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i thought about posting something when you first posted this thread and changed my mind cause it was so ordinary and just not at all profound... which is a lot like what happens when you just sort of fall out of love with riding. that's not what happened with me, actually, but it sounds like it's what's happening with you, or maybe your other commitments and subsequent guilt is just getting to you. I dunno. it doesn't even matter. i've been street bike-less for about 3+ years now, and while I still find myself searching for random bikes I get it in my head that I am going to buy, my mind gets back to my current priorities. this is coming from a hardcore track slut for a good 5 years, straight to just absolutely no riding... ambition/running a business and/or kids will do that to you sometimes. a lot of my friends on track had kids and didn't stop riding track, but i've always been like that. i just don't have the emotional capacity to maintain multiple of anything that takes up my attention and thought and involvement. i'll get back at it one day once i'm feeling like i have that breathing room in my mind for it. right now, i'm too involved in making sure my kids start better than I did, that I'm present (really truly present) for everything while they're young, and making money while the money's good. and occasionally buying stupid shit when i get antsy. best of luck to you on your present conundrum. the monkey on your bike will never go away though... that much I know.

Shes such an easy going baby. On the way back from virginia beach last week we stopped once for diesel and let Liam burn off some energy then made it the whole way home without stopping. They both do real well in the truck. I would have had to stop 3 times for @TRMN8TR to piss.

My kids are my motorcycles.

When I felt our street riding was getting too risky Ryan convinced me to go to the track. There I could push myself and the bike and not worry as much about the consequences and I always felt at home on the track. Even on a mild street ride I would think "if a deer hopped out of these trees id be fucked". On the track all I think of is what I am doing, when do I need to get on the brake, off the brake, move my body etc.... they are totally different experiances for me. We have had 2 kids since I started riding on the track and of course in the back of my mind is the question "is this something I should be doing". Im not sure if it is to be honest, I would do alot more sprint races if it werent for the family situation but track days and endurance racing are less intense and I feel like that could be a good balance. I am in a position now where I have a camper and the wife and kids can go to the track and hang out for the weekend, go somewhere for a few days afterwards which is awesome. To be honest I fear the day that I cant ride anymore. I cant think of anything on earth that can give you the rush this sport does, to feel the bike moving around under you, slide the rear tire on the brakes just to the point of turn in, knee down and roll on the throttle to accelerate out of a turn. When you know you nailed a corner to the best of your ability there is nothing like it, everything just flows. I cant think of anything that can take the place of that feeling, or a way to describe it. I know of alot of people who have dropped off because of kids or jobs and I never understood how you could give up something like that. Maybe when its time for me to give it up I will understand, but for now im looking forward to next year.

I've eliminated some big things for that exact reason. I sold a successful business because it took away too much time and just couldn't be my priority anymore. You still need things for yourself, but kids absolutely come first.

I really have no idea what I'll be doing next year on two wheels. Of the three bikes in my garage right now, I'm not sure if I'll own all or none of them next year. 75% chance I'll buy brand new in the spring, just not sure what.

Nivin, You have legitimate questions here. I like to ride. I like to ride fast. The track doesn't really do it for me with the regimentation of 20 minutes on, 40 minutes off, same corners over & over again. I realize riding the street at the pace I enjoy is pretty risky with all the things that are beyond my control such as deer, morons putting their cars in my path, etc., etc, etc. Seems like most every ride I went on this summer I had to ditch the cops & I don't really enjoy that either. Most all the guys I used to ride with don't ride (at least street pace) anymore & Sport Rider magazine is going out of business. I'm not a happy camper as of late. I'm going out looking at enduro bikes this weekend but I don't know if that's the answer either. Please let me know what you come up with on this.

Trucker-bomb!

Try! Wayne NF Monday creek.https://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/ohio_10148/ride_27ba.htm or Perry https://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/ohio_02793/ride_3301.htm Crow canyon: https://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/ohio_07551/ride_b00b.htm Also check with this group of Dirt Types, http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/adventure-in-ohio.28732/ Many 250 riders on that site and will guide you along.

Lokking for trails near columbus. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Plan to take the entire week off so I may be heading down early.

If my wife goes we might make a whole week out of it and do the touristy thing in Gatlinburg in the beginning of the week. If for some reason she can't go me and @JustinNck1 thought about going down to Barber for a couple nights.

