SAFETY, PART 5: RIDING ... DOWN TO YOU!

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SAFETY, PART 5: RIDING ... DOWN TO YOU!

You know, I've been thinking about this blog all day. I've already written 2 blogs on helmets, so I want to move on to the final part, YOU. And yet, who am I to comment on such things? I'm not a motorcycle instructor! I know I do some things right, and I'm also smart enough to know that I can always learn something new and better (you're really in trouble when you think you know it all!!). But still, I'm not an instructor and there are so many wonderful instructors/mentors out there who'll give it to you better (and more correctly). So, who am I to talk about skills, techniques, traffic and legal stuff? BUT, then it was suddenly made easy! An actual instructor I know posted a wonderfully instructive rant on an very close call that happened to him just yesterday. I asked my former mentor if I could paraphrase him (de-identified, of course). He kindly agreed, and I thank him very much ... you know who you are :)

" ... was reminded yesterday how important it is to manage your riding based on how far ahead you can see. Doesn't matter how good you are, there is a limit to how fast you can go on some public roads. If you can't see what is coming, over the crest, around the blind corner, you have to slow down. In with care, out with flair. To the Kawasaki rider at {..} yesterday, while it might be awesome to crest a hill with the front wheel in the air, just moments before you crested that hill I was helping an injured cyclist off the middle of the road. What made it sadder was {that} 5 minutes later he came back the other way, cresting the other hill with the front wheel in the air {again}. I'm not against lifting the wheel where appropriate, but it is where you can't see makes it potentially dangerous, to me! I guess loud pipes do save lives as at least I could hear him coming."

At this point I asked him if I could mention his incident. My mentor kindly agreed, and went on to summarise some GEMS of wisdom:

"It is one of many examples. From my part, it really reinforced the concept of if you can't see, hold back until you can. Not being able to see over the crest allowed me the time to see the stopped car, the injured cyclist etc.... Being in the right gear means a slight roll off, then roll back on again on and you've lost no time. A good rider is a rider who is observant of the four "S's" Space, Surface {&} Speed based on what you See. He just didn't demonstrate appropriate hazard identification (which was the crest) he saw it as an opportunity to pull a wheelie, which could be either an educational issue or an attitude issue."

I'd say it was both, in large doses! The roads are CONGESTED with IDIOTS! I found some for you ... at least, for amusement value if nothing else!

If I am fortunate to learn something from my mentors over the next few weeks I'll be sure to share it, because I think they are far better qualified than me on this final part in my series about safety.

Stay Upright!

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