Some rides are the product of illness — a projection of being lost in delirium.
Can a person ride motorcycles (or scooters) in their eighties?
For the past few days I’ve been swept up in a chain of illness (a cold or flu) and have lost touch with the routines and rituals that normally keep me grounded — walking the dogs, working and riding the Vespa.
I hate being sick; suppose everyone does. While drifting between sleep, delirium and mindlessly watching online videos I came across an old favorite — five aging men deciding to ride motorcycles again. I’ve posted it before. When I close my eyes I want to ride again.
For a few moments I thought I could push through the illness but dizziness raised its hand to remind me of my current predicament. I’m sure Kim would have added her input, “You don’t ride when you’re sick dummy.”
So I’m left again practicing patience, something I never do well with, and hoping whatever illness I have passes quickly.
If you’re feeling your age take a moment and watch the video. It’s nice to think at 80 we might still have choices…
SonjaM says
Hypochondriacs aside (who are unlikely to be riders I guess), everybody hates being sick. Be better soon, Steve.
Steve Williams says
Thanks Sonja. Still sick but I’m sure I’ll turn the corner soon.
Lowbuckrider says
Get well, try to be a good sick person.
Steve Williams says
So far so good!
Kathy H says
I was diagnosed with a back issue a year ago, it’s painful most of the time. And depressing. I never wanted to get old, but here I am anyway.
I’m the kind of person who exercises regularly and eats right (mostly), so my second stage – after being blue for almost a year – is anger. My body isn’t thanking me for being good to it, it’s punishing me for some stupidity when I was 20.
I’m hoping the angry stage ends soon so I can deal with what I have.
The really good news is riding my motorcycle doesn’t hurt one bit. Another blessing!
BWB says
Yay for the joy of the ride!
Steve Williams says
Yes sir!
Steve Williams says
Bad backs are the worse. I periodically deal with a old injury to my back and I feel ancient and miserable. When it passes I can hardly believe the difference. Anger is a challenge. Wish I had some bright thoughts to help but it’s so personal. I try as best I can to let anger go but I’m far from perfect. Hope you find some peace soon.
And being able to ride without injury — that’s a gift!
Tball says
You need a little two wheeled chicken soup.
Steve Williams says
Soon but not quite yet.
dom says
Hope you get well soon Steve! And of course, Kim is correct….no sense denting the Vespa by trying to ride while dizzy and sick….think of the Vespa!
Steve Williams says
I’m still resting. No crazy stuff!
BWB says
Well, the road’s been rocky along the way
It’s been a long, hard haul on the motorway
But if it gets too smooth it’s time to call it a day
I suppose, having recently turned 60, that I should seriously thank my lucky stars. In spite of a few seriously-close calls, I’m intact with few of the aches and pains I was expecting to have before now (my dad was a pretty much a physical train wreck at 50, and only managed to hang around another fourteen years). Getting sick still sucks, and takes a bit longer to get over (this last time gave me the dizzys as well…given how many others have complained of the same lately, I don’t think I can chalk all of this up to being an old man). I haven’t thought too much about how long it’ll be before I have to stop riding – both the bicycles and, now, the Vespa – but I like to think it’s the riding that’s partly the reason, along with relatively-clean living, I’m in decent shape now. That wonderful video reminds me of a man I met in my old neighborhood about 25 years back, who was a lifelong cycling enthusiast and who, at 82 years of age, wasn’t in the least thinking of giving it up: even though he’d slowed down quite a bit, he was such a cheerful pedaler. I told him, “Man, I don’t even know if I’ll make it to 82, but I hope to keep riding if I do.” Still don’t know about reaching my 80s, but somehow I’m less worried about it these days.
Thanks again for a great post.
Steve Williams says
Hope is a powerful thing. I too hope I can ride for decades to come. But that optimism is tempered by the knowledge I could be gone before finishing this comment. Taking care of might or might not affect the outcome. All I know for sure is that nothing is known for sure…
RichardM says
I hope you are feeling better by now. It’s been another day or so.
BTW, that commercial is one of my favorite videos as well.
Steve Williams says
Ugh. Still sick.
I love that video.
Lorenzo says
Very very good !!!
