When you decide to take your motorcycle out for a ride, what are you
thinking about? Where is your attention? Are you thinking about the things you
will be doing when you get to work? Is your mind playing with the words you
could have said, or should have said, in the debate with your boss or your
spouse earlier in the day? In short, where is your head at when you saddle up?
Each and every time you throw a leg over your motorcycle it matters what you are
thinking about. Whether you are simply commuting to work on your motorcycle to
reduce fuel costs, or you are heading out on a week-long vacation on two-wheels,
your mental attitude plays a big role in how safe you will be on the road, and
how much you will enjoy the ride.
Riding a motorcycle is an activity that is 80% to 90% mental while the rest
is physical. When you are thinking about the job on your way to work, or going
over the list of errands you need to complete, or just letting your mind drift
as you idle down to the end of your driveway, your level of safety is reduced.
You need to shift your attitude and focus only on the ride to insure an incident
free trip.
So how do you make the shift from thinking about daily issues to the ride at
hand? Establish a routine that you will go through before every ride. Start by
evaluating the condition of your motorcycle as you walk up to it. Do a mental T-CLOCS.
Look at the tires as you approach (inflated, tread, visible damage). Are there
any oily or wet spots on the ground under your bike (where did it come from, is
it safe to ride)? And try to be conservative when you answer these questions to
yourself. Keep your eyes open for anything amiss. Then, if everything looks
okay, gear up. (Of course, you should do a physical T-CLOCS regularly, too,
especially before starting a long ride!)
Next
step, finish donning your protective outer layer. Most of us put on our gear in
the same sequence every time. Long pants and boots are usually put on in the
house. Out at the bike, your jacket, helmet, eye protection, and gloves complete
the process. Consider the weather and make sure you have packed any other gear
you may need before the ride is over.
Put the key in the ignition and start the bike. While the engine warms,
check the fuel level. Determine how far you will be able to go before you need
to stop for a fill-up. Do you know the route you plan to take? Do you have all
the necessary information with you to get you where you want to go? Good.
With those aspects considered, you are ready to focus on the journey. Now,
when you shift your bike into gear, shift your brain into “active rider
mode” because nothing else matters now except your safety. All your thoughts
should be about the ride you are beginning. Your eyes should be active and
scanning your surroundings - aggressively! Look for potential
hazards that might cause you to change your speed (by braking or accelerating),
to change direction (by swerving or turning), or to communicate to other road
users. A wave of the hand, a flash of your high beams, or a toot of your horn tells
others that you are there. Make sure they are aware of you.
All the while your mind should be translating the inputs from your eyes and
ears into pictures of things that might happen next. Evaluate in your mind what
your response would be to each of the possibilities. When a hazard comes up,
keep your options open until you have to choose one – the best one – the one
that lets you avoid the hazard safely and without any drama. This is riding with
the right attitude - the attitude that your job is to ride safely until you park
your bike and remove the key from the ignition. Develop a routine like this for
yourself and every ride you take will be a safer and more pleasing ride.
Ride Smart & Be Safe!
Bruce & Melissa Thayer
Former MI Asst. District Rider Educators
brucethayer1@comcast.net