My Dad

Fastas...... · November 01, 2018, 12:18:06 PM

I don't post often, I'm more of a lurker. However, I thought I'd post about how amazing I think my dad is. Started riding way back in the late Forties/early fifties starting on an old (even back then) AJS which was followed by a succession of HRD Vincents, the last one a Rapide which sold for silly money some 30 years ago. Then followed a Ducati 750 Super sport, a BMW tourer which went on several trips through Europe, down to Greece, a ZZR900 and His latest bike is an 05 plate ZX10 with PC and quick shifter. He also raced, both on a Vincent and on a bike that he and a friend who was an engineer at Ford built. It was quick but a bit of a beast to ride. This bike was lent to Peter williams (for those of you who are old enough to remember) who won on it at a national meeting at Oulton! He also tried his hand at sidecar racing! He was riding the 10 up until a month ago when at the very young age of 86 he had a TIA (mini stroke) which he's pretty much fully recovered from thankfully. However, he has sensibly decided that it's time to hang up his biking gear for good. Understandably he's gutted after over 60 years on two wheels and already misses tinkering with the bike and riding it of course. In his view it would be very unwise to be riding with the albeit small chance that it'll happen again because, as he says, what if he killed someone?

So, massive kudos to my old man for sticking at it for so long, for getting me and my brother into bikes and for being an all round good guy. There's not much he couldn't tell you about bikes. I can only hope that I can stay on two wheels for as long as he did which will mean another 30 years riding for me

MOzZereLLa · November 01, 2018, 12:42:25 PM

Stop lurking keep posting.

Both are you are site legends!

Neio79 · November 01, 2018, 01:48:04 PM

What a hardcore Legend, I hope to be as ally as that at 86, if I am still about.

Dom1 · November 01, 2018, 02:11:47 PM

That is a very impressive run.

I am convinced biking is in the blood, you either get it or you don't.

Thegodfather · November 01, 2018, 03:37:26 PM

Respect😎😎
I'd like to continue riding as long as I can sling a leg over. Doubt I'll be doing it at that age though.

Fastas...... · November 01, 2018, 04:40:51 PM

Quote from: Dom1 on November 01, 2018, 02:11:47 PM
That is a very impressive run.

I am convinced biking is in the blood, you either get it or you don't.

I couldn't agree more. It's definitely a case of you've got it or you haven't. I've known people who've got into biking because it's "cool" or been persuaded by friends and they've not made a year or 2 before giving it up. For me, it was never in doubt that I'd be on 2 wheels as soon as it was legal. In fact my old man bought an old BSA Bantam, stripped it down as far as possible and we were riding about in the field next to our house at the age of about 9or 10.

7550 · November 01, 2018, 05:56:44 PM

Well done Mr Fastas Snr. I hope that if I'm still around when I am 86,I am still getting the odd blast out on a motorbike. Respect.

Alzo · November 01, 2018, 07:32:08 PM

I thought you were 86...

Respect to your Dad...gives us all hope.

Fastas...... · November 01, 2018, 09:23:52 PM

If I'm 86 that makes my dad 116.... That's pretty good going!

Kitb4460 · November 02, 2018, 06:53:30 AM

Good write up on the old fella.

Well done to him for what he did in his life and for biking to such an age.

636steve · November 02, 2018, 04:55:04 PM

Knowing your Dad I know what a hard decision that must have been for him.

At least he had a decent time on his bikes and enjoyed them for as long as he could.

Hopefully we will still be able to ride till we get to that age, although you've got ten years head start on me !!

Fastas...... · November 02, 2018, 07:30:25 PM

Biking is in his blood Steve, so you know what a hard decision it must have been for him. I do know that mum worried when he was out and I think she was quite relieved when he made the decision. She rode pillion with him for most of those years though, but not in the last 10 years or so.

Is it only 10 years I have on you? Thought you were much older......

ash · November 02, 2018, 08:52:16 PM

86 and riding a zx10r

.. power to his elbow

Raydial · November 06, 2018, 11:05:06 AM

Quote from: ash on November 02, 2018, 08:52:16 PM
86 and riding a zx10r .. power to his elbow

That's just what I was thinking too!

That's a very impressive CV. Totally agree on the "in you or it isn't" thing too. When I haven't been on a bike for a few weeks, I get really cranky.

Kitb4460 · November 06, 2018, 02:31:11 PM

Quote from: Raydial on November 06, 2018, 11:05:06 AM
Quote from: ash on November 02, 2018, 08:52:16 PM
86 and riding a zx10r .. power to his elbow
That's just what I was thinking too!

That's a very impressive CV. Totally agree on the "in you or it isn't" thing too. When I haven't been on a bike for a few weeks, I get really cranky.

I find getting cranky is just old age