Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony • Hacker News Board

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#101

Post by Der_Einzige » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 9:57 PM UTC

antonvs wrote: post #55

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

You could make a similar argument for bicycles. Apparently the numbers for bicycles are a bit better, even in adjusted terms, but still. They're very unsafe in general.

In both cases the reasons often come back to the average motorcyclist and bicycle rider abjectly REFUSING to learn or respect road laws.

I live in a non-California state and I'm shocked whenever I see a motorcyclist who doesn't illegally lane split, who maintains a standard following distance (ideally 3 car lengths on an interstate), etc. Plus, most of them aren't even good at choosing leather jackets (not enough schotts or even made in Japan actual horsehide, lots of slop non-protective because most of these people are poor from the Harley purchase) and they don't wear proper protective heavy bottoms (i.e. leather/kevlar pants or HEAVY selvedge denim like 25 oz+). Many don't wear helmets because doing so might make them look like "fairies" to their friends in the outlaw biker gang.

Similarly, half or more of the cyclists in your average complete streets/walkable cities liberal area either 1. actually don't have a drivers license and are thus oblivious to road laws when they routinely get on the road, 2. refuse to use a helmet/put lights on at night/hand signal when turning, and 3. refuse to use perfectly good empty sidewalks (yes its legal here to bike on the sidewalk) to cycle on when possible.

I see this shit all the time, and I understand why they end up as roadkill time-and-time again. Keep winning Darwin awards. My heart goes out to those who legitimately did everything right and ends up squashed anyway, but the myriad number of idiots ruins it for the victims.

I actually don't know which makes me more scared to see on the road, a clapped out Nissan/dodge, a Harley rider, or a cyclist. At least the cyclists and nissan drivers are probably young and thus far more alert than the average geriatric who thinks they're so cool for owning the worlds most gaudy motorcycle.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#102

Post by msteffen » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 9:58 PM UTC

> The beginning of the end: The day I bought an Adderall from a classmate. When that amphetamine feeling kicked-in, it was as if life was perfect for the first time. I was happy, confident, felt I could do anything.

You know, I had a similar experience, but in my case I got an appointment with a psychiatrist afterwards, described the experience in detail, was given a computer test, diagnosed with ADHD, and then given a prescription. (Also in my case, I learned Adderall doesn’t actually feel great or help you if you take too much).

Take care of your kids. The war on drugs is stupid. Etc.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#103

Post by calmbonsai » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 9:59 PM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #54

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The wrecklessness which brings some people into prison, is what brings them & others lusting towards motorcycle culture, often shortly upon release. Something something something anti-social something. I'm just offering real-world advice after witnessing all the broken bones and jerked roadrash upon this tattoo'd convict's broken body. Shouldn't be alive.

Billions of people have a motorcycle globally... Some anecdote from a chronically motorcycle adverse culture (US) doesn't mean a whole mean of transport is invalid...

The issue is the bodily risk of injury or death compared to nearly any other routine transportation or sporting activity: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/motorcy...

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#104

Post by embedding-shape » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 9:59 PM UTC

qmr wrote: post #80

coldtea wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Billions of people have a motorcycle globally... Some anecdote from a chronically motorcycle adverse culture (US) doesn't mean a whole mean of transport is invalid...

> chronically adverse culture That's the thing. On a bike you can do everything right and still lose. California is one of the safer places to ride given how many bikes are here and I've still had too many near misses as a trained, experienced, and conservative rider. Most people put 1-2k miles a year on their bikes, when I was riding often I put on 2-3k/ month.

> That's the thing. On a bike you can do everything right and still lose.

Same with a car, or anything really.

The point of parent stands, globally there are billions of people going through their lives with motorcycles as their main vehicles, yet aren't involved in any life-changing accidents.

Some places are more dangerous than others, probably places that doesn't have this already motorcycle-heavy culture, like other countries in the world, has a higher incident rate and more severe accidents, as drivers aren't aware of how motorcycles usually operate.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#105

Post by sgt » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC

newaccountman2 wrote: post #88

coldtea wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Billions of people have a motorcycle globally... Some anecdote from a chronically motorcycle adverse culture (US) doesn't mean a whole mean of transport is invalid...

