I typed a long reply to Jen similar to yours....but realized I was wasting my time and deleted the whole thing. She has no interest in becoming a better rider. She made no effort at all to mod her FZ09 or her R3 with better brakes and suspension, so that should tell you that she's just interested in a new status symbol and nothing else. Next year she'll be buying a new Ducati Monster, and the year after that a new Panagale.
This made me laugh and originally I agreed, but then I analyzed my feelings further and discovered some flaws in the post. One, I got yelled at once for telling Jen to get stronger. This still pisses me off I guess so maybe there is some deep seated animosity. I still feel the same way though, if you can flat foot on a bike there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't be able to move it. You just aren't strong enough. How do you fix this? You get stronger. Get on the bike and find a small decline and start out moving it with the assistance of gravity. Then after a few weeks, when your body has adapted, transition to flat ground. After a few more weeks on flat ground, after adaptation, go back to that decline and move against gravity. After that you'll be able to move that bike anywhere you want. Most driveways are built with just such a gradual decline so that you have water run off. This is assuming your house is built on flat ground. If this is the case you have the perfect off season time to get this done. If not find a way. Just work in your garage and instead of using a decline have your husband first assist movement just like an assist with weight lifting and eventually have him provide resistance. Bam problem with weakness is solved. You are now a better stronger version of yourself through hard work and dedication to improvement. You are welcome, but don't thank me, you did all the work. Thank yourself.
Now back to getting yelled at, I get the subliminal male chivalry some members felt that caused them to see my post, that was meant to be encouraging, as some kind of attack on the weak and vulnerable female. The problem with that is they don't realize that they are being chauvinistic by doing this. The bottom line is I see women as equals, different, but equal, this comment is based on physical attributes, sure they have all the fun bits, but that's not what I'm talking about here you pigs. What I'm alluding to is their evolutionary genetics to have a BMI that is less muscle and more fat, for child birth, rearing, and survival in leaner times. However, just because you start out with a strength deficiency is not a road block. I know plenty of strong females. So yes, in a way I agree with CD599, don't look for a new bike, just get better.
Now as for the status symbol comment, yes, I laughed, but then I realized this is just haterade at it's worst. I get a new bike all the time. I have 4 and am working on adding a 5th. Now this is something I realize I have to justify, not to anyone else mind you, but to myself. Maybe, that's what Jen is doing here, she is telling herself I want a new bike, sure I feel guilty because society makes me think it is a frivolous and shallow purchase, but it's really not, because I really have a need here that needs to be fixed and by buying a new bike it fixes it. I say whatever it takes, I'm not going to judge. It's your money, you earned it, it has no effect on me, so I say go spend it, enjoy it, and screw anyone that doesn't like it.
However, if you have at all found this post to be informative, inspiring, and helpful, feel free to paypal me some of that extra money, like I said I need a 5th bike.
