When Slow is Fast
Riding a motorcycle is risky business. When you’re buzzing around the roads, there are so many things to remember, to watch out for, and to be able to do, when situations come at you very quickly. When you think about it, it’s amazing that we can actually do this… clutch, shift, throttle, cover the brakes, lean just the right amount, counter steering, weight transfer… oh yeah… and relax! So we learn slowly… at first. And as we learn, we get better, smoother, and faster at using our brain to ride smarter and safer.
Eventually, we learn… that slow is fast. Go into that corner just a little bit slower and you can ride out faster. Ease on the brakes for better control and you can actually stop faster. Ease into the stop and you can see what’s around you. Easy on the gas, especially around corners can make corner exit faster and more controlled. Look before you go, not the other way around, and everything seems to come at you slower… even though you may be going faster!
You can do this by learning good techniques, learning about your own riding style, and learning about situations and emergency options just in case.
The other half definitely comes with experience. As you ride more, you’ll learn more, and you’ll be able to anticipate situations way before they happen. Nothing beats this combination of experience and training.
When something does come up, such as a car crossing into your lane, a rock in the road, slippery pavement, a bicycle rider or simply kids walking on the highway, you’ll be calm and have the ability to make the best choice quickly and smoothly.
Slow is fast and that doesn’t always mean slow speed. It also means slow and methodical movements, reactions and thought process. The ability to think quickly without getting overwhelmed, or feeling that you are going very fast, but that everything is in slow motion and in complete control.
There…I said it, complete control. While that is the elusive goal we never really achieve, control is really the name of the game. Putting the bike where you want it. Sitting on and feeling comfortable on your bike in any emergency situation, while calmly assessing the situation… that is the type of control and calm feeling that we are looking for. Not complete, risk-free control. That’s not why we ride. But that wonderful feeling of calmness, the feeling you get from the sun warming your back, when the road ahead is perfectly clear, the destination is right ahead, and you can see for miles.
The below picture is from a T-Shirt that I picked up at Route 550 Gifts in Silverton, CO. It’s one of my favorites. I thought it was pretty cool. Now that’s what a straight line looks like to me whenever I’m on my motorcycle!
Located on the Million Dollar Highway (Colorado US-550), Route 550 Gifts is a fantastic store on a fantastic motorcycle road with original design clothing and much much more. You can order online at http://www.route550.com.
Have fun!
MotoForever!