Recently I had a bit of a medical ‘do’. The recovery from this has resulted in me being unable to ride a motorbike much since last July and not at all since last September. Not great. To make matters worse the nature of the condition means that I am going to be restricted (not by the DVLA) by the weight of the bike when I finally do get back on the road. Currently I own a rather hefty BMW R1200RS. so you can imagine that this is far from ideal.
All About Perspective
So far I have been off the road for over four months. Luckily it has coincided with an extended period of poor weather here in the UK. Weather, that if I was fully fit would put me off riding in any case. Additionally we are now deep into British winter time.
However, even on days when it has been variously freezing, snowing, blowing a gale or just good old fashioned peeing down, I have been absolutely desperate to ride. Peering out of window and mulling it over.
Normally, when I can choose whether or not to ride, I would have looked out the said window and muttered to myself;
‘Sod that for a game of soldiers’.
Then I would have proceeded to put the kettle on for a cuppa, wonder into the lounge, switch on the TV and watch episodes of ‘The Motorbike Show’ on a loop whilst simultaneously having a dam good sulk.
Can’t Versus Want
But as soon as somebody or circumstances dictate that I CANNOT ride, a gale force wind becomes a breeze. Pouring rain is a bit of drizzle. Snow and Ice? The main roads will be OK. You get my drift (terrible pun alert…)
Then I’d say to myself ‘it’s not that bad, I’d go out in that’
Not that bad…
That Ice is Melting…
It’s all in the phrase ‘Can’t Versus Want’: Finally after a layoff approaching five months I am now in a position where I can ride a smaller bike again. If I want to. So I have got hold of a Mash 125 and taxed the thing from the beginning of 2025.
My 2022 Mash 125. Patiently Waiting for me
This puts me in a situation where I have a choice again: I could go out. January 1st 2025 came along. I looked out of the window and the weather is crap. I choose to stay in and keep warm and dry. I COULD finally go out, but didn’t.
Funny old world!
Words and Pictures: Tony Donnelly