I need a new hobby :-(

[WalkinTarget]

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/mcy/1163250982.html

[jaspurr]

WT, my ex-wife told me if I bought a motorcycle she would divorce me.......and after denying me 15 years of riding, she divorced me anyway.

I say go for it

Thats a long time without a ride

[Storm_Shadow]

Hi WT. Hobbies are interesting things. In the past year or so, I have taken up two new ones that seem to be at odds with who I am. The wife does not really approve or understand either of them, but then I've really never really understood some of hers either. I just don't have the knitting/sewing/crocheting/wood working bug. Well, the wood stuff can be cool, but I'm not gifted with my hands, and I make up for it by being very SLOW at it.

1) Motorcycle - I have a Triumph Speed Four, which a lot of fun to take up into the twisty roads of the Sierra Nevada and coastal mountains. How a careful, sensible, and cautious person takes up canyon carving (responsibly, of course) is a mystery to some. But when it's just you, mother nature filling your lungs, and a machine that eventually becomes an extension of yourself, there are some truly happy moments to be had out there.

Are there risks? Well, name me anything we do in life in which there are not. The glass is viewed as either half empty or half full, and while others may see it as a death wish, I recognize it as a celebration of life. (of course, a dual sport would allow me to access all of those mysterious dirt roads that lead to... who knows where)

2) Guns - Proficiency and accuracy takes focus and concentration, which blocks everything else out except for what's right in front of you. I'm completely new to this, and I probably don't fit any of the stereotypes of a (*gasp*) gun owner. I don't think I'll ever hunt, and I respect life too much to pursue two-legged prey (On a PC, it's a different story of course. ). Still, there's something authentic about learning to become good at something, and the sensation of some nice recoil is kinda refreshing.

Not like a .22 has a lot of recoil, but hey, it's much cheaper than the bigger stuff which means I get to do it more, and more often.

Quads could be fun as well. But with all things, it's always good to weigh WHY you wish to do it, and what it does for you.

[mapes]

WT, my ex-wife told me if I bought a motorcycle she would divorce me.......and after denying me 15 years of riding, she divorced me anyway.

I say go for it

Mape's rule number one....never give up what you love for a woman....

[mapes]

Hi WT. Hobbies are interesting things. In the past year or so, I have taken up two new ones that seem to be at odds with who I am. The wife does not really approve or understand either of them, but then I've really never really understood some of hers either. I just don't have the knitting/sewing/crocheting/wood working bug. Well, the wood stuff can be cool, but I'm not gifted with my hands, and I make up for it by being very SLOW at it.

1) Motorcycle - I have a Triumph Speed Four, which a lot of fun to take up into the twisty roads of the Sierra Nevada and coastal mountains. How a careful, sensible, and cautious person takes up canyon carving (responsibly, of course) is a mystery to some. But when it's just you, mother nature filling your lungs, and a machine that eventually becomes an extension of yourself, there are some truly happy moments to be had out there.

Are there risks? Well, name me anything we do in life in which there are not. The glass is viewed as either half empty or half full, and while others may see it as a death wish, I recognize it as a celebration of life. (of course, a dual sport would allow me to access all of those mysterious dirt roads that lead to... who knows where)

2) Guns - Proficiency and accuracy takes focus and concentration, which blocks everything else out except for what's right in front of you. I'm completely new to this, and I probably don't fit any of the stereotypes of a (*gasp*) gun owner. I don't think I'll ever hunt, and I respect life too much to pursue two-legged prey (On a PC, it's a different story of course. ). Still, there's something authentic about learning to become good at something, and the sensation of some nice recoil is kinda refreshing.

Not like a .22 has a lot of recoil, but hey, it's much cheaper than the bigger stuff which means I get to do it more, and more often.

Quads could be fun as well. But with all things, it's always good to weigh WHY you wish to do it, and what it does for you.

Excellent post and you hit on the reason I love sport bikes and hi power rifles. Dude we have got to hang out some time....

Motorcycles are not a death wish. Yes they can be dangerous but, we all take risks every day. The secret is to mitigate those risks. Not riding impaired or upset. Wearing a FULL FACE helmet (non negotiable). Wearing full leathers. Realizing there is a time and place to speed and a time and place not too.

In fact I rode into work today and I'm still wearing my race leathers as I'm typing this cause I haven't had a chance to change.


With rifles I too have no desire to hunt. The thing that gets me with rifles is the focus and the zen like quality of placing a shot. Aim, control breathing, take up slack, do not anticipate the recoil , release, cycle bolt and repeat.

[{CLR} Cobalt]

WT, my ex-wife told me if I bought a motorcycle she would divorce me.......and after denying me 15 years of riding, she divorced me anyway.

I say go for it

I would insert a crude joke here but it wouldnt be appropriate for our female participants. If anybody wants it in a pm let me know.

But what BA said is the truth.

[ryanbatc]

I just reached a point where I upgraded every PC I own, and there's nothing to be gained by adding anything else. I looked at an i7/X58 upgrade, but $750 of hardware might net me 8% framerate gain .. just not worth the money spent.

lol just wait a few more months for the next gen hardware to come out, then your systems will be obsolete again

[WalkinTarget]

Saved up enough money, then got serious with the wife about buying a quad.



Needless to say, she was less than happy with the decision. It got ... ugly. Single guys, you have no idea what you are in for. Sooooo, no quad for WT. I guess I just sit on my money and wait for something else to interest me.

I'm very disappointed, but life goes on, and I'll just rent one and plan a ride in the Fall. We sorta compromised and agreed on a camper, but that costs a lot more than a quad, so we'll see what happens down the road. Trooper, you get that bike fixed yet ????

[{CLR}geneSW]

A camper eh? Hope you got a vehicle strong enough to pull a decent one. The crappy ones just aren't worth it. However, I'd bet you could get a decent one for cheap right now.

[Skud]

Saved up enough money, then got serious with the wife about buying a quad.



Needless to say, she was less than happy with the decision. It got ... ugly. Single guys, you have no idea what you are in for. Sooooo, no quad for WT. I guess I just sit on my money and wait for something else to interest me.

I'm very disappointed, but life goes on, and I'll just rent one and plan a ride in the Fall. We sorta compromised and agreed on a camper, but that costs a lot more than a quad, so we'll see what happens down the road. Trooper, you get that bike fixed yet ????

I you want you can buy me a quad and watch me ride it for your viewing pleasure.

[BlackArrow]

Maybe you need a new wife

[Duke{CLR}]

WT the next time you want a quad you need to ask for permission to get something really ugly. Like a monster truck or and old crappy car. Then the quad seems like a much better choice. I think it's called the bait and switch.

[Trooper110]

Haven't had a chance to get it to the shop yet, think I'm going to run it over some day over lunch at work. Got a coworker who's interested in biking too but I think he still needs to get a new bike, apparently when his wife left the garage open a year or 2 back it got removed....

[WalkinTarget]

Well, it was initially going to be a sporty 5 speed car (RX7, Miata) .... just something to have fun in, but I soon decided that with my complete lack of mechanical skills, that was a total waste of my savings. So I decided on the ATV. I had one a while back, but ... here's my point, single males.

If you have a toy from your youth, do not sell it too soon or you will regret it. Once you are married, every toy you have will be assimilated.

I really am totally burned out on PCs right now ... I am pulling my hair out spending 2 hours tonight fixing my wife's laptop. So I'll do my best to find an ATV rental in PA somewhere and hope that is enough to keep my happy.

[{CLR}geneSW]

You thought about firearms? Just get a gun-safe and you'd be set... Nothing quite like going out to the range for a day.