Alone in The Rider's Workshop
Dedicated to The Prince of the Parkway
by Jim Ford
Continued
Read the first part of "Alone in The Rider's Workshop"
For maximum safety given the risks, I read the road continually. All the time, I am thinking ahead of the motorcycle, absorbing all the visual cues, anticipating what is likely ahead. I place my focus on that point before me where the road literally disappears from view. This makes perfect sense. By focusing on this Vanishing Point, I have the maximum time and the maximum distance to react to hazards or surprises.
Through the curves, I position the bike for the clearest view of the road ahead. Approaching left curves, I am to the right of my lane; approaching right curves, I am to the left of my lane. On the straight-a-ways, I place the motorcycle barely to the right of the centerline too. Now I have cushioned myself with the most pavement on either side of me and where oncoming traffic is also most likely to see me. Both my eye and motorcycle placements are important conditioned, disciplined habits. By developing these habits, I don’t need to think about it. After being distracted, my eyes and motorcycle fall back into place naturally. I become naturally safer.
Dusk descends and I see the first of many deer. A lone standing deer is both a sentinel and a warning. Beware there are others. My eyes are pinned to the Vanishing Point as the ghost of Larry Grodsky flickers red across in my mind. Three times over the course of this night ride, deer bolt directly across my path.
I’m alone in my own Rider’s Workshop, and I practice what I preach.
By staying in my head, by keeping focused, arms relaxed and hands light on the controls, my fore and middle fingers covering the front brake lever, I was ready all three times as these deer and others broke and ran. Other critters -- a black bear, a bobcat, turkey and weasel -- were spotted in my line of sight as well. It’s amazing what you see at night. And, come to think of it, I don’t think I ever rode beyond my headlight beam.
Into the night I continue, ready for anything, including fog masquerading as clouds.
In pre-ride planning, I determined that a broken cloud layer would stretch across my route at 4500 to 6500 feet. Since my route is entirely mountainous, I knew I would encounter clouds all along the way.
As the night wore on, these clouds would envelop me in their white murk requiring so much laser focus my mind hurt. Then in an instant, it would clear before being absorbed yet again.
It’d never been so black. There is no light to be seen anywhere. The miles slip by. I’m grooving smooth. Insects wobble toward me like night flak. They splatter my windshield. Other times I’m uncertain what’s in front of me. When in doubt, downshift. That’s my motto. Remember - the key to precision control of your motorcycle is high RPM’s. So downshift! Train yourself to downshift so well that you can do it whenever, and wherever you want. Do it. Do it until you’re satisfied. Now you’re in precise control!