It happened. My first motorcycle wreck. Now I know what you’re thinking and it didn’t happen that way. I wasn’t riding recklessly or fast. I didn’t even get cut off from another driver who was texting. My accident was less like a scene from Mission Impossible and more like a scene from Dumb and Dumber. While extremely lucky regarding how things turned out physically, this incident drove home a few lessons that I want to share.
To set the scene, a friend (Brandon Dempsey) and I were taking a 2-hour cruise through scenic winding roads in rural Missouri. We were 75 minutes into our ride and it was a gorgeous fall day, crisp and sunny. Brandon put “comms” on our helmets so we could talk. This ended up being both a blessing and a curse for me because anyone who knows me understands that I am a passionate communicator who can get lost in an engaging conversation. Probably not the best thing for me to do while riding a motorcycle! In addition to the excellent conversation we were having, I was taking in the breathtaking views of the valley, the changing leaf colors, and the insane amount of flooding that occurred around Eureka, MO.
By the time I realized I was too far to the right side of our narrow laned, shoulderless road, I hit some leaves and headed down into the ditch that was about two feet down and full of rocks (see below). My eyes were open the entire time and it wasn’t a fun experience. The bike roughly slid in the ditch for about 10 feet with me on it, ripping off my pedal shifter, bending my handlebars, and roughing up the bike’s cosmetics. My injuries were as minimal as they could have been, with only a broken toe, a tweaked knee, and some bruised legs. I wear a Whoop biometric monitor on my wrist and it pegged my heartbeat at the time of the wreck at 181 beats per minute.
The bruise to my ego was probably the biggest scrape from this incident, so I decided to write about what I learned to try to be helpful to others in riding, in business, and in life.
Preparation
There’s a saying in the motorcycle world, “you dress for the slide, not for the ride.” This means that every time you go out for a ride, whether it’s around your block or a cross-country cruise, you need to be properly prepared, and the bulk of that preparation involves wearing the right protective gear. Doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees, wear your leathers and helmet. This is something I have always done as a rider. Had I not been properly dressed or not wearing a helmet, this situation would have turned out much different and much worse for my physical health. As the military are fond of saying, “proper preparation prevents poor performance,” but for motorcyclists, “proper gear prevents greater grief.”
Partners
Had I not been riding with the “right” partner, this would have been an even more devastating situation. Brandon is an extremely experienced rider and has had several falls over the years, mostly because he rides dirt bikes (think motocross). As soon as I went down he knew exactly what to do to get the bike out of the ditch, to keep me calm while I was in shock, and to formulate a plan to get the bike back to my house. In personal and professional life, partners can be a godsend but be sure you choose the right partners whose knowledge, skills, and attitudes complements yours. I am extremely grateful for Brandon’s grace under pressure and clear-headed approach to remedy the situation.
Perspective
“Are you going to sell your bike” and “Is your wife going to make you sell your bike” are the two questions I have fielded the most since my accident two weeks ago. And my immediate response is NO. In fact, I took a ride on my other motorcycle as soon as my toe was able to up shift. I apply Socrates logic, which is to “know yourself,” and I knew that if I let the fear sink in and take hold of my mindset, I might not ever get back on a bike. So I had to do so as quickly as possible. (Side Note: Of course I talked things through with my wife and kids about what happened, why it happened, and what my approach to motorcycling was going to be. This is why marrying the right person is probably the most important decision you can make in your entire life. I can’t say she was ecstatic about my decision, but she certainly understood and supported me).
Motorcycling is a high risk activity and I am aware of and accept that risk, but the reward is the exhilarating sense of freedom and discovery I get when I’m on a bike. Motorcycling isn’t for everyone, but it is for me, so I had to determine if I was going to use this accident as an opportunity to refocus my vigilance when riding or to sell the bike. In my heart I knew I would eventually regret selling the bike and exhibit self-loathing, so I took a different perspective and am using this incident as a lesson.
Fear can be used as fuel to further your journey in life or serve as a “road closed” sign that prevents you from continuing your journey. That is a mindset decision.
Preparation, Partners, and Perspective. These things are important in motorcycling, in business, and in life. Staying focused on what matters most is a superpower. Luckily, I applied my focus while preparing for my ride, in selecting the right riding partner, and in adjusting my mindset after the accident. I have also recommitted to staying hyper-focused while riding and am looking forward to a warm winter day to get back on the road of life.
