hello everyone, i am having a really good week, however i might need to make some changes to my lifestyle.  i just go in to physician assistant school and will start this august.  this has been my dream for a long long time and i have worked very hard.  i am 22 years old and it seems as though now my "stock" has gone up a lot.  my family and friends told me to give up riding now since i have so much more to lose.  i am starting to agree with them, how do u guys feel? i would also hate to be chastised by those in the medical community for riding a motorcycle since i plan to go into orthopaedic surgery, which is where most bikers end up after a bad accident.  i have been riding for a year now and actually got a bike in the first place because i didn't get into PA school the first time i applied last year.  any ideas?

~facio

Riding is dangerous, but then again, so are so many other things in life.  Simply getting out of bed is dangerous, but we don't all stay in bed because of it.  You need to find out what YOUR acceptable risk is. 

For me, riding is an acceptable risk.  I have no dependants and have enough life and medical insurance that if something were to happen to me, there would be enough to pay my bills or stick me in the ground.  That said, I do everything I can to reduce that risk.  I have very good gear and am constantly working on being a better rider.  [and I think I'm a better driver also because I'm so much more aware of the vehicles around me now than before I rode bikes]

What will your 40 year old self tell you if you gave up on riding now?   

A change in lifestyle may be in order, but you certainly don't have to give up motorcycles if you love them. Just make sure you've got all the proper gear (good sturdy ankle-supporting riding boots for your orthoped friends) and don't do stupid stuff. Take an MSF course, go to performance riding schools, etc. Keep the track riding to the track and recognize that streets are for traveling, not showing off.

Hell, if you have to give up riding to make sure you're safe, I'm f%$ked... I commute daily in Seattle weather, PLUS I play rugby, which probably gives me more impacts to the head than I'll ever take on my bike.

facio:

You might also look at it another way: how cool would it be to be in need of a surgeon and to find out that he actually RIDES and understands you? Riding safely and with gear is absolutely a must no matter what, IMHO, and we each need to make our own choices about risk and danger.

It would be wonderful to be treated by someone who identifies with us rather than someone who thinks of us as "donors." 

How else would you be able to relax if not on your motorcycle?  Risk mangement: weigh the risks, as we all do everyday.  If it's good and you enjoy it, why give it up?

You might even think of a way to help protect our feet even more.  Prevention is the mother of invention.

selling you rGS???

j/k

DUDE,
once a biker always a biker. you may not regret a year from now but eventually you'll look back and say "that was me once" with a tear in your eye and a lump in your throat.
Unless you were never a biker to begin with......thats a different story. If you don't have the taste for it, sorry for ya, nice ta know ya.. selling ya bike?

from your post it sounds like your letting your Fam/freinds/peers convince you to quit biking. That sucks.
I know 32 biker doctors (3 neuro surgeons)

I bet one or two are Orthowhatchamacallits just like you. If you asking what I think, I say pick your balls up of the floor and get back on your bike, tell your fam/freinds/peers to learn how to pray for you.

ride on BRO!!! 

Your stock?  Dude, I make like $40,000.


That's $40,000 a week!  And I still ride!

For goodness sake, Gary Busey rode a bike with no helmet when he was in his prime (after Silver Bullet, Point Break and Lethal Weopon).  When you get to Gary Busey status, then consider hanging up your spurs.  Until then, make as much money as possible, ride as much as you can, and try to make to Vegas at least once a year so you can pull a Fredo out at the Bunny Ranch.

I'm out!  

Quote from: facio57 on February 27, 2006, 02:27:20 PM
i just go in to physician assistant school and will start this august... now my "stock" has gone up a lot.    ...since i have so much more to lose.

how is it that now you're life is worth more than if you werent going to PA school? You have to do the things in your life that bring you joy, regardless of the possible dangers involved in that activity. Everything in life has a cost. If you dont do it and regret it or miss it that affects who you are and how you view the world. if you do what you love and get injured at least you were doing what you loved...

Quote from: facio57 on February 27, 2006, 02:27:20 PM
  i am 22 years old and it seems as though now my "stock" has gone up a lot.  my family and friends told me to give up riding now since i have so much more to lose.
~facio

BTW - I am 26, with a 3 month old and an 18 month old.. My "stock has gone up too. we all have alot to lose. It would suck to never ride again because I was "scared" especially if it was not even my decision in the first place.

