not allowed to ride

[Goat_Herder]

Riding foolishly is definately selfish. I am not the same rider (in a great way) as I was in my younger days. And I still need to calm myself down on rides sometimes.
Think about the ones who love you while you ride---riding is a privledge !
Think about our reputation as a sport in public as you ride. Our riding rights are at stake !

Well said, Silas.  "riding foolishy is definately selfish".  You can justify it in any other way but when you boil down to it, it's selfish.  You are doing it for the self enjoyment with disregard for other riders, cagers, and, most importantly, your loved ones.  When you are "not allowed" to ride, you would have to ask yourself why your loved ones is asking that of you.  Are you taking too much unnecessary risks?  In the end, if anything happens to you, it's them who would have to suffer thru it.

[seevtsaab]

You say that you could always get another wife or girlfriend.  There's a guy who goes to the PT clinic I use.  He was in a motorcycle wreck several years ago.  He's just a notch or two from being a complete vegetable.  That's OK for him but his family has to give up a lot to just take care of his basic needs (and they have great insurance.)  It takes at least two people to move him.  His wife didn't sign on for that.  Suppose his wife says "sorry dear, but this constant caregiver stuff you're forcing me to accept stifles my freedom and independance and my way of life, I can always get another husband."  He's certainly in no condition to get another wife or girlfriend.

I don't mean to sound preachy and, like I said before, I don't want to discourage anyone from riding.  It's a personal decision but our families have a bigger stake it than we may fully realize.  I hope that no one here has to learn that the hard way and that hearing about what I put my wife through might lend some perspective.  

Dude you speak wise words.
Nice to hear some perpective beyond the macho bs spewed thru most of this thread.
I'm happy I didn't have to choose riding over my S.O.
She wasn't happy about me getting back into riding, and I can't see her giving me an ultimatum, but if given the
choice there wouldn't be a Monster in my garage and I'd still consider myself a lucky man.

For those who have a SO on a bike - truely luck has smiled on you.