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Starting the riding season right: Pre-Season Riders Briefing scheduled for March 29

  • Published
  • By Mark Sprayberry
  • 72nd ABW Traffic Safety Manager
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  It's that time of year ... the grass is starting to turn green, the clocks have been set back and the sun is staying up later. Aw, motorcycle season has begun again.

The start of motorcycle brings many things riders need to take care of before the first ride. Making sure the bike is ready, your gear is ready and most importantly, making sure you are ready to ride will make this another enjoyable riding season.

The fourth annual Pre-Season Riders Briefing is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon March 29 at the Team Tinker Motorcycle Range, south of the main shoppette. The motorcycle safety briefing is mandatory for active duty personnel and recommended for civilians. This is a great way to kick off the motorcycle season.

But first, let's check out your bike. It doesn't matter what you ride, all of them require maintenance to perform their best. To perform your inspection, use the T-CLOC checklist off the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website -- http://msf-usa.org/ downloads/T-CLOCS_Inspection_ Checklist_2012.pdf.

This easy-to-follow checklist walks you through a great pre-season inspection of your bike to ensure it's ready to take you wherever you want to go. If you're not so inclined, have your dealer do a pre-season inspection for you. Nothing worse than getting stranded with a broken bike.

Next, the only protection we have from the environment and the road is what we wear. Choosing the right gear is imperative to your survival if the unforeseen happens. Air Force Instruction 91-207, U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program, specifies what riders wear (all the time for active duty members and while on the installation for civilians, unless they are on temporary duty).
The equipment requirement starts with a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Riders have the choice between half shell helmets, three-quarter helmets or full face. As long as the helmet is DOT approved, the choice is yours and depends on how much risk you choose to accept. Another requirement is eye protection in the form of a face shield on the helmet or goggles that meet American National Standards Institute Standard Z87.1 for impact resistance and to keep the bugs and debris out of eyes, so you can stay in control. A long-sleeved shirt or jacket as an outer garment, long pants and sturdy, over-the-ankle shoes or boots almost finish out your gear selection. Full-fingered riding gloves give the best protection and allow great dexterity for your hands and also keep them protected from bugs, rocks and asphalt. Just remember, the outer garment needs to be bright for daytime ops and reflective for night use and you're set to go.

The single most important aspect of all of this is you. Because it's been cold and you may not have ridden for a while, you're probably going to be rusty.

There are several ways you can help alleviate this. One is go practice. When it's not in use for a class, the Team Tinker Motorcycle Range is open for riders to use. Just don't get too silly out there!

Another way to knock off the rust is to take a class. The 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Office is the point of contact for Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes. Four classes will be offered by the Safety Office this season. The two-day Bring Your Own Bike-Basic RiderCourse is available to new riders. During the course, riders use their own motorcycles and learn the basics of clutch control, starting, shifting and braking in a controlled environment. The BRC gives new riders the basics to control their bike and function in traffic. The next step is the BRC-2 (previously the Experienced RiderCourse) that expands those basic skills learned in the first course. This one-day class builds on the basic principles, but takes it up a few notches. Following is the Advanced RiderCourse, another one-day class taught at the motorcycle range. The ARC is the same class as the Military Sportbike RiderCourse, but on different types of motorcycles. Advanced turning and braking techniques (counter-weighting) are discussed and practiced. Participants are encouraged to discuss riding strategies with fellow riders. Those interested in taking a class can sign up at https://wwwmil.tinker.af.mil/safety/ topics/mcycle/default.htm.

The one thing that can't be practiced away is your attitude. While driving as a whole is a risky activity (the most dangerous thing you do on any given day) motorcyclists have to be more aware of their surroundings and situations. Have you ever ridden angry? How about depressed or upset? Even being excited can take your mind off the important stuff while driving. You must make sure your head's in the ride. Your attitude makes all the difference.

How you approach an activity -- any activity -- will affect how well you accomplish it. Understanding that if we don't practice an activity, we don't do it as well as when we're sharp and prepared. Get ready to ride by practicing, taking a class and thinking about what you're doing. Let's have another great riding season here in Oklahoma!