Back again, again...
It was five months ago that my face appeared here, my editorial gushing about being thankful that a near bike-ending back injury had somehow ‘come right’ without the need for surgery. Well, as quick as it came right, it came unright again and after only getting a couple of rides in, I was once again resigned to watching the world pass by from the couch and keep up with the goings-on of the motorcycling world via the lap top.
Thankfully for me I got the right surgeon, a man called Gordon Howie from the Mercy Ascot Hospital in Auckland who specialises in ruptured discs such as mine, and waking up the morning after surgery in late November I was greeted with no pain, something I hadn’t experienced in almost six months. I was once again over the moon… Unfortunately, that has still meant a Christmas without riding as I wait for the disc to heal, which is hard to stomach when you live in an area of biking nirvana as we do here at BRM.
But it was during a drive to Whitianga (the surgeon still allowed me to drive the car…) for a few days break that I witnessed first hand how careful we need to be out there. Arriving at a stationary traffic queue close enough to see the emergency services covering a car up, I was sure I could also see a motorbike involved. The local papers reported shortly after that a bike had rounded a corner to find a line of cars waiting for a one-lane bridge and didn’t have the time to stop or avoid them.
Driving back from Whitianga a couple of days later, I approached the scene of the crash, looking at the corner and trying to visualise how I would take it had I been on two wheels. It was then I noticed the single lane bridge sign was missing, probably the reason the biker had no warning of the impending queue.
But it gets you thinking, doesn’t it; especially at this time of year that something out of your control might have such devastating consequences. Around that corner might be a queue of traffic, bleeding tar seal, a scattering of metal from shoddy road repairs or a texting driver drifting into your lane – any hazard imaginable that will need quick, decisive and controlled reactions to avoid.
That’s why as motorcyclists we must never stop honing our skills, practicing new techniques, reading up on others experiences or doing some advanced training. And even if you have no intention of ever taking your bike on a racetrack, it might just be worth a visit to learn exactly where your (and your bike’s) limitations are. The California Superbike School, for example, teaches practices like line selection, maximising vision and avoiding target fixation; all practices that will translate to better safety on the road. Jared Love, whose bike we rode in this issue, is also doing training and will tailor a programme to suit you, as well as Karel Pavich, whose Pro Rider days at Ruapuna and Manfeild target road riders specifically. She even has days just for female riders.
Whichever route you choose to help brush up on your skills, just make sure you do it. There are some real idiots out there and as much as it pains me to say it, it’s down to us to avoid them.
Ride safe,
Paul
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