Learn to Ride a Motorcycle - Wind, Rain, Weather, a Fog Bank, and the Wall

Early morning temperature inversions permit anyDew droplets forming on the windscreen increasingly
body of water to release excessive moisture. On ablow onto the visor of your helmet. Lateral blown
morning ride in river country, the air feels cool yetdew persist creating damp feet as moisture seeps
clinging wet interspersed with wisps of layered fog.into your boots. Soon boots and gloves are dripping
These wisps increased when passing the last lowas if riding in a heavy rain.
point over the river just before ascending toward aYou try to keep the car ahead in sight but it is hard.
plateau.The mind races, blinker lights are turned on, all lights
Ghostly shaped wisp shimmer in the morning sun asare on, speed attempts to match the one car you
passing vehicles create currents of air pulling the mistcan see. You glance over your shoulder to see if
in alternate directions. This is a peaceful and beautifulanything is visible behind you. Nothing appears; when
part of the day. The serenity ends without warningyou glance forward again, the car is gone.
when you find, The Wall.Immediately you cover the brakes, which came
The Walluncovered when you turned to look backward. The
Without warning a solid wall of dense and motionlesslights ahead reappear as you feel the bike move
fog stretches across all lanes. The sunlight, whichthrough a small gully.
moments earlier played through ghostly layers ofIt is a small moment of relief. Then the doubt, fear,
mist, becomes a silver disk. Moving upward on aconcerns, and nags return to your consciousness,
mountain will often allow fog to thin, but not thiswhat to do?
time. The higher, the denser the cloud as the sunThe Solution
vanished and gradually a feeling of lonelinessFor those who have found themselves in a position
descends.such as presented above it is a lonely time. Usually
The taillights of the truck ahead, disappeared shortlymany solutions run through your mind as places of
after entering the fog. You are alone, immediatelysanctuary but usually those just are not in reach. You
reducing speed to compensate for the limited visibility.have to know all possible options to keep you safe
Aware suddenly of the disoriented sensations, youand not extend the potential for harm. In this case
glance down at the tank to reorient yourself andnot being there in the first place is the place to start.
then safety concerns start to surface. No soundsIn piloting an airplane, a careful check of weather
reach your ears except the muted wind noise in yourconditions now, during the flight and at the
helmet.destination must be included in your flight planning. It
There is fear in this environment. The thoughts of ais one of the most important segments of any
careless driver climbing your back nags at your mindcross-country flight. In riding a motorcycle, having a
as you peer haplessly into the shroud. The shouldergrasp of weather conditions is equally important. Do
of the road is narrow and provides no greaternot ride into danger due to not knowing the danger
protection than staying on the road and moving inexist. Finding your way out can best serve by not
the proper direction.getting there in the first place.