Er, possibly a bit OTT there, but I get hacked when I hear people talking about riding bikes in the the tones of Private Fraser.
There are risks involved, but there are risks involved with anything that's actually worth doing. The biggest single risk factor is the attitude of the rider.
To repeat an old story there's a scale of risk involved in riding bikes. If you put a 19 year old on a 120BHP+ sportsbike I wouldn't recommend arranging an open casket funeral. If you're halfway sensible, have lost the immortality of youth then I would good odds on a well trained rider going years or decades without a serious accident (of course you can't guarantee you won't have an accident-that's why they're called accidents).
My own experience is that riding bikes is a life affirming action. The realisation on a daily basis that you are at risk, the constant awareness of mortality is something that more people should experience.I wouldn't say it was better or worse than riding an mtb but is definitely worth experiencing.
Why not try doing your CBT or ring up a training centre to see if they will give a days tral to see if it is something you may be interested in.
It's not compulsory to enjoy riding bikes but the "oooh you don't want to do that mate you'll die horrribly" brigade can fuck right off.
As you were.
I'm only a pillion at the mo but my biker mate has never once been in an accident and has been riding motorbikes for last thirty years on a nearly daily basis. Yes, car drivers can be idiots and cause us both to nearly come off by opening car doors etc in front of us but if you're alert and sensible you're safer than if a non-concentrating driver. A bike makes you more awake and more aware of your surroundings as you can't afford to be innatentive for a second and yes, it's damn good fun too!
