The Tourist
Banned
I have an apprentice at the gym. A few months ago a cop asked me about a machine I use called "The Gaunlet." Think of it as a backward escalator. A painful machine to use, most folks go 12 minutes. I do 100 minutes. After a bad physical exam, the cop wanted to slim down and improve his health. He now uses the machine next to me, and we act as work-out partners. He is already seeing results.
Last week a buddy of his stopped by as we were stepping. He said he had been watching us, and admonished his friend he was losing weight "too fast" and told him to take some rest days. As he left he added, "I'm having trouble losing weight." The cop told me he knew the guy, he had an ego problem, and trashed anyone's success fearing it made him look bad.
I told him I knew guys like that, for I had bought a Sportster.
Seems simple. I always liked Sportsters, this is my fourth. I got some unexpected inheritance money, enough for a big down-payment. I'm having a blast. I've already put on enough miles to trash a pair of shocks and wear out a tire. You'd think folks would be happy.
Far from it.
One guy at the gym bought a top-of-the-line dresser. First it was teasing, then abject consternation when I asked about his riding, and he had to admit he only logged 1,300 miles the entire riding season.
I've heard comments about 'girlie bikes.' Then it dawned on me what was really happening. I was having too much fun, and doing it publically. Like my cop friend pointed out, these fragile egos did not take my new pursuit as a plus for me, but rather as a minus for themselves. If I could drive all over creation on a bike they distained, why couldn't they accomplish the same thing on a "better bike."
One day I took my truck to the gym. First thing I got was comments about not riding. These guys are actually happier when no one else rides, fearing an indictment on their own behavior. Yikes.
Last week a buddy of his stopped by as we were stepping. He said he had been watching us, and admonished his friend he was losing weight "too fast" and told him to take some rest days. As he left he added, "I'm having trouble losing weight." The cop told me he knew the guy, he had an ego problem, and trashed anyone's success fearing it made him look bad.
I told him I knew guys like that, for I had bought a Sportster.
Seems simple. I always liked Sportsters, this is my fourth. I got some unexpected inheritance money, enough for a big down-payment. I'm having a blast. I've already put on enough miles to trash a pair of shocks and wear out a tire. You'd think folks would be happy.
Far from it.
One guy at the gym bought a top-of-the-line dresser. First it was teasing, then abject consternation when I asked about his riding, and he had to admit he only logged 1,300 miles the entire riding season.
I've heard comments about 'girlie bikes.' Then it dawned on me what was really happening. I was having too much fun, and doing it publically. Like my cop friend pointed out, these fragile egos did not take my new pursuit as a plus for me, but rather as a minus for themselves. If I could drive all over creation on a bike they distained, why couldn't they accomplish the same thing on a "better bike."
One day I took my truck to the gym. First thing I got was comments about not riding. These guys are actually happier when no one else rides, fearing an indictment on their own behavior. Yikes.