| Author |
Message |
    
Doughnut
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 04:34 pm: | 
|
I am a "bastard" (sp?). I never met my father, and may be better off because of it. When I was young my mother and I were on welfare. Because of having one good (no, wonderful) parent instead of them staying together in a bad relationship neither my mother or I am supported by the state any more. I have a very good (and noble) career that allows me now to help support my mother. If my parents had been married I believe my childhood would have been worse. In my line of work I see lots of non-traditional families. It is not a piece of paper that makes a good family, it is the people. A good traditional family is a great thing but it is not the most important thing.
(Sorry, caught me in a little of a mood.)
(edit: sorry, I'm done with this subject. Back to the topic people. [Move along, move along. Nothing to see here])
(Message edited by Doughnut on October 29, 2008)
(Message edited by Doughnut on October 29, 2008) |
Happy1
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 05:07 pm: |
|
+1 doughnut
watch out this guy a troll.....he got us off topic and pissed a few off but thats what trolls do....the fact is that paper means nothing if your going to not work and live off the government you'll do it regardless. |
Eboos
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 05:13 pm: |
|
***back on topic***
ATGATT.
I ride on the street with the same level of protection at I do on the track (ok, I haven't worn my chest protector on the street yet). |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 05:26 pm: |
|
There is probably only one thing that gets me more than riding without gear. Riding impaired. So many times I have pulled off from a poker run or a fun run because the check points are at bars and a lot of the skid lid folks can't help but have a couple at every stop.
Have a few on me....but park the bike first. |
Birdy
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 05:27 pm: |
|
I hate to see these fools blasting down the road with the Shorts and "T" shirt. I have been on calls with the fire dept when they hit the road and no it's not pretty at all. Like has been pointed out by others is saddest is the kids or girl friends on the back with NO protection and he's all dolled up in leather and a full face. Ya just want to slap the snot out of him.
The other reason I hate to see it is sooner or later some do-gooder in the State House is going to say "We Need a LAW" and I just know how that will turn out. I have visions of Seat belts on Buells and Air Bags and 40 MPH top speeds.
PLUS I get so sick of hearing "Loud Pipes save lives" All I can think is B.S. helmets and the rest of the gear will save you bacon, loud pipes just make noise. |
Eboos
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 06:12 pm: |
|
Birdy, everything you just said is so true. Working in a responsible shop that doesn't sell stupid loud exhaust (we sell performance exhaust that is at a reasonable tone), I am still dumbfounded by the otherwise intelligent people who can not seem to understand the concept of sound direction, and how most cage drivers will not hear an exhaust tone until the pipes are actually directed towards them, as in passed them. This "Loud Pipes Save Lives" arguement is simply something that someone who doesn't care about how their actions will effect everyone else will attempt to justify themselves.
(Message edited by eboos on October 29, 2008) |
Sekalilgai
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 06:50 pm: |
|
I had a get-off about 12 years ago and I had on (what I thought) was the appropriate gear, a full face helmet, leather gloves but only a gore-tex jacket (no armor), jeans and hightops. Went chin first into the curb and actually could feel the EPS deforming about the skull and proceeded to do about a half dozen tumbles (sky-ground-sky-ground-sky-BIKE-ground) before stopping in the middle of the road. Helmet was toast, but chin still intact. Jeans wore through, as did the knuckles on the gloves and outer edge of my shoes (funny that is where all the added re-enforcement is on riding gear). Luckily all I came away with was some slight scrapes where the material abraded through. It is harder on the 90 degree 90% humidity days, but ATGATT it is for me. Not sure how the MSF classes are these days but when I took it many years ago, they didn't actually push the gear that hard. Admittedly there was little then by way of riding gear other than a leather suit but today, there are so many choices ... practically enough to even satisfy the fashion conscious dude/dudette (not anything I know about of course) that it'd be silly not to.
I have seen some progress in the marketing dept though, even cruiser-compliant leathers can be found with armor these days. Still cracks me up when I pick up the magazines in my service depts waiting room to look at their idea of 'safety gear' being $150 sunglasses. Just this summer I got to watch two couples get on their bikes. The husbands suited up in their leather vests while the wives passed mounted the bikes in impressive heels...and off they went into the sunset with faint waft of suntan lotion in the air! |
Crashcourse411
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 07:29 pm: |
|
I call it "gene pool cleansing"
All of those guys that think they are too cool for the gear to protect themselves or others usually find this is the best way to learn. Whether its riding gear, gun safety, wearing a seatbelt, etc. All comes down to the same thing. The ones that feel they are somehow above Murphy's Law are the ones most effected by it. Darwin Award is one of the internet's way of showcasing the more notable idiots out there.
