Yearly Goal met, and re-set

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I feel compelled to interject my own thoughts on Ulvetanna's comments about goals in general and Ferret's reply mentioning Iron Butt riders...

I know dozens of Iron Butt riders, including the IBA treasurer. Their personal safety is always more important than the mileage/time goal. Always. Do some riders "push themselves" into unsafe situations? Yes, all the time, but I have not met an IB rider who does. Almost all of them have bagged a ride because it became obvious that they would have had to push themselves beyond safety (or sometimes speed) limits. Those who have been 100% successful, admit that they have been lucky with weather and road conditions. I know this because I am planning my own attempt at an IBA-certified distance ride next year and have been in conversation with IB riders about this very thing.

I don't believe that mileage or days ridden goals encourage a rider to act imprudently. For example, I have a goal of riding at least once in each month. If Chicago is under 3 feet of snow and it never gets above 0 next February, my current streak would be broken. If I get sick or injured in December to the point where I shouldn't ride, I won't.

Setting goals like this can be fun. They may not be for those with temperaments that might lead them to push too hard to meet a goal, but that doesn't make goal-setting an inherently bad or dangerous thing.
Also.... Ferret has almost as many riding miles this year as I have in 4 years on my CB1100

We only live once, everybody has to to what they like. LD riders are into saddle time, watching the world fly by. It's a different thing but still motorcycling.

Bottom line, thinking this stuff through too much just ends up being circular, it's an addiction for those guys and gals just like modding, or track days, or whatever turns your crank.

My goal is to get up in the morning and not be dead. Then I figure out what's next.

Sure this time it was a hernia, next time it could be something else. For sure I ain't gonna live forever. Today's ride was about the best ride I ever had.