to all of the fathers that ride...please read | Page 3 | GTAMotorcycle.com

to all of the fathers that ride...please read

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Griffin said:
Unless I'm very much mistaken regarding insurance, liability is for what harm you do to someone else. Not to yourself.

Most people are very under insured for life insurance. I strongly recommend that if you have dependents you review your life insurance with someone who knows the game. As an example, I had mortgage insurance for a long time. Turns out that even with a good job that includes good life insurance and with mortgage insurance I was going to leave my dependents in a financial hole if I checked out early. I got term life insurance for a lot less than the mortgage insurance and with far better payout. Now I risk my life with financial impunity! And not by riding a motorcycle. I think some people have this belief that motorcycles are certain death on wheels. If you feel that way you should not be riding. Unless you're suicidal, in which case don't ride near me. :D
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Ontario has mandatory accident benefits for the policy holder. This includes medical rehabilation and income replacement. If you doubt this go to the insurance category.
 
There seem to be two types of riders: those that ride like they're invisible, and others that ride like they are invincible. I lost my superpowers a long time ago when I turned 30.

I have two kids, 9 and 6. Before I started riding, I thought very carefully about the risks. The accident rate for bikes is actually lower than cages, though as we all know the death rate it much much higher. The major causes of deadly bike accidents in Canada are collisions (mostly with left-turners) and loss of control likely due to alcohol or rider pushing his/her own limits. I have never seen anyone ride without a helmet in Canada, so that risk is relatively minimal.

I ride an enduro / adventure touring bike, so less temptation to get into real trouble. My style is aggressively defensive. But I try to focus as much attention as I can on the behaviour of cars around me, as well as those at intersections. In my just under four months of riding I have been cut off numerous times, but never where I would call it a "close call". I always weave in my lane while approaching a left-turning vehicle, and if possible I also try to ride beside a car or truck on the way through. I NEVER take my eyes off the waiting vehicle. So far no incidents. I ride a lot at night and don't feel it is any more dangerous than day. Hey, I'm invisible anyways.

I never drink and ride.

I now realize that while driving my car, I am generally only giving it well less than 50% of my focus. On my bike it is more like 90%.

With all these things considered, I am still likely at a higher risk on my bike than in my car, but I really don't feel that I am doing something reckless and selfish. And who knows, the relief of stress I get from the pleasure of riding may well prevent hypertension and future heath problems ;-)

Now as for riding time vs family time? I ride a lot during the week and late at night. Weekend day-trips are much more difficult to schedule. Still I have managed almost 10,000 kms since the end of May :)
 
sonnythebull said:
No kids and super high testosterone already thanks!
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Well here's the problem. Maybe they should test another way?

"Working with a group of about 600 men participating in the survey, the team measured morning and evening salivary testosterone levels in 2005, when the men were about age 21, then again in 2009."
 
Baggsy said:
Well here's the problem. Maybe they should test another way?

"Working with a group of about 600 men participating in the survey, the team measured morning and evening salivary testosterone levels in 2005, when the men were about age 21, then again in 2009."
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There are many tests. Testosterone goes down for expecting and new fathers. It's natures way of keeping the man around as much as possible. Therefore he will also start exiting perceived risky behavior , such as motorcycle riding. The manly spirit is gone and the fear comes in....and the perfect excuse is available....gotta stop for the sake of the children.
 
Well what started out as a good thread has now been derailed so far into the ditch with off-topic mindless drivel, it can now be considered officially dead.


What a go guys! It was a nice day today. Next time instead of posting crap, go outside and play in the street.
 
HarleyHare said:
Well what started out as a good thread has now been derailed so far into the ditch with off-topic mindless drivel, it can now be considered officially dead.


What a go guys! It was a nice day today. Next time instead of posting crap, go outside and play in the street.
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You know a sign of low testosterone is when you get easily offended. Just saying...
 
I still ride, took a break for a few years when my son was born (same reason as you, and cash) but continued soon after.
Now I ride with my son as a passenger and he loves it, great father son times on the bike.
 
All kids should experience a dirt bike or an ATV. Like hockey, the earlier the better. Sadly, the kid doesn't have a chance when the father is a pussy and afraid of his own shadow.
 