Eventually the gene pool will get cleaner and cleaner. |
Eboos
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 08:31 pm: |
|
The problem is when a certain number of people demonstrate that they are not able to make intelligent choices, new laws are made that eliminate the ability to choose. Riding gear, gun safety and wearing a seatbelt are perfect examples. |
Johnnylunchbox
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 09:32 pm: |
|
I prefer chaps over snake skin underwear lined with owl beaks. |
Skinstains
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 11:12 pm: |
|
Hey Boliver,
Are you really that effin stupid ? Yeah you probably are. The love two people have for one another should in no way involve the government, unless they want it to. As for all the advantages you say come with marriage...You know not of what you speak. As far as I can tell this thread was started by someone who isn't even in the same country as you, thereby living with different laws and customs. As far as I'm concerned people should be able to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else's pursuit of happiness. It's none of my business or yours. I'm just glad that you're so stupid there is no chance of you making it to the legislature and legislating us out of even more of our ever decreasing rights. Ben Franklin would bitch-slap you if he were still around. Seeing as you're such a fan of marriage...I know a chick with a Beemer and 70's bush, she'd be perfect for you. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 11:26 pm: |
|
I know a chick with a Beemer and 70's bush, she'd be perfect for you.
Ok, now that's just wrong. His comments are off base but wishing HER on him is simply cruel and unusual.
Easy up there, tiger. Attack his viewpoint not him. |
Lemonchili_x1
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 12:10 am: |
|
Silly question - what does ATGATT stand for?
Guessing - All The Gear All The Time?
It annoys me too, seeing people riding in t-shirts and no gloves, though maybe not as much as Vamps! It annoys me more when they're dressed like that and riding like knobs, lane splitting at 80km/h, pulling in front of people, etc, and putting other people in danger. Is Squid the right term?
I did a riding course when I first started riding many years ago, and one thing they taught me was when you put on your gear (helmet, gloves, jacket etc), to put on your "riding attitude" at the same time. Over the years it has become instinct - when I put on my jacket and gloves etc on I remember that gravity hurts and I ride with that in mind.
It's about time I stopped riding in jeans too, time for some armoured or kevlar pants. |
Newbuellertoo
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 12:14 am: |
|
Back on topic ......again. The people on this forum are the ones who actually convinced me that A.T.G. A.T.T. was the way to go. I never owned a full face helmet or wore gloves (other than in cold weather) before. I always wore long pants, a leather jacket, above the ankle boots and at least a 3/4 helmet before and survived two pretty good vehicular encounters. It still irks me to see riders wearing t-shirts, beanies,and inadequate footwear. I truly believe that there are two types of riders: Those who have been in an accident, and those who will.Those who haven't yet will continue to wear whatever they want regardless of the safety concerns. |
J2blue
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 01:14 am: |
|
Thankfully, not longer after completing motorcycle safety class, the point of good motorcycle safety gear was reinforced by an impact on diamond ground concrete. No helmet: no life, No jacket: no skin, No boots: no toes, No reinforced pants: damn my knee is still scarred! I was sore for a few days but was able to ride the bike back from the scene. I'm comfortable with ATGATT but not without it. |
Vampress
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 08:26 am: |
|
BorrowedBike, that was amazing. Wherever it came from, the author should be proud.
As for all the preceeding comments, it's good to see so many people have the right idea when it comes to riding gear...ON.
I have worn it from the very first time I ever kicked the stand back on a bike, and always will. If I am missing something, I don't ride, it just feels wrong. With every piece of gear I put on, I think of what it will save. When I very first did my course to get a licence, we had to have it all or no go.
Lemonchili has a great point. If these guys have a blaze attitude to safety with gear, what is their attitude toward safety on the road? Do they not think of consequences? Or the safety of others around them?
I have never had an accident to date, but have had very graphic recounts of others who have, and I don't care to go through anything like that unprotected best as possible.
Thumbs up to you all.
(As for Boliver...This 'guy' understands what you were originally trying to say. This could be seen as an issue of individual personal safety, and there are other issues out there, higher on your scale of one to ten. It just seems perhaps, that you have picked the wrong ones to raise here)
V |
Swordsman
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 09:41 am: |
|
In my MSF class, they did emphasize the protectiveness of leather vs. textile vs. normal clothes. I didn't think they emphasized the rest enough though. Matter-o-fact, I got their humorous "Worse Dressed" award because I was the only guy in class already decked out in head-to-toe full armor. Ironically, I was also the only student that already knew how to ride. You'd think people MORE worried about wrecking would come better prepared for it! 
~SM |
Babired
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 03:07 pm: |
|
SM back in 1999 I was teaching MC safety at a high school right across the street from a hospital. 2 female students I remember, one was wearing knee and elbow pads and I couldn't figure out why she was wearing them, being an instructor for 1 year. She confessed to me she had taken the class before and crashed so she wanted to come prepared for another crash! Anyway she canceled herself out because she was a bundle of nerves. Second lady choose the school I was teaching at because the hospital was right across the street K |
Borrowedbike
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 06:14 pm: |
|
LemonChilli - You got it, All the gear, all the time.
Vampress - I agree, best ATGATT support article I've ever read, and one of the rare ones in support of back protectors. |
|