Steve Williams says
thanks.
Karl Utrecht says
Hi, Steve,
Well, here I am, two months shy of the big eight-o, and am still riding, though in a far more subdued style. The biggest concern is the weight of my scooters when I am forced into moving them within the garage…I had arbitrarily set a limit of 400 lbs, and then was offered a 250cc Yamaha Morphous that has a dry weight of 409 lbs! In years past I’ve gone up to Burgman 650’s and Honda Silverwings, but those days are long gone. As of this moment I’m riding a 300cc Vespa & Kymco, and a Sym HD200 as well as the mentioned Morphous. So far no muscular or skeletal problems of significance, although I suppose some of my neighbors probably question my mental prowess.
So, with a little luck and some common sense living it seems the 80’s are certainly doable. Good luck to you in your future, and tho it’s difficult to absorb, there probably is life without riding a scooter! Did I just say that? Ignore it!
Steve Williams says
Machine weight is definitely a consideration. Even ten years ago I would be talking to myself pushing a big BMW or Triumph around. Who wants all that weight?
In case I forget — happy birthday!
And I know there absolutely is life without riding a scooter!
David Eakin says
Excellent post and video! I have a constant reminder (a “tapered” left thumb) that I should also not use power tools when I’m tired. Get well; ride again.
Steve Williams says
Power tools still scare me. Use them a lot but they always seem ready to bite.
Thanks for the well wishes!
RJ says
I’m Eighty, ride my Royal Enfield 500 as often as I can and love it.
A friend recently decided his Gold Wing was getting a little to heavy so he sold it and bought a 250 Honda . He is 96!
RJ
Steve Williams says
Thanks for sharing the hopeful information RJ. Always good to hear about riders who are still going at your age — or your friend’s age! You guys have to do anything special or different in your riding now?
Dave (fledermaus) says
My personal hero is a fellow MVer, Russ Bees, who joined a ride I organized last summer. He wrote with some questions, first telling me his age (82, IIRC), then discussed maybe riding the 3+ hours up vs. trailering, then finally asking about a campground as he preferred camping to hotels! Great guy. Made it to AV as well.
Steve Williams says
Camping on the ground is even rougher than riding. Bravo to Russ Bees! If I am riding and blogging at age 80 Scooter in the Sticks will be 27 years old. Wow. That’s a lot of posts…
Brent says
Thanks for the great post Steve. My cousin taught me a long time ago that to get energy back you have to… (dirty word Steve) ex***ise. I do it so I can keep doing the things I love and riding is my favorite.
Get well please I would miss your posts on riding and life if you weren’t riding anymore.
p.s. I was in Scottdale Penn last week…anywhere near close to you?
Steve Williams says
I’ve been an exercising fool for the past 10 months and you are absolutely right — it does trigger a boost in energy and well being. No exercise now though until my breathing improves. Rest and drugs are the order of the week.
If I couldn’t ride anymore, well, that would just suck. But I would survive. Perhaps Scooter in the Sticks would become a work of fiction…
Scottsdale is about 2.5 hours away from where I am. It’s been a couple years since I was down that way. Some beautiful riding in the Laurel Mountains not far from there.
Bill Leuthold says
I hope you are feeling better by now. I am often late in replying.
As for riding into your eighties, we have one friend who rides regularly with the scooter club. He is Howard, I believe 83 years old. Howard is small but rides a Silverwing like a pro. When not riding that, he puts in around 100 miles a week on his bicycle. He is a treasure, and a fine friend to the riders in the club.
We had another, Roger, who rode to North Carolina and back on his Burgman 650 a couple of years ago. I believe he was 82 at the time. He was from New Smyrna Beach, 100 miles south of my home in Jacksonville, so he only rode in a few big rides. He rode to within a few months of his passing last year. I liked him a lot.
As for me, I will ride until I physically or mentally can’t do it. Riding and family give me my best moments now. I will always have family, but losing the ability to ride might do me in.
Steve Williams says
When you start to ask and look you find a lot of stories about older riders. It’s good to have them stored away for a rainy day when you’re not feeling well. At least for me.
Just got on the Vespa this evening after a long layoff. Not 100 percent yet but well enough for a little evening ride!