IN DENIAL

Written by Joe Lopez, VP

Most women don’t suffer from this, but most men do.  I’m no exception.  Back in May 1998 I was severely hurt on the job and could not return to work for a while.  HOWEVER, I was determined to go back to work no matter what.  And of course this accident was NOT going to stop me from riding my motorcycle.  I’m a strong willed person (stubborn) and I dedicated myself to therapy and within six months I was back to work.  After one month on the job I hurt myself again.  It was then the doctors said I was not able to return to work and I went on Social Security Disability.  HOWEVER, it would not stop me from riding my motorcycle.  I wanted to downgrade to a smaller bike so I sold my beloved 1993 Gold Wing SE and purchased a 2000 Valkyrie.  It was one of best bikes I ever owned HOWEVER, I couldn’t’ get a comfortable seating position and spent a small fortune on seats.  I had to sell it and I bought a 2000 Gold Wing SE.  I got my old comfortable seating position back and I was happy. HOWEVER, for some reason I couldn’t explain, I was dropping the bike here and there.  At the 2001 Americade, I test drove a BMW.  Loved it.  Of course, now I had this bike on my mind and I couldn’t sleep at night thinking about.  You know how it is.  Finally in 2002 I purchased a BMW k1200LTE and I have to say I’ve never had as much fun on a motorcycle as I was having with this bike.  HOWEVER, I was having trouble keeping the bike up on slow speeds.  Didn’t matter, I always managed to get someone to help me get the bike up.  I put a lot miles on this bike.  In two years I put 50,000 miles on it.  My last big trip was September 2004 when I went coast to coast and I put somewhere around 9,000 miles on this trip.  In early 2005 I discovered I was having a lot of pain in my hands and wrists (Arthritis).  Still …. it didn’t stop me from riding the Beemer locally around town.  HOWEVER, I was progressively getting shakier and shakier at slow speeds.  The Memorial Day weekender was coming up and I was getting excited about attending it.  Prepped the bike up and went on my way to Pennsylvania.  I was having fun riding to Pennsylvania; HOWEVER, twice at traffic lights I couldn’t figure out why the bike almost went down.  Had a great time on Memorial Day but I have to admit I was tired.  Not tired from riding but tired from trying to hold the bike up.  Couldn’t figure why.  HOWEVER, still it wouldn’t stop me from riding my motorcycle.  I needed gas to I went to a local gas station.  I stopped by the pump and put the kickstand down.  I didn’t realize I was on a slight incline to the left.  Got off and fueled up.  When I attempted to pull the bike back up ….. I COULDN’T DO IT.  I didn’t have the strength in my hands to pull it up.  After several gut wrenching and painful attempts I finally pulled the bike up.  I went back to the motel and it was then I started asking myself, perhaps I SHOULD stop riding two wheels.  HOWEVER, I wasn’t going to stop riding a two-wheeler no matter what I was also telling myself.  Very early the next morning, I went out to uncover and clean the bike.  I wanted to clean the wheels so I had to move the bike to a different position so I could have better access to them.  All I did was roll the bike back with the kickstand up and as I was attempting to put the kickstand down, carelessly I shifted my weight too far to the right, I couldn’t hold it and down it went.  I looked around the parking lot hoping no one saw the incident.   Everyone was still sleeping, (embarrassed) except for a nice gentleman who was leaving early.  He was not with the AGWA group.  He helped me pick the bike up and he went on his way.  HOWEVER, I still had it in my mind that I wasn’t going to stop riding a two wheel motorcycle.  During the ride on that day, unforeseen by everyone, I almost dropped the bike several times at slow speeds.  For the first time I was deathly afraid of sand and gravel.  With the day over and talking with close friends, I seriously started thinking about the fact that I should start thinking about other people.  What if during one of my excursions I hurt or kill someone because of my DENIAL?  What if I hurt myself perhaps so seriously I wouldn’t be able to ride anything?  Finally, after years of DENIAL I admitted to myself I have to stop riding a two-wheeler.  Many of my friends have switched over to a trike for various reasons and are still riding.  It was then and only then at the Memorial Day Weekender this trike business was taking hold.  The rest is history. 

The whole point of this article is …… please use me as an example and look at yourself and ask, am I too old or physically not able to ride a two wheeled motorcycle safely without hurting someone or myself?  I was in denial for many years and thank goodness I didn’t hurt anyone or myself.  I love everyone in AGWA and I want to have fun with you for many years to come.

Joe