A fairly large % of those people--I would wager most, personally--would probably rather have cars, but can't afford to.

I'm a motorcyclists. We usually refer to the smaller bikes as "motorbikes". Two wheels in the west is usually a hobby. In other parts of the world it might be a necessity, they don't do it for the pleasure. A lot of people forget this.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#106

Post by stickfigure » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC

qmr wrote: post #80

coldtea wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Billions of people have a motorcycle globally... Some anecdote from a chronically motorcycle adverse culture (US) doesn't mean a whole mean of transport is invalid...

> chronically adverse culture That's the thing. On a bike you can do everything right and still lose. California is one of the safer places to ride given how many bikes are here and I've still had too many near misses as a trained, experienced, and conservative rider. Most people put 1-2k miles a year on their bikes, when I was riding often I put on 2-3k/ month.

Get a dirt bike. 10X more fun than street riding and much safer.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#107

Post by HNisCIS » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 10:03 PM UTC

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

Motorcycles aren't invulnerable 3 ton steel tanks but the stats and anecdotes are deceptive. They're really not that bad if you're not a moron, even if you're mostly worried about other road users. The stat are wildly bimodal.

~30% of deaths involve drunk riding

~30% of deaths involve not wearing any helmet (let alone full face ECE 22.06 rated ones or any other gear at all)

~30% of deaths involve someone with no motorcycle licence.

These aren't all mutually exclusive obviously, rather the Venn diagram probably looks rather...circular.

The issue isn't so much everyone trying to kill you, you can fix a lot of the visibility issues and you have some additional options if someone is about to hit you. The problem is that two wheels make for a VERY dynamic system and you're managing two different brakes with weight shifting between two wheels based on your inputs. To that end ABS and TCS are absolutely huge, IIRC something like >60% safety improvement.

Tldr don't buy an old retro bike with no safety systems and ride it drunk without a license or gear, you'll continue to pad the numbers.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#108

Post by ProllyInfamous » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 10:04 PM UTC

mgambati wrote: post #96

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

HD riders are known for not using decent safety equipment and that bullshit open helmet or none. A freaking motorcycle with 300+ kilos moving ate highway speeds or more.

He had a fully-enclosed helmet, was wearing leathers and boots, and has years of experience. Was legitimately sober (I talked with him right before he left). One hand now looks like a grimreaper's bones, sticking out from blood-caked jerkybits.

----

Certainly speed was a factor but isn't that why ya'll ride?

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#109

Post by card_zero » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 10:05 PM UTC

cj wrote: post #90

sam1r wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for sharing! What are your thoughts on Roller Coasters? Hit a good theme park, ride maybe 6 with your eyes closed within a couple of hours. I can't help but feel riding one (Roller Coaster) is much more optimal than $200/hr flying a plane, and much safer than a motorcycle, even if you rented vs purchase one.

> ride maybe 6 with your eyes closed That’s like telling a skydiver to go ride the Drop Tower (or whatever the ride is that drops you straight down). Not only is the experience different, but you aren’t in control. You aren’t controlling what’s happening. For me a big part of the enjoyment comes from being in control of the bike. Personally I would get zero enjoyment riding as a passenger on a bike. The thrill comes…

So an important invention that would save lives is a combined bumper cars + rollercoaster. Like the Witching Waves but faster.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#110

Post by Esophagus4 » Sun, Jun 07, 2026, 10:08 PM UTC

antonvs wrote: post #55

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

You could make a similar argument for bicycles. Apparently the numbers for bicycles are a bit better, even in adjusted terms, but still. They're very unsafe in general.

I lost a good friend, a cycling partner, when she was hit by a car. I think she was a Cat 3 or 4 racer. Talented rider.

I haven’t ridden on the road since. Just no joy in riding anymore if it just takes one careless individual on a cell phone…

Every so often I think about linking up with a group ride again or even going to a spin class, but I just don’t see the fun in it anymore.