Today was beautifully warm, and I had been working outside in the sun for a few hours this morning, so I was hot. And I needed to fill the bike up for a run-out tomorrow. So I went to the petrol station and - get this - I wore jeans and a t-shirt. No gloves, no leather jacket. No Kevlar. Just an open-face helmet and sunglasses.
Let me tell you, it felt great.
And I got a right old rocket from Anna when I got back.
Hehe, guilty as charged, M'Lud.
ReplyDeleteWell, being as how you're all grown up now, and a veteran two-wheeler to boot, I figure you have the right to ride around in pretty much anything you please (except flip-flops - nothing personal, it's just because they actively offend mine eye).
ReplyDeleteThat endorsement has nothing whatsoever, of course, to do with the fact that I did more or less the same thing today. Except I did wear my leather jacket (unzipped and flapping in the breeze). Not for protective reasons, though: I needed to order a replacement popper for the sleeve and wanted to show the parts guy what I meant.
One is aware of the safety implications, yes indeed. It's just that sometimes freedom and enjoyment trumps safety. That goes double when it also offends the po-faced nanny-staters. Sometimes, I almost want to buy a pair of shorts and learn to wheelie, just so's I can get the full irresponsibility score on the card...
It the fact that nothing is entirely free of risk, and therefore everything must be a balance of risk vs benefit, that escapes the ATGATT boys. For them, any ride where you don't wear full body armour, special boots and the best helmet money can buy (even if it costs more than the bike), is an act of wilful self-endangerment. They seem to have no concept of managing risk downwards (e.g. by wearing gear at the most appropriate times) while not eliminating the fun that makes the whole shebang worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteRiding sans kevlar or leather was liberating and great fun, for a total of about 10 minutes and 5 miles. It was worth the risk. I rarely do things like this, which is how I am here to talk about it.