Triumphrat

MassiveAttack

I had an Accident Uncle, far younger than the other guys in my family. He was obsessed with the V-Max.

It started innocently enough: "Hey kid, go ahead and rev her up." He held my left foot to discourage any accidents. At that time, and even now, he was my hero.

In the country of hot and stupid girls, he'd wheelie past the judges. In my childhood, he was like a Giant. Nothing he did was wrong, even when he pulled warm beers from the saddlebags and asked Cletus if he could trade them in for cold ones. Then he would deliberately terrify me by riding close to red-clay ditches.

"Don't piss on my back, kid."

I think of him every time I hit 6k on the Triple.

/shot himself at 40

propforward

I ride because it's great fun.

Sorry, no personal stories beyond that. I saw bikes, thought they looked like fun, turns out I was right, so I ride bikes.

Ah well.

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Rule 1: Cardio

Rustic Road Progress

Catenaccio

My cousin dared me to ride is Yamaha in the early 60s. I did fine until I tried to turn the bike to avoid the fence I was aimed at. Instead, I dumped the bike in the dirt. My cousin was laughing his head off. I've been hooked ever since. The difference? My cousin was a jerk and everyone knew it.

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I like to reminisce with people I don't know.

HiDesert

I ride because of this man:



(the taller one, not sitting on the tank.) He lived a fascinating life, which started in northern Germany and ended in Indianapolis, Indian. It had it's share of tragedy and joy; probably more than it's share, actually. He told me the day he became a U.S. citizen was one of the proudest days of his life. He learned to ride in the Army, and rode his bike as long as he could; lung cancer finally killed him, after decades of smoking. When they told him he shouldn't drive to the cancer treatments any longer, he showed up at the next one on this:



I didn't pay a dime for this bike, but it's the most expensive thing I've ever owned; he left it to me in his will. It was brown, with a hideous fairing and buckhorn handlebars. When I laid it down while learning to ride, I almost cried; I kept telling myself "I've wrecked Vati's bike; I've wrecked Vati's bike!"

I believe he knows how grateful I am for the gift he left me. I bet he was pleased when I rebuilt the engine on the Honda and fixed the head gasket leak; my uncles tell me he used to get so mad when that leak would stain his pants with oil! His bequest changed my life to an extent that little else has. God bless you, Vati. You're with me on every ride.

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I won't stop riding because you tell me about someone who died in an accident, just as I won't stop eating because someone died of e.coli.

HiDesert's ride photos

Rose

Thats made me smile (with the love you have) and I ride because it makes me smile and makes me happy.........

I love the feel of freedom it gives me.......Its almost.....I say almost better than sex!

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I have a gift for enraging people, but if I ever bore you, it’ll be with a knife.

DaveM

Because I grew up with a bunch of older guys that all rode big road bikes, after a few years of playing on farm bikes I got my Road license and found something that I loved ever since.

I simply love riding and always have

DaveM

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My current album;
http://www.triumphrat.net/memberalbums/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/2712/sl/d
My Original members album:
http://www.triumphrat.net/photogallery/v/member/album789/album810/
Two Triples are better than one :)

Wombat

I wouldnt know about that as I am married, so I tend to ride my bike alot.

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Bob

Click to see My Photo Album

Age is of no importance, unless you are a cheese.

MickSprint06

It helps me think.

MassiveAttack

It's difficult trying to explain as much to a non-rider. Though your brain is constantly at redline with countless calculations/decisions designed to keep you alive, I find that after a long ride I've solved all of my current problems without actually thinking about them.

I can hop on a bike with the worst sort of dilemma and emerge with my answer, despite not having actually thought about it. Hope that makes sense.

triumphite

I started late in life. I was selected for motor training at work. So, at age 30 I learned to ride. 7 years later, the only time I'm in my car is when it's snowing. Something clicked.

Great stories you guys have, btw.

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If you live in the Washington DC area, click this link:www.dcrats.com