Thx for all the input guys, what I was looking for and was sure to find were some personal experiences some of you/ many of you went through in the past regarding quiting and coming back. It's looks almost like a unanimous thing, that's it's gonna come back. Seems like who ever was really into riding, the pure passsion even if it went away or had to be suppressed or lost it during busy life, found it again or got hit again. I guess I will still keep riding as a borderline priority in the back burner just in case After all this discussion, I guess I should accept, and many who know me personally know that the most likely scenario is the first warm day on 2018 I be posting a ride hahaha Regarding the parallel discussion here I tried track once, like tpoppa said didn't work for me. I am not much into that break neck max speed or high velocity stuff, but love the acceleration part of motorcycling as in hitting and exiting corners hard. I guess that's why I love street more because of ever changing perspectives and challenges. But I am going to give it another go, this time having more friends on the scene might make things different. Like it was mentioned here trying to perfect that lap might seem interesting or safer than street for sure. And off roading attempt needs to happen at least once heheh Atleast just for experience. I mean I grew up riding back roads in rural India which is either a tier 1 or 2 off road here lol Regarding the other discussion of speed, except for few folks here most regular street riders here enjoy all types of ride touring/ sport touring/ but prefer one over the other little bit. Personally I was never trying to go fast for the sake of going fast. As miles and exp rake up, the comfort zone gets pushed higher and higher in the speed limit. For e.g: u never feel like ur pushing the limit when cruising freeways on a car at 85-90. U only realize the speed when u check the speedo. Same thing happens in riding, when I was riding good with no fear, many times only when u peek down to realize this. And many times it's just on corners ur really working it and then on straight u mostly going just cruising 15+ Ur never flustered shaken sweating panting to keep pushing. just enjoying the day. And some times u try to get into the zone and push a bit. I won't say it's safe but I won't say it's totally crazy either. I guess it's a grey zone we live in for anything in our life. But these days that comfort zone is starting to slowly crumble ending up in this discussion. I know for sure I will miss meeting new folks, taking pics, and making videos etc shooting the shyte at breaks etc. Many rides even if time doesn't allow I used to show up riding 3-4 hrs just to say hi to some old faces and leave without even able to join the ride. But all in all good talk lol

My main hobbies are Motorcycle, shooting guns, and playing pool. My interest level, energy, and available time fluctuates. I've taken breaks from all of them, but I always come back. When hobbies start to feel like a responsibility then I know it's time to take a break.

I slept on this last night and with what I said and with what I have seen other say here is what I came up with. (Just my opinion/ Not a professional just a UNpaid spokes person/I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night{@Tonik says I'm too cheap for that}) If your looking for a thrill or an Adrenaline rush by all means keep it off the streets. Not saying hang it up but do the track days and or closed course stuff. I think it's been proven a few times this year that the street is no place for that, if that's all your after. Not saying an occasional spirited pace is frowned upon just saying if that is your goal is (a thrill) maybe the track is the best option. If your looking for a get away and or an escape, that's what the streets are for. Afternoon rides and weekend meet ups are great to explore hang with friends or just go out on your own and clear your head. I think a few of these rides this year have gotten a bit out of hand, I bit my tongue and didn't say anything just went out and did my one thing like your supposed to. One ride in particular I was supposed to be in a medium-fast pace group and I round the corner and the leader was leaving me in the strait like I was standing still, I look down and I'm already doing 85 and the chaps behind me were nowhere to be found. So maybe we all need to step it back a notch and reevaluate what we have and what the cost are for what we do. Not saying give it up by any means but in a way I think things seem to get out of hand pretty quick anymore and sometimes becomes a dick measuring contest with out us even realizing it.

I got away from riding for about 15 years. My wife lost her cousin to a motorcycle accident and she was very uncomfortable with the idea of me riding. So I hung up my helmet and between kids, work, and life I kept very busy. Picked up a few hobbies to pass time I'm pretty sure I have the OR to thank for getting back into it. As a lot of you know I live right next to one of your favorite meet up spots. A couple years ago the wife and I stopped for fuel on our way home and there had to be 40-50 sporty bikes at the gas station (epic ride maybe?) She could tell it was killing me and after surviving 3 heart attacks in the previous couple of years I guess she figured I should do whatever the fuck I wanted. I was ordered to get another bike and here I am. One thing I can tell you for certain is you will never replace the feeling of locking your eyes on the road and having complete focus on nothing but the asphalt, the tree line ahead and the sweet howl of an inline child of mama kaw. Doc it seems to me bikes might be in your blood so don't go off the deep end. Sometimes you just don't wanna ride.

Here is a cool site with some ride routes down in Southern WV/VA area. Printable tank bag routes and GPX files. https://www.appalachianbackroads.com/

Not much update recently, but after seeing the picture Doc took today, I figured I would show a comparison. It's crazy how much better I feel in the bike since losing weight and adding muscle.