Positives = Negatives!

In motorcycling most all positives have their own group of negatives. Here's an example. If you're practicing (like you should be) soon you will start noticing just how fast you can get your bike stopped. In fact you should be able to stop in half the distance of a car and even less than that for a truck. Now that's a major positive right? At least until that plumbing truck behind punts you into the county! This also illustrates the importance of perfect practice. As you practice your hard stops. Are you stopping at different speeds? Are you down shifting to first? Better be. Are you checking your mirrors? I sure hope so. Another example of positives = negatives. Your the lead vehicle at a light. Light turns green ya blow that seen! Right? I mean its easy. Your bike weighs so much less than all the cars that surround you That she'll pull away like the all new F-35 Raptor. A major positive! Except of course when you consider that guy. what guy am I referring to? The same guy that we've all been. The one that at this very moment is careening towards a traffic light near you. And though he's approaching that light way to fast his attention is not on the traffic that's waiting to cross his path. No its locked solid on the traffic light its self. It just turned yellow I can make it. Ok its red. But its only been red for a second! I've got a date! I'm late for work! I've got to get to court! See now you're on a vehicle that easily puts you in harm's way. So please, Take that extra second or even two to look for that guy. Remember a green light is nothing more than an invitation. So look twice and save a life. I'm talking about yours.

The Power of the Look

Motorcycles gravitate to where we look. It's a bit of a phenomenon, but a fact none the less. It is also sometimes referred to as target fixation. Target fixation can be a positive, but usually it is a negative because our natural reaction is to look at what we are trying to avoid. Whether it's a four door sedan or a 2 x 6 full of nails, as we stare at an object our chances of hitting it skyrocket.

I remember reading somewhere that breaking target fixation can be somewhat like pulling velcro apart or ripping off a band-aid. Quick and very deliberate. As you approach an object at speed your adrenaline grows and it becomes progressively harder to look away. Trying to build a habit of staring at your escape path or flat out refusing to look at what you're trying to avoid is a major positive. Especially when that flatbed ford pulls out in front of you, sees you at the last minute, and slams on the brakes leaving only a 4 foot escape path between him and the curb.

The look can also help in turning. For instance, decreasing radius corners have a tendency to sneak up on us and leave us running out of pavement. Increasing head turn and pressing on the inside handgrip (counter-steering) can sharpen that turn and send you safely on your way...