Yesterday, 12:00 AM
I've rebuilt motors, split cases, chased electrical gremlins for weeks. None of that scares me. What scares me is the guy in the pickup two car lengths back scrolling his phone.
Here's what 15 years of fixing wrecked bikes taught me about staying alive out there. First, assume nobody sees you. Not the guy turning left, not the lady backing out. Ride like you're invisible and it'll save your ass someday. Second, your brakes are your best friend, not your speed. I can't count how many bikes came in with bent forks because the rider never practiced a hard stop. Go find an empty lot and drill emergency braking until it's muscle memory. Third, gear. I've cut enough boots and jackets off riders to know the difference it makes. Dress for the slide, not the ride.
You can't control traffic. You can control your margins. Leave more space, cover the levers, keep your head on a swivel. That's the whole game.
Here's what 15 years of fixing wrecked bikes taught me about staying alive out there. First, assume nobody sees you. Not the guy turning left, not the lady backing out. Ride like you're invisible and it'll save your ass someday. Second, your brakes are your best friend, not your speed. I can't count how many bikes came in with bent forks because the rider never practiced a hard stop. Go find an empty lot and drill emergency braking until it's muscle memory. Third, gear. I've cut enough boots and jackets off riders to know the difference it makes. Dress for the slide, not the ride.
You can't control traffic. You can control your margins. Leave more space, cover the levers, keep your head on a swivel. That's the whole game.