Modern Vespa

Keeping a promise you made to yourself can be difficult when it entails giving up something you have loved for over 51 years. When I got into scooter riding seven years ago after a PTW hiatus I promised that if I was hurt again I would hang up my leathers for good. Well, yesterday I got hurt. Luckily it was only a broken ankle and tibia. I say luckily because when you can walk away, or more accurately, limp away from an accident, it is a lucky moment. The facts of the accident are not important and it was the type of thing that can occur when riding in a group on any given day. The fact that it was unremarkable only underscores the risks we take. This month I turn 69 and with one artificial shoulder, one pinned left knee, and now a broken right ankle it's time to cut my losses. My holiday season is pretty much in disarray and my family is upset and I am truly bummed out. So I will have to find a new hobby...perhaps macramé.

I want to thank all of your for your friendship, advice and toleration of my attempts at humor and often pedantic style. For all the right reasons MV is the best forum that I have had the privilege in which to participate and perhaps the most eclectic group I have ever encountered.

Good luck, happy holidays and please be safe.

Love to all of you,

George a/k/a Oldscoot

Keeping those sorts of promises to yourself can be quite hard at times but it's probably a wise decision. You can obviously still keep posting though. It's always worth having a few backup hobbies ready to take over. Keep safe.

OldScoot,
I'm sorry to hear of your accident, but I admire you for making a difficult decision (and sticking with it). Giving up something so much fun is hard......

I do hope you find something to fill the void of riding. Perhaps you can start wrenching or restoring... which will keep you near scoots (and allow you to take a short "test ride" now and then....

Life isn't over just because you decided not to continue riding... it's just different. Go into your next adventure with the enthusiasm you had for scootering and I think you'll be fine. And look back on the days of scooters fondly.

When I had to give up my motorcycling a number of years ago, I bought a classic convertible. Not the same, but it was nice to ride around in a gold 71 Olds Cutlass with the top down. I would have bought a 2 seater, but with kids.... I needed a backseat.

George

Sorry to hear about your spill.

You don;t have to ride to participate here, so don't be a stranger.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Al

Ouch! Get well soon.

I predict a comeback !

Though I'm not actually a medical professional myself, my daughter is a nurse, so I'm pretty confident that I'm on the right track here.

R+R, George, and don't let the dark days get you down.

In the meantime, hope to see ya around one way or the tuther.

Speedy recovery,

Your much younger brother,

Johnny

Just because you don't ride doesn't mean you have to give up friendships here. Don't be a stranger.

It sounds like this is a heart and head thing, but it's always sad to hear of a fellow scooterist hanging the gloves up, especially after a spill!

Luckily, we talk about loads more things on here other than scooters, so hopefully you're sticking around?

I'm so sorry but please don't be a stranger on here. We have your back. The forum won't be the same if your not on it.I almost died on Friday and i was walking. My left leg went into a extremely painful spasm and it ended up giving me a pain induced heart attack. Very rare type of heart attack but the stress caused me to black out. Cracked a few ribs and my shoulder has a bruise bigger than Montana. Am on some meds to strengthen my heart for a few weeks and i can resume my previous activities. No riding until after thursday because of my right wrist. That's where they used my arterial artery to do the cariac cath. No hard bending of it until after 5 days. It's my throttle hand so if i ride i can't not bend it hard. I believe when our time is up ,it's up. Almost had my friend bring my scooter around so i could ride it home. Glad he wasn't home because fainting while riding would not of been a good thing. Also glad i went to the ER because it didn't present as a typical Heart Attack. My 6th sense told me to get it checked out. Hope your recovery is speedy

Sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you heal well and enjoy your holidays. Keep in touch, we have a great community here.

Sorry to hear that, Oldscoot. I have plenty of biking friends who for one reason or another don't ride any more, so remember you'll always be part of the community!

Also sorry to hear about your lifestyle change. That would be a hard one for me as well. On the other hand, your positive attitude can probably take you through almost anything - and out the other side looking for new experiences. Don't be a stranger. Check in with us every so often.

Hoping for a speedy recovery for you...

Sorry about the crash. Only you know what's best for yourself. We all take calculated risks, but sometimes the equation changes.

Heal quickly, and hope the holidays fare well for you.

OMG!

Speedy recovery to you both!

Please don't hesitate to hang out here, Oldscoot!

Sorry about your leg, really am.
Big word of advice... Doctor says take it easy, TAKE IT EASY.
I was smarter than my Doc and I snapped the steel plate holding it together.

I too promised to quit while I was ahead but.....
A Can-Am Spider or a Sidecar Hack are pretty hard to flip over.
(well a little harder) and they present a wider profile to cages.
I keep telling myself that at least.

