Rest. This is the best advice I can give to myself after a weekend of riding my Moto Morini motorcycle. As a new rider, riding a motorcycle on the public roads of the Lowcountry is amazing and at the same time very overwhelming. When I first started riding in August, I didn’t allow myself to ride multiple days in a row. While this standard held for a few months, I soon became more confident in my riding abilities and started riding back-to-back days. This is especially true during the work week when I will commute to work by my motorcycle 2 or 3 times during the week. I love to ride consecutively, but I know my limits. That is why I impose mandatory “rest” days after a few riding sessions.
Rest is so important. Not only does rest allow my body to heal, but my mind too. Rest gives me a chance to focus on maintenance on my Moto Morini and give my bike a bath as well. Rest helps my mind process all the new information I learned from previous rides, and I can critique situations which will support my effort of improvement when I do ride again. And that is what is really important. Living to see another riding day. When I am tried, mistakes occur more often when I ride and thus, I have decided that once I ride 2 or 3 days in a row, I impose mandatory “rest days”. I even go so far as to not even look, sit, or touch my beloved Moto Morini during rest days. This is so helpful. So, when I do ride again, I am fresh to actively ride my bike to the best of my ability.
I am also understanding that rest becomes very important if the previous riding day covered more than 20 miles on my motorcycle. I know my limits in terms of mileage. Reaching 50 miles on my motorcycle during a ride is about as much as I am physically and mentally able to do at this point in my motorcycle career. And that is OK WITH ME! I have read articles in print and on the web about long distance riding eclipsing over 100 miles in a day. NO SIR! Not for me. At least at this point. I am more than happy to cruise throughout the Lowcountry as a “Cafe Racer” and enjoy a 3- or 4-hour tour on my bike. And knowing my limits at this point in my motorcycle career is how I live to ride another day.
Rolf