Don't let yourself be brainwashed about how dangerous bikes are. A cautious experience biker is less likely to die on the road than people in cars.

If you don't trust yourself than fine, quit. Sell me your bike, SO I can have something for my son to learn on when he gets old enough.

LIVE or DIE Trying to live.....There is no other way.

Quote from: Jake D on February 27, 2006, 03:51:24 PM
Your stock?  Dude, I make like $40,000.


That's $40,000 a week!  And I still ride!

For goodness sake, Gary Busey rode a bike with no helmet when he was in his prime (after Silver Bullet, Point Break and Lethal Weopon).  When you get to Gary Busey status, then consider hanging up your spurs.  Until them, make as much money as possible, ride as much as you can, and try to make to Vegas at least once a year so you can pull a Fredo out at the Bunny Ranch.

I'm out!  

Yeah!!!!
Gary Busey Rocks!!!!   

Quote from: pantablo on February 27, 2006, 03:51:56 PM

Quote from: facio57 on February 27, 2006, 02:27:20 PM
i just go in to physician assistant school and will start this august... now my "stock" has gone up a lot.    ...since i have so much more to lose.

how is it that now you're life is worth more than if you werent going to PA school? You have to do the things in your life that bring you joy, regardless of the possible dangers involved in that activity. Everything in life has a cost. If you dont do it and regret it or miss it that affects who you are and how you view the world. if you do what you love and get injured at least you were doing what you loved...

double yeah!!!!!!

   stock has gone up.     

    Sheesh   

why I oughta.......

I often wonder how worthwhile life would be without doing the things (and people  ) I love to do.......   I'd say not very.


If you really love motorcycling, you won't be able to give it up...

If you're not that attached to it, then why spend the money on it?

Quote from: facio57 on February 27, 2006, 02:27:20 PM
I just got in to physician assistant school and will start this August.  This has been my dream for a long long time and I have worked very hard.

Edited for capitalization

It's good to have dreams.  Definitely persue your dream of being a physician.  Do you think the motorcycle would be a distraction to your studies?  Wouldn't it be better used as a break from the pressures of studying; help clear your mind?

I'd like to give up my career as an anatomist and budding epidemiologist because i feel going to work every day is a risk to my mental health.

Your choice of  profession doesn't define who you are and what you should or shoud not do with your life.  Christ I work with risk assessment people every single day in epidemiology, but like everyone else has said. It's a modifiable risk. Be careful, be smart, be defensive. You'll enjoy your time on the road much more.

Quote from: facio57 on February 27, 2006, 02:27:20 PM...my family and friends told me to give up riding now since i have so much more to lose...

so, if you were a loser with no job (ehemm...), then you are a worthless person who CAN ride-crash-die and have no regrets about it because there's nothing 'to lose'?

mmm, when you die (motorcycle, car accident, heart attack, etc) you will not care about the so many things you will lose... because you will be DEAD!

family is funny sometimes.

That's a really tough question to answer....you pretty much have to evaluate it yourself.  Are you willing to accept the risk?  If not, then you probably should stop riding for now.  Also, just because you quit riding, doesn't mean you can't start again later.  I stopped riding when my first was born, that lasted about 5 years.  Now I'm back riding again with a large life insurance policy.  It's a personal choice, listen to your family, but listen more to yourself.  There really isn't a right or wrong answer here...

dayamn. all good answers. nothin left for me to say but.... +1(everything)

What's the point of living if you're not gonna enjoy your life?  Sure you'll have more in your professional life, but is that EVERYTHING in life?

I live to ride...and only want to graduate with a degree in a field that will pay me enough money to by more cycles...so I guess my opinion doesn't really count.

If i was you, do what you want, if you like biking don't give it up, what is a life worth living without doing what you love. People always tell other people that there girlfriends are bad for them because of some superfulous B.S., hell thats why I give props to Harley riders, they bikes may be heavy, leak oil, and be expensive, but they do it because they love riding them, and so do I.