It’s summertime and the weather is beautiful, the kids are out of school, people are vacationing and we are out riding whenever we can. This sounds absolutely wonderful, but it is also a recipe for disaster. Everyone that knows me, knows that I advocate confident riding and with that is rider training…seeing there are too few places to learn how to become better riders at speeds higher than a parking lot, I hope many of you are taking the opportunity to sign up for track days and track day schools. While rider training is absolutely crucial no matter what speed, once you feel comfortable riding around at parking lot speeds and on the street a while, please go to the track to learn at higher speeds so that you are able to process information quicker allowing you more time to react.
You may ask why the track? It isn’t about racing, it isn’t about getting your rocks off at high speeds, it is about knowing your bike and it’s capabilities, knowing your limits and seeing how little you were actually processing on the street. On the track we teach seeing a wide view…not just what’s in front of you, but everything in front and around you. What you should process as important and requires some of your attention and then to discard what is not. Why is this important? Let me give you an example, I was riding behind a car, who clearly did not know where he was going. He signaled left and moved two lanes over to get in the left hand turn lane, I sped up to get on the freeway, he then decided he picked the wrong lane and swept across two lanes and cut me off…I had to break hard, but I saw him looking around so I had anticipated that he might try moving back. He had no idea I was there, he didn’t even stop to look, even when I was behind him honking, he didn’t realize he could have caused a severe accident. Truth is without the time on the track to learn and be confident in my skills, I could’ve ended up having a very bad day.
That is only one of several events that happened on that particular day, but it made me more aware that we need to not just make drivers more aware of us, but to also arm riders with enough knowledge (if not experienced) to make it through unscathed. You have to anticipate people and their actions and even then it’s really a crap shoot. Someday I hope we can add a chapter in driver training on motorcyclists and to be aware of them on the road, but until that day happens, it is up to us to be proactive. Sure you can wear bright colored clothing and helmets, have modulating lights, but in the end that will not keep people from not seeing you. With the smartphone, people in cars are clearly distracted and it is up to us to help ourselves. Take your rider’s education in your own hands, I was always aware of motorcyclists because my brother and many of my friend were riders, I always gave them space because I had seen many of them get into an accident with drivers and it made me extremely angry that people didn’t realize that a poor decision they made in their car had serious repercussions for the rider. We are exposed, quite literally with very little protection in comparison to their cages.
Remember, we have the benefit of speed on our side, use it when you need to to get out of clusters as I like to call them. Go around them (safely, of course) and find yourself a nice open area to ride more comfortably without worrying about someone making a stupid move (not seeing you). A cop who pulls you over will understand if you explain to them you just didn’t feel safe riding in the middle of a cluster and just wanted a little breathing space, this shouldn’t be a free pass however to be a tool and ride like a madman. He will know the difference, trust me. I’ve had many a cop drive up next to me after I broke clear of a cluster and just give me the hand wave of slow it down and I nod my head, but they really do get it. Also, be aware that while you are close to a car to pass, they don’t know what you are doing, so give yourself enough of a cushion should they brake check you. Again, another reason why I’d like to educate drivers in general. Many don’t understand that you are trying to calculate speed to pass safely and may do the worst thing possible for you and hit their brakes, but most of the time, many will change lanes. Do not tailgate them for a long time or they get edgy and things could get heated.
There are so many other things that I want to discuss, but that is enough for now to at least get you thinking. I will do a part two here about how to make yourself seen better, at least giving you a fighting chance of being seen without any special equipment, just awareness. It really is up to you especially if you want to get the most out of your experiences out there on the road and to free up more of your time on enjoying the ride. And don’t forget to give the courtesy wave, two wheels down, hang loose, devil horns…whatever hand signal you choose, customize it if you wish to fellow riders. We are all out there having fun together and heck it’s just common courtesy! It’s gorgeous out there, what isn’t to love? I don’t know about you, but I am always smiling ear to ear everytime I’m out on my bike and it is my honor to share the road with my fellow riders.
Vixens Ride!
