Have you ever heard the analysis of the word “ASSUME”? As in “makes an ASS out of U and ME”?  Silly? Maybe so -- but you had better believe it if you ride on two wheels in today’s traffic. All traffic flow in this country is regulated and usually enforced and we would like to believe that everyone is playing (and driving) by the same rules.  Unfortunately there is no guarantee on compliance! 

For example, consider this situation that I encounter frequently in suburban traffic in mid-summer. I am proceeding along a major city street and watching well ahead for traffic and street lights, my speed is just under the posted 60kph., traffic is light and moving well. There are no vehicles behind me. Three blocks ahead, a car approaches from the right on a quiet residential street and comes to a full stop at the intersection. I cannot see his signal light, but from his position he is either crossing through the intersection or turning left. I am the only vehicle approaching from his left. Obviously, I have the legal right of way! If the driver does indeed see me and if he does wait until I have passed through that intersection, then all is well. But his brain does not register my existence! At the moment when I should have entered the intersection, he pulls out to make his left turn! Fortunately, I had anticipated his maneuver and scrubbed speed so that when he did pull out into my path, avoiding a collision was simply a matter of squeezing the brakes a bit harder. Had I assumed that he would see me and proceeded at normal speed, there would have been a nasty crash. It would not have been my fault in the eyes of the law, but I would be the one in bandages. 

My mantra for all such situation is to expect the worst. If I am prepared for the least appropriate, silliest behaviour on everyone elses’ part, then I can keep myself safe. Should I casually assume that everyone will respect my presence on the road and especially that everyone will actually see me and the motorcycle, then there will be some painful lessons ahead.  I don’t want to go there. 

I really don’t think that most people wilfully ignore the existence of motorcycles, but somehow because we are not expected, our presence does not always register. The post-collision and grief-stricken cry of “I just didn’t see the motorcycle” is all too common – and very real. We become invisible when on two wheels. 

Horns, flashing headlights or loud pipes might help, but these aren’t the answer for personal safety. Certainly making yourself as visible as possible can’t hurt, but the real safety net is in your head! Practice being invisible! Don’t assume that others will see you at all. It will astonish you how many potentially nasty situations can be avoided long before they have a chance to happen. Once again, safe riding is a head game. If you are prepared for the unexpected, then there won’t be any nasty surprises.   

Dress to be seen, keep your eyes moving, and ride safe! -- Alison Green 

I had the extreme good fortune to visit Australia this past winter. As an escape from shovels and parkas and frosted windows on the car, Australia can’t be beaten. I also enjoyed the added bonus of a couple of superb rides on my friend’s newly restored BMW R80G/S. But that isn’t what comes to mind when I look back on the riding and the roads and vehicles. Apparently every driving culture has its own image to uphold and the Aussies are no exception. 

Now, contrary to popular image, this is an extremely urbanized country as approximately 80% of the population lives in or near major conurbations. The average Aussie does NOT live in the ‘bush’ and wrestle snakes and kangaroos before breakfast — although this is lodged in their collective self image! So what is the urban vehicle of choice for those with image problems?  Behold, the Toyota Landcruiser (new) with the very prominent addition of a snorkel to facilitate wading across swollen, crocodile-infested rivers. Yes, there are crocs in Australia, and the rivers do flood during the ‘wet’ — but not in the south, and definitely not in the cities. This is akin to using the family Hummer for carting groceries; the better to withstand the rigors of the urban parking lot and the occasional speed-bump! 

It also makes me think of those extreme 4x4s with huge tires and the even bigger winches mounted on the front. Or consider the wimpy 4-cylinder sedan with a so-called air foil mounted on the trunk lid — the most singularly useless cosmetic addition imaginable. 

Why do average, otherwise normal folks feel obliged to spend big bucks for accessories that will never see real useage. Going out with the boys to play stuck on Saturday afternoons and have a few beers just doesn’t count.  Landcruisers are indeed often the vehicle of choice in out-back Australia, but the true bush vehicle is never pretty: old, dirty, dented and often stripped of any extra metal (sills, cap, doors, box…) These are the modern workhorses of the outback and any resemblance to the urban weapon is purely in the nameplate.   

We all seem to suffer from the same malaise. The manufacturers just don’t get it right. So the image/performance junkie must improve on the engineering by the addition of aftermarket accessories to enhance the chosen look. 

On the motorcycle front, this can take the form of fat tires, performance chips to enhance the power, aftermarket pipes to enhance the noise, and gobs of chrome — the possibilities are endless. When all is said and done, I wonder if these folks enjoy riding more than those of us who concentrate on quiet reliability and comfort?  With the exception of sensible (and often very subtle) and useful modifications to suspension, ergonomics and electrics, I suspect that many of the most expensive ‘performance enhancements’ do more to empty the wallet than anything else.  More importantly, unless well executed and engineered, amateur tinkering with the structural integrity and engineered balance of a motorcycle can actually create an unsafe and less roadworthy vehicle. Why risk it? 

Food for thought…  I like looking at the options available for upgrading my current ride, but I would rather spend the money on fuel and do more riding! — Alison Green 

This is the season that we have been longing for — the riding season; complete with rain, scorching sun, wind, bugs, construction gravel… During the off-season, I tend to forget about the details of staying comfortable while riding. —Alison  

Saturday is ride day! The forecast is good, the bike has been checked over, ready and waiting, the more pressing household chores are under control. Things are looking good. 

