Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Thanks 
and a similar thing happened with my longboarding. I came home one day with an almost 4ft long skateboard. Of course that wasn't the worst; a month or few went by and I was in college, and a package arrived for me and it was my 8ft long one (course these are ones with wheels and trucks so they look damn funny at 8ft) and I get a text message from my dad,
"A bloody great longboard arrived in the post! Anything to do with you??"
My uncles have had motorbikes, and my dad used to have a scooter at my age I think, but of course 'it was a different time' and all that.
and a similar thing happened with my longboarding. I came home one day with an almost 4ft long skateboard. Of course that wasn't the worst; a month or few went by and I was in college, and a package arrived for me and it was my 8ft long one (course these are ones with wheels and trucks so they look damn funny at 8ft) and I get a text message from my dad,
"A bloody great longboard arrived in the post! Anything to do with you??"
My uncles have had motorbikes, and my dad used to have a scooter at my age I think, but of course 'it was a different time' and all that.
Bike Tourist
Well-known
After all these posts, may I cast one vote for what I consider a bike?
I ride my bike to lots of photo venues. I ride it (or them — I have three) 7.000 miles a year. My bike keeps me fit and in good health. It doesn't pollute. It doesn't degrade the infrastructure. It takes very little maintenance. It gives me thrills. chills and good times.
It is, of course, a bicycle!
I ride my bike to lots of photo venues. I ride it (or them — I have three) 7.000 miles a year. My bike keeps me fit and in good health. It doesn't pollute. It doesn't degrade the infrastructure. It takes very little maintenance. It gives me thrills. chills and good times.
It is, of course, a bicycle!
Jon Perry
Established
Bit of a bugger if you have to do a 60 mile round commute each day though...
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Like I said, I longboard. Every dry day I use it to get around on. It's as good for the environment as a bike, and I'm sure the manufacture lets out less toxics than bike manufacture. I'll go miles on it to get to places, and it saves money and doesn't pollute.
Only problem is that if I want to go out of town, I need to get a bus or a train or get a lift in a car. A motorbike is for the longer trips that I can't make on a longboard. I agree bicycles are great for some trips, but I wouldn't want to cycle, say, from swindon to oxford for pleasure. It'd take longer than a bus journey, and I'd be so tired by the time I got there that whatever I wanted to do, I'd be too tired to get done!
Only problem is that if I want to go out of town, I need to get a bus or a train or get a lift in a car. A motorbike is for the longer trips that I can't make on a longboard. I agree bicycles are great for some trips, but I wouldn't want to cycle, say, from swindon to oxford for pleasure. It'd take longer than a bus journey, and I'd be so tired by the time I got there that whatever I wanted to do, I'd be too tired to get done!
--s
Well-known
Hey, Mister Bike Tourist!
A couple of days ago you wrote about Foto Bachschmid in Augsburg/ Germany.
When I was a tiny young student in Augsburg from 1970 till 1979 I peered through the Bachschmid window, then at Rathausplatz, from time to time.
When I was 40, in 1999, I had some money to spend and recalled that window in Augsburg with expensive 2ndhand cameras, and that´s how I got my first Leica then- a secondhand M6 from Foto Nitsche/ Rain am Lech.
cheers
GB
A couple of days ago you wrote about Foto Bachschmid in Augsburg/ Germany.
When I was a tiny young student in Augsburg from 1970 till 1979 I peered through the Bachschmid window, then at Rathausplatz, from time to time.
When I was 40, in 1999, I had some money to spend and recalled that window in Augsburg with expensive 2ndhand cameras, and that´s how I got my first Leica then- a secondhand M6 from Foto Nitsche/ Rain am Lech.
cheers
GB
Bike Tourist
Well-known
Amazing, GB. I mean to know that the enterprize was still going in 1979. I suppose they're long gone now. But then, so are we.
S
sreidvt
Guest
Ash said:
Hi Ash,
In addition to being a photographer and a writer, I also own a motorcycle touring company and teach riding. I ride various bikes during the season but my own bikes have been BMWs for a long time. Currently I ride a 2000 BMW K1200LT with just over 101,000 miles on it. My suggestions would be to get good rider training and allow room in your budget for good quality riding gear. Get a less expensive bike, if needed, if that leaves you a thousand or so for a good set of gear.
BTW, when I lived in Ireland (working on a photographic project) my only vehicle was a motorcycle so that's what I rode year round.
Cheers,
Sean
--s
Well-known
No, Bachschmid is still around.
My Bike: Yamaha SR 500 (2J4, ´83), the fully mechanical rangefinder among motor bikes. Registration: "---MP2", without arguing with the registration authorities.
GB
My Bike: Yamaha SR 500 (2J4, ´83), the fully mechanical rangefinder among motor bikes. Registration: "---MP2", without arguing with the registration authorities.
GB
S
sreidvt
Guest
straightmp said:
I had an SR 500, one my first bikes. Loved it and rode it year round. Thank heavens for the compression release.
Cheers,
Sean
John Camp
Well-known
I don't ride, but I do have the distinction of living just downstream of a town where lives a guy who got the biggest speeding ticket I ever heard of, while riding a motorcycle. He was ticketed for going 150 miles an hour OVER the speed limit, which was 55 miles per hour. Total of 205. He was a sheriff's deputy's son, and liked to fool with bikes...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-09-21-speeder_x.htm
JC
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-09-21-speeder_x.htm
JC
gareth
Established
I used to love bicycles, and rode thousands of miles a year myself. But sadly not everybody can ride a bike, and I find myself now unable to ride a bicycle.
So motorcycle is the next best thing. They take much less energy to make (than cars), they use less fuel and take up less space. Though I will admit I did do some tweeking and mods to sort out the poor carbuartion due to the stupid EU emissions laws.
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
I'm not a fan of white on any vehicle (other than white vans and even then they should be another colour!) but that's a sweet-lookin bike
gareth
Established
Lets see if I can post an image here............
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
You guy's aren't meant to tempt me more!!!
gareth
Established
Sorry Ash.
Umm that's my Yamaha Fazer thou, bought her new about two and half years ago.
Love it.
Umm that's my Yamaha Fazer thou, bought her new about two and half years ago.
Love it.
precertvideo
Newbie
Riding a 2004 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4. Would recommend it anyone, it's so light & nimble, easy to ride and pretty much quick enough.
Much prefer being on a bike, but lets face it, it's not much fun in the wet.
Would have got a 750 or 1000, but the insurance was a joke as "You're very young [26] and don't have much no claims [3 years]"...
Much prefer being on a bike, but lets face it, it's not much fun in the wet.
Would have got a 750 or 1000, but the insurance was a joke as "You're very young [26] and don't have much no claims [3 years]"...
ffttklackdedeng
Registered User
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
damn thats nice
