By Glen Slingerland

Have you ever just typed something into the Google search bar just to see what pops up? I did that this afternoon. I typed in the words I want to ride. I did it because, I want to ride. I don’t insure the Harley Davidson all year round and was feeling like I needed to get out there, so off I go to Google, and because I want to ride.

Well, what shows up? Iwanttoride.com. A website for a learn to ride school in Wisconsin called Learning Curves Motorcycle Safety Inc.  This is not a plug for their school, although I guess in a way it is. It is however an excellent time to plug learning to ride safely. 

There are lots of long time riders who got their license the old fashion way. They got a bike, practiced illegally, headed for the motor vehicle office and lucked their way through a driver’s test on a course that took place in a back parking lot. My how times have changed.

Every time I climb on my bike I think of how vulnerable a person on a motorcycle really is. The smallest element can have the ugliest of consequences. A traffic cone flying out of the back of utility truck, for example, and hitting a rider while doing 100 kph. Semi truck trailer blowing a tire the moment you try to pass him. A deer coming out of nowhere and deciding right at that moment the grass is greener on the other side of the highway.

A lot of these things can’t be prevented, but learning how to be focused and how to pay attention to your surroundings can be the difference between disasters and being able to ride another day. A proper riding course by trained professionals is truly the only way to go, if you want to learn to ride properly and safely. If you learned how to ride the old fashion way, maybe it’s time for a refresher course.

Now- go watch some cool tricks.

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