Originally Posted by
Miles
Now, let's all agree to be polite here...okay ?
I can appreciate that many of you do not like to ride a lot of miles on any given day. That is your choice, and I am not going to be critical of you for riding 200 to 500 miles in a day. Ride the way you want to, and I will not demean you for doing so. On the same note...I would ask that you not demean me or others than want to do 1000+ miles a day. That is our choice. I do not think less of you because you "choose" to ride 300 miles a day, and stop and smell the roses...as you call it. So, out of respect, please do not think less of me because I do ride 1000+ miles a day, and do my own version of smelling the roses.
Now, that is saying it nicely...politely.
I could defend my ways and methods of riding with a lot more fervor, and I could be critical of the very few miles that some of you ride, but what would be the point ? We each ride our own bikes...individually...at our own pace. You do your thing...and I will do my thing.
But I will defend one point that was made in criticism...and that was the statement that, "And your product endorsements are no more important than anyone else". The word..."important" is a subjective word, that carries no specific value. Therefore I am forced to agree that your statement is not incorrect. However, to put a fine point on this...my product endorsements based on my motorcycle riding experiences carry more weight than a rider than has ridden 1/10th the mileage I have. Now, that is a statement that declares a value, because...if I have ridden more than 1,000,000 miles over the course of 43 years, and I endorse a product, it means more to the riding community than a rider that has ridden 100,000 miles, over the same 43 year time span.
If a person does not agree with my opinion on a product endorsement, they are free to choose whatever product they want to use. Example, I have very clearly stated that a Russell Day-Long saddle is NOT for everyone. I have stated that it is for people that like to ride longer distances, and for people that have bad backs, injured backs, etc. And yet, I almost always put in the disclaimer that every butt is different, and...if your seat works for you, and you are happy with it, then it is the best seat for you.
No one here is forcing anyone else to go out and buy a product. But common sense...and logic...would dictate that if Rider A rides 45,000 miles a year for 40+ years...and Rider B rides 1,000 miles a year for 40+ years, then Rider A would have more experience on the road, testing products, trying out different boots, tires, seats,. clothing, etc., and if Rider A wanted to help or assist others in the riding community, Rider A would share that wealth of information with others.
My personal opinions about products, or how many miles to ride each day may differ from what someone else may think, but there is no need or reason to criticize any one of us, because of what we do, use, or think.
BTW, for the record...I have ridden more than 150 Saddlesore 1000's (1000 miles in a day), and more than 75 Bunburner 1500's (1500 miles in 36 hours), and more than 50 BunBurner Gold (1500 miles in 24 hours) and more than 5 Pile Driver 2000's (2000 miles in 24 hours.) I do that because I want to, not because I am forced to. I "see" all that I want to...but I do it at a higher speed than most do. That doesn't mean I don't see the same things, or less...or more. I see what I want to see, and smell what I want to smell, and meet those that I want to met, and eat at places where I want to eat...and I do not begrudge others that do it their own way. I no longer send paperwork into the IBA to have certified for every ride that I do, as it is no longer needed by me, or for me. The IBA knows who I am, and how I ride. In January I rode down to Bolivia and Chile, and rode back home. 15,125 miles in 28 days..there and back. Rode the entire way. All I do is send a few pictures to the IBA, they review them, and they know where I have been.
I ride for myself...my way. Maybe the rest of you should do the same.