Heal well my friend.

Old scoot - sorry to hear about your accident. Sending some healing mojo your way.

Thats a tough decision, but I respect you for sticking to your promise. Keep us posted on your next hobby. If it involves macrame or sewing, I'd like a scooter sweater, size large please.

So sorry to hear your bowing out. However, I think scootering is inside of you and while you may not be on the back of a bike, your heart still rides and you shouldn't be a stranger. I went four months without a bike but I still came here and kept that inside fire burning.

Best wishes...

Judy...take care of yourself...dammit.

George, you mentioned group riding when you had your spill? Were you participating in Rockers vs Mods?

Sorry to hear about your injuries and you know that you care always welcome to attend USR or Batallion events even if you are on 4 not 2 wheels. Heal quickly and well. If you need anything in Houston give a shout.

You little tinker you.

You're not going anywhere Matey.

Stick around if only for my sake.

Bill xxx

George, it sounds as though you've worked out the risk/reward ratio as well as you can for your situation. I'll add my voice to the chorus of 'don't be a stranger.'

Oldscoot, Sorry to hear about your down and injuries. Here's hoping for a rapid recovery. I'm told that we have to start making that kind of decision after a certain age. Pretty much sucks.

Godspeed, Oldscoot.

So sorry to hear of your accident, but don't you think that you'll want to get back on after a while? Just to scratch that itch, ya know!

I can only echo the voices of those who say they are sorry you had an accident. I'm glad it wasn't worse. Please stick around and share your expertise with us.

We would miss you.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I certainly understand your decision, to stop riding, but there's no reason for you to stop posting here/ Hoping you change your mind there.

And there are 3 wheeled options from Can-Am and other manufacturers possibly to help you back into riding if you ever decide to give it another shot.

As I write this, I'm in bed with 11 pins and a plate at the hand of a similar injury. I broke my tibia and fibula and totally dislocated my ankle. It was worst injury and pain I've ever experienced though I'm sure there are worse. Now I have DVT issues in the same leg (Blood clots) so on blood thinners and hoping this will resolve itself soon as I've been basically bed ridden on and off for 5 weeks now. Still recovering.....

I can relate to soul searching after such an injury. I actually put up my Triumph Street Triple for sale and think I"m done with the bigger bikes but can't quite bring myself to letting my Vespa go just yet. Respect the decision and wish you all the best. Hang in there.

There are more than one of us here with metal in various parts of our bodies still riding our Vespas. Only you can make the decision that is right for you.

As with George, healing vibes sent your way.

Once a rider, always a rider.

CanAm Spyder - that's my future plan. or someother contraption.

Please hang around and give us the benefit of your wisdom. Don't ride, if that's what you decide, but don't leave!

Oldscoot, very sorry to hear about your accident. I wish you a quick and complete recovery.

As so many have already said, you don't have to ride to hang out here...

I suspect that your decision to hang up the helmet is a difficult one; go -- and stay with -- your gut on this one.

Best of luck on your new adventure of finding a new pursuit!

OS didn't mean to hijack your thread but I just wanted to point out that you can get killed many other ways. Yes scooters are a tad more dangerous but so is life. Maybe there's a way you can get a trike or throw a tow-pack on a 150. Heal well my friend. Pain meds are your friend. If you can get them to write you for some lidocaine patches. Their helping the pain from where my shoulder hit the curb and my broken ribs. Slapped a few on places

Heal fast and be well. Please stick around here.

Oldscoot,

No accident, but I left two wheeling when the kids were
young. I felt it was the responsible thing to do.

Then a good friend got cancer real bad. I went back on
the road for the freedom and that incredible feeling that
these amazing machines give you.

Get healed and be well. You rode and have all the great
memories. Better to have rode.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

Oldscoot here's wishing you a prompt and full recovery.

When you get there, you'll be in a better place to decide on a path forward.

All the best.

Bummer, oldscoot Hope you heal completely and quickly!

Here's a couple of inspirational photos for you to use during your recovery. Yarn crafts can be fun On a serious note, I hate to see you leave a hobby / forum / community you enjoy. I hope you find a way to stay involved.

Judy, yeah - What Paddlen said - take care of yourself!

Hey oldscoot, sorry to hear of your accident, but respect your decision. If you are a wrencher and there is any demand where you are, sure sounds like something to contemplate. On the other hand, can totally relate to the macrame thing! My plan for retirement.,

Shitty. Feel for you. Get better.

oldscoot, glad you are here. keep on enjoying life and your family.

MV will be here and we are better for having you around whether you keep riding or not.