There is something about wet roads that scares the shit out of me. Maybe it’s my fear of sliding and crashing on my Moto Morini that makes my heart race when it rains while I am riding. So, Thursday afternoon, once I finished the workday, I rode over to a large parking lot and got to work. The rain had been falling lightly but steadily since 10am. I reached the parking lot a bit after 3pm and quickly set up my soccer cones to begin my training session. Rain sprinkled lightly as I practiced my countersteering, slowly turning while riding over puddles, gravel, and wet pavement. I kept the Moto Morini in 1st gear as I practiced my swerves, u-turns, figure 8’s and quick stops. Each time I turned my bike and rolled the throttle I thought I would crash. Yet, I didn’t. And I so thankful for this experience.

Fear is a good thing. I believe it’s our brains trying to keep us safe as a therapist once told me. But fear and reality I feel are very different things. What is actually happening verse what our brains creates are two different worlds. When I had an art studio, my brain supported me with wonderful images to paint and sketch as well as build. Yet, riding a motorcycle my brain often creates negative images. Maybe this might have to do with my mental illness but really, I am learning to accept my brain’s negative images as a safety check.

This has been what is the most challenging part of motorcycling early in my career. The mental part of motorcycling. I will say that when I am tried, maybe a bit down, I don’t even get near my bike. I ONLY ride when I strong, healthy, and positive. But, practicing my slow speed maneuvers Thursday afternoon, in the rain, in a parking lot with soccer cones, really helped me realize that what is happening in front of you, is more important that what the brain generates within you.

Rolf