Especially in retirement!
It’s 1130, done my morning routine, been for a walk, had a cold shower. Cold shower! Not for you? Not for me either but…another time eh?
Bikes, you either get them or you don't. Maybe you do get the bike thing but for whatever reason (too dangerous, too fast, too expensive, my wife/husband/partner won't let me have one etc). All good reasons not to get one.
Which is exactly why you should get one if you want one
You're retired, it's your time, live your life.
Anecdote. I have a mate, George. George used to have a bike but gave up biking maybe thirty years ago to be a "grown up", career, marriage, children, family, bills and so on. "G" as I call him is now retired, kids are at university. Job done. He was always interested in what I was doing and particularly in respect of my bikes. So I'd always say "got a bike yet" and he'd laugh as if it was just a dream.
Gradually though his outlook on life started to change and retirement started to bite. It does. No career to throw yourself into, kids are grown up, his wife was and is still working so what now? His last excuse for doing what he wanted would be his wife, guess what? She all for it, well maybe not ALL for it , but certainly supportive.
Could he still ride though? He took a short riding course, yep, he could still ride.
I think then his mind was made up...
Once that happens G is pretty unstoppable.
He was now asking my advice on different bikes but in hindsight his mind was made up. No starter bikes for G he asked me to come with him to the Ducati dealership. If you don't know bikes, Ducatis are the Ferraris of the bike world, Expensive, stylish, fast, highly desirable.
Next thing I knew I was at his house admiring his new Ducati. In a cruel twist of fate though, G had injured his back and could even sit on it!
All good now though, he's still in pain but he went on an advanced motorcycle course at weekend.
You're retired, if you've an itch to scratch now is the time to do it, you might not get a second chance.
That's my bike in the picture. It's a Yamaha MT10. 1000cc, 165bhp, 165mph. It's known as a Hyper Naked meaning it's a sports bike that you don't have to contort yourself into to ride it. It's waaaaay too fast and powerful for me! Put it this way, when I first fell in love with bikes thanks to Barry Sheene (RIP) and Kenny Roberts, my bike could have won a Grand Prix so what's the chance I can get the best out of it? I do like the way it looks and it's nice to ride so whatever. Love bikes and might do a review of it later on or if someone asks.
Oh, and there's a lot of evidence to support the premise that motorcycling can be good for your mental health health. Another blog maybe
Haven't eaten yet so coffee, food, and bike ride....see ya