Motorcycle racing is dangerous. There is no question of that. One can not be competitive without endangering one's life. Everyone who races is going to end up in the hospital eventually.

A married person who has a spouse and children that depend on him or her (emotionally, if not financially), should not risk his or her life for something that is not necessary. To do so is simply irresponsible and selfish.

The husband can enjoy motorcycles like most motorcycle riders do, by riding for enjoyment. There is nothing better than spending an afternoon or weekend on the open road.

One should also not have to stifle one's beliefs in the face of a spouse's ignorant friends. The spouse should be aware that the comments hurt and come to the spouse's defense.

Life is tough sometimes. The best thing about marriage is that you have someone who's on your side when times get tough. The husband needs to decide if his friends or his wife are more important.

Thanks Tyler, but I don't need your pity. I'm living a wonderful life without putting my health on the line on a regular basis.

A life insurance policy isn't going to make your death hurt your spouse and/or children any less. Those kids are going to spend the rest of their lives wondering why you loved racing more than them.

Life is not one big orgasm. Sometimes we need to compromise and make the responsible decision. That doesn't mean that our lives are boring or that our "spirit is broken." There is plenty to enjoy in life without racing motorcycles. Anyone that thinks differently is delusional and/or very childish. In the end, its the ones we love that make our lives worth living, not work, our accomplishments in the wider world, or a hobby.

Also, good luck finding an insurance policy that's going to pay if you die on a race track.

Wow, so much backlash over stating that motorcycle racing is very dangerous.

In my original letter, I mentioned that riding on the street is a less dangerous alternative to racing. I do think that is true. It is certainly true that racing doesn't involve the factor of the general clueless public. However, in racing, you are purposely pushing the limits of traction and speed. To be competitive, you have to be a hair's width from a crash all of the time. Eventually, you are going to wreck. Any experienced racer will tell you that. Also, total deaths are higher on the street (most riders don't race), but your relative chance of being injured or killed is much higher on the track.

I also argued that racing is not for married men. Some of you have tried to argue that I think that unmarried men are disposable (not true, they just have fewer people to cry at their funeral) or that I think that married men should not be in law enforcement or the military. However, the major difference here is that racing motorcycles isn't necessary as are the military, fire, and police. Of course, one can discuss the hardships and worries faced by families of people in these professions, but at least if they die or are injured its for a reason that matters.

Having said all of that, I don't think we should avoid all risky behavior. Life should be lived fully and sometimes that involves risk. However, I do think that some very risky and unnecessary activities, like motorcycle racing, base-jumping, hang gliding, free climbing (no ropes), etc should be left to those without a spouse and children that depend on them.

Yes, that's right, eating a steak is just like racing motocycles at triple digit speeds! I admit it, I am wrong. Please forgive me. I am stupid.

I continue to respond because I have a hard time with folks who insist that marriage doesn't come with any responsibility to your spouse or children to not undertake highly hazardous activities and with those who think that motorcyle racing is not dangerous or no more so than anything else we do. Somehow the fact that we are all going to die eventually is supposed to justify us doing anything we want. The arguments that I've heard so far are all illogical, dishonest, or self-serving.

Yes, racing is legal. So is cheating on your spouse.