Riding vs Flying -- How many here ride?

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"





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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?

Matt

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.

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

On Sat, 01 Jul 2006 17:39:33 +0000, Matt Whiting wrote:

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

Dunno. I get pretty irritable if I've not flown recently. And it would
be a long walk to the airport. Safer to spend less time exposed to
meteorites by driving as quickly as I can to the airport.

- Andrew

("john smith" wrote)
After reading numerous reports about crushed bones and the long
rehabilition process, I decide there would not be a motorcycle in my
future.


So you went out and got married, instead.

Selective research! g


Montblack

After reading numerous reports about crushed bones and the long
rehabilition process, I decide there would not be a motorcycle in my
future.

So you went out and got married, instead.
Selective research! g

More variables, less reliable data. I opted for the empirical research.

On 2006-07-01, john smith wrote:
After reading numerous reports about crushed bones and the long
rehabilition process, I decide there would not be a motorcycle in my
future.

But instead, general aviation - which some statistics show as being
twice as dangerous as riding a motorcycle on the public highway!

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

Jay Honeck wrote:
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"





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have owned:
198? Yamaha 250cc dirt bike
1985 900cc Ninja (the first tht came out, same model as the one Tom
Cruise rode in "Top Gun") I was a senior in High School.
1970 Harley Davidons Electraglide. Bought from an estate for
$1,350.00, took apart, cleaned and reinstalled the carburator and new
batery and she roared to life on first try. Awesome machine. Sold her
for $9,000.00 for down payment on my first house.
1988 Suzuki GSXR750. Just to carve the back roads with.

I now only have a basket case ( I took it apart years ago with the
intention of totally rebuilding it) 197? 750cc Suzuki two stroke
(shoiuld be very fast vintage cafe racer). It and a 1982 Honda VT
Ascot were given to me by a friend who didn't have the room, he stored
them at my place and after seven-eight years, told me to throw them
away. I gave the Ascott to my current neighbor who is rebuilding the
carb on it right now.

I still ride every now and then my brother in-laws 2005 Kawasaki 900
Ninja. Oh yeah, I bought my 9 year old daughtera 50cc dirtbike that I
also ride around on the trails behind our house and also in out
cul-de-sac. :-)

Monk