Riding vs Flying -- How many here ride?

In article .com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?

I started flying 1987. I started riding 2004.

Flying is a passion. Riding is kind of neat and useful.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
Wot say the group -- do you currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the
past?


New - 1978 Yahmahopper 360. (I was 185 lbs back then!!)
New - 1981 Yahmahopper 650 Special II - backrest, luggage rack, roll bar,
windscreen.

Rode day and night, rain or shine, for three years. Got hit by a (smallish)
deer on the 650. I stayed up, the deer went down - gas tank was dented by my
knee.

I rode around on a my brother's 1978 Honda CB 750A Hondamatic, this spring.
Chose not to buy it.

That was the first time I was on a bike since Nov of 1984.

Still have my bike license. Combined miles over 6 years - 36K, IIRC.


Montblack

john smith wrote:
In article ,
Matt Whiting wrote:


john smith wrote:


In article .com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:



It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?


Thirty years ago, when I was in college, I thought about riding
motorcycles. I decided to so some research and found a collection of
medial reports about injuries found in motorcycle accident victims.
After reading numerous reports about crushed bones and the long
rehabilition process, I decide there would not be a motorcycle in my
future.


Did you read about the car accidents also? Do you still drive?


In a car or truck, I at least have something around me that is going to
take the first blow. Airbags and crumple zones work, I have witnessed
the results.

True, but it is still more dangerous than walking or staying home.

Matt

Emily wrote:

Jay Honeck wrote:
snip


It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?


No way in hell. I'm afraid of heights and yes, that includes the three
feet off the ground on a bike. Waaaaaay too easy to fall off.

So why are you reading this ng? :-)

Matt

Bob Noel wrote:

In article .com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:


It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?


I started flying 1987. I started riding 2004.

Flying is a passion. Riding is kind of neat and useful.

You simply haven't yet ridden long enough. I started riding at age 10
or so, flying at 18. Both are passions, but sometimes we have to put
our passions on the back burner when kids, mortgages and college bills
come along. But I'll be back...

Matt

Jay Honeck wrote:
It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?


Let me leave you with three thoughts:

1) Compound fractures from insufficient sheet metal around you
2) Scrambled brains from no helmet
3) Road rash from no leathers

I have taken care of several suffering from 1, 2, and/or 3. It ain't pretty.
It ain't fun either... for either of us.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
Having just returned from a 3-day motorcycle camping trip, the riding
experience is once again fresh in my mind. (Alas, I don't get to ride
much nowadays; but there was a time when Mary and I rode
coast-to-coast...)

I'm always struck by the similarities between riding and flying.
Basically, riding is 2-dimensional flying, with similar handling
characteristics and risk factors. The geometry of banking into turns
is identical, and the camaraderie with fellow riders is very similar to
that seen among pilots.

And, of course, the risk of instant death caused by someone else's (or
your own) stupidity is always present. That heightened sense of "being
alive" is something both riders and flyers seem to crave.

It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Riding looks and sounds like such fun - probably as much as flying. BUT, in
flying, the "other" guy only causes a very small percentage of the
accidents. In riding bikes, the "other guy" causes what, 50% of the
accidents? I have a very hard time putting my life in the "other guy's"
hands. Especially when s/he isn't paying attention, is talking on a cell
phone, isn't looking for motorcycles sharing the road, etc.

I'll stick to more or less controlling my own destiny.

KB

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
Wot say the group -- do you currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the
past?

I bought a Honda CB650 ten years ago. I stopped riding it three years ago
when the float valve stuck and it poured a gallon of gasonline on my leg on
the way to work.

I bought a CBR1000 yesterday. Here we go again.

I think the majority of the airplane owners at my airport also own a bike
(or 2)

Let me leave you with three thoughts:

1) Compound fractures from insufficient sheet metal around you

Yep, that sucks. Not much can be done about it, either.

2) Scrambled brains from no helmet

Always, always, ALWAYS wear a full-face helmet. Always.

3) Road rash from no leathers

Always, always, ALWAYS wear leather on tour. It sucks when it's hot,
but road rash hurts more than it sucks.

I've been down once, on a 1966 Honda 160 (this would've been in '86 or
so, so it was already an "antique"/beater) when I hit gravel. I was
wearing a leather coat, gloves and helmet. The ONLY unprotected part
of me was my wrist, between my glove and my sleeve -- and it looked
like hamburger when I got up.

The very first thing that hit the ground was my head -- there was no
time to even raise my arm to protect it, even though I was going pretty
slowly. The helmet saved the old brain box, for sure.

I have taken care of several suffering from 1, 2, and/or 3. It ain't pretty.
It ain't fun either... for either of us.

I hear what you're saying, but you can either live, or wait to die. I
do everything in my power to protect myself (and my riders -- who
include my children) from harm, but fully understand that the risks I'm
taking are very similar to flying.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:

It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?



Let me leave you with three thoughts:

1) Compound fractures from insufficient sheet metal around you

This is only much of an advantage below about 40 MPH. Much above that
it you're toast if you hit an immovable object. And this holds true
with many airplane accidents. They are not built at all for collision
protection. And to do so for the speeds involved would simply involve
too much weight.


2) Scrambled brains from no helmet

Easily remedied as I always wear a helmet.


3) Road rash from no leathers

Ditto.


I have taken care of several suffering from 1, 2, and/or 3. It ain't pretty.
It ain't fun either... for either of us.

Is the suffering any less than for people injured in airplane accidents,
car accidents, fires, falls, skiing accidents, etc.?

The reality is that many people simply have an irrational bias against
motorcycles. I'm not sure why, but I come across it all the time. And
the really strange part is that many of these folks fly, downhill ski,
rock climb, chain smoke, drink like fiends, etc. I consider downhill
skiing much more risky than motorcycling. I personally know many more
people who have incurred severe injuries from skiing than from
motorcycle. And these injuries often never heal well (knees in particular).

Everyone has their biases and they seldom are rationally based. That's
just life I guess.

Matt