Comments on: Opinion: Speed is my need

By: cam

cam — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 23:19:11 +0000

I believe speed is mainly a matter of time and place. Speeding in towns or cities is wrong, you could hurt a child or a pet (or an adult but there are too many of us anyway, lol). Speeding in the middle of nowhere is a personal decision. I ride mainly in central BC and the roads are very quiet. The reality for me is that I attack the corners and chill on the straights most of the time but if I am riding my R1200RT from Fairmont to Cranbrook and then Cranbrook to Creston, I will make haste. Boring straight roads with very low traffic volume. These are roads where the RCMP say, if you need us, call us, and we will get there eventually. Basically you are on your own. I ride 9-5 to minimize kamikaze deer risk, do not drink or do drugs, eat and sleep well, focus 100% on my riding. As Emily Haines says, “Of all the good and all the stupid shit I’ve done, the worst was all on me, not hurting anyone”. C

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 19:01:47 +0000

In reply to Willie.

Agree, you got that right. We say exactly the same in aviation “there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but, there are no old bold pilots”

By: ChairmanMaose

ChairmanMaose — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 10:04:45 +0000

Couldn’t finish it. Search motorcycle documentary in the YouTube’s search window and you will find better. TT closer to the edge. Long way round. Episodes of Henry Cole’s the motorbike show is on YouTube.

By: Dean Macaskill

Dean Macaskill — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 04:08:46 +0000

In reply to Mark R..

So you can confirm that you, with your hand on the bible, went right after the passes? If true, I’d only wish the camera could prove this so as to send a message. I know, the effect was to show how you have a need for speed, only wish this could also become a teaching moment, likely not top of mind at the time. One can wish…

By: Mark R.

Mark R. — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 03:50:37 +0000

In reply to Dean Macaskill.

Well, to be fair, the entire time I was in the passing lane, I was passing other traffic…

By: Jojo Chintoh

Jojo Chintoh — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 00:27:39 +0000

In reply to Dean Macaskill.

Amen.

By: Dean Macaskill

Dean Macaskill — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 21:48:46 +0000

The worst part of this whole editorial is Mark’s driving on the Autobahn and remaining in the passing lane the whole time. The Autobahn, of all roads on earth, is one place where the rule is to keep right, pass left. This applies to whatever speed you are travelling. You’re not alone as a journalist doing this, I pulled Motortrend up on this years ago while most tv commercials highlight the new car or truck alone in the passing lane. I sense I’m becoming an army of one in utilizing proper road etiquette yet nothing frustrates a driver more than someone parked in the passing lane which leads to road rage. Such an easy fix but not even the police will do anything about it.

By: Willie

Willie — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:30:39 +0000

I’ve been riding for decades and have had too many close calls. I too love the rush from speed and like the author, every once in awhile gamble my life. So now, no more litre bikes, I’m down to a 650. Sure it will still go really fast, but it takes longer to get there and I’ve found that’s just fine, because now I’m focusing and enjoying other aspects of riding; freedom, scenery, cornering (at a reduced speed), etc. Yeah, I know I sound old, I guess because I am now lucky to be old (alive and walking). Like the saying says, there are old riders and there are bold riders, but there aren’t many bold, old riders.