Who really thinks about..........Death?

In the movies, the music builds up, you know something is going to happen to the character either due to some foreshadowing, imminent demise, plot narrative...whatever. Either way you know its coming and you can see the character just carrying on like normal and it's kind of a powerful feeling watching their last moments.

I find that process going through my mind quite often. Thinking if someone were watching me right now, just moving along like everything's normal but I could be only moments away from eternity... weird.

Every day I catch myself doing something dumb: not watching the mirrors while I'm sitting at a light and cars are coming up behind me, cruising through a yellow, timing a red light as I approach knowing it's getting ready to turn (really stoopid) green, following too closely, multiple-lane change...the list goes on. Every time I catch that I think that it could be that one time that someone brakes a little earlier, I hit some object in the road because I'm executing some deft motorcycle trickery, or just a tiny miscalculation that sends me tumbling.

I don't have a family yet, but hard at work. Wed date in October (she supports the 2-wheel addiction thank goodness) and probably next year some additions to the fold - we'll see!

So to answer your question, more and more my friend...more and more.

My death/dismemberment thoughts flicker on and off: on right after I do something dumb, and off as soon as I forget. Probably not a good approach.

Dance with Death. I have felt Death's presence twice. The first time was when a friend fell 30 ft from a bluff and landed right next to a large, sharp protruding rock, right in front of me. The sensation was very real and palpable. Death finally caught up with him in the form of a drunk driver. The second encounter was at high speed in the left hand gutter of a right hand curve on northbound lower Greenville Ave., Just north of Mockingbird Ln. in Dallas. The same very real, very palpable presence. Death stalks. Care to dance?

I don't think of it much when I ride daily to work.
But I do when I set off for a weekend ride.
The moments I find myself going into a corner too hot; are the moments I use as a reality check to settle down.

I recently had an accident on my 250 commuter and it come down to stupidity; using the emergency lane; not slowing down enough and not paying attention to the cars in front.
Sometimes you just get so use to things and they slowly become normal and you (I) don't realise that things have changed and are now dangerous.

That's when you get a slap in the face from death to wake you up and hopefully its a light slap and a minor accident.
I'm not looking forward to the day death punches my lights out; not for me personally more for my family (wife and son)

I don't think about it too much myself, however when you hear about people you know binning it and getting hurt, or coming across other riders who have had an accidient it really gives you a reality check

I have my first kid due mid-Oct., and have to admit that the thought of quitting street riding has crossed my mind. Can't do it yet, though I ride more responsibly these days. Did a big group ride this weekend, and picked a slower group than the normal fast group I run w/.

I don't even think about the possibility of death on a dirtbike, even though a mx accident nearly took my life a few years ago. I don't rde mx much anymore, though.

I don't actually think/worry about death - While cold and calous sounding, I've got good death cover for the Wife and kids...

I have more fear of ending up as a life-long burden to my Wife and family - I know 'for-better-or-worse, but I wouldn't want to put someone through that, having to wipe my arse for the rest of her life - So that's what makes me ride (relatively) responsibly.

When I'm on the bike, I think of nothing other than just riding properly (whatever properly means at the time ).

Sounds selfish I know, but oh well

Good thread Trackadict, thought-provoking - So many people think they're indestructible (me a year ago, glad I survived relatively unscathed...)

You talking to me?

Where was I?

Huh?

I hope this isnt too morbid, but I guess its kind of ontopic with this thread.


About 3 weeks ago, I was on my way home from the north side of town after riding the local mountains on a fantastic sunny sunday. There were 3 of us riding thru the traffic when we came to a fella on a SV650. He stayed tucked in behind us for a few km's. We hit a red light, and the fella came up next to me at the front of the lights. We exchanged glances and gave each other 'the nod'.

Lights green, fella takes off in front of me. Theres a parked car up ahead and its blocking his lane. He filters around it. While doing so, a car changed into his lane and gave him a little tap. He obviously wasnt expecting it. He veered off the road, jumped the gutter and hit a light pole, chest first. The bike continued down the footpath and almost collected 2 young guys walking. We all rushed to his aid immediately. And like angels swooping down from heaven, two young nurses ran over and told us to back off. I am very grateful for this, as I dont think I would have known what to do in such circumstances. They did all they could, including a doctor that had driven passed and ran over to us. Sadly it wasnt enough and the damage was done. He passed after around 2 minutes after the collision. He was 58 years old.

Ive been riding motorbikes for around 5 years. Ive been riding on the road for about 2 years. Im 22 years old. I ride with fast people. I often try to stretch my limits just that tiny bit more each ride. Ive done some stupid and foolish things on my bikes, as most of us have. Ive gone alot faster than my ability would allow. Im yet to crash(touchwood). Ive ridden through weather thats scared the bejesus out of me. (hail aint fun yea) And ive done some scary and dumb/dangerous shite that alot of people wouldnt ever do on their own free will.

This accident occured while fella was doing a mere 45 km per hour... I must say, the ride home from the north side of town, through afternoon traffic, after the accident was the most scared Ive ever been. Yes, it put a new perspective on things for me. Will I stop riding? No. Do I think about death when I ride? Sometimes. I think its good to think about it sometimes. It can put things into perspective, very easily, very quickly. It can mean the difference between trying to shoot the gap, or just waiting another 2 seconds.