One thing you can do is always text your wife/gf whenever you go somewhere. Text them when you arrive, and when you leave; just so they know you made it there okay to help keep their mind at ease. It only takes a minute to send a text message, instead of having them worry for hours.
 
sonnythebull said:
No one commented or liked my links about fatherhood and low testosterone? Interesting...
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Its an interesting study however the study demonstrates some corelation with fathering children/lower testosterone but does not prove any causation. The study is trying to back their belief that it is the result of a biological reaction but there is no evidence that fathering children is the cause of the drop in T levels. Its just corelational data.

Dad's likely have to cope with a lot more stress - evelated cortisol levels, less sleep and compromises to diet and activity levels given the time commitment to the kids. That alone is enough to take your T levels down a peg. Their no-kid counterparts might just have a lot more time for R&R, hitting the gym, having fun and enjoying their personal lives which absolutely have a hormonal effect. Still, interesting study though.

To OP, this riding season has been pretty bad with accidents and with what feels like a lot of fatal accidents. Watching the news and hearing about these accidents probably has a greater effect when you are already in the state of mind that you are in. In my immediate circle of acquiantances/friends/coworkers - I am aware of two young Dads that have died this season from motorcycle accidents. The first, a 32 yr old with a newborn and the other a 34 yr old with a 6 mth old baby. Riding a motorcycle is just another calculated risk in our lives that are full of calculated risks. It sounds like for you the pleasure in riding no longer justifies the risk/stakes and Im in the same boat as you so I get it..

I was riding months ago and I got rearended fairly hard by a car where the guy didn't see me and was on his cellphone. Dude hit me and launched me forward into another lane of traffic. Fortunately I didnt hit anything else but if I ended up in front of oncoming traffic, that could of been all she wrote. While I walked away with no bodily harm done I, its definitely made a lasting mark and riding has become a little less fun. That together with all the close calls has really chipped away at my patience for idiot drivers... I get really angry - like road rage angry where I want to shoot people now anytime an idiot driver does something to put me in danger. Getting mad all the time of course effects the amount of fun Im having and my stress levels which aint good. If I dont hang it up, I think taking it to the track or riding offroad are probably good compromises and I think I'll have to move too because Toronto roads are full of idiots.
 
If I stop riding now, how can I look them in their eye and tell them to live their life to fullest when they grow up?


father of two new born.
 
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sonnythebull said:
Here is your problem. try to fight it.

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/09/fatherhood-decreases-testosteron.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/research/13testosterone.html
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Riiight, try to fight it, so you can fit into another statistical category:

Science Mag said:
...Other studies have found that men with high testosterone levels are more likely to have marital problems and get divorced.
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Probably not the best advice in this thread...
 
going to get my 7 year old son a new dirt bike tonight. 20hp 2 stroke! will be out on the trails tomorrow
 
My great grandfather rode (apparently he raced the old wood track at the cne), my grandfather rode, my dad rides, my kids will ride, heck my wife can ride but sacrifices so I can race. Some people ride because it's cool or because they want a new hobby, other people ride because it's a passion. I ride because it's what I do and love, nothing will change that.
 
Sabex said:
One thing you can do is always text your wife/gf whenever you go somewhere. Text them when you arrive, and when you leave; just so they know you made it there okay to help keep their mind at ease. It only takes a minute to send a text message, instead of having them worry for hours.
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so now grown men need to message and report everything they do?? Are you serious? How about women just grow the **** up, are they really that insecure?
I wonder what happened in the good old days when a man had to go somewhere and he'd be on the road weeks at a time, no cellphone no nothing...
 
LoneRonin said:
so now grown men need to message and report everything they do?? Are you serious? How about women just grow the **** up, are they really that insecure?
I wonder what happened in the good old days when a man had to go somewhere and he'd be on the road weeks at a time, no cellphone no nothing...
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Or when he said he was going to do a muay thai fight and wanted everyone to show up to watch so he actually posted the place and time instead of talking a lot of smack? Remember those times? Hmmmmm? Hendo junior?
 
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