On the RockSTOC thread there is a fresh story of another tragedy, wherein a rider was involved in a serious (but, thankfully not fatal) collision due entirely to the negligence of another driver. An oncoming driver made a left turn directly in front of the rider, leaving no time or space for a reaction from the bike. The rider is seriously injured (several broken bones, brain bleeding) but evidently (and thankfully) has a good prognosis for recovery. No idea what long-term ill effects may be, of course.
This has set me to thinking once again whether it's really worth the risk, which is more considerable than I care to admit except deep within my own secret thoughts. Even with as many mitigating precautions as can reasonably be taken, there is always the chance of some random fool doing something unpredictable and entirely out of my control, and cutting me down.
Given the potential for catastrophic outcomes, I have to evaluate once again whether that is a risk I am willing to continue to take on. Is the pleasure and joy of riding worth it? Every time I throw my leg over the saddle the answer is implicitly "So far, Yes" but every time I read of something like the event in question a bit of the fun dribbles away, never to return.
We've collectively ridden hundreds of millions of miles safely, but some of us have already encountered and others of us will encounter that one instant where all that history means nothing. The only way I can see to change that is to park the bike and hang up the keys for good.
How much longer will I live in denial and tempt or defy fate and fortune?
This has set me to thinking once again whether it's really worth the risk, which is more considerable than I care to admit except deep within my own secret thoughts. Even with as many mitigating precautions as can reasonably be taken, there is always the chance of some random fool doing something unpredictable and entirely out of my control, and cutting me down.
Given the potential for catastrophic outcomes, I have to evaluate once again whether that is a risk I am willing to continue to take on. Is the pleasure and joy of riding worth it? Every time I throw my leg over the saddle the answer is implicitly "So far, Yes" but every time I read of something like the event in question a bit of the fun dribbles away, never to return.
We've collectively ridden hundreds of millions of miles safely, but some of us have already encountered and others of us will encounter that one instant where all that history means nothing. The only way I can see to change that is to park the bike and hang up the keys for good.
How much longer will I live in denial and tempt or defy fate and fortune?