scenarios, both of them fear-based. One from family, usually afraid they'll lose me.....I usually convince them I appreciate the love but to trust me (hence, the scooter...luckily I did my flying and rock climbing before settling down ).

As a chiropractor, I get people terrified I'll kill them. Try to convince them I have something to lose too, haven't done it in 30 years, and that it's more dangerous to drive to my office than be there, but even that doesn't work. I've long ago realized you just can't reason with fear sometimes.

Take comfort in realizing that memories are short and people will move on to other things soon.

I don't want to piss anyone off, but they are really starting to freak me out.



See, right there is where you and I depart. I don't care if I piss them off. They are, after all, pissing me off.

[I do fire a small warning shot across their bow, but if they miss/ignore that I go ahead and unload heavier ordnance. Of course you know a lot more about ordnance than I do.]

The problem with your approach is that most of the people unloading on me are my wife's friends too. While I might enjoy the moment, it just isn't worth the sh*tstorm I'd come home to.

As a Londoner, my automatic riposte is that I'm far more likely to die of a deadly disease contracted whilst riding public transport, or die of a stroke in my car in the midst of a road rage incident, than I am riding a scooter through London traffic.

I like Salima's suggestion Smiling kindly at people whilst saying nothing usually f*cks 'em right up

BIG AMEN.

You are right, of course. I tend not to think about possible down stream sh*t storms. I just take the shot and put up with the consequences afterward. Of course my wife rides too and gets the same little lectures, or used to. We don't get them so much anymore after years of exchanging fire.

Ah! Debbie Downers! Those people show up in all kinds of scenarios. They are the same ones who tell SIDS stories to new mothers, and anesthesia-death stories to folks having surgery. Try to ignore them and go your merry way.

Sadly, like broken clocks (which are right twice a day) they eventually have something to point at to say 'I told you so'.

I swear, if I kick in a scooter accident I am so gonna haunt thier houses.

http://www.israelmilitary.com/padded-coverall-hermonit-p-1342.aspx

Wrong thread... And that is the price for foreigners.

I would so do that! LOL

Well, EVERYBODY dies, no exceptions. Even the Debbie Downers. Gotta live in the "here" and "now"!

I have found that a selective hearing deficiency is an aid to tranquillity.

Ever try to ignore an Israeli? They talk really loud.

Salima's advice is right on the money. Most people say ignorant shit out of love, they just don't think about how every one else says the same ignorant shit. People who don't ride truly don't "get" it, but they want you to be safe and happy.

A therapist who rents office space from me was very concerned for me. It turns out that she used to show jump horses and stopped after suffering a very bad broken leg from an "off" (six weeks in a full leg cast).


Last week I was in the elevator in my riding gear. A man got on and said, "Ah, you rode a motorcycle to work."

Me: "Yes, I did."

Him: "That's dangerous."

Me: "Life's dangerous."

Him: (With a smile) "Yeah, I guess you're right."


When I started riding (again) five years ago, my wife was not concerned for my safety. It always felt a little like she didn't care about me. After a serious crash, she began being concerned.

Just today she said two things (not at the same time). "I do worry about you when you're riding." and "Ever since you started riding I can see you are much happier. I like that."

Both felt good.

That sounds like just the ticket. May I borrow your wife?

My wife bought my Vespa for me. Yes she worries, but knows I'm a safe driver. she knows how much I enjoy it and still says its the best thing she ever could have done for me. Its a great stress reliever and helps keep my sanity on some down days. Saves money too!

My husband has been know to suggest that I get out on the scoot when I'm getting, umm grumpy, yeah that's the word for it.

^^^ Now that looks nice and warm! Could have used that this morning when the temp was 40F (4C) on my ride to work. What the heck, it was 70F (21C) on the ride in on Thursday morning. Who flipped on the "winter" switch?

David, I've been riding for 33 years and the last 12 have been full time. I've heard those stories you are hearing so many times I can finish them for the teller. I put my brain in "pass-through" mode when someone starts talking about their friend/cousin/nephew who was done wrong by riding a two-wheeler. Every word they say is immediately flushed without further processing while I maintain an attentive look on my face. The latest from my mother-in-law... she has updated her will and left her new car to me. I guess she's under the impression that I can't afford to buy a car?

-Craig

See, I knew there had to be an upside! People assume us PTWers are too poor for proper transportation so we get remembered in the will.

Note to self: Befriend an old, frail person who owns a vintage Bentley.

There is no really good response to those people who are perceivably well intentioned (I am being generous) but wish to transfer their fear, worries, inadequacies, envies (add issue here) to you.

Being polite and refraining from saying that which will undoubtedly release the storm of waste at home is really the only way out and it is not a particularly satisfying one.

Salima has the best method from all I've read. Besides, given your "handle" you will enjoy reliving the event in your mind and inserting that which you wished you could have replied as you hightail it upstairs.

Glad to read that you are doing better.

Shalom-

Most of my family knows I love it. They also know that whenever possible that my wife is riding cupcake with me, and that I would rather she be in one piece as well.

Mostly I get awe from my coworkers. "you rode that today in 18 degrees?".

Yes. There is no ice, ergo, it's fine.

Since I would surely have a stroke if I drove nothing but a cage, I drive my scoot as much as possible. At least I can't punch my steering wheel with my right hand when someone cuts me off on the scoots.