Morning Fall from Boss Boyd on Vimeo.
Morning Fall
by Edward McGinty
With winter clearly fading away another riding season has begun. Some return to the road sooner than others and everyone goes through their own ritual of rekindling the connection with machine and road. Motorcycle and scooter riding safety are, unfortunately, subjects not given the attention they might deserve, especially if a rider seriously values their longevity on the road. Morning Fall by Edward McGinty offers a gripping reminder of what’s at stake when you ride.
For myself, the riding season preparations include removing winter tires, repainting a salt ravaged muffler, and going through some practice rides to evaluate how sloppy a rider I’ve become over the past year. Practice includes panic stops, evasive maneuvers, slow speed drills, and visual evaluations of the road ahead. Each year I’m surprised at how much I need the practice. Acquaintances with big bikes shudder at this kind of thing for fear of dropping their machines. I understand the dollar and cents cost of practice mishaps, but how do you ever become comfortable that you can handle the bike in a crisis?
I suspect they won’t and hope crisis never comes their way
I’ve been riding for almost 50 years, so far – and every year when I first start riding I get out my MSF course manual, go to a big empty parking lot and re-practice all of the basic riding skills that they have taught me in the past. Then I do that practice again a couple of times during the summer and fall each year. Works for me!
I try and do the same thing. I remember someone asking during the MSF Advanced Rider course why they should take it since it was ‘the same as the beginner course”. Aside from the classroom instruction that’s true but the instructor said that almost no one practices anything hence the advanced class — an excuse to practice.
Be safe out there!
I’m glad that you repost this video year after year. It’s an attention getter and reminder to reassess my riding skills as I enter the new season. I resolve to wear All of the Gear, All of the Time, and to stay alert as I ride this year.
best wishes for another safe and enjoyable riding season!
A stark reminder of how vulnerable we are on two wheels and to how one has to remain perfectly alert riding or driving. Alertness is a property often lacking in drivers on four wheels owing to the many distractions around them. Radios, cellphones, other passengers, smokes, I’m sure you’ll think of more. Makes being alert on two wheels even more necessary.
Staying alert is a full time job when riding. Little room for the daydreaming that can occur in a car. I never get home from a ride wondering what happened or not remembering things.
A sobering reminder….
Wow, that’s a pretty powerful video. Thanks for sharing, and for the reminder to refresh one’s skills after a long, non-riding winter season.
It is. I’ve watched it for years now hoping Mr. McGinty would make another. Alas, he turned to the darkside and is now an actor. Seems he has been in 13 episodes of Boardwalk Empire.
How have you been? I am trying to reach you. Check your email and call me.
I’ve been in the wilderness Mr. Riepe but have returned. We’ll talk soon.
A few times a year, I look at some of these Youtube moto crash compilations. For me, it’s a good reminder how quickly it can go wrong, and how badly it could end. It’s not disaster voyeurism or such. I’m always shocked to see those horrible accidents, and it frightens me in some way, even thinking what the hell I’m doing on two wheels, but it remembers me to go easy on the throttle for a while. We don’t have to fool ourselves, the effects fades after time, but a refresh once in a while can do the job.
Over here (Belgium) we also have presentations for young car driver, which include raw ER footage of young people who were involved in car accidents. Some presentations include talks of survivers. I can tell you that it has quite an effect on the spectators. I don’t know if it helps in the long run, but all bits help.
Steve, from what I read on your latest blog, I surely don’t have to tell you how fragile life is. Such events make us realize that we have to live our life to the fullest. Get well soon!
Life definitely can be fragile if you meet a bad situation on the road or with health. As you’ve indicated, both are reminders to live life to the fullest! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.