Cager clarification

[salsabike]

When I first read the term on this board some time ago, I was a little offended. I also thought it was hypocritical, since most of the people here also drive cars when they're not riding.

Yup.

[OakLeaf]

Tuck, I totally get why you want your DH safely away from motorcycles. (If you really can't talk him out of it, insist that he take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class before he ever gets on a bike of his own, and the Reg Pridmore CLASS school in his first year. If/when he gets his first bike, it should be a SMALL one; but truthfully COG is more of an issue for us inseam-challenged types than it is for people who can flatfoot, and in any case it's really only an issue at all at very low speed.)

But back to topic: in my experience, "cager" is a term used by real motorcyclists much more than bikers. (If you don't understand the distinction, that's a whole 'nother thread...) Maybe it's some kind of "biker" thing to think that one is a "biker" whether or not one actually owns a motorcycle, and therefore someone must also be a "cager" whether or not they're actually driving the car. But I've never heard the term used that way. "Cager" is derogatory, yes, but I don't think the term applies to anyone who's not TWO. Just somebody who happens to be in a cage at the time.

DH and I sometimes talk about taking the cage, ourselves. It is one, after all. I don't think it has anything to do with their driving abilities or anything. Just their choice to cut themselves off from sensory input and physical control of their vehicles.

[Tuckervill]

Oak, the problem with the classes is that they're on loaner bikes, which won't fit him. He also has a physical issue with his hips which limits his range of motion, so that makes riding a too-small bike for a class pretty much out of the question. (He can ride a bicycle, so he's not totally disabled.)

It's not like these are hurtles we can't work through. You can fix any problem with enough time or money, right? I wouldn't stand in his way, just like he doesn't stand in my way. But, I'm just hoping his wish meets up with reality before he goes on and gets hisself kilt.

Karen

[Melalvai]

I heard another term that my husband does not object to: gasholes!

[bmccasland]

So what does one call one's-self if one is terribly fustrated with other cars while driving a car? I'm not a cager, since I try to be careful around cars, and large pieces of farm equipment, but idiot drivers drive me to drink! Please, please may I have use of the vapor gun? (but not while driving despite the proximity of drive-thru Daiquiri shops)

OK, I'm sniping, dealing with a sick cat and stress at work is starting to get to me. ARRRRGGGGGHHH!

[Tuckervill]

Stupid darts. My husband says we should get to carry around a gun that shoots stupid darts. You can shoot them at other cars and they stick for 24 hours, so everyone can see that they did something stupid. lol.

Karen

[Eden]

Stupid darts. My husband says we should get to carry around a gun that shoots stupid darts. You can shoot them at other cars and they stick for 24 hours, so everyone can see that they did something stupid. lol.

Karen

I've seen people who actually do carry around little magnets that they stick on cars that come to close - one person had share the road, I think. Someone else's said something on the lines of "this was put on your car to let you know you nearly ran over a cyclist....". I think yet another proposed one that just said "Dangerous Driver" to let everyone else know to stay away.

[maillotpois]

Oak, the problem with the classes is that they're on loaner bikes, which won't fit him. He also has a physical issue with his hips which limits his range of motion, so that makes riding a too-small bike for a class pretty much out of the question. (He can ride a bicycle, so he's not totally disabled.)


Karen

I took the MSF class a couple of weeks ago. There was a guy in it who was 6'5" easily - he looked like he was on a clown bike on the motorcycle they gave him. However, I will say that they had a range of motorcycles, some a bit taller. He should definitely check it out - see exactly what's offered and talk about his concerns about size of bike and physical issues. I bet they could help him out.

It was a great class. I traded in my Vespa for a motorcycle.

[Tuckervill]

My hub's sleeve length and inseam are the same--36". (He's 6'7".) The issue is with his legs being folded up too much, with his twisted hips. The legs being folded cause him too much pain. I'm afraid for him, really, to try to ride a too-small bike. A hamstring cramp a the wrong time could be deadly. All the bikes he's "tried on" (not ridden) have been too small, even the largest, most expensive bikes in the store. All the bike shop guys say he will have to move the pegs--some models can accommodate that, some can't.

All that said, he WILL take a class before he buys, AND promise to wear a helmet or I will withhold affection until he does!

Karen

I took the MSF class a couple of weeks ago. There was a guy in it who was 6'5" easily - he looked like he was on a clown bike on the motorcycle they gave him. However, I will say that they had a range of motorcycles, some a bit taller. He should definitely check it out - see exactly what's offered and talk about his concerns about size of bike and physical issues. I bet they could help him out.

It was a great class. I traded in my Vespa for a motorcycle.