FEAR and COURAGE

The Need for Response-Ability

The dictionary definition of fear is simple: “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger”. Fear is a companion of our modern life since we tend to anticipate the future, we live marginally in the present (the “now”) always looking ahead for what the hours, the days, and the years will bring.

Furthermore, fear is a natural response to a perceived threat and can help us to survive by alerting us to potential harm.

Fear is mostly an anticipation of the unknown leading to anxiety and stress, as we imagine all the worst possible outcomes of a situation. This fear of the unknown can be particularly debilitating, as it can prevent us from trying new things, exploring new places, and riding one more mile.

If we focus on this most popular kind of fear, we realize that “exposure therapy” is the most effective way to combat it: exposing oneself to the feared situation or object in a safe and controlled environment. This can help us to develop a sense of mastery and control over our fear and to learn that the feared outcomes are unlikely to occur. Making the unknown partially known is the role of education and training.

It is not with “courage” but with acquired knowledge that we overcome the stressful side of fear. Courage (the ability to do something that frightens one; bravery) often carries a sense of violence, not only on others but, most importantly on ourselves: it can be a virtue (strength) but it relies too much on a force that we have to place on our frightened ego. To overcome a frightening situation with courage only is to go blind versus the unknown hoping our strength will take the day. Knowledge and clarity of mind are the best allies for overcoming fear.

Motorcycling is by definition a hazardous sport and “flirting with risk” or “facing fear” contribute to the good and the bad images connected with this sport.

One moment of over-adrenaline and the community will label you as the “usual reckless rebel”, one second of distraction and “hugging the tree” takes a dramatic meaning. Too often, in a pause during a group ride, one can feel the sense of relief coming from a break in the fear domination: we survived the ordeal and now we can talk about it as brothers-in-arms.

A good trainer used to open his educational session by presenting a question as the one to keep in mind every time we throw the leg over the saddle:: “How can I get hurt, here?” Obsessive attitude? Maybe. Realistic suggestion? Surely.

Take a ride in one of your friend’s cars and observe. Modern cars are more an entertainment/business centre than a vehicle of transportation. Telephones, vocal GPS, radio, video, pagers, speed controls, temperature and atmosphere controls offer endless sources of distraction to the pampered driver. Attention is divided, concentration scattered: bikes have little chance to be seen. “Sorry… I did not see you” could be a good excuse for the driver but it does not do any good to the rider. We have to take responsibility in our hands recognizing that there are no accidents for bikers, just mistakes we made (and we pay for).

“How can I get hurt, here?” raises fear.

On the biker’s side the trends are not more comforting: what was once a simple two-dial cockpit (revs and speed) surrounded by “idiot lights” is now a tablet displaying a large number of information (useful and useless) requiring skill in the navigation of the display to modify power delivery, suspension setting, engine brake and similar functions. GPS or turn-by-turn navigation is very popular together with the Go-Pro camera; radar control for warning of the presence of vehicles ahead or behind, blind spot indicators signalling a vehicle on your side, telephone/radio/intercom connecting with speakers in the helmet, helmets with on visor display…the list of distractions is endless for the two-wheeler as well.

“How can I get hurt, here?” raises fear.

The race to power among manufacturers makes the motorcycle more difficult to control and irrationally faster while the status of the roads and the intensity and laws of traffic demand a slower approach. We are pushed to buy horsepower and we are criminalized for using it.

Finally, a motorcycle remains an “unstable vehicle” very much depending on the vision and traction available under any circumstance. There are more billiard balls, moving faster and erratically in a smaller table.

“How can I get hurt, here?” raises fear.

I can get hurt quite easily and fighting the fear of getting hurt with courage is placing blind faith in destiny. Ignorance (the fear of the unknown can be fought only with knowledge, training and experience.

“Response–Ability” is the best tool for fighting motorcycling fear and for maintaining an acceptable level of safety on the road.

This ability to respond to the multi-faced situations we encounter on the road can be trained and expanded with simple exercises and in the following points we will summarize the experience of advanced riders and mentors.

• Anticipate and predict the ride: collect all information you can obtain and reproduce in your mind the REAL conditions and situations you will face.
• Take a mental pause: while preparing for the ride, during the ‘dressing up” period, try to empty the mind of everyday preoccupations and focus on the task ahead. Make the “dressing for riding” a moment of meditation and you will gain in concentration and attention during the ride. This break will also take out from your attitude the negatives of rage, hurry, and competitiveness. You will understand better your limits, the commitment to learn and the need for riding objectives.
• Talk while you are riding: if you try to keep a commentary of your ride by talking inside the helmet you will soon discover that reality moves at a faster pace than you can talk/think. If this is the case it is time to slow down till you can adjust your thinking with your speed. Try once and you will be surprised. This exercise also improves the “scanning” ability pushing the rider to “take in” a larger number of information while keeping a high, long vision.
• Ride systematically: when you need to act in response to an approaching hazard (of any kind) apply a learned system, a sequence of actions that allows you to check position and speed, control the vehicle (gear and throttle) and take ownership of the best line for the longest vision and safe traction.
• Lose speed as a first reaction: braking is the best choice in most of the cases: it gives you time to see, think and react and, at the limit, it reduces the damages of an unavoidable impact. By reducing speed you do not rush into emergencies braverly: you can plan smoothly and cleverly.
• Play games: “What if?” It’s one of the best. Even when you decide on the safe action/line, keep alternatives open. What if… the situation develops differently from your prediction? What if… the line you selected suddenly close? What if? Is a mind game that can keep you alive on the road: without turning paranoid, you just increase your options. Like a good general, you will have alternative plans to win the battle.
• Keep a positive Mind: too much tension and too much control makes the ride unpleasant and the bike unstable. By tensing your muscle, transforming your arms into rigid sticks, and contracting your shoulders and legs you pass an overdose of orders to the bike.
• Relax, be fluid and “loose” on the grip, release shoulders down, abandon the hard holding of the bars, and follow the bike in its natural balance. Check your tension (and your fatigue) frequently: be aware of the way you hold the bike and your ride will become more fluent, cornering will gain in harmony and braking will be without panic.

A Gold Wing Road Riders Association member wrote: “The only thing in life that is constant is change but we are a species that thrives on stability.

We like to develop the same routine, maintain the same routes to and from work, and take solace in this constancy. Yet, within this solace, there are inherent dangers. Complacency can easily be disguised as solace and comfort. We reach a mental state that doesn’t prepare us for the change, for the unexpected.

We must develop our process for continuous improvement and develop the capability to recognize, accept and embrace change. We must practice, focus and prepare ourselves continually. I can think of no scenario worse than riding at speed and finding myself uncertain as to how to handle a developing situation.

Uncertainty is a liability. Adaptability and knowledge are the greatest assets we can develop. You may want to reflect on how you view continuous improvement. Do you feel that no aspect of your game needs work? Are you prepared and adaptable for all that you encounter?” The answer to these important questions changes the way we face fear and courage. The competent rider is the ever-learning human.

In life, in sports, and in our relationships, knowledge reduces fear, increases strength (good courage) and increases fun.

The desire to learn separates the “amateurs” from the “professionals” in life. On the road, the same desire can extend your life. The confidence in being the “best” should always be united with the humility of constant learning.