In a dead man's clothes
We are having the annual Community Wide Garage Sale on March 16th. I'm going through a variety of clothes and other items, trying to decide what to keep and what to lose. What to sale, what to keep and what to throw away.
I hate to throw anything away, I'm not a pack rat but I am a clothes horse and that old concert T-shirt from 2004 means something to me. Right now for example I've got an old CD from 1998 playing through the lap top speakers. A song or two jump out at me, bringing back warm and fuzzy memories but the album as a whole doesn't hold up well all these years later. Still though, I copy it to the memory stick labeled "Rob's old music" and place the CD in the "sell cheap" box. I'm making space, clearing things out.
There is a lot of sentimental value that I've attached to certain items. T-shirts, CD's and even this old electronic blog that no one reads anymore.
I still have some good stuff from my motorcycling days, and as much as I hate to say it; I don't see myself getting back on the bike anytime soon and am therefore selling it. If any of you read the post back in December of 2016, then you know my reasons that I stopped riding. If not, while I made a promise to the woman I love.
So in a way it's interesting that I kept the gear that I did. I have an old open face helmet, my heavy "winter" riding jacket, some gloves, my Frogg Toggs (which I would keep regardless), It's been over two years now and there really is no reason to keep this old gear. It's taking space up in the closet.
Giving up on this equipment means that I am goodbye to biking. Keeping it meant that I was planning on getting a new bike, to return to biking. It was a way of me keeping "in touch" with the part of biking that I loved.
Now, if I do get another bike, I would need good equipment. A good jacket might cost me anywhere from $150 dollars and up. It's worth the price. Good gear is always worth the price. The gear I had was "decent gear" but it did the job well for several years.
My only question is should I try to sell it at all? Padding breaks down over time. Things get old.
A full face helmet is, in my humble opinion, not a question. That could run from $150 to $700 depending on make and model. I could see myself dropping an easy $250 on one. My brain is worth it. Gloves? $50 to 100 bucks.
I've spent $300 to $1,000 dollars and I've not pulled out of the driveway yet on my imaginary bike.
I keep seeing video's about those motorcycle air bags. Damn straight I would consider one. Of course, I would want to play with the stupid rip cord to "test it" the first time too. Just to make sure it worked when I went down the next time.
However the point remains. If I'm not comfortable, or at this stage willing to get back on a bike then looking at gear or having gear really does not make any sense.
There maybe someone looking for an affordable jacket, I've been there.
I also know there are riders that have suffered a whole lot worse than me, yet get right back up on the bike. I knew a guy named Jim when I lived in Pittsburgh for example, he lost a leg in a bike wreck. Yet somehow got back on.
Maybe if my current job didn't take me all the way across town, where I don't have a choice but to use the highways, it would be a different story. However that is an excuse too. I'm not ready, nor am I willing to get back on a bike.
It's time to sell the old equipment and move on.
