Bob Wozga

MY TAKE ON RIDER ATTITUDE

ATTITUDE IS DEFINED IN the dictionary as a ‘settled mode of thinking’.

We all have an attitude, it varies individually. Our attitude defines how we work, interact with others and how we carry ourselves socially and professionally. Our attitude also has a great influence on how we ride. Being human, our attitudes to things are not static and can change depending on what is thrown at us at any given time, and this can have a profound effect on your riding regardless of whether riding to the shop for bread and milk or heading out for a month-long ride. Riding calm as opposed to riding agitated is a completely different experience.

When doing any sort of maintenance or construction, you need a calm mind and clear thoughts to concentrate on the task ahead. Being angry and agitated before throwing your leg over the saddle can affect your concentration levels, decision making and to a degree your reflexes as well.

Your attitude also governs the way you maintain your motorcycle. Some will keep their motorcycles in pristine condition while others do let theirs go and do the bare minimum to keep the thing running. This will inevitably cause faults and breakdowns on the road – feeding your bad attitude and making a bad day out. Most riders are in the middle. The cost of living can put priorities on the home.

Having an easy peaceful feeling before setting out will let you soar like the eagles while riding down the road trying to loosen your load. You will recognize obstacles easier, swerve around potholes, dodge rocks and more importantly, dodge animals or people running out in front of you.

Riding out with a bad attitude whether in a group or on your own will show in your riding. You will no doubt be tense in the saddle affecting your reflexes and responses.

Taking quick take-offs from traffic lights and darting between lanes to the point of looking erratic will not only alarm drivers around you but be a concern to the riders with you, not knowing if they must tell your partner that you won’t be home tonight. An enjoyable ride, in turn, releases dopamine and endorphins while the adrenaline rush you get when taking that bend just a bit too quick makes the ride that much more enjoyable –even when it’s raining. Riding with an easygoing attitude also allows you to shrug off arrogant drivers and riders on the road. If they are driving like tools, don’t aggravate them, let them go past. You might see them a little further down the roads angrily showing their license to one of the boys in blue.

You also don’t need the attitude that everyone is out to get you because you are on a motorbike, and everyone hates you because you’re lane filtering in traffic. That’s just paranoia. There is a phenomenon called “Inattentional Blindness” where drivers don’t register what is in front of them. They are looking for another car and subconsciously blot out anything that is not a car. You need to make yourself seen without being obnoxious about it nor dress up like a Muppet. The reality is that most motorcycle accidents are self-inflicted.

This is caused by speeding – “riding faster than you can’t ride”, riding after too many drinks or drugs, tailgating and not riding to the road conditions. We’ve seen those ones on a Saturday morning. Ride to your ability – We often have thrown down our throats that a “Champion pushes themselves to the limit.” This is true, however, that champion usually rides on a track with a fully maintained bike, the latest safety equipment and a support crew. He is not someone in a tee shirt and pair of jeans on the Pacific Highway for the first time in two months. We really need to be responsible for our own riding skills and actions.

Have a little patience when on the road. The world isn’t going to blow up if you don’t get to the pie shop in the next half hour. Everyone knows the world will blow up next Thursday. The traffic will go as fast as it goes, and if it’s caused by an accident ahead, it’s probably the tool that was tailgating you earlier showing his license to a boy in blue.

Be polite to the people you come across while going through service stations, cafes etc. It makes the world of difference to them, and you’ll probably get better service. Have a sense of humour when out on the bike, except with the police if they pull you over for a breath test. They get grumpy when you say to them “If you’re really the police sing Roxanne.” You may not get the response you want, and they’ll tell you to change your attitude (if they have any idea what you’re talking about of course).

By the way, never forget that many police officers also ride bikes.