Thoughts some of you might like...

[fallenarch]

Ask a person who doesn't ride and they are focused on crashing. Ask a person who rides they are focused on riding. That's kind of it. If you find yourself focused on crashing, you aren't focused on the things you need to do to not crash and you become dangerous.


Focus is the drug. Being in the moment, heightened awareness, in sync with machine and environment is intoxicating. Not thinking beyond lines, throttle control, braking, and seeing. The problem with worrying about something going wrong is that it breaks the magic spell. Riding scared is dangerous.


Risk is a crazy thing. Chances are higher that the extra fat around my waist will kill me before a texting cager will, yet I swallow each bite without a second thought. Stuff happens, but you have to be able to put risk into context and not let it drive you. And if you can't, park the bike!

 

[fallenarch]

I posted this in response to the question how do you deal with the dangers of riding?

 

[RedBull]

Risk is a crazy thing .

Chances are higher that the extra fat around my waist
will kill me before a texting cage will,
yet I swallow each bite
without a second thought .

Stuff happens,
but you have to
be able to put risk
into context and
not let it drive you .

And if you can't,
park the bike !

 

[fallenarch]

Another thing about fear. Ever get that uncomfortable feeling when riding and you're not sure what is spooking you? Well as it turns out for some reason I from time to time start looking to close in front of the front wheel. As crazy as this sounds, looking at the front wheel makes everything seem to come to you faster so you feel rushed and near your limits. If you feel this feeling of not being comfortable on the bike try looking further out in front of you, you will be surprised at how it makes you feel more in control.

Also if you follow someone, watch the road as if you were riding it alone, not the person in front of you. If you watch the rider in front of you, you will feel rushed again. Don't worry about hitting the guy in front as you will still see them there, you just focus on the road as you would riding single.

 

[ali123]

imagine the FEAR working at this office..... lol

 

[Kiwi Rider]

Excellent lines of thought Arch!
Great advice re following others, I've been doing this for years, but really, I try to either pass and be leader, or fall back a bit and let them go ahead as 'radar bait'.

 

[fast_pace77]

That's some good smooth s**t.
U got Acid bro?

 

[VaBusa]

My youngest, David, has his MC learner's right now. He's also still on his DL learner's permit, so he's learning everything all at once, but I think it's a great thing for him to be on the bike, riding, and aware as a rider while he learns to be a better driver. So much of what you've said Arch is stuff I've been relaying to him in recent months. He's been doing great, so well that we're looking at a bigger bike for him (we've tortured him with the Z125, but what a great starter bike it's been).

Good stuff

 

[GAmedic]

 

[ROADTOAD1340]

When on your ride , in the zone , always look where you want to be , that was the advice given to me from an old mate master rider , when I was young and learning to ride the roads .

 

[sixpack577]

What is this "fear" you speak of??

 

[shade]

imagine the FEAR working at this office..... lol

I wish HR didnt exist. I'd Terry Tate all the lame asses at the office

 

[Johnnie Phatt]

years ago there was a bunch of us that used to ride together We would split into two groups. The slow pokes and the meat eaters. From time to time I would ride with the fast guys. And they rode very fast. I was ok at the speed at the start . However as the ride went on I would find my self wondering where we would end up to grab a bite or a coffee. I then realized I had lost my focus and would tell the tail gunner I was backing out and would wait for the 2nd group. Smartest thing I ever learned about high speed road riding. It requires your undivided attention.

 

[RedBull]

What is this "fear"
you speak of ? ? ?