It Can Be Lonely Out There

[gnirtsnod]

Eight days, seven states, and 2,241 miles and I only encountered three other Spyders on the road, not counting the two in the parking lot in Biloxi, MS. Riding a Spyder is a far cry from riding my HD, where a "brother" is around every turn. At first I had a real problem being alone on the road, even though four other friends were with me on their HDs (2) and GWs (2), then add to that the attention the Spyder gets and at times I just wanted to crawl into a hole. My son-in-law and I had a talk via bluetooth while riding along on the third or fourth day that made me feel more accepting of my decision to buy the beast.

He asked if I was riding what I chose to ride or what I thought others wanted me to ride? If it was the latter, then I made the wrong choice. If it wasn't, then embrace my decision and go with it. It positively changed my enjoyment level for the rest of the trip. I realized that I can't do anything immediate about the lack of Spyders on the road, but I can be a good ambassador by accurately sharing my experience with the wide variety of folks who approach me to ask about it. What an opportunity we have.

Final note - at the end of the Dragon, I watched as a Harley rider escorted his lady friend up to the Spyder, gesturing toward it as he talked to her. I approached to give them the chance to ask questions and he just said, "I told her she could ride one of these." I'll never know what he meant because I didn't follow up with any probing questions, but as I rode away, I came to a conclusion - neither probably wanted her riding a two-wheeler and he would probably never walk up to a Harley trike and say the same thing to her that he said about the Spyder. Wow! Spyders are opening the doors for many more "open air" riders, now all they have to do is step through it. ...Gnirtsnod

 

[spydercowboy]

Hey, I thought the adults were supposed to pass on sage advise. Sounds like your son-in-law has a good head on his shoulders.

 

[connie9003]

Good Choice

If you bought your spyder for your comfort that's all that matters. I was a Harley rider for 7 yrs before I came over to the dark side :roflblack:. Now I know for most people that's not a long time but...... It was 7 years of back pain due to positioning on the bike. I was 7 years of being barley 5ft tall and having a hard time keeping it up at stop lights. the problems were endless of no fault of the bikes. Now that I have my spyder I am so much happier. I paid more for my spyder than I did my last two cars but I would do it again and not think twice. I have people all the time tell me they are to old to ride or it is to much bike for them. I tell them not true I intend on still riding my spyder till they take my license away !!! The spyder can be what you want it to be. high speed fun or a sunday stroll either way you make what you want out of you and your bike. I know I will

 

[ARtraveler]

We run into the same thing here. Most of our rydes are :spyder2: less. Even on a long one week trip to Whitehorse and Skagway, we encountered only one :ani29: which was driving in a pack of wings.

 

[Bob Denman]

:spyder2:

How boring it would be if we were all the same... :2thumbs:

 

[BBBANDIT]

Like the attitude.

:agree: I am another long harley roder (18 yrs.) who just went over to the dark side (3 wks. ago). I like the idea of all the tech. on the Spyders. I thought that I would get some guff for the Spyder but when I rode it to the HOG meeting yesterday, the most I got was questions about where I got it and could they ride it. I had to tell them to arrange their own test ride and they would find out what it was like to own one. There may not be as many of us on Spyder fans out there, but the Spyder Army is growing. Besides, what is the fun of having what everyboby else has. It would be a pretty dull world if everyone liked the same thing. I say ride what you feel comfortable on and make yourself happy and if other people don't like it, most of us have gotten to the stage on life where we don't really need everyone elses approval. I am tempted to put it another way but not in a family friendly forum. That is why I keep my list of friends in pencil so I can write in new ones and erase ones that I don't need anymore. Hope to see more new riders in Maggie Valley and add some to my list.

 

[connie9003]

:agree: I am another long harley roder (18 yrs.) who just went over to the dark side (3 wks. ago). I like the idea of all the tech. on the Spyders. I thought that I would get some guff for the Spyder but when I rode it to the HOG meeting yesterday, the most I got was questions about where I got it and could they ride it. I had to tell them to arrange their own test ride and they would find out what it was like to own one. There may not be as many of us on Spyder fans out there, but the Spyder Army is growing. Besides, what is the fun of having what everyboby else has. It would be a pretty dull world if everyone liked the same thing. I say ride what you feel comfortable on and make yourself happy and if other people don't like it, most of us have gotten to the stage on life where we don't really need everyone elses approval. I am tempted to put it another way but not in a family friendly forum. That is why I keep my list of friends in pencil so I can write in new ones and erase ones that I don't need anymore. Hope to see more new riders in Maggie Valley and add some to my list.

PENCIL ME IN....And I'll call ya on my next trip to new Orleans.....Who Dat !

 

[Spyder601]

That may have been spyderRx and myself in the parking lot in Biloxi. We were eating at half shell oyster house across from hard rock casino. We saw a nice RT beside our RS's when we came back from dinner.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Isn't it nice to be riding something as different as your Spyder. Every where you always draw a crowd it seems like

 

[MrLooney]

Lonely Out There

BOB
Your words of wisdom have not gone unnoticed!
Well put!
How would this world be, if not for the adventurist few who develop new and wonderful modes of transportation!
BOB wins another lump of coal !!

 

[PrairieSpyder]

:spyder2:

How boring it would be if we were all the same... :2thumbs:

:agree:

 

[gnirtsnod]

That may have been spyderRx and myself in the parking lot in Biloxi. We were eating at half shell oyster house across from hard rock casino. We saw a nice RT beside our RS's when we came back from dinner.

It was. I recognized the rear fender graphics from your previous posts. Thanks for saying something.

 

[gnirtsnod]

Hey, I thought the adults were supposed to pass on sage advise. Sounds like your son-in-law has a good head on his shoulders.

Yep. I'm lucky that my daughter was smart enough to pick someone other than those previous social projects she got close to. He's a good guy who just doesn't care what others think aobut his choices (and they are all good...including my daughter).

 

[Chupaca]

Have to agree..!!

Drove from San Diego to Harrisburg PA and spent two days there and on the last day saw one spyder, also alone. Yet when here at home and ryde with the Spyder Ryders of America San Diego chapter we can be as many as 30. Now my wife and I ryde as often as possible, usually Fri/Sat/Sun, and seldom see any of them. Must be the roads we travel Harley's and sport bikes galore....go figure..!! hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

BOB wins another lump of coal !!

Soon I won't have to order fuel oil this Winter...