I would like to take this opportunity to review some of the hazards that are out there for us motorcyclists early in the riding season. Please be extra careful, as the streets are extra dangerous this time of year! Some of the hazards to watch for are:
· Sand and ice-melting chemicals – Hitting a patch of sand, especially on a curve, can be like riding on marbles. Please keep your speeds down, so that you can react and position your bike in the most optimum position on the road BEFORE YOU HIT THE SAND in order to minimize sharp or brisk turning actions. (Additional tip: Take the time to thoroughly clean the chemicals off, under, and inside the bike as best as possible to avoid corrosion of the bike parts)
· Wet leaves, pine needles and sticks – which are most likely ―pasted‖ to the roadways in the early spring months. You can slide on these just like sliding on ice (as I have proven to myself in a four-wheeled vehicle).
· Sticks and small tree limbs – both those on the roadway, which can roll and slide your tire sideways (a very scary feeling and a very unsafe situation), and also the tree limbs that are hanging along the edge of the roadway, which can hit the Rider, Co-Rider, and/or the bike itself, and send it out of control.
· Puddles‖ – of frozen water along the edge of the road, especially on the southern side of the road. We all know that ice can be deadly, and these frozen puddles can remain or re-appear much longer than you would expect on the warm days, especially when the temperatures dip significantly below freezing during the overnights.
· Other vehicles – When you start riding this spring, be extra vigilant for the 4-wheel drivers. Remember they haven‘t seen many motorcycles for the last several months. They are not looking for you. You must look out for them! (As my older brother told me when I first started riding decades ago: ―Assume that (A) They don‘t see you, or (B) They DO see you, and they will aim for you !‖). Defensive riding and planning for evasive maneuvers in advance is paramount.
I would also like to take a moment to remind everyone to make sure to check their tire pressure and condition prior to every ride. The widely-fluctuating temperatures above and below freezing can substantially change the ―cold‖ pressure before starting out on your ride. And let‘s not forget to do the rest of the T-CLOCKs as well !
Finally, please remember that we are not as ―sharp‖ as we were last fall. We are all a bit rusty after the long winter hiatus. Don‘t head off into busy traffic right off the bat. Go down some lightly-travelled secondary roads. Do some practice in a clean, empty parking lot. Practice what you leaned at your last ERC. Turns, braking and swerving – you remember, don‘t you? Let‘s safely ease into the new riding season!
Ride Safe, and Have Fun !
Ted Zitnay
NH-E Chapter Educator