Well, that went well...

[MarkW]

My wife has just broken the news to her father that we are now fully fledged bikers. He's a miserable old sod at the best of times, and looks remarkably like the 'before' photograph in an advert for haemorrhoid ointment. Anyway, the news met with his customary disapproval, and elicited the following comments:

1. That he never anticipated that he would be attending our funerals rather than us attending his.

2. That we should make sure we are properly insured, because he never knew anyone who rode a bike who didn't fall off, and we won't be able to work if we are quadriplegics.

3. That he assumes he will have to take responsibility for looking after our two boys when we are scraped up off the Tarmac.

I am very well used to being the pariah in my family and my mother has long since learned that her disapproval has no influence whatsoever on what I choose to do, but my wife still lives in the vain hope that her cretinous parents will one day have something vaguely intelligent to say about her interests. I'm not holding my breath

[CGD217]

Jeeeeeez! Thats bad! Just prove him wrong

Edited June 29, 2014 by CGD217

[Abraxix92]

Tell him to grow the "£%£ up, that's horrible of him to say, but i guess he's just jealous? or one of these that get road rage at bikers for no reason.

This seem's to be a common problem, older people complain when "young" un's should treat people with respect, yet even when there at fault they treat you with none!

[Joeman]

The older generation will always disapprove of the younger generation, and the younger generation will always rebel against the older generation. That's just how the world works!

[MarkW]

Bit different, innit?

I can't honestly say my mother was overjoyed at the news, but I could tell she thought it was pretty cool. She said she used to ride on the back of a friends bike in the 60s, but never got round to learning herself.

The father in law is something else though. He can always be relied on to suck the joy out of any occasion, and never lets his ignorance stand in the way of his opinions. I suggested that if he was that concerned about the dangers of biking he should turn in his driving licence: the fewer geriatric drivers with inflated opinions of their abilities there are out there, the better.

[fullscreenaging]

I suggested that if he was that concerned about the dangers of biking he should turn in his driving licence: the fewer geriatric drivers with inflated opinions of their abilities there are out there, the better.

 

I like your style. Great comeback!

You obviously know how to handle him

[klingelton]

My father in-law was incredibly enthused when I told him I was getting on 2 wheels and regaled us with a story about how he rode his BSA Bantam through a hedge the first time he tried to go round a corner!

I should really take him out for a ride one day.

Give them time. My mother didn't understand at first and said all the usual bumpf - you'll die etc. I do try telling people that I don't go out with the intention of crashing into the first hedge I see.

[mailee66]

Years ago when I wanted my first bike my mother was aghast and was convinced i would die in a ball of fire. As for my father....he couldn't wait for me to buy it so he could have a go. when he did he took it round the block and came back stating "Talk about build me up buttercup, you gotta get a faster one"

[Remy]

Ignore it, his reaction must have been pretty much as you expected! Some people can't be happy for others, only see the negative side of things . He will no doubt be waiting for the occasion to say 'I told you so'. You won't be able to win so not a lot you can do - perhaps over time when nothing has happened he may mellow a bit!

[thebendyfox]

I anticipate a similar reaction from my mother, my comeback will be simple - "As it stands mum, you've been involved in more bike accidents than I have - unless you count me being in utero, so lets end that particular discussion now shall we?"

[staggered]

Neither my parents or in laws were happy... Dangerous etc. What made me laugh was that my wife and i used to do off road motor racing for about 20 years so you would have thought they would be pleased we were doing something safer!