There are many factors that have sent us in the direction of riding a motorcycle, such as the love of motorcycles, and the urge we have to just get away with the wind in our hair. Maybe your buddy has a scooter, or maybe you admire others that have mastered the beast. Maybe you would like to show support to our troops and veterans by associating and riding in proud groups like the American Legion Riders and Patriot Guard Riders.

So, now you have motivation to ride, but how much does fear of the unknown and the negative things that can happen on a bike influence your riding level. Riding a motorcycle is always an exercise in cognitive skills and needs to be continuously practiced to stay ‘on top’ of the game. But… what is powering your brain when it comes to safe riding. Buddha say, “If you are fearful of doing something, you will never be a master of such a thing.” Not being the master of your ride, riding with fear of not knowing how fast you can stop, or take a curve in the road, and even something so curable as having a fear of falling over in a parking lot, will prevent you from ever being a good rider.

To overcome the power of fear one needs to be confident, confident like big ‘ol John Wayne, and sure of yourself like a trained Olympic athlete. Easy to say right… but Grasshopper, there is a way to overcome this condition. The way to be an ‘enlightened’ rider is training and practice. Know the techniques you learned at a rider’s class, and know the right moves in the right situation, as a Kung Fu Master would. Pay full attention to the ride, know everything you can about riding and how your bike will handle. When you are operating on adrenaline because of something that just happened like the kid that just ran out in front of you, hopefully the skill and the confidence will be there because you have prepared and the skill you have is fearless.

John ‘Hammer’ Hanzlik

ALR Road Captain

Post 1 Omaha, Neb.

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