Why do people say fairweather/born again riders?

Reevo8 · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Karma :

Just a wondering really! As i dont really understand how people generalise like this!
I have a real trouble understanding this because owing to the fact that my dad rides an R1 at 36, some would consider him to be a born again!

Also because he works in london and has a daily commute, only occasionally gets a chance to go out on the bike!

He only enjoys riding in the summer though! Does this make him a fairweather rider? Or does the fact that he has been riding motorbikes for a daily commute for 10 years, and riding a sportsbike for weekend/evening fun for the past five years mean that he can not be classed as a born again or fairweather rider?

All this generalisation stresses me a great deal! Because as an all-year rider there are many occasions that i would prefer to be in a car, with heating and music, and stay dry, and not have only 2 wheels keeping me upright in a foot of snow!

There are too many generalisations it seems!Ped riders, Learners, fairweather riders, born agains, etc etc. Does this not annoy anybody else?

**Rant Over**

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Chill, relax.. who cares?

Fairweather rider is someone who rides only in dry/warm weather

Sunday rider is just that, someone who rides the odd dry/warm summer sunday

Born again is someone who's been away from biking for many years then jumps on an R1 or something "just because they can"

Generalisations are everywhere, just got to learn to live with it, most people only say such things in a jokingly manner so don't take it to heart.

If your dad only rides in dry weather then yes, he's a fairweather rider.. but thats just stating fact so what's wrong with it? Doesn't (in my opinon) make him any less of a biker.

The people who aren't /proper/ bikers are those with all the matching leathers/accessories/team gear who only ride to bike meets, park up tarting all day then go home.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Born again biker is used to describe someone who after a long time has got back on a bike. Age has nothing to do with it, 36 means nothing as he could have been riding for lots of it.

Fair weather biker is used to describe someone who only rides in good weather. Are looked down on generally but I'd be more than happy to be a fair weather biker as rain and cold aren't enjoyable to ride in so if I had a car and a car license then I'd take that instead.

Craig_ · Trackday Trickster Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Karma :

The term "Sunday Rider" bugs me because the main ride out of the week we do is on a Sunday due to people being at work all week. But then we will ride out on the night if its nice. If its pissing it down i wont bother going out (did for a year on the RS50) but don't bother now, due to the rides being 300/500miles long. However if its nice but chance of rain i will go out, if i get caught in it i will stay out.

I see fair weather riders as people who just ride on the dry days, and "Weekend Warriors" those riders who will go out on a weekend do 10 miles park up, talk all day, and ride back doing a total of 20 miles.

Depends how you see things, i personally think the term sunday rider is a bit in-acurate as a lot of all weather bikers will ride on a Sunday too! But thats just me. Its just how you choose to decipher the terms used.
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Spiral · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Karma :

i'll admit i generalise using the above terms a lot, probaly because i've seen my fair share of idiots out on sundays or during good weather doing 80 in a 50 if you know what i mean, i also pick on these ones more as younger bikers tend to take a lot of flak from this age group Laughing

.

But the truth is there is a--holes Evil or Very Mad

and good people Wink

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saxmonster · Derestricted Danger Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Karma :

I get really annoyed at being called a born again, i have ridden bikes since i was 16 & never been without one and thats a long time i can tell you Embarassed

but people see me take me helmet off and just assume i'm a born again. Mad

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Thats because you are old but you have a "young man's" bike

Razz

and very nice it is too
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saxmonster · Derestricted Danger Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Karma :

I am not that old I'll have you know, its just ive had a hard life. Razz

AcIdBuRnZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

You forgot Power Ranger - guy who looks like he just bought his leathers off the peg 5 minutes ago!!!

(and are ALWAYS perfectly colour matched to his bike - like he got them as part of the deal or something, especially if he's a Suzuki rider - they always seem to have Suzuki racing leathers - do they get a deal with the bike!?)

P.S. no offence to Suzuki riders - it's just I tend to see these riders on Gixxers more than anything else.
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LorryDriver71 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Karma :

NSR125-Kid-UK · Attention Whore Joined: 03 May 2003 Karma :

dainesefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Karma :

Cor, in four more years I'll be a born again! Can't wait, do I need to go to church or something? Wink

36 years old and you ride? Must have been busy when young. My boy's only five weeks old, I'll be a right old wrinkly duffer by the time he gets on the road or in the air! Laughing

NSR125-Kid-UK · Attention Whore Joined: 03 May 2003 Karma :

The idea of being 36 scares me Shocked

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LorryDriver71 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Karma :

NSR125-Kid-UK · Attention Whore Joined: 03 May 2003 Karma :

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

My bike is filthy, I can't be arsed to clean it. Its dented, and its scratched.

I ride mainly in my old, scraped and battered leathers.

Do I care? No.

Does it make me a better rider? No. But getting out on the bike and riding it does.

Would I like a shiny, un-dented bike? Sure. Would it stay that way for long? Unlikely.
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1stGarry · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

I used to ride because I had to, now I ride because I want to.
If that makes me a fair weather rider, it's not my problem!

We love to categorise and badge other people, it makes it easier to identify life-styles.
I'm just as bad when I sneer at Power Rangers.
But they've just as much right to ride as I have.
Nah, they haven't - they set themselves up to ridicule with colour coordinated leathers and bike, back protectors, scuffed knee protectors (garage scuffed?), arse off seat for every corner, yawn, yawn
There I go again.

See, it's just so easy.

At the end of the day, I want to go out and ride my bike when I want and how I want and for whatever reason I want, and dressed as I want!!
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Sadie · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

I have no objection to clean shiny leathers as long as they are black.

I have no objection to clean bikes, although mine wouldn't qualify.

I do think people whose leathers match their bike look silly. What happens if you change your bike? Do you sell the old leathers and buy new ones? I personally wouldn't wear second-hand leather.

There is also a difference between coloured leathers and leathers that carry the brand name of your bike. You can use you coloured leathers on any bike, but wearing R1 leathers on a Gixer (for instance) would be silly.

Laughing

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Mr Pants! · I Karma Joined: 29 May 2004 Karma :

NSR125-Kid-UK · Attention Whore Joined: 03 May 2003 Karma :

dainesefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Karma :

My wife's a teacher and once asked a group of year 10 students (4th year in old money) what they classed as middle aged.

25 was the majority reply. Shocked

Good to know that I've passed middle age without a crisis though, perhaps I'll get mine in my twilight years.

1stGarry · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

Yeah, and I class middle-age as 50+!!!
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NSR125-Kid-UK · Attention Whore Joined: 03 May 2003 Karma :

From my point of view, 25 is years away, 35 is scary, and 45 doesn't bear thinking about. 16 is a million miles away in the wrong direction Sad

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atom · Scooby Slapper Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Karma :

Don't worry we all renew at 30 any ways....
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Mr Pants! · I Karma Joined: 29 May 2004 Karma :

Superb film!

Jenny, aaaaahhhhh Jenny......
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