I like that they're writing about Spyders; but I think that this guy spent an awful lot of time pondering if we're too old, sick, or weak to ride a REAL motorcycle... :gaah:
Yeah, that's definitely a downside for us younger, fully-abled Spyder riders. The older you are, the easier it is to deflect questions-- in part because the natural critics seem to think that sure, the Spyder is cool enough if you CAN'T ride a two-wheeler anymore, i.e. you're getting up there in years, you have a serious leg/spinal injury, what-have-you. In that instance, most critics would look at a Spyder rider and think, "Not for me, but good on you for finding a way to stay out on the road!"
The annoyance for folks in my spot is that we
chose to ride a Spyder over two-wheels, we don't HAVE to ride a Spyder instead of two-wheels. And that sends the critics into those training wheel / girly men paroxysms, and forces us to be defensive about something we love.
I don't like being defensive (I much prefer being offensive

). I like telling other motorcyclists that I have a big huge crazy secret, that this thing I'm riding may not look like a bike or ride like a bike but dangit, it's *just as fun* as a bike. Just fun in its own unique way. Just like snowmobiles, or ATVs, or jetskis, or go-karts, or anything else that gets you out of the cage and gets you riding fast out on the open road.
If they don't get the appeal, well, their loss.
Still, I have to admit, it can be a lonely road for us lonely Spyder riders...