Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Do I Need to Practice Riding a Motorcycle?

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Shadow of man on winter farm field
If I’m completely honest, I need to practice riding a motorcycle.

Life-Long Motorcycle Training

I’ve been riding a lot during the past 15 years. While I may not have racked up the miles of some riders I have invested a lot of hours on the road on my Vespa scooters and now with a BMW K75 motorcycle added to the mix. With all that experience it would be easy to believe that I know what I’m doing and need not concern myself with additional practice or training.

There is a technical term that is used to evaluate that system of belief:

BULLSHIT.

If you’re riding a motorcycle or scooter on the road and what to more effectively manage risk, the need to practice skills, review riding strategies, and do an honest assessment to uncover bad habits is something that never goes away.

During this time of staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic I’ve been rerouting my non-riding towards training and riding strategy development.

What about you? Where do you fall on the spectrum to take time to practice riding a motorcycle?

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Personal Riding Lesson

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Steve Williams portait at Pump StationMan in the Mirror

An honest rider will look in the mirror from time to time and remind themselves of their skills and limits — something different than the summation of years and miles on the road.  This morning while sitting in the Pump Station Cafe after a brisk ride on the Vespa I was quizzing myself on the creeping of complacency into my rides.  It was time for a personal riding lesson.

Complacency equals disaster on two wheels.

Vespa GTS scooter on forest roadJust a Little Ride

Riding experience is seductive and the more comfortable you become the easier it is to believe you’ve gained some magical riding power that will keep you safe.  Things happen on the road — other vehicles behave erratically, animals rush about, weather transforms the day, expectations of the road surface prove false or any of a thousand little things waiting to complicate a rider’s life.

A lot can conspire against me when I ride and if I’m telling myself I’m experienced and ready I might be kidding myself.  I may have what I need between my ears but if I don’t apply it constantly its not much use.  Attention is required second by second when you’re riding otherwise complacency surfaces.  Pile it on a little daydreaming and all the elements for a little personal riding lesson are in place.

That’s what happened on a little ride this morning.

Steve Williams and Vespa on forest roadWild, Happy and Free

Tearing along a forest road this morning like I didn’t have a care in the world.  When I first ventured onto gravel with the Vespa many years ago it was an exercise in slow speed creeping.  And now, with lots of gravel roads behind me I can ride a little faster.  Despite the thermometer hovering at 31F I had dismissed most concerns with ice.  The gravel road was clear as far as I could see and besides — what better traction than gravel.

So on I went on one of those rides where you just have to smile.

Vespa and ice covered roadEnter the Unexpected

Thankfully I was only going about 20mph when I became aware of the ice.  My gut wants me to hit the brakes but it was far too late for that.  Same with maneuvering toward a bare strip on the road.  Had I been paying closer attention I would have seen the ice in time to slow down or stop and pick my way through the hazard.

I was certain I was going to dump the Vespa.

So I’m left applying experience in a hurry.  I knew enough not to brake, swerve or scrub off speed.  The best course was to keep my eyes up, feet on the scooter, stay in a straight line and head for the ice free section about 60 feet away.  No panic or sudden moves — just keep going.  I understood how it would work and did what I had to do.

No slip, no slide, no fall.

Still, a personal riding lesson was in order.  Riding in sub-freezing weather regardless of how tame the road looks always has a risk of unexpected ice.

So some more deliberate looks in the mirror, reminders of who I need to be on the road, and acceptance that my experience is only as good as my willingness to apply it.