Helmet and boots, they’re a given. But the stuff in between? Now I have to actually make some decisions. This can use up valuable time when the bike is waiting. What to wear? Not the “how do I look” what to wear — this is more of a “how do I keep comfortable?” question. Decisions, decisions… 

Granted, I’ve been riding motorcycles of one sort or another for many years and miles, so the fact that there is quite a collection of stuff in the closet is no surprise. Unlike street clothes, the darned stuff just doesn’t wear out — and I can’t bring myself to chuck old favourites. So the closet becomes more stuffed seasonally. The fact that I am a sucker for End-of-Season sales doesn’t help either. 

Take gloves for instance. I started my riding career with black leather, insulated gloves (now 30+ years old) with nifty zippered pockets on the back. Inside each pocket lurks a folded nylon overmitten that is advertised as waterproof. It isn’t and never was, and is a terrible nuisance to secure over the glove. On the plus side, the gloves are really comfortable and still sort-of warm. I have at least three pairs of leather palmed, nylon, heavily insulated ‘winter’ gloves that are too stiff to wear comfortably on any all-day ride. But they are toasty. I have one pair that is advertised as ‘guaranteed waterproof.” They are, but only for a limited time (like some warrantees). Once wet, they take literally days to dry! There is a newish pair of lightly insulated, gorgeous soft elkskin riding gauntlets (purchased from Aerostitch in a week moment). They are for midsummer riding only, but I don’t want to get them dirty so they are seldom used. There is an old pair of white – now light grey - TIG welding gloves that have been worn as summer gloves for so long that the index fingers of both hands have worn through. Extremely comfortable and well broken in. See what I mean? Just getting ready for the ride can be slightly stressful, long before I start the bike. It should not be so… 

My solution? Very large saddlebags that are always mounted on the bike.  Lets see now, rain pants just in case, and a spare pair of warmer gloves, and maybe a second fleece vest, and I had better bring my waterproof overboots too. Oh right, there should be room for the thermos and sandwich in there somewhere. And I must not forget my regular jeans in case I want to get out of riding gear for a while, likewise my running shoes.  I don’t like walking any distance in my riding boots. These boots were NOT made for walking! Lets see, there must be something that I’ve forgotten, the left pannier is not quite full… 

I am mystified by those I see sailing down the highway with narry a pannier or tankbag or knapsack.  How do they do it?  Mind you, the helmet, tee-shirt, jeans and runners code definitely doesn’t cut it for me either. Maybe they are better weather judges than I am, or maybe they don’t wander too far from home…  I suppose my waffling about gear has something to do with where I live. Central Ontario can experience everything from frost to scorching heat to thunderstorms  all in the same day. One learns not to become too comfortable (bad pun) with the conditions: things can, and probably will change before the end of the ride. My motto – pack it all on the bike, just in case! 

Not for me the sleek, naked bike; but I’m almost always warm and dry and sometimes (I like to think) the envy of the cruiser set. 

As motorcyclists, we form only a tiny minority of road users and women comprise a small but growing segment of this family. As a woman rider, I consider the upswing in female ridership a good thing – most of the time!  Sadly I have become increasingly aware that not all is smiles and happiness within the circle. There is an increasing number of women out there who are riding for all of the wrong reasons, and this is creating a serious negative ripple effect. 

I have been involved with the Canada Safety Council’s ‘Gearing Up’ program for a number of years. For me this has been more of a learning experience than a teaching position, and I thoroughly enjoy the students and the program.  The students are predominantly willing, motivated, and eager and interaction and participation in discussions is generally lively. 

To generalize, the percentage of female students has been rising steadily over the past few years. We now expect somewhere north of 40% of our students not to be male. This is a good thing – except for those unfortunate few ladies who are taking the course for someone else! 

For a few women the motivation to get into motorcycling is being provided externally from their partners. When this happens, everything goes sideways right from the start. The students who have been pushed to enrol are nervous, unhappy, frightened and un-receptive. Their concern is to please the partner – not to learn or to enjoy the experience. Fear is a good motivator if one is being chased by a bear – but it doesn’t work well for acquiring the skills to ride a motorcycle! Bad nerves and pouting and anger and much repetition of “I just can’t do this” inevitably result. We have had female students confess quietly to an instructor that their partner has purchased a brand new bike for them – usually of a rather large displacement – and that they are terrified that it will get dropped or scratched. Many also become the unwilling recipients of their partner’s hand-me-down bikes – usually also large and unwieldy. They tell us that they are quite comfortable riding pillion and have no desire to assume control of a heavy, expensive machine. This is not a recipe for success when it comes to actually riding solo – on any size or model. 

Riding well takes commitment, physical skill and co-ordination, and a willingness to accept the inherent risks of moving fast on two wheels.  If one doesn’t want to be at the controls – then the safe and wise choice is to not go there! Regardless of how much one’s partner longs for a riding buddy – the motivation has to come from within.   

It pains me greatly to see women shivering with fear when confronted with a real, live 250cc motorcycle during the training program.  It shouldn’t have to happen like this, and as an instructor and motorcycle enthusiast, I am distressed at the situation. Besides the time and money wasted on bikes, clothing, courses and the like, lives are being unnecessarily being put at risk – to say nothing of the stresses created. 

If the burning desire to master riding a motorcycle doesn’t come from within, then do not go there !   

Ride pillion, drive the support vehicle, or participate in any activity that pleases you,  but I repeat, do not become involved with the sport of motorcycling. And the flipside – do not push partners or friends to become riders if they are reluctant.  A degree of uncertainty and nervousness is perfectly normal for the novice rider, and positive encouragement is a good thing – but the desire has to come from the inside, never external, for the outcome to be happy and successful. 

Motorcyclists are still a select and special group of people – and that is because we want to ride, and ride, and ride….