I think I'm done

M

Metalx

New member
Forum Sponsor
Rant time:

I was riding this morning around 10am east on Finch. I was just about to reach the other side of the Bathurst/Finch intersection when some lady in a black Hyundai Accent pass me IN MY LANE! She missed hitting me by maybe a few inches. This isn't the first time someone has been not paying attention and scared the bejebus out of me. I've thought about it and next year I may sell the bike and get out of the game. Riding around town, which is what I only do, is not fun. When you have Mid-lifer dad's in minivans trying to race you or pass you then brake, it just takes the joy out of it. My SUV is over 10 years old, is rusting and might not last longer then this winter. I may just take the money from my bike sale and use it to lease a Golf TDI Wagon. I'll still look out for you guys, I just may not be joining you anymore.

I still have all winter to think about, maybe I'll change me mind. But then again, I have a 4 year old I want to see grow up.
 
Riding scared isn't a good way to ride, and if you feel it's not for you, it's sometimes best to just hang up the helmet. Riding in the city takes alot of guts, I personally avoid city driving as much as possible because of how many stupids there are out there. Only you can answer the question.
 
Dont ride in the city, take it to the country and you'll be fine. Riding in toronto is like giving retarded kids grenades
 
Metalx said:
Riding around town, which is what I only do, is not fun.
Click to expand...

There's your problem. Anyone who rides a bike in an extremely busy city and expects it to be fun is in for a lot of disappointment. I can't even imagine enjoying a ride while competing for position with cars, trucks and pedestrians. Not to mention almost every single street in Toronto is straight, full of traffic lights, has a speed limit of 50 or all three. I can't even get my 600cc out of 2nd on city streets.

You want to enjoy riding your motorcycle? Go at least 1-200km away from Toronto, and you'll change your mind pretty quickly. Hit some nice open, twisty roads and enjoy the scenery or race past it if that's your thing. We've all had pretty close calls, my most recent one far away from Toronto involving an OPP cruiser of all things. But if the only way to deal with them is to call it quits, then you should give up your motorcycle. Sounds like you can't really afford it anyway...
 
XTRAWLD said:
Riding scared isn't a good way to ride, and if you feel it's not for you, it's sometimes best to just hang up the helmet. Riding in the city takes alot of guts, I personally avoid city driving as much as possible because of how many stupids there are out there. Only you can answer the question.
Click to expand...

very well said.......
 
I kind of enjoy riding in the city (granted the city is usually either Ottawa or Kingston but I've done downtown TO, London, Hull too) because it means that I have to empty my head of other things like work etc to concentrate on riding. In a weird way...it helps me relax. I prefer the countryside and wide open roads obviously, but city riding doesn't bother me too much now as long as you ride knowing that nearly everyone is going to do something stupid at some point.
 
Dohhh said:
Dont ride in the city, take it to the country and you'll be fine. Riding in toronto is like giving retarded kids grenades
Click to expand...

Bahahahhah oh fack thats funny!



Metalx, take it to the back roads, which Im sure you know already. Maybe drive your daily during the work week and on days off (I assume thats when you do most of your riding) head up north a bit, Caledon, King, Aurora, Stouffville, Uxbridge. Retarded kids with grenades will still be around but in less concentrated numbers!
 
Metalx said:
Riding around town, which is what I only do, is not fun. When you have Mid-lifer dad's in minivans trying to race you or pass you then brake, it just takes the joy out of it.
Click to expand...

+1 for this.

99% of the minivan's that pull up beside me want to race for some reason.
 
I love riding in the city, but then again Im usually the one scaring the **** out of people..not the other way around....
 
Metalx said:
Rant time:

I was riding this morning around 10am east on Finch. I was just about to reach the other side of the Bathurst/Finch intersection when some lady in a black Hyundai Accent pass me IN MY LANE! She missed hitting me by maybe a few inches. This isn't the first time someone has been not paying attention and scared the bejebus out of me. I've thought about it and next year I may sell the bike and get out of the game. Riding around town, which is what I only do, is not fun. When you have Mid-lifer dad's in minivans trying to race you or pass you then brake, it just takes the joy out of it. My SUV is over 10 years old, is rusting and might not last longer then this winter. I may just take the money from my bike sale and use it to lease a Golf TDI Wagon. I'll still look out for you guys, I just may not be joining you anymore.

I still have all winter to think about, maybe I'll change me mind. But then again, I have a 4 year old I want to see grow up.
Click to expand...

Yup, cycling in the city is dangerous. You should get a nice safe motorcycle to blast around traffic on.
 
"Riding in Toronto is like giving retarded kids grenades"

QUOTE=Holmes;1634028]Bahahahhah oh fack thats funny!..[/QUOTE]

*Not* if your the parent of a "retarded", i.e "disabled" child.
 
Looking at the fallen riders forum, I would say it's safer in the downtown core. I live DT and have never seen a rider down. I heard of one at queen and duffrin but that's it. Plenty of riders down outside the city, on the highways, country roads....
 
I have a young family, so riding on weekends usually doesn't happen. I just feel bad leaving me wife and daughter to go riding for a few hours, but that's just me. I live south of York University and like riding around the 'burbs, and I have driven north of the city, and yes that is quite fun. It's not a money thing, I can handle having the car and bike plus insurance for both (I'm 31 with a good job), just a safety thing.

There's still winter, I may change my mind when the bug hits. :)
 
I live downtown and definitely enjoy riding in the city. The eye candy is uber sweet, the rush is uber sweet, hitting the DVP daily for my commute is also uber sweet. If you are taking a route that's to congested then go an alternate way. I always have different routes planned depending on the time of day and location I m heading. Yes driving in this bat crazy city of ours is nuts but its really not as bad as some make it out to be.
 
DVP commute and sweet don't belong in the same sentence! Never mind all the expansion bumps. There's never any time to look at the candy when you have idiots surrounding you. I won't ride in the city, ever. The closest I go is York/durham line and no further south than hwy 7. I get no enjoyment out of 1st gear all day and if I had to live in the city I'd ride track only. This is just me but I definatly understand the safety concern of riding with morons in the city.
 
Pretty sure 99% of this forum ride around in Toronto, might as well be walking a tightrope. Hang up the helmet, buy a really fast car, works wonders.
 
Riding in Toronto no doubt is more dangerous than driving. You need to assess the risk and decide if this risk is worth riding. Maybe riding daily is not worth the thrill, and that may be the right decision for you.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom