Well, I decided to fight the sadness around my AS. What really got me down was realising that I may not be able to ride a motorbike again.
This weekend, I applied for my learners. Involved learning lessons, about 4 hours on bike doing simple stuff. I came back without backache!!!! exciting. Although my neck didnt quite like the weight of a helmet.
So may be, just may be.... I'll get a bike ... may be I can go out for some rides.

Any keen bikers out here? tips, tricks..

Hi Ansh..
Congratulations on getting your L's mate! What kind of bike do you think you'll get? I was going to get a trail/ enduro bike(good riding position) a few months back but decided to wait and save for a 600 sports(totally impractical but who cares!). Not riding was really getting me down too but not gonna let this AS stop me. Can't wait to go for Sunday rides! Keep safe on the crazy Sydney roads though.
Cheers.. Rob

Good for you both Ansh and Rob! Get out there and have some fun!

Sometimes AS makes us think about IT all the time. We need a BREAK! Distraction is good, especially when the wind is blowing through your hair! (or over your helmet?)

Take care friends.
-Donette

Ive got one of those annoying 50cc honda scooters, dont even need a bike licence for that - but it only does 58km max. Just be careful on the roads with a bike, ive been cut off many a times at round-a-bouts, always seems to be an old man wearing a hat.GL & if you havent already, id suggest a full face helmet.

Thanks for the support guys, looking forward to it.

Hey Rob, may be in time... we could catch up on a ride

Sounds good Ansh! I should be riding by summer! Keep me posted. I've got lots of day trips planned and no one to go ride with!

You go! I want some sort of motorized hiking apparatus. Not a dirt bike, but not a scooter either.

Awrite, got the gear for the bike today. Should get the bike by friday the 13th (hmm, didnt think that thru)
cant wait...

Bike --- check
protective gear ---- check

so officially, Ansh 1 - AS 0

Take that AS...... muaahahhaaha

Hey Ansh... we must be synchronised or something..! I got my bike a week ago!!! cbr600rr 2005 wooo! Getting my gear tomorrow. What bike did you get??!

Rob 1 .. AS 0....!

Well done Rob!
I got yamaha virago.... 250, yah i know...let me get the stupid P's done and over with.

I got my gear from yagoona, helmetwarehouse... decent chaps.

I bet you are cursing the rain today I went to the garage and warmed the bike and then came back in, sad bloody sad. hopefully sun comes out tomorrow.

awrite tomorrow morning, 11th Dec at 10am AEST.... ansh is riding up to the blue mountains to prove that he is winning over AS.
Wish him luck, coz the neck has been fairly crappy in last week. We'll see.... will post back on 12th night.

Let me know how you like the bike. I bought a 150 cc scooter after not riding a bike for, probably, over 20 years. I really missed it. Still hurts sometimes but not too bad. If I can afford it I'll get back on a real bike (I know ... most don't think of a 250 as a real bike) but I might go larger someday depending on how well I handle the smaller. The biggest I had in my younger days was a 650 CC Suzuki.

survived ribs are bit out of place, needto see the chiro now
was good fun, its my way of kickin AS.

Very tempted to get something around 650-900cc. anything more, and you look like a tool

Ansh & Friends,
I have a Harley 830 Sportster.
I did taqke a few 1/2 day trips last year.
Yea, I was in pain, but it still beasts work. I can drive through the sage brush and then get ot the black Hills!!
I enjoy readin gyour posts! right now I got aobut 6 inches of snow on my bike!!!!

Good for you, Ansh... Sounds like fun, I haven't ridden in the last five years or so, I had a 1200 Sporster with a low-boy package when Katrina hit but I never replaced her...I love to ride though, I'm happy for you Ansh, toot your horn for me!!!

Hey Lon, Michelle thanks!

Well today was the second proper ride, but went solo this time. I have been in a bit of discomfort, not hurting but been constant for last 2-3weeks so have been snappy at home and had a tiff with wife last night.
So this morning, i setup my alarm at 6am i was out on the road with my bike, alone. Ended up at wiseman's ferry (http://www.hawkesburyaustralia.com.au/information/townships_wisemansFerry.asp)
Cleared up my head a bit! 3 hours on the bike and not that smooth a road, over the mountains. Hmmm, but came home relaxed and happy.
Took on the triumph(old car)next, fixed up its speedo. laying underneath the bloody thing, working thru 36years of grease and grime.
So have had a great saturday so far. Might fix the lawnmower too
BUT TOMORROW WILL HURT. Wrist is hurting already. Was worth it, some pics below.

I have only given up the riding when kids were little and no cash. Sold 4 bikes last year (realised no time or money for fixin) and now have just the two. The commuter is a Suzuki GSX750F, 2004 model. This keeps be pretty upright, as not a racing bike, though same motor as sportier GSX750R. It's an excellent modern bike for not much cash. I also have an old 1985 XJ900H, that I am fixing up at a snails pace. The problem I have is that the stiff AS spine discourages work on the bikes, as bending is such a hassle and hurts. Had to mak a ramp. But it is like anything. Just pacing. A bit at a time. I love the bikes. Have not been able to get them outa my system for 25 years.I also found that a big V2 sends lots of good vibrations up the spine,whilst riding my brothers XV1000 about 1600km. Cruisers are good for AS, but I also like to do hooning, thus my recent $460 fine. Whoops...I also have about 12 bicycles. The gentle exercise is good and the breathing keeps the ribs from fusing. You just need upright bars. Get Nitto long stems for handlebars to lock on to, and bar end shifters.

Good ideas all.

well the wrist has been quite bad. Even after the cortisone so the bike is gone, sold it last week :((
also my dog got meningitis, too many bills but he is ok now. Bally (my dog) helps me thru my AS, he is the priority, bike would come later.

happy and safe riding everyone.

my wrists were a mess from 1998 til....well, years and years, the dq tendon mostly....even after the cortisone, swore i might become disabled simply due to my wrists, made my job near impossible, but then finally the spondy moved on......then the ulnar side from 2006 til maybe about 2009 or so, even after the cortisone.....now the wrists hardly a problem for now......so you never know......the spondy may get tired of residing there and move on. good luck! hope you find another activity you enjoy as much

hope your bally is ok yes, agreed, pets are family, and family comes first

I still ride but only when she lets me (:

HI Sue,
Bally is much better, still on steroids and such. every now then he fumbles a bit. poor thing. But he is happy.
The good run of luck continues. wife just got appendix operated on and Enbrel is far from working.

But anyway, life goes on and I still have a lot of quality of life.

Stupid spondy, it better move out now free rider, doesn't even pay a rent to live in me